Origin
West Allis, WI
Morning in West Allis on Sunday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Allis, WI to Silver 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
1h 6m
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Allis, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Silver Lake, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
West Allis to Silver Lake is 47.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 6 minutes via North-South Freeway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a straightforward trip focused on efficient travel, making it a good option for a quick getaway or a functional transit. The route is primarily highway-based, so you'll cover ground quickly without much fuss. It's a simple connection between two points that doesn't demand extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North-South Freeway | 26.3 mi | 29m |
| 75th Street | 10.3 mi | 16m |
| South 76th Street | 3.8 mi | 9m |
| Airport Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| I 41 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| 288th Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Cogswell Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Greenfield Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North-South Freeway
— 26.3 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Allis, WI and Silver Lake, WI.
1
Start on WI 59
173 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Greenfield Avenue
2
Turn right
75 ft
·
7 sec
3
Turn sharp right onto South 76th Street
3.8 mi
·
9 min
·
South 76th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 41; US 41
Exit 10B
Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
26 mi
·
29 min
·
North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 344
Toward WI 50: Kenosha, Lake Geneva
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
this road
Toward I 41 South, I 94 East
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
212 ft
·
7 sec
Toward I 41 South, I 94 East, WI 50 West: Lake Geneva
11
Merge onto WI 50
10 mi
·
16 min
·
75th Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
13
Turn left onto CTH B
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
288th Avenue
14
Continue on CTH B
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cogswell Drive
15
Turn sharp right onto Railroad Street
125 ft
·
5 sec
·
Railroad Street
16
Arrive at destination
Railroad Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 35 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 76th Street
Turn sharp right onto South 76th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
9
6.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 41; US 41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
8
34.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward WI 50: Kenosha, Lake Geneva
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 344
Toward WI 50: Kenosha, Lake Geneva
7
35 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 41 South, I 94 East, WI 50 West: Lake Geneva
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 41 South, I 94 East, WI 50 West: Lake...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.41 one way
$14.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.14 | $16.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.12 | $18.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Silver Lake, WI
Morning in Silver Lake on Sunday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
1 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 6m 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 trip is predominantly highway-focused, with 64% of the drive on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 26.3 miles on the North-South Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is highway, you'll also navigate some surface streets like 75th Street and South 76th Street, which will naturally slow things down slightly. The overall character is one of smooth, uninterrupted travel for the most part, with brief transitions to local roads. It’s designed for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.3 mi on North-South Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North-South Freeway and 75th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.4 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (South 76th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Silver Lake, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Geneva along the way.
Lake Geneva
34.5 mi in
|
~45m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.3 miles on North-South 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 Silver 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (South 76th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Silver 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Silver Lake, WI
Explore more options from West Allis, WI or browse trips ending in Silver Lake, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.