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Trip from Menomonee Falls, WI to Wisconsin Rapids, WI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 1m

Distance

148.9 mi

240 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 50m ★
6 AM
3h 2m
8 AM
3h 24m
10 AM
3h 10m
12 PM
3h 7m
3 PM
3h 11m
5 PM
3h 23m
8 PM
2h 55m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States

Menomonee Falls, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Wisconsin Rapids, WI, WI

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Menomonee Falls, WI to Wisconsin Rapids, WI is 148.9 miles and takes about 3h 1m via I 41 and US Highway 10, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Wisconsin. Given the relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day. Plan for a departure that allows for a comfortable pace, especially considering the longest stretch without a major road change. It's a practical option for getting from one Wisconsin locale to another without extensive travel time.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

74.5 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 41 68.8 mi 1h 13m
US Highway 10 35.2 mi 40m
Plover Road 16.9 mi 24m
US 45 15.2 mi 17m
County Road B 8.8 mi 15m
Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
Peach Street 0.5 mi 1m
16th Street North 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 41 — 68.8 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Wisconsin Rapids, WI.

1

Start on WI 175

21 ft · 4 sec · Appleton Avenue
2

Turn left onto Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
3

Turn left onto Pilgrim Road

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Pilgrim Road
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Toward I 41 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Appleton, West Bend
5

Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45

7.2 mi · 7 min · I 41; US 41; US 45
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41

62 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 41; US 41
Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton Use the slight left lane.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 58 sec
Toward US 45 North: New London Use the slight left lane.
9

Merge onto US 45

15 mi · 17 min · US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10

35 mi · 40 min · US Highway 10
Toward US 10 West: Stevens Point
11

Take the exit onto CTH B

0.2 mi · 28 sec · CTH B
Toward CTH B West: Plover, Amherst
12

Turn left onto CTH B

8.8 mi · 15 min · County Road B
13

Continue on CTH B

17 mi · 24 min · Plover Road
Use the straight lane.
14

Turn slight right

242 ft · 8 sec
Use the right lane.
15

Turn straight onto Baker Drive

0.3 mi · 53 sec · Baker Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
16

Turn left onto 16th Street North

0.4 mi · 1 min · 16th Street North
17

Turn right onto Peach Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Peach Street
18

Turn left onto 8th Street South

0.3 mi · 36 sec · 8th Street South
Use the straight / right lanes.
19

Turn right

58 ft · 6 sec
20

Turn right

16 ft · 1 sec
21

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal, allowing you to arrive with plenty of daylight. Since the total travel time is under four hours, you won't need to split the drive, giving you flexibility with your departure time. There's one recommended stop, so consider making it around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $23, but it's always wise to top off before starting, especially before that 68.8-mile stretch on I 41. The transition from I 41 to US Highway 10 is a key point to be aware of as you near your destination.

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 74.5 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.8 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 33 miles or 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 74.5 miles or 1h 22m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wisconsin Rapids, 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 148.9 miles and 3h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 41 for about 68.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Royalton, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Royalton, WI

74 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Fond du Lac, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oshkosh, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74.5 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.8 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Lomira Rest Area 63

0.1 mi from route

Theresa Rest Area 64

0.1 mi from route

64

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

1.8 mi from route

Lake Emily County Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Amherst Junction, Wisconsin

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+17158243175

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 148.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
8.6 mi into trip | ~11m in | I 41; US 41

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
7
70.2 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Take the exit toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard

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. Toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard
7
70.4 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 45 North: New London

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 45 North: New London
5
71.2 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | US 45

Merge onto US 45

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
148.6 mi into trip | ~3h in | 8th Street South

Turn left onto 8th Street South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.28 one way

$46.56 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.56 $51.12
premium $4.89 $28.65 $57.31
diesel $5.61 $32.88 $65.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 52.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.7 0 $15.63 $7.15
Efficient EV 37.2 0 $13.03 $5.96
EV Truck/SUV 59.6 0 $20.85 $9.53

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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 20, 2026

Origin

Menomonee Falls, WI

Morning in Menomonee Falls on Tuesday

Local time

7:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Morning in Wisconsin Rapids on Tuesday

Local time

7:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

21°F

Clear

ESE 1 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:08PM CDT until April 20 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:08PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

43°F

Royalton, WI

74 mi in

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

38 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

3h 1m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is predominantly on highways, with 80% of the route utilizing them. You'll experience about 68.8 miles on I 41 before transitioning. The majority of the driving will be on Interstate 41, which means you can expect a consistent cruising speed. Towards the end of the trip, you'll shift to US Highway 10 and Plover Road, which will likely involve more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits as you approach Wisconsin Rapids.

80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.8 mi on I 41.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US Highway 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in near I 41; US 41.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 17 significant decision points across 148.9 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 8.6 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Wisconsin Rapids, WI, road signs point toward Appleton, Cth B West: Plover and Amherst.

Appleton

8.6 mi in | ~11m | via I 41; US 41

Cth B West: Plover

121.6 mi in | ~2h 16m | via CTH B

Amherst

121.6 mi in | ~2h 16m | via CTH B

About the Cities

Arriving in Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Full guide →

Wisconsin Rapids is a town of 19,000 people (2020) in North Central Wisconsin that is known for its papermaking history, and its cranberry industry.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 148.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 68.8 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 7 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 Wisconsin Rapids, 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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 8.6 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Wisconsin Rapids, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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