Origin
West Allis, WI
Late night in West Allis on Tuesday
Local time
5:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Allis, WI to Fairfield, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
54.2 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Allis, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Fairfield, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from West Allis to Fairfield, you are looking at a manageable 54.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 4 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you can easily head out and return without needing to book an overnight stay. Budgeting for the trip is straightforward, as you can expect to spend approximately $7 on fuel for the duration of the drive. Navigating through the Midwest, you will transition between local roads and major thoroughfares like I-41 South, the Zoo Freeway, and I-43 South. Because the drive is so short, it serves as a convenient connection between these two Wisconsin locations without the fatigue associated with long-haul travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 45 | 45.6 mi | 49m |
| Zoo Freeway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| County Highway C | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| West Greenfield Avenue | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| US 14 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East Bradford Town Hall Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 45.6 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Allis, WI and Fairfield, 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
46 mi
·
49 min
·
US 45
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 15
Toward US 14: Darien, Janesville
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
121 ft
·
3 sec
7
Merge onto US 14
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 14
8
Turn left onto CTH C
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway C
9
Turn left onto East Bradford Town Hall Road
40 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Bradford Town Hall Road
10
Arrive at destination
East Bradford Town Hall Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.1 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 50.9 — 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.
8
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. 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
8
50.7 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward US 14: Darien, Janesville
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 15
Toward US 14: Darien, Janesville
5
50.9 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.47 one way
$16.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.30 | $18.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.43 | $20.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.97 | $23.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Fairfield, WI
Late night in Fairfield on Tuesday
Local time
5:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
16 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 4m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will encounter segments of I-41 South, I-43 South, and the Zoo Freeway, the route features a 0% highway share, emphasizing its local, winding nature. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment on I-41 South is 0 miles. The character of the road shifts frequently, requiring you to navigate various turns as you transition between these established routes. It is an engaging, hands-on driving experience that keeps you focused on the road ahead for the entirety of the hour-long trip.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.6 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and Zoo Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.5 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. 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.
On the drive from West Allis, WI to Fairfield, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Janesville along the way.
Janesville
50.7 mi in
|
~58m
About the Cities
Starting in West Allis, WI
Full guide →West Allis is a city in Southeast Wisconsin.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.6 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 Fairfield, 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. 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 Fairfield, 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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