Menomonee Falls, WI to Tainter Lake, WI is 270 miles and takes about 5h 5m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Wisconsin, making it a straightforward drive. With 92% of the route on highways, you'll find yourself on high-speed interstates for most of the way. This is a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground within the state, with minimal fuss and a predictable travel time.
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
135 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
130.1 mi
2h 19m
I 90
63.5 mi
1h 8m
East-West Freeway
54.8 mi
58m
Redford Boulevard
4.4 mi
6m
CTH B
3.6 mi
5m
Main Street
3.4 mi
7m
County Road D
3 mi
5m
West Main Street
2.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 130.1 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Tainter Lake, 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
101 mi·1 hr 48 min·I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint PaulUse the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 45Toward CTH B: Menomonie
16
Keep slight right at fork
136 ft·3 sec
17
Turn right onto CTH B
3.6 mi·5 min·CTH B
18
Continue on CTH BB
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road BB
19
At end of road, turn right onto CTH G
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road G
20
At end of road, turn right onto CTH D; CTH G
3.0 mi·5 min·County Road D
21
Turn right onto 622nd Street
0.3 mi·1 min·622nd Street
22
Arrive at destination
848th Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to take full advantage of daylight and arrive with ample time to settle in. With only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to push through or break it up as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $42, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially during the 130.1-mile stretch on I 94. Since the majority of the route is highway, be aware of potential traffic congestion during peak commuting hours in and around the Milwaukee area.
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 135 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.1 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 59 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tainter Lake, 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 270 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 130.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.5 and 159.9 — 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|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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.21 one way
$84.42 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.35
$92.69
premium
$4.89
$51.96
$103.92
diesel
$5.61
$59.61
$119.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81
0
$28.35
$12.96
Efficient EV
67.5
0
$23.63
$10.80
EV Truck/SUV
108
1
$37.80
$17.28
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 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 19, 2026
Origin
Menomonee Falls, WI
Morning
in Menomonee Falls on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tainter Lake, WI
Morning
in Tainter Lake on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°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
10 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
5h 5m 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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 130.3
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 92% of the 270 miles on high-speed roads like I 94, I 90, and East-West Freeway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 130.1 miles on I 94. You'll be on surface roads for approximately 21.6 miles, likely near your destination. The sheer number of exits and lane changes on the interstate sections will be a noticeable aspect of this drive.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130.1 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.5 miles in near I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 270 miles you will encounter 14 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 (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Tainter Lake, 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 5h 5m. Total distance: 270 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 130.1 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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 Tainter Lake, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tainter Lake, WI before the return drive.
