If you are planning a quick trip from Menomonee Falls to Monona, you are looking at a manageable 73.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you won’t need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel, keeping the trip quite affordable. Navigating through the Midwest, you will transition between these two Wisconsin communities primarily using the East-West Freeway, Redford Boulevard, and Main Street. It is a straightforward, no-nonsense route that gets you to your destination efficiently without the need for intermediate stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.8 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East-West Freeway
54.8 mi
58m
Redford Boulevard
4.4 mi
6m
Main Street
3.4 mi
7m
North Stoughton Road
3.1 mi
4m
West Main Street
2.5 mi
4m
WI 30
1.6 mi
1m
Waukesha Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Pflaum Road
0.9 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 Monona, 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
1.6 mi·1 min·WI 30
Exit 240Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, WI 30 West: Janesville, MadisonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 1CToward US 51, I 39 Alternate, I 94 Alternate: Stoughton RoadUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
476 ft·13 sec
15
Turn left onto US 51
3.1 mi·4 min·North Stoughton Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn right onto Pflaum Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Pflaum Road
17
Continue on Nichols Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Nichols Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
Nichols Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on the East-West Freeway is always a smart move. Because the entire route covers less than 75 miles, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing planned rest stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Menomonee Falls, as a $11 budget should comfortably cover your needs for the duration of the 1-hour and 32-minute trek. Use the initial stretch on Redford Boulevard to get comfortable before merging onto the freeway for the bulk of your travel. Taking advantage of the trip's brevity allows you to maximize your time once you arrive in Monona.
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 36.8 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 49m 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 16 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.8 miles or 49m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monona, 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 73.7 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.5 and 69.2 — 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.
9
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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, WI 30 West: Janes...
8
69 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 51, I 39 Alternate, I 94 Alternate: Stoughton Road
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 1C
Toward US 51, I 39 Alternate, I 94 Alternate: S...
5
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.52 one way
$23.04 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.65
$25.30
premium
$4.89
$14.18
$28.37
diesel
$5.61
$16.27
$32.54
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: 25.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
Efficient EV
18.4
0
$6.45
$2.95
EV Truck/SUV
29.5
0
$10.32
$4.72
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Menomonee Falls, WI
Late night
in Menomonee Falls on Tuesday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Monona, WI
Late night
in Monona on Tuesday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
3 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
1h 32m 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 drive is heavily highway-focused, with 77% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a consistent rhythm during the longest stretch of the trip, which covers 54.8 miles on the East-West Freeway. While the beginning and end of your journey involve navigating local roads like Redford Boulevard and Main Street, the majority of the experience is defined by the efficiency of the freeway. Expect a steady, predictable pace rather than a winding or technical drive. Being behind the wheel here is all about maintaining focus on the highway flow as you transition between the two Wisconsin locales.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and Redford Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.5 miles in near I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.7 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 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 67.3 miles (WI 30): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
961 ft828 ft
Total Climb
157 ft
Total Descent
135 ft
Highest Point
961 ft
~21.1 mi in
Elevation Range
132 ft
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 Monona, 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 1h 32m. Total distance: 73.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). 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 Monona, 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 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 67.3 miles (WI 30): 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 Monona, WI before heading back.
