Spanning 188.1 miles across the heart of Wisconsin, this drive connects Hamburg to Menomonee Falls in approximately 3 hours and 43 minutes. Because the route is straightforward and efficient, it works perfectly as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget roughly $29 for fuel to cover the distance, making it an affordable trek within the Midwest. Navigating primarily via I-41, US-10, and I-39, the journey is designed for travelers who prioritize speed and directness over winding backroads. Whether you are heading south for business or a visit, the path is reliable and predictable for a smooth transition between these two regions.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
94.1 miles from Hamburg, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
67.4 mi
1h 12m
US 10
51.3 mi
1h 1m
I 39
29.8 mi
32m
US 45
12.3 mi
14m
County Road U
9.2 mi
12m
State Highway 107
7.1 mi
12m
US 51
6.1 mi
7m
County Road L
2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 67.4 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamburg, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI.
1
Start on Deer Creek Lane
58 ft·4 sec·Deer Creek Lane
2
Turn right onto County Road L
2.0 mi·4 min·County Road L
3
Turn right onto WI 107
7.1 mi·12 min·State Highway 107
4
Turn left onto CTH U
9.2 mi·12 min·County Road U
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp onto US 51
6.1 mi·7 min·US 51
Use the right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51
22 mi·24 min·I 39; US 51
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
7
Continue on I 39; US 10; US 51
7.4 mi·7 min·I 39; US 10; US 51
8
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66
0.4 mi·57 sec·US 10; WI 66
Exit 158Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
51 mi·1 hr·US 10
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, WaupacaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
12 mi·14 min·US 45
Exit 276Toward US 45 South: OshkoshUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
12
Merge onto I 41; US 41
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 52Toward CTH Q: County Line RoadUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto CTH Q
0.1 mi·18 sec·County Line Road
15
Turn slight left
386 ft·19 sec
16
Turn left onto River Crest Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·River Crest Drive
17
Turn left onto WI 175
0.8 mi·2 min·Appleton Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
WI 175
Trip Plan
Since this 188.1-mile trip is manageable in a single stint, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for one dedicated stop along the way to stretch your legs and refresh, as the duration is just long enough to warrant a brief break. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, keeping that $29 estimate in mind, and try to refuel before hitting the heavier traffic stretches of I-41. To make the most of your travel, aim to avoid peak commuting hours when entering the Menomonee Falls area to ensure a stress-free arrival. By pacing yourself and utilizing the high-speed highway segments effectively, you will find the drive to be a seamless experience.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 94.1 miles from Hamburg, WI, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 41 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.1 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Menomonee Falls, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hamburg, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hamburg, WI
This is one driving day of about 188.1 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Hamburg, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 41 for about 67.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 186.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.1 mi into trip|~17m in|CTH U / County Road U
Turn left onto CTH U / County Road U
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
24.4 mi into trip|~37m in|I 39; US 51
Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51 toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point,...
8
54.7 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
8
105.6 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 276
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
7
186.5 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward CTH Q: County Line Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward CTH Q: County Line Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.41 one way
$58.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.29
$64.58
premium
$4.89
$36.20
$72.40
diesel
$5.61
$41.53
$83.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.4
0
$19.75
$9.03
Efficient EV
47
0
$16.46
$7.52
EV Truck/SUV
75.2
0
$26.33
$12.04
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Hamburg, WI
Night
in Hamburg on Saturday
Local time
9:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Menomonee Falls, WI
Night
in Menomonee Falls on Saturday
Local time
9:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 93% of your journey takes place on major roads. The drive is defined by efficient interstate travel, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 67.4 miles on I-41. This is a practical, no-nonsense route where the pace remains consistent, allowing you to cover ground quickly. As you transition between the segments of I-39, US-10, and I-41, the road maintains a high-speed profile that minimizes the need for technical maneuvering. It is a straightforward drive that prioritizes steady movement, keeping you comfortably on the move throughout the nearly four-hour duration.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.4 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in near CTH U / County Road U.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 188.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (CTH U / County Road U): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.4 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.7 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,463 ft808 ft
Total Climb
362 ft
Total Descent
966 ft
Highest Point
1,463 ft
Elevation Range
655 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hamburg, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Waupaca and Appleton.
Madison
24.4 mi in|~37m|via I 39; US 51
Waupaca
54.3 mi in|~1h 9m|via US 10; WI 66
Appleton
54.3 mi in|~1h 9m|via US 10; WI 66
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 43m. Total distance: 188.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.4 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Menomonee Falls, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (CTH U / County Road U): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.4 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.7 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Menomonee Falls, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
