If you are planning a trip from Menomonee Falls to Dunkirk, you are looking at a straightforward 79.3-mile journey through the heart of Wisconsin. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 43 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal one-day excursion that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. You will primarily navigate via the East-West Freeway, County Highway N, and Redford Boulevard. Because the entire route remains within the Midwest, you can anticipate familiar terrain and consistent road conditions throughout your travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.7 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East-West Freeway
50.5 mi
54m
County Highway N
10 mi
14m
Redford Boulevard
4.4 mi
6m
Main Street
3.4 mi
7m
County Road N
3.3 mi
6m
West Main Street
2.5 mi
4m
North Main Street
1.8 mi
2m
Waukesha Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 50.5 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Dunkirk, 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
49 mi·52 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 244Toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage GroveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
200 ft·3 sec·County Highway N
14
Continue on CTH N
511 ft·8 sec·County Highway N
15
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
90 ft·1 sec·County Highway N
16
Continue on CTH N
0.8 mi·1 min·County Highway N
17
Continue on CTH N
1.8 mi·2 min·North Main Street
18
Continue on CTH N
4.8 mi·6 min·County Highway N
19
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
188 ft·4 sec·County Highway N
20
Continue on CTH N
0.1 mi·11 sec·County Highway N
21
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
160 ft·3 sec·County Highway N
22
Continue on CTH N
0.2 mi·27 sec·County Highway N
23
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
138 ft·3 sec·County Highway N
24
Continue on CTH N
2.4 mi·3 min·County Highway N
25
Continue on CTH B; CTH N
1.5 mi·2 min·County Road N
26
Continue on CTH N
1.5 mi·2 min·County Highway N
27
Continue on CTH N; CTH A
0.9 mi·1 min·Veterans Road
28
Continue on CTH N
1.8 mi·4 min·County Road N
29
Arrive at destination
CTH N
Trip Plan
Since this 1-hour and 43-minute trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, though keeping your fuel tank in mind remains a good practice given the $12 estimated cost. Try to avoid peak traffic hours on the East-West Freeway to ensure your travel time stays closer to the 1-hour and 43-minute mark. Because the route relies heavily on the 50.5-mile freeway stretch, monitor your speed carefully as you transition from high-speed segments onto the local sections of County Highway N. Use the agility of this short commute to your advantage by leaving whenever it best fits your schedule.
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 39.7 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.5 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 17 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.7 miles or 52m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dunkirk, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Menomonee Falls, WI
This is one driving day of about 79.3 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 50.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.5 and 63.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
12.5 mi into trip|~23m in|I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway
Merge onto I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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.
8
63 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove
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 244
Toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove
5
63.3 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|CTH N / County Highway N
Enter roundabout onto CTH N / County Highway N
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
63.4 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|CTH N / County Highway N
Enter roundabout onto CTH N / County Highway N
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.40 one way
$24.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.61
$27.22
premium
$4.89
$15.26
$30.52
diesel
$5.61
$17.51
$35.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 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
23.8
0
$8.33
$3.81
Efficient EV
19.8
0
$6.94
$3.17
EV Truck/SUV
31.7
0
$11.10
$5.08
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 15, 2026
Origin
Menomonee Falls, WI
Late night
in Menomonee Falls on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dunkirk, WI
Late night
in Dunkirk on Sunday
Local time
3:01 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
1h 43m 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?
This highway-focused drive is designed for efficiency, with roughly 64% of your time spent on major roads. You will find yourself settling into a rhythm during the longest uninterrupted stretch, which covers 50.5 miles on the East-West Freeway. While the freeway sections allow for steady progress, the transition onto County Highway N and Redford Boulevard shifts the pace as you move toward your destination. The route balances fast-paced highway commuting with the localized feel of secondary roads. It is a functional drive that trades scenic complexity for a reliable and predictable path across the state.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.5 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and County Highway N. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 12.5 miles in near I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 43m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.5 miles (I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63 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.
Between Menomonee Falls, WI and Dunkirk, WI, road signs point toward Cth N: Sun Prairie and Cottage Grove.
Cth N: Sun Prairie
63 mi in|~1h 17m
Cottage Grove
63 mi in|~1h 17m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 79.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 50.5 miles on East-West Freeway. 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: at 12.5 miles (I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63 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 Dunkirk, WI before heading back.
