Origin
Hales Corners, WI
Morning in Hales Corners on Sunday
Local time
11:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hales Corners, WI to Wauwatosa, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
9.4 mi
15 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 16m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hales Corners, WI
Tom Fisk
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hales Corners to Wauwatosa is 9.4 miles and takes about 17 minutes via Zoo Freeway and US 45, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive connects two points within Wisconsin's Midwest region. Given its brief duration and focus on major roads, it's a straightforward trip, perfect for a quick commute or a brief excursion without needing an overnight stay. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, making for an efficient journey between these Milwaukee-area communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Zoo Freeway | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| South Lovers Lane Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| US 45 | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Watertown Plank Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Harwood Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rock Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Janesville Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harmonee Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Zoo Freeway
— 5.1 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hales Corners, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on WI 24
496 ft
·
17 sec
·
West Janesville Road
2
Continue on WI 24
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Janesville Road
3
Turn left onto US 45; WI 100
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Lovers Lane Road
4
Take the ramp onto US 45
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 45
Toward I 43 North, US 45 North
5
Merge onto I 43; US 45
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Rock Freeway
6
Take the exit onto US 45
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 45
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
7
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Menomonee River Parkway
14
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 9.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fon...
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
7.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward Watertown Plank Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
9
7.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Watertown Plank Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
6
9.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Turn left onto WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.47 one way
$2.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.61 | $3.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.81 | $3.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.08 | $4.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.99 | $0.45 |
| Efficient EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.82 | $0.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.32 | $0.60 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% 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
Wauwatosa, WI
Morning in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
11:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
17m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 68% of the route utilizing major roadways like the Zoo Freeway and US 45. You'll experience a longest stretch of 5.1 miles on the Zoo Freeway, offering a consistent, faster pace. The road character remains largely consistent, characterized by the efficiency of freeway travel. Expect smooth transitions and clear signage as you navigate between these Wisconsin locales.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.1 mi on Zoo Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Zoo Freeway and South Lovers Lane Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near US 45.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 9.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hales Corners, WI and Wauwatosa, WI, road signs point toward Madison and Watertown Plank Road East.
Madison
1.9 mi in
|
~4m
|
via US 45
Watertown Plank Road East
7.8 mi in
|
~12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 9.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.1 miles on Zoo 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 Wauwatosa, 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 1.9 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 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 Wauwatosa, 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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