Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Morning in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Cudahy, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
12.5 mi
20 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Cudahy, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transit across the Milwaukee area, the 12.5-mile journey from Wauwatosa to Cudahy is a straightforward endeavor. Expect to spend about 24 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal one-day trip that requires no overnight stops. Your route primarily utilizes the East-West Freeway, the John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway, and the Lake Freeway. With a fuel budget of just $2, it is a highly economical way to navigate between these two Midwest locales. Since both towns are located within Wisconsin, you will stay within the same familiar regional landscape the entire time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East-West Freeway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Lake Freeway | 2 mi | 3m |
| West State Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| South Kinnickinnic Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| WI 175 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| East Howard Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Alois Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 3.1 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Cudahy, WI.
1
Start on West State Street
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West State Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto North Alois Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Alois Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward WI 175 South
4
Merge onto WI 175
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
WI 175
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East: Downtown
6
Merge onto I 94
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East-West Freeway
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 794
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Freeway
Toward Lakefront
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Continue on I 794
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway
10
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward Howard Avenue
11
Keep slight left at fork
96 ft
·
5 sec
12
Turn left onto East Howard Avenue
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Howard Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn right onto South Kinnickinnic Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Kinnickinnic Avenue
14
Continue on East Plankinton Avenue
463 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Plankinton Avenue
15
Turn right onto South Kingan Avenue
167 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Kingan Avenue
16
Turn left
303 ft
·
22 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 10.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East: Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East: Downtown
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 94 / East-West Freeway
Merge onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
5.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 794 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794 / East-West Freeway toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
5
10.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
10.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
East Howard Avenue
Turn left onto East Howard Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.95 one way
$3.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.15 | $4.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.41 | $4.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.76 | $5.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.31 | $0.60 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.09 | $0.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Cudahy, WI
Morning in Cudahy on Sunday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
24m 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 drive is distinctly highway-focused, with 65% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of fast-moving freeway segments interspersed with parkway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 3.1-mile segment along the East-West Freeway, providing a brief period of steady cruising. Transitioning between these arteries defines the character of the trip, requiring you to remain alert as you shift from the freeway system onto the parkway. It is a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic backroads.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.1 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
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 12 decision points packed into just 12.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.1 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (I 794 / East-West Freeway): 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 Cudahy, WI, road signs point toward Port Of Milwaukee and Lakefront.
Port Of Milwaukee
5.1 mi in
|
~10m
|
via I 794
Lakefront
6.2 mi in
|
~12m
|
via I 794
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 12.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.1 miles on East-West 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 Cudahy, 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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.1 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (I 794 / East-West Freeway): 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 Cudahy, 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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