Origin
Medina, WI
Morning in Medina on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Medina, WI to West Allis, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 1m
Distance
102.7 mi
165 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 53m
★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Medina, WI
JIMMY Art
West Allis, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Medina, WI to West Allis, WI is 102.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m via I 41, US 45, and County Road M, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that’s perfect for a single-day journey. With a relatively short duration and a clear route, you won't need to worry about extensive planning or overnight stays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Medina, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 41 | 80.8 mi | 1h 29m |
| US 45 | 11 mi | 12m |
| County Road M | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| County Road II | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| South 84th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Greenfield Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 80.8 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Medina, WI and West Allis, WI.
1
Start on CTH M
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
County Road M
2
At end of road, turn right onto CTH II; CTH M
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
County Road II
3
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 45
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 45
5
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
6
Merge onto I 41; US 41
81 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 38A-B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwaukee
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 306
Toward WI 181: 84th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
192 ft
·
4 sec
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto WI 181
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 84th Street
12
Turn left onto WI 59
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
WI 59
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 1m duration, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day, making it easy to be flexible with your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. While the drive is short, remember the longest stretch without a major road change is over 80 miles on I 41, so plan for a brief stop before or after this segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $16, and it's always wise to fill up before embarking on a drive with fewer services along the way.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.3 miles from Medina, WI, or about 1h 1m 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
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 Medina, 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 Medina, WI
This is one driving day of about 102.7 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Medina, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.3 miles from Medina, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.8 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 101.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
100.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m 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
100.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m 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
101.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m 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
8
101.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwauk...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.06 one way
$32.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.63 | $35.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.76 | $39.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.67 | $45.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.78 | $4.93 |
| Efficient EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.99 | $4.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.1 | 0 | $14.38 | $6.57 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
West Allis, WI
Morning in West Allis on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Sunny
W 15 to 20 mph
4% chance
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
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
2h 1m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the route utilizing major roads like I 41 and US 45. You'll experience an uninterrupted stretch of 80.8 miles on I 41, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the majority of the journey is on these faster highways, the inclusion of County Road M at the end suggests a slight shift towards more local roads as you approach your destination. Expect a predominantly consistent driving experience with minimal complex intersections for most of the trip.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US 45. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 102.7 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 6.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 100.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 102.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 100.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 West Allis, 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.
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