Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Night in Wauwatosa on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
19.6 mi
32 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Big Bend, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This short, 19.6-mile drive from Wauwatosa to Big Bend, Wisconsin, is designed for a single day trip, taking approximately 29 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate local roads, including West Menomonee River Parkway, Harmonee Avenue, and Harwood Avenue, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $3, making it an economical option for a quick excursion. Given its brief duration, this route offers a relaxed pace and allows for plenty of flexibility. It's a straightforward journey within the Midwest region of Wisconsin, perfect for a spontaneous outing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Menomonee River Parkway | — | — |
| Harmonee Avenue | — | — |
| Harwood Avenue | — | — |
| North Glenview Avenue | — | — |
| West Bluemound Road | — | — |
| I 41 South | — | — |
| Zoo Freeway | — | — |
| I 43 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Menomonee River Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Big Bend, WI.
1
Start on West State Street
138 ft
·
6 sec
·
West State Street
2
Continue on West Menomonee River Parkway
361 ft
·
22 sec
·
West Menomonee River Parkway
3
Turn left onto Harmonee Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Harmonee Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto Harwood Avenue
518 ft
·
16 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
5
Turn left onto North Glenview Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Glenview Avenue
6
Turn right onto West Bluemound Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Bluemound Road
7
Turn left onto I 41 South, US 45 South
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 41 South, US 45 South
8
Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
10
Take the exit slight right toward WI 164: Big Bend, Waukesha
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
WI 164: Big Bend, Waukesha
11
Turn straight onto Big Bend Drive
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Big Bend Drive
12
Continue on Clark Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Clark Street
13
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
518 ft
·
25 sec
·
Maple Avenue
14
Turn right onto Jackson Parkway
30 ft
·
1 sec
·
Jackson Parkway
15
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.06 one way
$6.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.36 | $6.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.77 | $7.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.33 | $8.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Big Bend, WI
Night in Big Bend on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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
29m 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?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for this entire 19.6-mile journey, as indicated by the 0% highway share. There isn't a "longest stretch" to worry about, meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments to your steering and navigation. This type of route typically involves navigating through residential areas and local business districts, requiring your full attention to traffic signals and intersections. The drive will feel more like a series of connected neighborhood explorations rather than open road cruising.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: West Menomonee River Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI is easy. At 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 19.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Big Bend, 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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