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 Burlington, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
32.6 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Burlington, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick getaway from Wauwatosa to Burlington, you can expect a manageable 32.6-mile trip that typically takes about 52 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination in under an hour without the need for an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an economical choice for those looking to explore more of Wisconsin. You will be traveling entirely within the Midwest, transitioning between two neighboring communities in the same state. Because the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your own interests rather than worrying about long transit times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 36 | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| Milwaukee Avenue | 6.3 mi | 10m |
| West Loomis Road | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| US 45 | 5.7 mi | 10m |
| Zoo Freeway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| West Bluemound Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Glenview Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| North Pine Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 36
— 7.3 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Burlington, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
10
Take the exit onto US 45
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 45
Exit 60
Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
4.7 mi
·
9 min
·
US 45
Toward WI 100 South, US 45 South
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto US 45; WI 36
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
West Loomis Road
13
Continue on WI 36
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 36
14
Continue on WI 36
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Milwaukee Avenue
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Milwaukee Avenue
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Milwaukee Avenue
16
Turn left onto North Pine Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Pine Street
17
Turn right onto East Jefferson Street
256 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Jefferson Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Jefferson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.3 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 7.9 — 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.
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
6
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
8
7.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
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 60
Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
8
7.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward WI 100 South, US 45 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WI 100 South, US 45 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.10 one way
$10.19 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.60 | $11.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.27 | $12.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.20 | $14.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.85 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.09 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Burlington, WI
Night in Burlington on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Franklin, WI
16 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
52m 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 52-minute journey offers a mixed driving profile, transitioning between faster highway segments and local town roads. You will rely on a combination of West Loomis Road, Milwaukee Avenue, and State Highway 36 to navigate your way south. With a 54% highway share, the trip balances efficient transit with the slower pace of local driving. You can expect your longest uninterrupted stretch to be 7.3 miles while traveling on State Highway 36. As you progress, the road environment shifts, requiring you to stay attentive as you move from the suburban flow of Wauwatosa into the character of the route leading toward Burlington.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.3 mi on State Highway 36.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 32.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 32.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.3 miles on State Highway 36. 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 Burlington, 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 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Burlington, 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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