Hazelhurst, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is 242.7 miles and takes about 4h 44m via I 41 and US 51, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Wisconsin, taking you south from the Midwest's northern reaches into the heart of the state. It's a straightforward, predominantly highway drive that's easily manageable in a single day. With 99% of the trip on highways, you'll spend most of your time covering ground efficiently, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without major detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.4 miles from Hazelhurst, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
79.5 mi
1h 27m
US 51
66.2 mi
1h 20m
US 10
51.3 mi
1h 1m
I 39
29.8 mi
32m
US 45
12.3 mi
14m
West Watertown Plank Road
1.1 mi
2m
Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Harmonee Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 79.5 mi, about 1h 27m
Traffic on I-41
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,368 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,880
Quietest
1 AM
~138 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hazelhurst, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on US 51
66 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 51
Use the straight lane.
2
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
3
Continue on I 39; US 10; US 51
7.4 mi·7 min·I 39; US 10; US 51
4
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
5
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.
6
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.
7
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
8
Merge onto I 41; US 41
80 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 40A-BToward Watertown Plank RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 40AToward Watertown Plank Road EastUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
1.1 mi·2 min·West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi·32 sec·Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft·21 sec·West Menomonee River Parkway
15
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving Hazelhurst in the morning should get you to Wauwatosa with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll only need about 4h 44m of driving time, so a single stop midway for fuel or a quick break is likely sufficient. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 79.5-mile stretch on I 41, to ensure you don't need to go far off-route for a gas station. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later if needed, but planning your fuel stops will be key to a smooth drive.
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 121.4 miles from Hazelhurst, WI, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.5 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 53 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.4 miles or 2h 23m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wauwatosa, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hazelhurst, 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 Hazelhurst, WI
This is one driving day of about 242.7 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Hazelhurst, 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 79.5 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 66.2 and 240.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
66.2 mi into trip|~1h 20m 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
96.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m 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
147.3 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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
240.3 mi into trip|~4h 37m in
Take the exit toward Watertown Plank Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
8
240.5 mi into trip|~4h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Watertown Plank Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.84 one way
$71.68 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$39.57
$79.14
premium
$4.72
$45.06
$90.12
diesel
$4.80
$45.83
$91.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.8
0
$25.48
$11.65
Efficient EV
60.7
0
$21.24
$9.71
EV Truck/SUV
97.1
1
$33.98
$15.53
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Hazelhurst, WI
Late night
in Hazelhurst on Sunday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 8 mph66% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 9:06PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Wauwatosa, WI
Late night
in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
W 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 9:06PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 44m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 99% of the 242.7 miles covered on major roads like I 41 and US 51. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of highway at 79.5 miles on I 41. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate through different sections of Wisconsin. The transition from highway to any surface roads would be minimal and likely occur very close to your destination.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.5 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 51. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 66.2 miles in near I 39; US 51.
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 242.7 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 66.2 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.4 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.3 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,612 ft662 ft
Total Climb
387 ft
Total Descent
1,337 ft
Highest Point
1,612 ft
Elevation Range
950 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hazelhurst, WI and Wauwatosa, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Waupaca and Appleton.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 242.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.5 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
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. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 66.2 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.4 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.3 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Wauwatosa, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
