Hurley, WI to West Allis, WI is 304.8 miles and takes about 6h 15m via I 41 and US 51 South, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making for a straightforward drive. Plan for a single-day trip, as the driving time is manageable. The overall feel is that of a typical interstate cruise, connecting two points efficiently.
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
152.4 miles from Hurley, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
80.8 mi
1h 29m
Oneida Street
71.1 mi
1h 29m
US 51 South
55.1 mi
1h 20m
US 10
51.3 mi
1h 1m
I 39
29.8 mi
32m
US 45
12.3 mi
14m
South 84th Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Greenfield Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 80.8 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-41
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 114 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,804 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,388
Quietest
2 AM
~165 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Hurley, WI and West Allis, WI.
1
Start on WI 77
99 ft·4 sec·Granite Road
2
Continue on WI 77
0.2 mi·41 sec·Silver Street
3
Turn right onto US 51
0.3 mi·49 sec·2nd Avenue South
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on US 51
55 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 51 South
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 51
71 mi·1 hr 29 min·Oneida Street
Use the straight 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
81 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 38A-BToward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, MadisonUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 38AToward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: MilwaukeeUse the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 306Toward WI 181: 84th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
192 ft·4 sec
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto WI 181
0.7 mi·1 min·South 84th Street
18
Turn left onto WI 59
0.5 mi·1 min·West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
WI 59
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 15m drive time, leaving in the morning should allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically along I 41, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 80.8-mile stretch on I 41, to avoid needing an unplanned stop. The $48 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to have a little extra on hand. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 152.4 miles from Hurley, WI, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.8 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 67 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.4 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Allis, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hurley, 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 Hurley, WI
This is one driving day of about 304.8 miles and 6h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Hurley, 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 80.8 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 157 and 303.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
157 mi into trip|~3h 24m 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
207.9 mi into trip|~4h 24m 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
8
302.2 mi into trip|~6h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 38A-B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
9
302.5 mi into trip|~6h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwauk...
8
303.1 mi into trip|~6h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 181: 84th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306
Toward WI 181: 84th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.84 one way
$101.69 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$55.26
$110.52
premium
$5.26
$63.11
$126.22
diesel
$6.18
$74.15
$148.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.4
1
$32.00
$14.63
Efficient EV
76.2
0
$26.67
$12.19
EV Truck/SUV
121.9
1
$42.67
$19.51
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Hurley, WI
Morning
in Hurley on Saturday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
27°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:42PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:56PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
West Allis, WI
Morning
in West Allis on Saturday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Clear then Widespread Frost
NW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:42PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:56PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
5 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
6h 15m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 route is mostly highway, with 75% of the drive on interstates and major roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 80.8 miles on I 41. The bulk of the highway driving will be on I 41, transitioning later to US 51 South and then Oneida Street. Expect a fairly continuous highway experience until closer to your destination, where you'll see more frequent exits and local traffic merging.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.8 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and Oneida Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 157 miles in near US 10.
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 304.8 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 157 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 207.9 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 302.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,671 ft729 ft
Total Climb
403 ft
Total Descent
1,174 ft
Highest Point
1,671 ft
~43.5 mi in
Elevation Range
942 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hurley, WI and West Allis, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Waupaca and Appleton.
The Gogebic Range is a historical iron mining area that comprises parts of Gogebic County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Iron County, Wisconsin. The largest city in the area is Ironwood, Michigan, though there are several other smaller cities within the vicinity.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 15m. Total distance: 304.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.8 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 West Allis, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 157 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 207.9 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 302.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at West Allis, WI before the return drive.
