Origin
Greendale, WI
Late night in Greendale on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Greendale, WI to Milwaukee, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
10.7 mi
17 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Greendale, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Milwaukee, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 10.7-mile drive from Greendale, WI to Milwaukee, WI takes approximately 18 minutes and is best suited for a single day trip. With 64% of the journey on highways, you'll primarily be navigating the North-South Freeway and I-43. The estimated fuel cost is a minimal $2, making it an economical option for a quick transit. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from one point to another within the Midwest region. You won't need an overnight stay for this short distance; it's more about getting you where you need to go in Milwaukee.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North-South Freeway | 5 mi | 7m |
| West Loomis Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| I 43 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Airport Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Northway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Michigan Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Plankinton Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North-South Freeway
— 5 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greendale, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
1
Start on Schoolway
27 ft
·
6 sec
·
Schoolway
2
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Broad Street
3
Turn right onto Northway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Northway
4
Turn right onto West Grange Avenue
224 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Grange Avenue
5
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
6
Turn slight left onto WI 36
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Loomis Road
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 South
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 43
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 43
Exit 10A
Toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 94
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 1D
Toward Plankington Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 1D
Toward Plankinton Avenue
14
Continue on North Plankinton Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Plankinton Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto West Michigan Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Michigan Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto US 18; WI 32
500 ft
·
19 sec
·
North Milwaukee Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 18; WI 32
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 10.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 South
9
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 43 toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10A
Toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee
7
9.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 794 East: Lakefront
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront
8
9.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Plankington Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1D
Toward Plankington Avenue
7
10.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
West Michigan Street
Turn right onto West Michigan Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.67 one way
$3.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.84 | $3.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.06 | $4.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.36 | $4.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.12 | $0.51 |
| Efficient EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.94 | $0.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.50 | $0.68 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Milwaukee, WI
Late night in Milwaukee on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
18m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 10.7-mile trip, with 64% of the drive utilizing major freeways. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be about 5 miles on the North-South Freeway. The route is designed for efficiency, meaning you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained, high-speed roads like West Loomis Road and I-43. While not particularly scenic, it offers a smooth and predictable driving experience as you transition from the outskirts into the heart of Milwaukee.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5 mi on North-South Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North-South Freeway and West Loomis Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 10.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 43): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 10.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5 miles on North-South Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Milwaukee, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 43): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Milwaukee, WI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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