Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Night in Wauwatosa on Saturday
Local time
11:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Silver Lake, 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 9m
Distance
44.9 mi
72 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Silver Lake, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Wauwatosa to Silver Lake is 44.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 9 minutes via State Highway 36, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Wisconsin, making it a convenient option for those exploring the area. The drive offers a mixed terrain, so you won't be stuck on one type of road for too long. Given its proximity and manageable duration, this route is ideal for a spontaneous day trip or a quick transfer between locations without requiring an overnight stay. Plan for a straightforward journey with minimal logistical planning needed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 36 | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| West Loomis Road | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 83 | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| US 45 | 5.7 mi | 10m |
| Burlington Bypass | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Zoo Freeway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Milwaukee Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Geneva Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 36
— 7.3 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Silver Lake, 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 left at fork onto WI 36; WI 83
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Burlington Bypass
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
17
Turn left onto WI 83
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 83
18
Turn left onto WI 50; WI 83
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Geneva Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on WI 50
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
75th Street
20
Turn right onto CTH B
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
288th Avenue
21
Continue on CTH B
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cogswell Drive
22
Turn sharp right onto Railroad Street
125 ft
·
5 sec
·
Railroad Street
23
Arrive at destination
Railroad Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 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 125 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
$7.02 one way
$14.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.71 | $15.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.64 | $17.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.91 | $19.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Silver Lake, WI
Night in Silver Lake on Saturday
Local time
11:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Franklin, WI
22 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
1 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
1h 9m 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 features a mix of road types, with 52% on highways, suggesting a blend of faster travel and more local cruising. You'll encounter stretches on State Highway 36, West Loomis Road, and State Highway 83. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 7.3 miles on State Highway 36, providing a good rhythm for travel. Expect the character of the drive to evolve, transitioning from potentially busier roads near Wauwatosa to more open stretches as you head toward Silver Lake. It's not an all-highway grind, nor is it exclusively rural backroads.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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?
9/10
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
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 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 1h 9m. Total distance: 44.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). 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 Silver Lake, 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 Silver Lake, 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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