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Trip from West Allis, WI to Medina, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

102.8 mi

165 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

23 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 52m ★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 5m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA

West Allis, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Medina, WI, WI

Medina, WI

JIMMY Art

Trip Overview

The drive from West Allis, WI to Medina, WI covers 102.8 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 41, Zoo Freeway, US 45 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.6 miles on I 41. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.07 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

51.4 miles from West Allis, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 41 61.6 mi 1h 6m
Zoo Freeway 20.4 mi 24m
US 45 11.2 mi 12m
County Road M 5.4 mi 7m
West Greenfield Avenue 1.4 mi 3m
County Road II 1.3 mi 3m
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 Medina, 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, Milwaukee Use 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, Appleton Use the slight left lane.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 58 sec
Toward US 45 North: New London Use the slight left lane.
8

Merge onto US 45

11 mi · 12 min · US 45
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 37 sec
Toward CTH II: Winchester Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn right onto CTH II; CTH M

1.3 mi · 3 min · County Road II
11

Turn left onto CTH M

5.4 mi · 7 min · County Road M
12

Arrive at destination

CTH M

Trip Plan

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 51.4 miles from West Allis, WI, or about 1h 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 23 miles or 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 51.4 miles or 1h 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 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medina, 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 102.8 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from West Allis, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.

Downtown Fond du Lac, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fond du Lac, WI

51 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

Germantown, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fond du Lac, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.4 miles from West Allis, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Valentine Coffee Roasters on Vliet Street

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+14149888018

Visit website

Vendetta Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

2.2 mi

Valentine Coffee Roasters on Vliet Street

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+14149888018

Visit website

Vendetta Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

Blüm Coffee Garden

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Greenfield, Wisconsin

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14142824220

Visit website

Lomira Rest Area 63

0.1 mi from route

Theresa Rest Area 64

0.1 mi from route

64

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 95.9 — 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
6
95.9 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Take the exit toward CTH II: Winchester

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward CTH II: Winchester

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.07 one way

$32.14 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.65 $35.29
premium $4.89 $19.78 $39.57
diesel $5.61 $22.70 $45.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 36 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

23 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Greenfield, WI

Tesla

12 DCFC

Walmart 5669 (West Milwaukee, WI)

West Milwaukee, WI

Electrify America

10 DCFC

Meijer Greenfield WI 292

Greenfield, WI

eVgo Network

8 DCFC

Woodman's Food Market - Tesla Supercharger

Menomonee Falls, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Lake Ford - DCFC

Milwaukee, WI

Blink Network

6 DCFC

Target T2199 (West Allis, WI)

West Allis, WI

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Ewalds Hartford Ford - DCFC

Hartford, WI

Blink Network

6 DCFC

Uptown Ford

Milwaukee, WI

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 6 Blink Network: 3 SYNERGEV: 3 Electrify America: 2 Tesla: 2 FORD_CHARGE: 2 KWIK_CHARGE: 2 eVgo Network: 1 RED_E: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.8 0 $10.79 $4.93
Efficient EV 25.7 0 $9.00 $4.11
EV Truck/SUV 41.1 0 $14.39 $6.58

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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

Morning in West Allis on Sunday

Local time

11:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Medina, WI

Morning in Medina on Sunday

Local time

11:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

45°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

2 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

2h 1m 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?

102.8 mi in 2h 1m, mostly highway — 61.6 mi of that is on I 41.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 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?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and Zoo Freeway. 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 Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 102.8 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 Medina, WI, road signs point toward Appleton and Cth Ii: Winchester.

Appleton

22.1 mi in | ~29m | via I 41; US 41

Cth Ii: Winchester

95.9 mi in | ~1h 49m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 102.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). 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.

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 Medina, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Medina, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Medina, WI to West Allis, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

102.7 mi 2h 1m

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