Origin
Merrimac, WI
Late night in Merrimac on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Merrimac, WI to Wauwatosa, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 1m
Distance
97.4 mi
157 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 53m
★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Merrimac, WI
Tom Fisk
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Merrimac, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is 97.4 miles and takes about 2h 1m via I 94, I 39, and State Highway 113, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily through the Midwest region of Wisconsin, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. The route is mostly highway, so you can expect relatively quick travel times. Plan for a fuel cost of around $15 for this journey. Given its duration, it’s an easy day trip without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.7 miles from Merrimac, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 64.2 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 39 | 17.7 mi | 18m |
| State Highway 113 | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 60 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| County Highway J | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Watertown Plank Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Lindsay Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Zoo Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Merrimac, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on School Street
77 ft
·
6 sec
·
School Street
2
Turn right onto WI 78
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn left onto WI 113
236 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wisconsin Avenue
4
Continue on WI 113
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Wisconsin Avenue
5
Continue on WI 113
0.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Merrimac Ferry
6
Continue on WI 113
496 ft
·
13 sec
·
State Highway 113
7
At end of road, turn left onto WI 113
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 113
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Continue on WI 113
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Main Street
9
Turn left onto CTH J
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
County Highway J
10
Turn right onto Lindsay Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lindsay Road
11
Turn sharp left onto WI 60
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 60
12
Enter roundabout
46 ft
·
2 sec
13
Continue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
14
Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94
18 mi
·
18 min
·
I 39; I 90; I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 94
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 305A-B
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 305B
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
Use the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
Zoo Freeway
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
Use the right lane.
21
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Menomonee River Parkway
25
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 2-hour drive, flexibility is key. You can easily depart anytime and complete the trip within daylight hours. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, it's budget-friendly. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic in the Milwaukee metro area as you approach Wauwatosa. There are no designated stops provided, so feel free to take breaks as needed, perhaps a quick stop at a rest area along I 94 if you feel the need to stretch your legs during the longest 64.2-mile highway segment.
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 48.7 miles from Merrimac, WI, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 21 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.7 miles or 1h 4m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wauwatosa, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Merrimac, 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 Merrimac, WI
This is one driving day of about 97.4 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Merrimac, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 64.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.7 miles from Merrimac, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 29.6 and 95.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
29.6 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
8
93.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
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 305A-B
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
9
94.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 305B
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
7
95.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward Watertown Plank Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
9
95.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Watertown Plank Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.23 one way
$30.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.72 | $33.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.74 | $37.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.50 | $43.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.23 | $4.68 |
| Efficient EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.52 | $3.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39 | 0 | $13.64 | $6.23 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Wauwatosa, WI
Late night in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
22 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
2h 1m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the route utilizing major highways like I 94 and I 39. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 64.2 miles on I 94, offering a consistent pace. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of State Highway 113 provides a slight variation in scenery and road type. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficiency and steady progress, typical of a Midwest interstate journey.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 39. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.6 miles in near I 94.
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 18 significant decision points across 97.4 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 29.6 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 97.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m 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 64.2 miles on I 94. 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 Wauwatosa, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.6 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.4 miles: 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 Wauwatosa, WI before heading back.
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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