Origin
Middleton, WI
Morning in Middleton on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Middleton, 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
1h 46m
Distance
83.2 mi
134 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middleton, WI
David Roberts
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Middleton, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is 83.2 miles and takes about 1h 46m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward trip stays within Wisconsin, making it a convenient drive between two Midwest locations. With a high highway share, expect a focused drive where efficiency is key. Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, it’s an ideal option for a same-day excursion or a quick commute.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from Middleton, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 63.3 mi | 1h 8m |
| County Highway M | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Northport Drive | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Aberg Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| WI 30 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| County Road M | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Century Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| WI 113 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 63.3 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Middleton, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on Park Lawn Place
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Park Lawn Place
2
Continue on Park Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Park Street
3
Turn right onto Donna Drive
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Donna Drive
4
Turn right onto CTH M
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Century Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on CTH M
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
County Highway M
6
Continue on CTH M
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road M
7
Turn right onto WI 113
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
State Highway 113
8
Continue on WI 113
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Northport Drive
9
Keep slight right at fork onto WI 113
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 113
Use the left lane.
10
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
11
Turn left onto Aberg Avenue
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Aberg Avenue
12
Continue on WI 30
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
WI 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 94
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
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.
16
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
Zoo Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
Use the right lane.
19
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Menomonee River Parkway
23
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
Since this 83.2-mile drive is estimated at just 1 hour and 46 minutes, you have considerable flexibility in your departure time. Leaving Middleton, WI mid-morning could allow you to avoid peak commuter traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, filling up before you leave is a practical approach. The longest stretch on I 94 is over an hour, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained driving before embarking.
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 41.6 miles from Middleton, WI, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.3 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 18 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 miles or 57m 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 28m
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 Middleton, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Middleton, WI
This is one driving day of about 83.2 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Middleton, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 63.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.6 miles from Middleton, 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 63.3 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 81.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CTH M / Century Avenue
Turn right onto CTH M / Century Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
79.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m 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
80.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m 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
81.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m 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
81.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m 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
$13.01 one way
$26.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.28 | $28.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.01 | $32.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.37 | $36.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25 | 0 | $8.74 | $3.99 |
| Efficient EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.28 | $3.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.65 | $5.32 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Morning in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Cottage Grove, WI
42 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
2 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 46m 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 route is predominantly highway-focused, with 80% of the drive taking place on major interstates like I 94. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 63.3 miles on I 94, indicating a consistent pace for much of the journey. While County Highway M and Northport Drive are part of the mix, the overall character leans towards efficient travel on well-maintained roads, rather than winding scenic byways.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and County Highway M. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near CTH M / Century Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.8 miles (CTH M / Century Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.1 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 1h 46m. Total distance: 83.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m 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 63.3 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.
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 0.8 miles (CTH M / Century Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.1 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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