Prescott, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is 321.2 miles and takes about 5h 56m via I 94, I 90, and County Road F, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip almost entirely on interstates, connecting two points within the Midwest. You'll be covering a significant distance on major highways, so expect a consistent driving pace. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without much fuss.
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
160.6 miles from Prescott, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
239.3 mi
4h 17m
I 90
61.2 mi
1h 5m
County Road F
6.9 mi
9m
County Highway F
5.9 mi
8m
Carmichael Road
1.3 mi
2m
State Highway 29
1.2 mi
1m
US Highway 10
1.2 mi
2m
West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 239.3 mi, about 4h 17m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 224 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,380 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,973
Quietest
2 AM
~158 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Prescott, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on WI 35
344 ft·7 sec·Broad Street
2
Continue on US 10; WI 35
1.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 10
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto WI 29; WI 35; CTH F
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 29
4
Turn left onto CTH F
6.9 mi·9 min·County Road F
5
Continue on CTH F
5.9 mi·8 min·County Highway F
6
Continue on CTH F
1.3 mi·2 min·Carmichael Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·25 sec
Toward Eau Claire, MadisonUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 94; US 12; WI 35
175 mi·3 hr 7 min·I 94; US 12; WI 35
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 90; I 94
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
10
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.
11
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.
12
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.
13
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
0.5 mi·44 sec·Zoo Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 40A-BToward Watertown Plank RoadUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·24 sec
Exit 40AToward Watertown Plank Road EastUse the right lane.
16
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi·2 min·West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi·32 sec·Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft·21 sec·West Menomonee River Parkway
20
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 56m drive time, starting your trip in the morning is advisable to allow for a comfortable pace and potential unscheduled stops. You'll have one recommended stop, but with 95% highway driving, you can easily cover the 321.2 miles in a single day. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially during the 239.3-mile stretch on I 94 where services might be less frequent. The fuel cost estimate of $49 should help you budget accordingly.
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 160.6 miles from Prescott, WI, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 239.3 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 71 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.6 miles or 2h 59m 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 49m
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 Prescott, 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 Prescott, WI
This is one driving day of about 321.2 miles and 5h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Prescott, 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 239.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 253.4 and 319.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
253.4 mi into trip|~4h 38m 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
317.6 mi into trip|~5h 48m 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
318.2 mi into trip|~5h 49m 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
319.5 mi into trip|~5h 51m 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
319.7 mi into trip|~5h 52m 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
$43.63 one way
$87.26 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$48.69
$97.37
premium
$4.15
$52.48
$104.96
diesel
$3.75
$47.42
$94.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.4
1
$33.73
$15.42
Efficient EV
80.3
0
$28.11
$12.85
EV Truck/SUV
128.5
1
$44.97
$20.56
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Prescott, WI
Evening
in Prescott on Sunday
Local time
8:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
S 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wauwatosa, WI
Evening
in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
8:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 56m 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
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 197.9
Park Closure: Trail Segment Temporarily Inaccessible — Hartman Creek Segment
Park Closure: Cross Plains Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 95% highway, meaning you'll be on major interstates for the vast majority of the trip. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 239.3 miles, primarily on I 94. You'll transition to surface roads, including County Road F, near the end of your drive. Expect a steady flow of traffic and frequent exits on the interstate portions.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 239.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 253.4 miles in near I 94.
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 13 significant decision points across 321.2 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 253.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 317.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 318.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,160 ft662 ft
Total Climb
921 ft
Total Descent
971 ft
Highest Point
1,160 ft
~45.5 mi in
Elevation Range
498 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Prescott, WI and Wauwatosa, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Madison.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 56m. Total distance: 321.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 239.3 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 253.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 317.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 318.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 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.
