New Richmond, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is 309 miles and takes about 5h 43m via I 94 and State Highway 65, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With nearly all of the driving on highways, this is a straightforward route perfect for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it an efficient way to cover the distance.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
154.5 miles from New Richmond, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
292.5 mi
5h 14m
State Highway 65
10.1 mi
14m
South Knowles Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
WI 65
1.1 mi
1m
West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi
2m
Zoo Freeway
0.5 mi
<1m
Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Harmonee Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 292.5 mi, about 5h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Richmond, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on CTH K
259 ft·12 sec·East 1st Street
2
Turn left onto WI 65
1.3 mi·3 min·South Knowles Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on WI 65
1.7 mi·2 min·State Highway 65
4
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
127 ft·2 sec·State Highway 65
5
Continue on WI 65
5.9 mi·8 min·State Highway 65
6
Turn slight right onto WI 65
1.1 mi·1 min·WI 65
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
231 ft·13 sec·State Highway 65
8
Continue on WI 65
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 65
9
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
110 ft·6 sec·State Highway 65
10
Continue on WI 65
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 65
11
Continue on WI 65
0.1 mi·15 sec·State Highway 65
12
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
94 ft·5 sec·State Highway 65
Toward River Falls
13
Continue on WI 65
0.1 mi·16 sec·State Highway 65
Toward River Falls
14
Enter roundabout
293 ft·17 sec
Toward Eau Claire, Madison
15
Continue
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward Eau Claire, Madison
16
Merge onto I 94
228 mi·4 hr 4 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 305A-BToward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 305BToward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
0.5 mi·44 sec·Zoo Freeway
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 40A-BToward Watertown Plank RoadUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·24 sec
Exit 40AToward Watertown Plank Road EastUse the right lane.
23
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi·2 min·West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi·32 sec·Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft·21 sec·West Menomonee River Parkway
27
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this drive, consider leaving New Richmond in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. Since the majority of the 309 miles are on I 94, you can cover a significant portion of the distance before needing to think about surface streets. With a total estimated drive time of under 6 hours, it’s definitely a one-day trip. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the long 292.5-mile stretch on I 94, as services can be spaced out. Your estimated fuel cost is around $48, which is a good benchmark for budgeting.
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 154.5 miles from New Richmond, WI, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 292.5 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 68 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.5 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 39m
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 New Richmond, 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 New Richmond, WI
This is one driving day of about 309 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from New Richmond, 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 94 for about 292.5 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.4 and 307.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
12.4 mi into trip|~19m in
Enter roundabout toward Eau Claire, Madison
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Eau Claire, Madison
8
241.2 mi into trip|~4h 25m 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
305.4 mi into trip|~5h 35m 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
306 mi into trip|~5h 36m 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
9
307.5 mi into trip|~5h 39m 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
$48.31 one way
$96.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$53.04
$106.08
premium
$4.89
$59.46
$118.93
diesel
$5.61
$68.22
$136.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.7
1
$32.45
$14.83
Efficient EV
77.3
0
$27.04
$12.36
EV Truck/SUV
123.6
1
$43.26
$19.78
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
New Richmond, WI
Late night
in New Richmond on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wauwatosa, WI
Late night
in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Adams, WI
155 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
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
5h 43m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 181.2
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway driving, with 98% of the 309 miles on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a long, continuous stretch of 292.5 miles on I 94. Surface roads like South Knowles Avenue come into play only at the very end of your trip. Expect a steady pace with frequent exits as you approach your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 292.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 309 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 12.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.2 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 305.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 5h 43m. Total distance: 309 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 292.5 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.2 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 305.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Wauwatosa, WI before the return drive.
