Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Late night in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
2:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Barton, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
33.9 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Barton, WI
Egor Komarov
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion within Wisconsin, this 33.9-mile trip from Wauwatosa to Barton is a straightforward, efficient drive. You can easily complete the journey in about 46 minutes, making it an ideal choice for a one-day outing that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting about $5 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since both locations are situated in the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. This route is highly practical for those who prioritize efficiency over a scenic, winding journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Zoo Freeway | 18.2 mi | 21m |
| West Bend Freeway | 11.1 mi | 11m |
| West Washington Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Watertown Plank Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Barton Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Harwood Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North 8th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Zoo Freeway
— 18.2 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Barton, WI.
1
Start on West State Street
137 ft
·
6 sec
·
West State Street
2
Continue on West Menomonee River Parkway
360 ft
·
22 sec
·
West Menomonee River Parkway
3
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Harmonee Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn slight right onto WI 181
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Watertown Plank Road
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 41 South, US 45 South: Milwaukee, Beloit, Madison, Appleton
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 41, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Toward Appleton, Green Bay
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
11 mi
·
11 min
·
West Bend Freeway
Exit 59
Toward US 45 North: West Bend
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 71
Toward WI 33, WI 144: Washington Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto WI 33; WI 144
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Washington Street
12
Turn left onto North 8th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North 8th Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto WI 144
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
14
Turn right onto WI 144
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Barton Avenue
15
Turn left onto Commerce Street
369 ft
·
16 sec
·
Commerce Street
16
Turn right onto Monroe Street
259 ft
·
11 sec
·
Monroe Street
17
Arrive at destination
Monroe Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 33.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 31.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Turn left onto WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
1.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 41, 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 left lane.
Toward I 41, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
7
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway toward Appleton, Green Bay
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Appleton, Green Bay
8
20.2 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 45 / West Bend Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 / West Bend Freeway toward US 45 North: West Bend
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 59
Toward US 45 North: West Bend
8
31.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward WI 33, WI 144: Washington Street
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 71
Toward WI 33, WI 144: Washington Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.30 one way
$10.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.82 | $11.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.52 | $13.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.48 | $14.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Barton, WI
Late night in Barton on Sunday
Local time
2:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Butler, WI
17 mi in
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
12 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
46m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 86% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will begin by navigating the Zoo Freeway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 18.2 miles. As you progress, the route transitions onto the West Bend Freeway before finishing with a stretch on West Washington Street. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a slow, technical road. The character of the drive is utilitarian, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on Zoo Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Zoo Freeway and West Bend Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 33.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wauwatosa, WI and Barton, WI, road signs point toward Appleton and Green Bay.
Appleton
2.1 mi in
|
~5m
|
via I 41; US 41; US 45
Green Bay
2.1 mi in
|
~5m
|
via I 41; US 41; US 45
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 33.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 miles on Zoo Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Barton, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Barton, WI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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