Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Morning in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
11:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to East Troy, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
30.6 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
East Troy, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Wauwatosa to East Troy is 30.6 miles and takes about 40m via US 45, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to the same region. Expect a drive that is primarily on highways, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. With its short distance and minimal fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick excursion or an easy transfer between locations, offering a practical way to cover ground without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 45 | 22.3 mi | 24m |
| Zoo Freeway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| County Highway ES | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Bluemound Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Glenview Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Harmonee Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harwood Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Menomonee River Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 22.3 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and East Troy, 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
22 mi
·
24 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
·
32 sec
Exit 38
Toward WI 20: East Troy
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
191 ft
·
5 sec
12
Turn right onto WI 20
237 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Street
13
Turn slight left
525 ft
·
21 sec
14
Turn slight left onto CTH ES
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Highway ES
15
Keep slight left at fork onto CTH G
215 ft
·
4 sec
·
Division Street
16
Turn left onto CTH ES; CTH G
213 ft
·
5 sec
·
CTH ES; CTH G
17
Keep slight left at fork onto CTH ES; CTH G
192 ft
·
4 sec
·
Church Street
18
Arrive at destination
CTH ES; CTH G
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 29.1 — 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.
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
7
29.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward WI 20: East Troy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 38
Toward WI 20: East Troy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.78 one way
$9.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.25 | $10.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.89 | $11.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.76 | $13.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 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 | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.68 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
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
East Troy, WI
Morning in East Troy on Sunday
Local time
11:35 AM
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
40m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the route utilizing major roads like US 45 and the Zoo Freeway. You'll experience a consistent pace for most of the 30.6 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 22.3 miles on US 45, allowing for sustained cruising. While the majority is highway, there's a brief transition involving County Highway ES, which might offer a slight change of scenery before you reach your destination. Overall, the road profile suggests a practical and direct experience behind the wheel.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.3 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and Zoo Freeway. 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
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 30.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
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 40m. Total distance: 30.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.3 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 East Troy, 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 East Troy, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From East Troy, WI
More trips to East Troy, WI
Explore more options from Wauwatosa, WI or browse trips ending in East Troy, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.