If you are planning a quick excursion through the Wisconsin Midwest, this 78.5-mile journey from West Allis to Dunkirk is an ideal candidate for a simple day trip. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 36 minutes behind the wheel, making it a manageable drive that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $12, it is an economical choice for travelers looking to move between these two locations efficiently. Because the entire route remains within the state of Wisconsin, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the transit. This trip is best suited for those who prioritize a straightforward, highway-focused path over complex navigation. It is a practical route for anyone wanting to get from point A to point B without unnecessary complications or lengthy travel times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from West Allis, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East-West Freeway
59.5 mi
1h 4m
County Highway N
10 mi
14m
County Road N
3.3 mi
6m
North Main Street
1.8 mi
2m
West Greenfield Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
Veterans Road
0.9 mi
1m
Zoo Freeway
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 59.5 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Allis, WI and Dunkirk, WI.
1
Start on WI 59
1.4 mi·3 min·West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 894 West, US 45 North
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 94: Madison, MilwaukeeUse the slight left lane.
4
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
19 ft·0 sec·Zoo Freeway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 1B-AToward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, MilwaukeeUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·56 sec
Exit 1BToward I 94 West: MadisonUse the slight left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 94 West: Madison
8
Merge onto I 94
10 mi·11 min·East-West Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
49 mi·52 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 244Toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage GroveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
200 ft·3 sec·County Highway N
12
Continue on CTH N
511 ft·8 sec·County Highway N
13
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
90 ft·1 sec·County Highway N
14
Continue on CTH N
0.8 mi·1 min·County Highway N
15
Continue on CTH N
1.8 mi·2 min·North Main Street
16
Continue on CTH N
4.8 mi·6 min·County Highway N
17
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
188 ft·4 sec·County Highway N
18
Continue on CTH N
0.1 mi·11 sec·County Highway N
19
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
160 ft·3 sec·County Highway N
20
Continue on CTH N
0.2 mi·27 sec·County Highway N
21
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
138 ft·3 sec·County Highway N
22
Continue on CTH N
2.4 mi·3 min·County Highway N
23
Continue on CTH B; CTH N
1.5 mi·2 min·County Road N
24
Continue on CTH N
1.5 mi·2 min·County Highway N
25
Continue on CTH N; CTH A
0.9 mi·1 min·Veterans Road
26
Continue on CTH N
1.8 mi·4 min·County Road N
27
Arrive at destination
CTH N
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 36-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 78.5-mile distance without needing to plan for formal stops, though keeping a small buffer for traffic on the East-West Freeway is always a smart move. Because the trip is short and fuel costs are low at roughly $12, try to fuel up before leaving West Allis to avoid unnecessary searching once you arrive in Dunkirk. Watch your speed closely as you transition from the high-speed freeway onto the lower-speed County Highway N and County Road N. This route’s simplicity is its greatest advantage, allowing you to focus on the road ahead without the stress of a complicated itinerary.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.2 miles from West Allis, WI, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dunkirk, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Allis, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Allis, WI
This is one driving day of about 78.5 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from West Allis, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East-West Freeway for about 59.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 62.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94: Madison, Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 94: Madison, Milwaukee
9
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
8
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 94 West: Madison
6
12.9 mi into trip|~17m in|I 94 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
62.2 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove
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 244
Toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.27 one way
$24.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.47
$26.95
premium
$4.89
$15.11
$30.21
diesel
$5.61
$17.33
$34.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.6
0
$8.24
$3.77
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.87
$3.14
EV Truck/SUV
31.4
0
$10.99
$5.02
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
West Allis, WI
Night
in West Allis on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dunkirk, WI
Night
in Dunkirk on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 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 36m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by a highway-focused profile, with approximately 76% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will start by tackling the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey, covering 59.5 miles directly on the East-West Freeway. As you transition off the freeway, your route shifts onto County Highway N and County Road N to complete the final leg of the trip. While the initial portion offers the fast-paced, high-speed experience typical of a major freeway, the latter segments provide a shift toward standard county road driving. You should prepare for a drive that prioritizes speed and directness, moving from heavy-traffic freeway segments into the more relaxed, steady pace of county infrastructure.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.5 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and County Highway N. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Allis, WI and Dunkirk, WI, road signs point toward Cth N: Sun Prairie and Cottage Grove.
Cth N: Sun Prairie
62.2 mi in|~1h 10m
Cottage Grove
62.2 mi in|~1h 10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 78.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.5 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 Dunkirk, 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 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dunkirk, WI before heading back.
