If you are planning a trip from Menomonee Falls to Cross Plains, expect a straightforward journey covering 94.6 miles across the Wisconsin landscape. This drive typically takes about 2 hours and 1 minute, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the East-West Freeway, the South Beltline Highway, and University Avenue. Budget roughly $14 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Midwest locations. Because the route is compact and efficient, it serves as a reliable connection for travelers looking to move quickly between these points without needing to plan for multiple stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East-West Freeway
54.8 mi
58m
South Beltline Highway
14.5 mi
19m
University Avenue
6.4 mi
9m
Redford Boulevard
4.4 mi
6m
Main Street
4.3 mi
10m
I 39
3.2 mi
3m
West Main Street
2.5 mi
4m
Waukesha Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 54.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Cross Plains, WI.
1
Start on WI 175
21 ft·7 sec·Appleton Avenue
2
Turn right onto Main Street
2.1 mi·5 min·Main Street
3
Continue on CTH F
2.5 mi·4 min·West Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto CTH F; CTH V
127 ft·7 sec·Town Line Road
5
Continue on CTH F; CTH V
0.4 mi·50 sec·Town Line Road
6
Turn right onto CTH F
1.3 mi·2 min·Main Street
7
Turn left onto CTH F
1.5 mi·2 min·Waukesha Avenue
8
Continue on CTH F
4.4 mi·6 min·Redford Boulevard
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
10
Merge onto I 94; WI 164
1.3 mi·1 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
54 mi·57 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 30
0.2 mi·15 sec·WI 30
Exit 240Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, WI 30 West: Janesville, Madison
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·23 sec
Exit 240AToward I 39 South, I 90 East: JanesvilleUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 39; I 90
3.2 mi·3 min·I 39; I 90
15
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 142AToward US 12 West, US 18 West: Madison
16
Merge onto US 12; US 18
14 mi·19 min·South Beltline Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 252Toward Greenway BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto Greenway Boulevard
0.2 mi·48 sec·Greenway Boulevard
19
Turn right onto John Q Hammons Drive
0.3 mi·39 sec·John Q Hammons Drive
Use the right lane.
20
Enter roundabout onto Deming Way
20 ft·0 sec·Deming Way
21
Continue on Deming Way
0.2 mi·38 sec·Deming Way
22
Turn left onto US 14
6.4 mi·9 min·University Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on US 14
0.9 mi·2 min·Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
US 14
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep in mind that with no official stops required for this 2-hour-and-1-minute trip, you can easily complete the journey in a single stretch. If you prefer to pace yourself, use the transition from the East-West Freeway to the South Beltline Highway as a natural point to check your fuel levels or stretch your legs. Given the $14 estimated fuel cost, it is wise to fill up before you leave Menomonee Falls to avoid any mid-trip inconveniences. Prioritize steady driving on the highway segments to ensure you reach Cross Plains efficiently and comfortably.
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 47.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.8 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 21 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.3 miles or 1h 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cross Plains, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Menomonee Falls, 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 Menomonee Falls, WI
This is one driving day of about 94.6 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East-West Freeway for about 54.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.8 and 86.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
13.8 mi into trip|~24m in|I 94 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
67.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|WI 30
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 30 toward I 39 South, I 90 East, WI 30 West: Janesville, Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 240
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, WI 30 West: Janes...
9
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 39 South, I 90 East: Janesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 240A
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East: Janesville
6
71 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward US 12 West, US 18 West: Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 142A
Toward US 12 West, US 18 West: Madison
7
86.4 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward Greenway Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 252
Toward Greenway Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.79 one way
$29.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.24
$32.48
premium
$4.89
$18.20
$36.41
diesel
$5.61
$20.89
$41.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.4
0
$9.93
$4.54
Efficient EV
23.7
0
$8.28
$3.78
EV Truck/SUV
37.8
0
$13.24
$6.05
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Menomonee Falls, WI
Late night
in Menomonee Falls on Sunday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cross Plains, WI
Late night
in Cross Plains on Sunday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
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
14 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
2h 1m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 62% of your journey is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the East-West Freeway, which features the route’s longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.8 miles. While the beginning of the trip emphasizes high-speed transit, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto the South Beltline Highway and eventually University Avenue. This mix of freeway travel and local arterial roads keeps the drive feeling productive rather than monotonous. You can anticipate a consistent, steady pace throughout the entire 94.6-mile trek.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.8 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and South Beltline Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in near I 94 / East-West Freeway.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 94.6 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 13.8 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.3 miles (WI 30): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Cross Plains, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Madison along the way.
Madison
67.3 mi in|~1h 21m|via WI 30
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 94.6 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 (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.8 miles on East-West Freeway. 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 Cross Plains, 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 13.8 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.3 miles (WI 30): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.6 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 Cross Plains, WI before heading back.
