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Trip from Muskego, WI to Cedarburg, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

58m

Distance

36.6 mi

59 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 54m ★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Muskego, WI, WI

Muskego, WI

Vladimir Srajber

city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States

Cedarburg, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion from Muskego to Cedarburg, you are looking at a straightforward 36.6-mile trip that typically takes about 58 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, allowing you to easily complete the journey without needing an overnight stay. You will traverse the Midwest landscape by utilizing a combination of the Zoo Freeway, Rock Freeway, and Wauwatosa Road. Budgeting roughly $6 for fuel is sufficient for the round trip. Because the drive is short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, making it an ideal choice for a spontaneous day trip within Wisconsin.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Zoo Freeway 12.7 mi 17m
Rock Freeway 6.4 mi 7m
Wauwatosa Road 4 mi 7m
North 76th Street 3.1 mi 5m
West Good Hope Road 2.4 mi 4m
Racine Avenue 2.3 mi 4m
Cedarburg Road 1.8 mi 3m
Washington Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Zoo Freeway — 12.7 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Muskego, WI and Cedarburg, WI.

1

Start on Pioneer Drive

96 ft · 4 sec · Pioneer Drive
2

Turn left onto CTH L

0.6 mi · 1 min · Janesville Road
3

Turn right onto CTH Y

2.3 mi · 4 min · Racine Avenue
4

Enter roundabout

11 ft · 0 sec
Toward I 43 North
5

Continue

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 43 North
6

Merge onto I 43

6.4 mi · 7 min · Rock Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Take the exit onto US 45

0.6 mi · 55 sec · US 45
Exit 61 Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
8

Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45

13 mi · 17 min · Zoo Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
9

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 47B Toward Good Hope Road Use the slight right lane.
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward Good Hope Road East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn straight onto CTH PP

2.4 mi · 4 min · West Good Hope Road
12

Turn left onto WI 181

3.1 mi · 5 min · North 76th Street
Use the left lane.
13

Continue on WI 181

4.0 mi · 7 min · Wauwatosa Road
14

Turn right onto Highland Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Highland Road
15

Turn left onto Cedarburg Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · Cedarburg Road
16

Continue on Washington Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · Washington Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17

Arrive at destination

Washington Avenue

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Butler, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Butler, WI

18 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

Grafton, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elm Grove, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Muskego, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 23.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2.9 mi into trip | ~5m in

Enter roundabout toward I 43 North

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Toward I 43 North
5
3.2 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 43 / Rock Freeway

Merge onto I 43 / Rock Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
9.6 mi into trip | ~13m in | US 45

Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 61 Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fon...
7
23 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward Good Hope Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 47B Toward Good Hope Road
8
23.1 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Good Hope Road East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Good Hope Road East

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.72 one way

$11.44 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $6.28 $12.57
premium $4.89 $7.04 $14.09
diesel $5.61 $8.08 $16.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11 0 $3.84 $1.76
Efficient EV 9.2 0 $3.20 $1.46
EV Truck/SUV 14.6 0 $5.12 $2.34

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 12, 2026

Origin

Muskego, WI

Late night in Muskego on Sunday

Local time

3:11 AM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 47% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:11PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:11PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Destination

Cedarburg, WI

Late night in Cedarburg on Sunday

Local time

3:11 AM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 10 mph 88% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:11PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 9:11PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

47°F

Butler, WI

18 mi in

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

58m 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 features a mixed profile that balances efficiency with local navigation. You will spend about 54% of your time on highways, providing a blend of fast-paced transit and slower transitions. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during your 12.7-mile run on the Zoo Freeway, where you can maintain a consistent speed before the route shifts. As you navigate away from the freeway segments and transition onto Wauwatosa Road, the character of the drive changes, requiring more focused attention on local road conditions. Expect a functional commute that moves steadily through the Wisconsin terrain.

54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.7 mi on Zoo Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 36.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.2 miles (I 43 / Rock Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

885 ft 682 ft

Total Climb

306 ft

Total Descent

323 ft

Highest Point

885 ft

~7.6 mi in

Elevation Range

204 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Muskego, WI and Cedarburg, WI, road signs point toward Madison and Good Hope Road East.

Madison

9.6 mi in | ~13m | via US 45

Good Hope Road East

23.1 mi in | ~32m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 36.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 12.7 miles on Zoo 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 Cedarburg, 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 2.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.2 miles (I 43 / Rock Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cedarburg, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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