Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Morning in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Butler, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
12m
Distance
6.9 mi
11 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Butler, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Wauwatosa to Butler, Wisconsin, you are looking at a quick 6.9-mile journey that typically takes about 12 minutes. This brief trip stays entirely within the Midwest region and is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. With a fuel cost estimate of just $1, it is an incredibly budget-friendly commute. Since the total drive time is so minimal, you will not need to worry about overnight lodging or splitting the trip into multiple legs. It is a straightforward, practical transition between two neighboring communities that gets you where you need to go without any unnecessary fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Zoo Freeway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| West Watertown Plank Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Hampton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Harwood Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Stark Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harmonee Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North 124th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Menomonee River Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Zoo Freeway
— 3.8 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Butler, 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
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Toward Appleton, Green Bay
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 45
Toward CTH EE: Hampton Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
214 ft
·
7 sec
Toward CTH EE: Hampton Avenue West, Butler
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CTH EE
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hampton Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right onto North 124th Street
386 ft
·
16 sec
·
North 124th Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto West Stark Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Stark Street
14
Arrive at destination
West Stark Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 6.1 — 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.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 41 South, US 45 South: Milwaukee, Beloit, Madison, Appleton
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 41 South, US 45 South: Milwaukee, Belo...
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
5.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward CTH EE: Hampton Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 45
Toward CTH EE: Hampton Avenue
9
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CTH EE: Hampton Avenue West, Butler
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CTH EE: Hampton Avenue West, Butler
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.08 one way
$2.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.18 | $2.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.33 | $2.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.52 | $3.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.72 | $0.33 |
| Efficient EV | 1.7 | 0 | $0.60 | $0.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.97 | $0.44 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Butler, WI
Morning in Butler on Sunday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
12m 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 mixed driving experience as you navigate this short route, which consists of approximately 57% highway travel. You will spend a good portion of your time on the Zoo Freeway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 3.8 miles. Beyond that, the route transitions into local navigation using West Watertown Plank Road and West Hampton Avenue. This combination of highway speeds and local road maneuvering keeps the drive feeling varied despite the short distance. You will find that the road surface and traffic flow shift noticeably as you move from the freeway lanes into the more residential or commercial streets of Butler.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.8 mi on Zoo Freeway.
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 10 decision points packed into just 6.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 12m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Butler, WI, road signs point toward Beloit, Madison, Appleton, Green Bay and Cth Ee: Hampton Avenue West.
Beloit
1.4 mi in
|
~3m
Madison
1.4 mi in
|
~3m
Appleton
1.4 mi in
|
~3m
Green Bay
2.1 mi in
|
~5m
|
via I 41; US 41; US 45
Cth Ee: Hampton Avenue West
6.1 mi in
|
~10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 12m. Total distance: 6.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.8 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 Butler, 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Butler, 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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