Origin
West Allis, WI
Late night in West Allis on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Allis, WI to Browns 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
49m
Distance
30 mi
48 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Allis, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Browns Lake, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
West Allis to Browns Lake is 30 miles and takes about 49 minutes via State Highway 36 and US 45, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip keeps you within the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin, for its entirety. It's a straightforward drive, suitable for a quick getaway or an easy commute. You'll experience a mixed drive profile, making it a good option if you prefer a bit of variety on your journey without a significant time commitment. Plan for just one day to comfortably complete this excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 36 | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| West Loomis Road | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| US 45 | 5.7 mi | 10m |
| Zoo Freeway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Milwaukee Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West Greenfield Avenue | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| Plank Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Burlington Bypass | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 36
— 7.3 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Allis, WI and Browns Lake, WI.
1
Start on WI 59
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 45 South
Use the left lane.
3
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 45
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
5
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.
6
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.
7
Turn right onto US 45; WI 36
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
West Loomis Road
8
Continue on WI 36
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 36
9
Continue on WI 36
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Milwaukee Avenue
10
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 36; WI 83
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
Burlington Bypass
11
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
12
Turn right onto CTH A
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Plank Road
13
Turn left onto CTH W
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Browns Lake Drive
14
Turn left onto Cedar Drive
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Cedar Drive
15
Turn left onto Lakehills Drive
242 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lakehills Drive
16
Turn right onto Fairfield
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
Fairfield
17
Turn left onto Hickory Lane
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Hickory Lane
18
Arrive at destination
Hickory Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15 miles from West Allis, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 45 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 45 South
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
5 mi into trip
|
~9m 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
5.8 mi into trip
|
~10m 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
6 mi into trip
|
~10m 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
$4.69 one way
$9.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.15 | $10.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.77 | $11.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.62 | $13.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (60% 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
Browns Lake, WI
Late night in Browns Lake on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Franklin, WI
15 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
13 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
49m 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 route offers a mixed drive, with 54% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on State Highway 36 and US 45, providing a good balance between quicker travel and local road access. The longest uninterrupted section you'll experience is 7.3 miles along State Highway 36. Expect the road to transition from more urban-feeling areas in West Allis to a more open feel as you approach Browns Lake. The drive is generally smooth, without overly technical sections.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 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?
7/10
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 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 30 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5 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 49m. Total distance: 30 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). 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 Browns 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5 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 Browns 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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