Phillips to West Allis is 269.3 miles and takes about 5h 24m via I 41, US 10, and US 51, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's a predominantly highway drive, making it a straightforward trip. Consider this a solid option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground without complicated navigation.
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
134.7 miles from Phillips, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
80.8 mi
1h 29m
US 10
51.3 mi
1h 1m
US 51
46.3 mi
53m
US 8
32.2 mi
45m
I 39
29.8 mi
32m
US 45
12.3 mi
14m
State Highway 13
10.8 mi
14m
North Lake Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 80.8 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-41
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 114 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,804 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,388
Quietest
2 AM
~165 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phillips, WI and West Allis, WI.
1
Start on Beach Road
0.1 mi·33 sec·Beach Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto CTH H
0.4 mi·1 min·County Highway H
3
Continue on CTH H
118 ft·11 sec·County Highway H
4
Turn left onto WI 13
0.9 mi·2 min·North Lake Avenue
5
Continue on WI 13
11 mi·14 min·State Highway 13
6
Turn straight
0.2 mi·46 sec
7
Turn left onto US 8
32 mi·45 min·US 8
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto US 51
46 mi·53 min·US 51
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51
22 mi·24 min·I 39; US 51
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
11
Continue on I 39; US 10; US 51
7.4 mi·7 min·I 39; US 10; US 51
12
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66
0.4 mi·57 sec·US 10; WI 66
Exit 158Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
51 mi·1 hr·US 10
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, WaupacaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
12 mi·14 min·US 45
Exit 276Toward US 45 South: OshkoshUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
16
Merge onto I 41; US 41
81 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 38A-BToward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, MadisonUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 38AToward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: MilwaukeeUse the slight left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 306Toward WI 181: 84th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
192 ft·4 sec
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto WI 181
0.7 mi·1 min·South 84th Street
22
Turn left onto WI 59
0.5 mi·1 min·West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
WI 59
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, it's feasible to complete this trip in a single day. Aim for an early morning departure from Phillips to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential rush hour traffic closer to West Allis. With only one stop recommended, you can plan a brief break for fuel or a quick meal. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 80.8-mile stretch on I 41, to ensure you don't need to search for services in less populated areas.
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 134.7 miles from Phillips, WI, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.8 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 59 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.7 miles or 2h 48m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Allis, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Phillips, 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 Phillips, WI
This is one driving day of about 269.3 miles and 5h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Phillips, 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 41 for about 80.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 121.6 and 267.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
121.6 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
8
172.5 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 276
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
8
266.8 mi into trip|~5h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
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 38A-B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
9
267 mi into trip|~5h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwauk...
8
267.7 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 181: 84th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306
Toward WI 181: 84th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.92 one way
$89.84 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$48.82
$97.65
premium
$5.26
$55.76
$111.52
diesel
$6.18
$65.51
$131.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.8
0
$28.28
$12.93
Efficient EV
67.3
0
$23.56
$10.77
EV Truck/SUV
107.7
1
$37.70
$17.24
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Phillips, WI
Morning
in Phillips on Saturday
Local time
6:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
27°F
Mostly Clear
W 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:56PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 4:57PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
West Allis, WI
Morning
in West Allis on Saturday
Local time
6:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Mostly Clear then Widespread Frost
NW 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:56PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 4:57PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
5 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 24m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with 98% of the mileage on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 80.8 miles on I 41 before encountering any significant changes in road type. Expect a consistent cruising experience with frequent exits and entrances as you transition between I 41, US 10, and US 51, especially as you approach more populated areas.
98% 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: 80.8 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 121.6 miles in near US 10.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 269.3 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 121.6 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.5 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 266.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,654 ft729 ft
Total Climb
425 ft
Total Descent
1,143 ft
Highest Point
1,654 ft
~19 mi in
Elevation Range
925 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Phillips, WI and West Allis, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Waupaca and Appleton.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 24m. Total distance: 269.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 24m 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 80.8 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 West Allis, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 121.6 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.5 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 266.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at West Allis, WI before the return drive.
