Menomonee Falls, WI to Lake Hallie, WI is 245.5 miles and takes about 4h 37m via I 94, I 90, and East-West Freeway, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, offering a straightforward journey across Wisconsin. Expect a drive that's primarily on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day haul. Given its highway-focused profile and manageable duration, it's a solid option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
122.8 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
105.2 mi
1h 52m
I 90
63.5 mi
1h 8m
East-West Freeway
54.8 mi
58m
US 53
7 mi
8m
Redford Boulevard
4.4 mi
6m
Main Street
3.4 mi
7m
West Main Street
2.5 mi
4m
Waukesha Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 105.2 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Lake Hallie, 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 right at fork onto I 94
29 mi·31 min·I 94
Exit 240Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau ClaireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
76 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint PaulUse the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
17
Merge onto US 53
7.0 mi·8 min·US 53
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward Melby Street
19
Keep slight left at fork
173 ft·4 sec
20
Turn left onto East Melby Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Melby Street
21
Turn right onto 115th Street
0.8 mi·3 min·115th Street
22
At end of road, turn left onto 22nd Avenue
0.1 mi·35 sec·22nd Avenue
23
Turn sharp right onto CTH OO
46 ft·1 sec·Joles Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
CTH OO
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day trip covering 245.5 miles, consider an early morning departure from Menomonee Falls to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a duration of under 5 hours, you'll likely only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. The estimated fuel cost is around $38, so plan accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 105.2 miles on I 94, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 122.8 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.2 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 54 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.8 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Hallie, 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 245.5 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 105.2 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 236.2 — 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.
9
67.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
6
96.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
159.9 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
6
236.2 mi into trip|~4h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.38 one way
$76.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.14
$84.28
premium
$4.89
$47.24
$94.49
diesel
$5.61
$54.20
$108.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.6
0
$25.78
$11.78
Efficient EV
61.4
0
$21.48
$9.82
EV Truck/SUV
98.2
1
$34.37
$15.71
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Menomonee Falls, WI
Night
in Menomonee Falls on Saturday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 10 to 15 mph73% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lake Hallie, WI
Night
in Lake Hallie on Saturday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
28 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
4h 37m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 127
Caution: Hemlock Creek Segment — Logging Activities
Caution: Indian Creek Segment — Machinery and Parking Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey utilizing major interstates like I 94 and I 90. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 105.2 miles on I 94, so be prepared for sustained highway speeds. The East-West Freeway also contributes to the overall high-speed character of this drive. The landscape will likely present as a consistent, fast-paced experience typical of long-distance interstate travel across the Midwest.
94% 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: 105.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 245.5 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 (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.4 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,039 ft838 ft
Total Climb
476 ft
Total Descent
435 ft
Highest Point
1,039 ft
~210.5 mi in
Elevation Range
201 ft
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 Lake Hallie, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Saint Paul.
Eau Claire
67.3 mi in|~1h 21m|via I 94
Saint Paul
159.9 mi in|~3h 1m|via I 94
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 245.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Lake Hallie, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.4 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Lake Hallie, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
