Skip to main content

Trip from Madison, WI to New Berlin, WI

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 28m

Distance

71.5 mi

115 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 22m ★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m

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

capital city of Wisconsin, United States

Madison, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States

New Berlin, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion from Madison to New Berlin, expect a straightforward journey covering 76.6 miles. This trip typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day outing. Budget approximately $12 for fuel, as this route is efficient and doesn't require any long-haul planning. Both the origin and destination are located within the Midwest, keeping the drive consistent in terms of regional character. Since there are no mandatory stops required, you can easily complete this drive in one go without the need for an overnight stay.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 60.1 mi 1h 4m
South Moorland Road 3.2 mi 6m
WI 30 3.2 mi 4m
West Johnson Street 2.2 mi 7m
East Washington Avenue 1.8 mi 4m
North Baldwin Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Brooks Street <0.1 mi <1m
University Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 60.1 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Madison, WI and New Berlin, WI.

1

Start on CTH MS

317 ft · 18 sec · University Avenue
2

Turn left onto North Brooks Street

432 ft · 26 sec · North Brooks Street
3

Turn left onto West Johnson Street

2.2 mi · 7 min · West Johnson Street
4

Turn right onto North Baldwin Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · North Baldwin Street
5

Turn left onto US 151

1.8 mi · 4 min · East Washington Avenue
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward WI 30 East
7

Merge onto WI 30

3.2 mi · 4 min · WI 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 94

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Exit 301A-B Toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork

183 ft · 4 sec
Toward I 94 Alternate East: New Berlin Use the right lane.
11

Turn straight onto CTH O

3.2 mi · 6 min · South Moorland Road
Use the straight lane.
12

Arrive at destination

West National Avenue

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Johnson Creek, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Johnson Creek, WI

36 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

Cottage Grove, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Farmington, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.8 miles from Madison, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.1 miles.

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 0.1 and 68.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Brooks Street

Turn left onto North Brooks Street

Navigation decision point

5
4.6 mi into trip | ~13m in | WI 30

Merge onto WI 30

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
7.8 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 94

Merge onto I 94

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
67.8 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Take the exit toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 301A-B Toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road
7
68.3 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 Alternate East: New Berlin

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 94 Alternate East: New Berlin

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.18 one way

$22.36 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.27 $24.55
premium $4.89 $13.76 $27.52
diesel $5.61 $15.79 $31.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 25 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.5 0 $7.51 $3.43
Efficient EV 17.9 0 $6.26 $2.86
EV Truck/SUV 28.6 0 $10.01 $4.58

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Madison, WI

Late night in Madison on Tuesday

Local time

5:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Berlin, WI

Late night in New Berlin on Tuesday

Local time

5:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

41°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

21 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

1h 28m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 76.6-mile trek. You will be navigating through local streets like North Brooks, West Johnson, and North Baldwin, which means your focus will be on urban and suburban navigation. With a highway share of 0%, this route prioritizes local connections over high-speed travel. Because the roads are primarily local, you should anticipate frequent turns and varying traffic patterns as you transition out of Madison and toward New Berlin. The experience is best described as a hands-on driving route where staying alert at intersections is more critical than maintaining cruising speed.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.1 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and South Moorland Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Brooks Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 71.5 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: at 0.1 miles (North Brooks Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (WI 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Madison, WI

Full guide →

Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. As the anchor of the Greater Madison Area, it is home to the University of Wisconsin — Madison, one of the premier universities in the United States. It is a vibrant city known for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and academic excellence. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the city's many museums and art galleries. The city is also known for its diverse and delicious food options.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 71.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 60.1 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 2 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 New Berlin, 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 0.1 miles (North Brooks Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (WI 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Berlin, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Madison, WI or browse trips ending in New Berlin, WI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.