West Allis to Little Black is 225 miles and takes about 4 hours 25 minutes via I-41, US-10, and WI-29, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, specifically Wisconsin, making it a straightforward trip. You'll be on highways for most of the way, so expect a fairly direct path. It's a good option if you're looking for a manageable day trip without extensive time on slower roads. Plan for a relatively quick transit between these two Wisconsin points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112.5 miles from West Allis, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
61.6 mi
1h 6m
US Highway 10
46.6 mi
54m
WI 29
31 mi
36m
I 39
23.3 mi
25m
Zoo Freeway
20.4 mi
24m
US 45
15.2 mi
17m
State Highway 13
10.7 mi
15m
US 10
6.6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 61.6 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Allis, WI and Little Black, 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
20 mi·24 min·Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 41; US 41
Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, AppletonUse the slight left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 45: New London, Algoma BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·58 sec
Toward US 45 North: New LondonUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto US 45
15 mi·17 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 10
47 mi·54 min·US Highway 10
Toward US 10 West: Stevens Point
10
Continue on US 10
1.3 mi·2 min·Main Street
11
Take the exit onto US 10
6.6 mi·7 min·US 10
Toward I 39 North, US 51 North, US 10 West
12
Continue on I 39; US 51
23 mi·25 min·I 39; US 51
13
Merge onto US 51; WI 29
3.2 mi·3 min·US 51; WI 29
14
Take the exit onto WI 29
31 mi·36 min·WI 29
Toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 134Toward WI 29 Business: Abbotsford
16
Turn right onto WI 29 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·Maple Road
17
Turn right onto WI 13
0.6 mi·1 min·North 4th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on WI 13
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 13
19
Turn left onto Apple Avenue
0.2 mi·37 sec·Apple Avenue
20
Turn right onto Black Birch Drive
94 ft·4 sec·Black Birch Drive
21
Arrive at destination
Black Birch Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 225-mile drive, consider leaving West Allis in the morning to give yourself plenty of daylight for the approximately 4 hour 25 minute trip. With a fuel cost estimated around $35, you shouldn't have to worry about frequent fill-ups, but it's always wise to top off before heading out. The longest stretch on I-41 is 61.6 miles, so plan your first break shortly after leaving the Milwaukee area. Given the short duration and high highway percentage, you have flexibility; however, stopping once around the halfway point makes for a comfortable pace.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 112.5 miles from West Allis, WI, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 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 50 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.5 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Little Black, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Allis, WI
This is one driving day of about 225 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from West Allis, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 41 for about 61.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 181 — 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
8
22.1 mi into trip|~29m in|I 41; US 41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
7
83.7 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard
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.
Toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard
7
83.9 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 45 North: New London
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 45 North: New London
7
181 mi into trip|~3h 27m in|WI 29
Take the exit onto WI 29 toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls
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.
Toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.18 one way
$70.35 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.62
$77.24
premium
$4.89
$43.30
$86.60
diesel
$5.61
$49.68
$99.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.5
0
$23.63
$10.80
Efficient EV
56.3
0
$19.69
$9.00
EV Truck/SUV
90
1
$31.50
$14.40
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
West Allis, WI
Morning
in West Allis on Tuesday
Local time
6:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Little Black, WI
Morning
in Little Black on Tuesday
Local time
6:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
20 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
4h 25m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 route is 97% highway, meaning you'll spend almost the entire 4 hours and 25 minutes behind the wheel on high-speed roads. The longest stretch without a significant break is 61.6 miles on I-41. You'll notice the highway gradually transitions to more rural cruising as you move away from the initial urban areas. Expect frequent exits on the interstate sections before transitioning to US Highway 10 and WI-29.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.6 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US Highway 10. 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
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 225 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 22.1 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.7 miles: 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.
Between West Allis, WI and Little Black, WI, road signs point toward Appleton and Chippewa Falls.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 25m. Total distance: 225 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.6 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Little Black, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 22.1 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Little Black, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
