Spanning 315.6 miles across Wisconsin, this trip from Somerset to Wauwatosa typically takes about 4 hours and 54 minutes of driving time. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it functions best as a focused day trip for those who prefer scenic, backroad travel. You should budget approximately $48 for fuel to complete the journey. Given the turn-heavy nature of the path, it is a practical drive for anyone looking to avoid the monotony of heavy highway traffic. While it is certainly manageable in a single day, the duration requires a steady pace to stay on schedule.
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
157.1 miles from Somerset, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
292.5 mi
5h 14m
County Road I
6.7 mi
10m
County Highway E
4.6 mi
6m
120th Street
3 mi
4m
State Highway 65
2.4 mi
4m
County Road E
0.9 mi
1m
West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi
2m
Zoo Freeway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 292.5 mi, about 5h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Somerset, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on WI 64 BUS; CTH VV
320 ft·18 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto CTH I
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road I
3
Enter roundabout onto County Road I
71 ft·1 sec·County Road I
4
Continue on County Road I
5.9 mi·9 min·County Road I
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn sharp left onto CTH E
0.9 mi·1 min·County Road E
6
Continue on CTH A; CTH E
0.4 mi·33 sec·County Highway E
7
Continue on CTH E
4.2 mi·5 min·County Highway E
8
Turn right onto 120th Street
3.0 mi·4 min·120th Street
9
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
129 ft·7 sec·State Highway 65
10
Continue on WI 65
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 65
11
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
110 ft·6 sec·State Highway 65
12
Continue on WI 65
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 65
13
Continue on WI 65
0.1 mi·15 sec·State Highway 65
14
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
94 ft·5 sec·State Highway 65
Toward River Falls
15
Continue on WI 65
0.1 mi·16 sec·State Highway 65
Toward River Falls
16
Enter roundabout
293 ft·17 sec
Toward Eau Claire, Madison
17
Continue
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward Eau Claire, Madison
18
Merge onto I 94
228 mi·4 hr 4 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
19
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.
20
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.
21
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.
22
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
0.5 mi·44 sec·Zoo Freeway
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 40A-BToward Watertown Plank RoadUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·24 sec
Exit 40AToward Watertown Plank Road EastUse the right lane.
25
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi·2 min·West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi·32 sec·Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
28
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft·21 sec·West Menomonee River Parkway
29
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
Since you are relying on local roads like County Road E, ensure your GPS is updated before you head out to navigate the frequent turns effectively. Planning for at least one dedicated stop is essential to break up the nearly five-hour duration. Because the route lacks highway stretches, you should allow for extra time if you encounter slow-moving traffic or local transit patterns. A smart strategy is to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight for the more technical sections of the drive. Keep your $48 fuel budget in mind when planning your stops, as local road travel can sometimes be less predictable than main highway corridors.
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 157.1 miles from Somerset, WI, or about 2h 58m 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 69 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.1 miles or 2h 58m 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 45m
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 Somerset, 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 Somerset, WI
This is one driving day of about 314.2 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Somerset, 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.6 and 312.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
17.6 mi into trip|~27m 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
246.4 mi into trip|~4h 33m 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
310.5 mi into trip|~5h 43m 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
311.1 mi into trip|~5h 44m 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
312.6 mi into trip|~5h 47m 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
$49.12 one way
$98.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$53.93
$107.87
premium
$4.89
$60.46
$120.93
diesel
$5.61
$69.37
$138.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.3
1
$32.99
$15.08
Efficient EV
78.6
0
$27.49
$12.57
EV Truck/SUV
125.7
1
$43.99
$20.11
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Somerset, WI
Evening
in Somerset on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wauwatosa, WI
Evening
in Wauwatosa on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Adams, WI
157 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
4 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 51m 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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 184.2
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?
Expect a technical and engaging experience, as this route is defined by a turn-heavy local profile rather than a straight interstate grind. With a 0% highway share, you will spend the entire 315.6 miles navigating via County Road I, County Road E, and County Highway E. This setup creates a distinct atmosphere where the road demands your full attention, far removed from the repetitive nature of fast-paced transit corridors. The journey stays consistent in its character, favoring local road navigation that winds through the Midwest landscape. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes navigation over raw speed.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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 County Road I. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.6 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 21 significant decision points across 314.2 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 17.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 310.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Somerset, WI and Wauwatosa, WI, road signs point toward River Falls, Eau Claire and Madison.
River Falls
17.5 mi in|~27m|via WI 65
Eau Claire
17.6 mi in|~27m
Madison
17.6 mi in|~27m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 51m. Total distance: 314.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 310.5 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 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 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.
