Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Late night in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Beloit, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
73.1 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Beloit, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Wauwatosa to Beloit, you can expect a straightforward journey covering 73.1 miles. With a travel time of approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via US 45, the Zoo Freeway, and I-39, keeping the transit efficient and simple. Budgeting around $11 for fuel makes this an economical trip within the Midwest region. Since both cities are located in Wisconsin, you won't experience significant regional transitions, allowing you to focus on a quick, reliable commute. It is an ideal route if you need to travel between these two Wisconsin hubs without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 45 | 60.1 mi | 1h 4m |
| Zoo Freeway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| I 39 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Gardner Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| West Bluemound Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Glenview Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Park Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| US 51 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 60.1 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Beloit, 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
520 ft
·
15 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
5
Turn left onto WI 181
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Glenview Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto US 18
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Bluemound Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 41 South, US 45 South
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 45
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
US 45
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
11
Merge onto I 39; I 90
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 39; I 90
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 51 north, IL 75: South Beloit
13
Turn right onto US 51; IL 75
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Gardner Street
14
Continue on US 51
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 51
15
Continue on East Grand Avenue
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
East Grand Avenue
16
Turn right onto Park Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
17
Turn left onto Woodward Avenue
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Woodward Avenue
18
At end of road, turn left onto WI 81
509 ft
·
37 sec
·
White Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
US 51
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.5 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.1 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 6.9 — 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.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
WI 181 / North Glenview Avenue
Turn left onto WI 181 / North Glenview Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 18 / West Bluemound Road
Turn right onto US 18 / West Bluemound Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left toward I 41 South, US 45 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 41 South, US 45 South
8
6.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.43 one way
$22.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.55 | $25.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.07 | $28.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.14 | $32.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.68 | $3.51 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.23 | $4.68 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Beloit, WI
Late night in Beloit on Sunday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Lyons, WI
37 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
1 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
1h 28m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of your time spent on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, as the route includes a longest uninterrupted stretch of 60.1 miles on US 45. Expect a consistent, interstate-style experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours. Because the path relies heavily on the Zoo Freeway and I-39, the behind-the-wheel feel is functional and efficient rather than technical. You should prepare for a predictable, high-speed transit that moves you smoothly from the Wauwatosa area down toward the Beloit region.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.1 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and Zoo 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.1 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (WI 181 / North Glenview Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (US 18 / West Bluemound Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 73.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.1 miles on US 45. 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 Beloit, 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 0.4 miles (WI 181 / North Glenview Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (US 18 / West Bluemound Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Beloit, 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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