Wauwatosa to Ashwaubenon is 118 miles and takes about 2 hours 20 minutes via I 43, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day journey. You'll find the route is focused on efficient travel between these two Wisconsin locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59 miles from Wauwatosa, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 43
86.7 mi
1h 32m
North-South Freeway
20.1 mi
24m
WI 172
4.6 mi
5m
West State Street
3.2 mi
8m
West Highland Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Pilgrim Way
0.4 mi
1m
South Oneida Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North 27th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 86.7 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Ashwaubenon, WI.
1
Start on West State Street
3.2 mi·8 min·West State Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto WI 57
269 ft·7 sec·North 27th Street
3
Turn right onto US 18; WI 57
1.1 mi·2 min·West Highland Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward I 43 NorthUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 43
20 mi·24 min·North-South Freeway
Toward I 43 North: Green BayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 43; WI 57
87 mi·1 hr 32 min·I 43; WI 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 180Toward WI 172 West: Austin Straubel Airport
8
Continue on WI 172
4.6 mi·5 min·WI 172
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Oneida Street, Ashland Avenue
10
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft·7 sec
11
Turn left onto Pilgrim Way
0.4 mi·1 min·Pilgrim Way
12
Turn left onto South Oneida Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·South Oneida Street
13
Continue on South Oneida Street
457 ft·20 sec·South Oneida Street
14
Arrive at destination
South Oneida Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 20-minute duration, leaving Wauwatosa in the morning or early afternoon allows ample time to reach Ashwaubenon before evening. With only 118 miles, you won't need many stops, but remember to fuel up before you leave or at a major exit along I 43, as the longest stretch without a significant town is substantial. The $18 fuel estimate suggests keeping an eye on gas prices leading up to your trip. Since this is a relatively short, same-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best.
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 59 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.7 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 26 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59 miles or 1h 13m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashwaubenon, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wauwatosa, 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 Wauwatosa, WI
This is one driving day of about 118 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Wauwatosa, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 43 for about 86.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.3 and 117.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.3 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp toward I 43 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 43 North
6
4.7 mi into trip|~12m in|I 43 / North-South Freeway
Merge onto I 43 / North-South Freeway toward I 43 North: Green Bay
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 43 North: Green Bay
5
111.5 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward WI 172 West: Austin Straubel Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 180
Toward WI 172 West: Austin Straubel Airport
5
117.2 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward Oneida Street, Ashland Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Oneida Street, Ashland Avenue
5
117.4 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.45 one way
$36.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.26
$40.51
premium
$4.89
$22.71
$45.42
diesel
$5.61
$26.05
$52.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.4
0
$12.39
$5.66
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.33
$4.72
EV Truck/SUV
47.2
0
$16.52
$7.55
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Morning
in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ashwaubenon, WI
Morning
in Ashwaubenon on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Cedar Grove, WI
59 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 20m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 largely a highway-focused experience, with 94% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter stretches like the 86.7-mile segment on I 43, offering a consistent pace. The North-South Freeway and WI 172 are also key parts of this route, ensuring a predominantly high-speed travel experience. Expect a direct path with minimal deviations from the interstate system.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.7 mi on I 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and North-South Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 20m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (I 43 / North-South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 118 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 86.7 miles on I 43. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles (I 43 / North-South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ashwaubenon, WI before heading back.
