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Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Clinton, 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 13m

Distance

61.8 mi

100 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 7m ★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States

Wauwatosa, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Clinton, WI, WI

Clinton, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

If you are planning to head from Wauwatosa to Clinton, you are looking at a straightforward 61.8-mile trip through the heart of the Midwest. Expect the drive to take approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily utilize US 45, the Zoo Freeway, and West Bluemound Road to navigate between these Wisconsin locations. Budgeting around $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your transit expenses. Because the route is compact and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to reach your destination quickly without the fatigue of a long-haul journey.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 45 53.6 mi 58m
Zoo Freeway 4.4 mi 5m
West Bluemound Road 0.9 mi 2m
North Glenview Avenue 0.8 mi 2m
Church Street 0.6 mi 1m
South State Road 140 0.3 mi <1m
South State Highway 140 0.2 mi <1m
Harmonee Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 45 — 53.6 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Clinton, 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

54 mi · 58 min · US 45
Exit 4 Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 6 Toward WI 140, I 39 Alternate, I 43 Alternate: Clinton, Avalon Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

198 ft · 4 sec
12

Turn left onto WI 140

0.3 mi · 32 sec · South State Road 140
13

Continue on WI 140

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South State Highway 140
14

Continue on WI 140

0.6 mi · 1 min · Church Street
15

Turn left onto CTH J; CTH X

21 ft · 0 sec · Milwaukee Street
16

Arrive at destination

CTH J; CTH X

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Big Bend, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Big Bend, WI

31 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

New Berlin, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Bend, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.9 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 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 60.5 — 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.
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
8
60.5 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Take the exit toward WI 140, I 39 Alternate, I 43 Alternate: Clinton, Avalon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6 Toward WI 140, I 39 Alternate, I 43 Alternate:...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.66 one way

$19.32 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.61 $21.22
premium $4.89 $11.89 $23.79
diesel $5.61 $13.64 $27.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.5 0 $6.49 $2.97
Efficient EV 15.5 0 $5.41 $2.47
EV Truck/SUV 24.7 0 $8.65 $3.96

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Wauwatosa, WI

Late night in Wauwatosa on Sunday

Local time

5:11 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Partly Sunny

NE 5 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 3:11PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 3:11PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Destination

Clinton, WI

Late night in Clinton on Sunday

Local time

5:11 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 5 to 10 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 3:11PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 3:11PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

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

5 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 13m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This 1 hour and 13-minute journey is defined by a high-speed, highway-focused profile, with 94% of the trek spent on major thoroughfares. You will quickly settle into a rhythm once you merge onto US 45, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of the drive at 53.6 miles. The character of the road is functional and steady, favoring efficiency over winding local paths. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience as you transition from the urban influence of the Zoo Freeway into the more open stretches of the state. It is a no-nonsense route designed to get you to your destination with minimal navigation changes.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.6 mi on US 45.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and Zoo Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 61.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 53.6 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 Clinton, 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 2.1 miles: 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 Clinton, 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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