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Trip from Lake Mills, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 3m

Distance

49.3 mi

79 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 59m ★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Lake Mills, WI, WI

Lake Mills, WI

Tom Fisk

village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States

Menomonee Falls, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 49.3-mile drive from Lake Mills to Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 3 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-94, making it a highway-focused journey through the Midwest. With a projected fuel cost of around $8, this route is quite economical. The relatively short distance and focused road profile mean you can complete this trip without needing an overnight stop, offering flexibility in your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 35.5 mi 38m
West Main Street 4.6 mi 9m
Redford Boulevard 4.5 mi 7m
Waukesha Avenue 1.5 mi 2m
Main Street 1.2 mi 2m
North Main Street 0.8 mi 1m
Town Line Road 0.4 mi <1m
West Madison Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 35.5 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Mills, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI.

1

Start on CTH B

33 ft · 10 sec · West Madison Street
2

Turn sharp left onto WI 89; CTH G

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
4

Merge onto I 94

36 mi · 38 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec
Exit 295 Toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork

188 ft · 6 sec
Toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
7

Turn left onto CTH F

4.5 mi · 7 min · Redford Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
8

Continue on CTH F

1.5 mi · 2 min · Waukesha Avenue
9

Turn straight

374 ft · 12 sec
10

Turn straight onto CTH F

1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street
11

At end of road, turn left onto CTH F; CTH V

0.4 mi · 54 sec · Town Line Road
12

Enter roundabout onto CTH F

74 ft · 4 sec · West Main Street
13

Continue on CTH F

4.6 mi · 9 min · West Main Street
14

Turn left onto WI 175

21 ft · 0 sec · Appleton Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

WI 175

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukesha, WI

25 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Farmington, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Delafield, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Lake Mills, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 44.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | WI 89; CTH G / North Main Street

Turn sharp left onto WI 89; CTH G / North Main Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 94

Merge onto I 94

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
36.6 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 295 Toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex
7
36.9 mi into trip | ~40m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
5
44.2 mi into trip | ~53m in | CTH F; CTH V / Town Line Road

At end of road, turn left onto CTH F; CTH V / Town Line Road

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.71 one way

$15.41 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.46 $16.93
premium $4.89 $9.49 $18.97
diesel $5.61 $10.88 $21.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.8 0 $5.18 $2.37
Efficient EV 12.3 0 $4.31 $1.97
EV Truck/SUV 19.7 0 $6.90 $3.16

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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

Lake Mills, WI

Afternoon in Lake Mills on Sunday

Local time

4:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Menomonee Falls, WI

Afternoon in Menomonee Falls on Sunday

Local time

4:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°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

17 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

1h 3m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this 49.3-mile route, with 72% of the drive on major roadways like I-94. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 35.5 miles on I-94, offering a chance for steady progress. While much of the journey will be on the interstate, you will transition to West Main Street and Redford Boulevard as you approach your destination. This shift from high-speed highway driving to more local roads is typical as you enter a populated area.

72% 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: 35.5 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and West Main Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 89; CTH G / North Main Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 89; CTH G / North Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.1 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 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

958 ft 804 ft

Total Climb

181 ft

Total Descent

157 ft

Highest Point

958 ft

~28.1 mi in

Elevation Range

154 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Lake Mills, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI, road signs point toward Cth F: Waukesha, Sussex and Cth F North: Waukesha.

Cth F: Waukesha

36.6 mi in | ~40m

Sussex

36.6 mi in | ~40m

Cth F North: Waukesha

36.9 mi in | ~40m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 49.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.5 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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: near the start (WI 89; CTH G / North Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.1 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Menomonee Falls, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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