Traveling from Muskego to Monona is a straightforward 76.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 34 minutes to complete. Because this trip is short and efficient, it is best suited as a simple one-day excursion rather than an overnight commitment. You can expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The path utilizes a combination of the East-West Freeway, South Moorland Road, and North Stoughton Road to navigate across the Midwest. Since both towns are located within Wisconsin, you will remain in the same region throughout your travel, ensuring a consistent and familiar driving experience. It is a practical route for those looking to reach their destination quickly without the need for extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.2 miles from Muskego, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East-West Freeway
60.2 mi
1h 4m
South Moorland Road
5.2 mi
9m
North Stoughton Road
3.1 mi
4m
Moorland Road
2.2 mi
4m
Janesville Road
1.8 mi
4m
WI 30
1.6 mi
1m
Pflaum Road
0.9 mi
2m
Nichols Road
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 60.2 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Muskego, WI and Monona, WI.
1
Start on Pioneer Drive
96 ft·6 sec·Pioneer Drive
2
Turn right onto CTH L
1.8 mi·4 min·Janesville Road
3
Turn left onto CTH O
2.2 mi·4 min·Moorland Road
4
Enter roundabout onto CTH O
145 ft·2 sec·South Moorland Road
5
Continue on CTH O
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Moorland Road
6
Enter roundabout onto CTH O
234 ft·4 sec·South Moorland Road
7
Continue on CTH O
4.8 mi·8 min·South Moorland Road
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 94
6.7 mi·7 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
54 mi·57 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 30
1.6 mi·1 min·WI 30
Exit 240Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, WI 30 West: Janesville, MadisonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 1CToward US 51, I 39 Alternate, I 94 Alternate: Stoughton RoadUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
476 ft·13 sec
14
Turn left onto US 51
3.1 mi·4 min·North Stoughton Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right onto Pflaum Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Pflaum Road
16
Continue on Nichols Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Nichols Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
Nichols Road
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it best fits your itinerary without worrying about complex scheduling. With no mandatory stops required for a trip of this length, you can easily complete the drive in one go if you prefer. Keep in mind that since the route relies so heavily on major highways, your travel time may fluctuate slightly based on traffic volume along the East-West Freeway. Plan to keep your gas tank prepared with a $12 fuel budget in mind for the round trip. Since you will be on the road for under two hours, packing light snacks and water is usually sufficient to keep you comfortable until you reach Monona.
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 38.2 miles from Muskego, WI, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.2 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 17 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.2 miles or 49m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monona, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Muskego, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Muskego, WI
This is one driving day of about 76.4 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Muskego, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East-West Freeway for about 60.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.4 and 71.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.4 mi into trip|~9m in|CTH O / South Moorland Road
Enter roundabout onto CTH O / South Moorland Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
9.8 mi into trip|~19m in|I 94 / East-West Freeway
Merge onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
16.5 mi into trip|~26m 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
70 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|WI 30
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 30 toward I 39 South, I 90 East, WI 30 West: Janesville, Madison
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 South, I 90 East, WI 30 West: Janes...
8
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 51, I 39 Alternate, I 94 Alternate: Stoughton Road
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 1C
Toward US 51, I 39 Alternate, I 94 Alternate: S...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.94 one way
$23.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.11
$26.23
premium
$4.89
$14.70
$29.40
diesel
$5.61
$16.87
$33.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.9
0
$8.02
$3.67
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.69
$3.06
EV Truck/SUV
30.6
0
$10.70
$4.89
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 12, 2026
Origin
Muskego, WI
Night
in Muskego on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph47% chanceLive 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
Monona, WI
Night
in Monona on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
3 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 34m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 81% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on the East-West Freeway, which accounts for a 60.2-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. The personality of this route is defined by its efficiency, prioritizing speed over local detours or technical roads. As you transition from the initial stretches of South Moorland Road onto the freeway system, the pace becomes consistent and predictable. Navigating the final sections via North Stoughton Road provides a functional conclusion to what is essentially a direct interstate-style commute.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.2 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and South Moorland Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in near CTH O / South Moorland Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 4.4 miles (CTH O / South Moorland Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.8 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,006 ft800 ft
Total Climb
561 ft
Total Descent
483 ft
Highest Point
1,006 ft
~66.8 mi in
Elevation Range
206 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Muskego, WI to Monona, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Madison along the way.
Madison
70 mi in|~1h 24m|via WI 30
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 76.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.2 miles on East-West 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 Monona, 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 4.4 miles (CTH O / South Moorland Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.8 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Monona, WI before heading back.
