Origin
West Bend, WI
Late night in West Bend on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Bend, WI to Wauwatosa, 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
44m
Distance
33.3 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Bend, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from West Bend to Wauwatosa is a straightforward 33.3-mile trip that typically takes about 44 minutes. Because the distance is relatively short, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the West Bend Freeway, West Washington Street, and West Watertown Plank Road. With a fuel cost of just $5, it is an economical excursion within the Wisconsin region. Whether you are heading south for business or a quick visit, this route offers a reliable, no-nonsense connection between these two Midwest cities. It is the perfect length for those who prefer efficient travel over long-haul road trips.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Bend Freeway | 29.2 mi | 33m |
| West Washington Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| West Watertown Plank Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Harwood Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Harmonee Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cedar Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Menomonee River Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Bend Freeway
— 29.2 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Bend, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on North Main Street
326 ft
·
20 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto Cedar Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Cedar Street
3
Turn right onto North 8th Avenue
288 ft
·
16 sec
·
North 8th Avenue
4
Turn left onto WI 33; WI 144
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Washington Street
5
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 45 South: Milwaukee
6
Merge onto US 45
29 mi
·
33 min
·
West Bend Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Menomonee River Parkway
13
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 33 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 8th Avenue
Turn right onto North 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left toward US 45 South: Milwaukee
Navigation decision point
Toward US 45 South: Milwaukee
7
30.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Watertown Plank Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
8
31.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Watertown Plank Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
6
33 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Turn left onto WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.21 one way
$10.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.72 | $11.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.41 | $12.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.35 | $14.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.91 | $1.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Wauwatosa, WI
Late night in Wauwatosa on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
44m 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 highway-focused experience, as 88% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads. The drive is dominated by a long, 29.2-mile stretch on the West Bend Freeway, which provides a consistent pace before you transition to local streets. While the majority of the trip feels like a streamlined commute, the final miles on West Washington Street and West Watertown Plank Road shift the character of the drive as you approach your destination. You will find that the personality of this route is defined by its speed and directness rather than winding, scenic detours. It is an ideal path for drivers who value a predictable, uninterrupted flow behind the wheel.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.2 mi on West Bend Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Bend Freeway and West Washington Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North 8th Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 33.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (North 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,012 ft
662 ft
Total Climb
218 ft
Total Descent
456 ft
Highest Point
1,012 ft
~4.8 mi in
Elevation Range
350 ft
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 Bend, WI to Wauwatosa, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Watertown Plank Road East along the way.
Watertown Plank Road East
31.1 mi in
|
~38m
About the Cities
Starting in West Bend, WI
Full guide →West Bend is a city of 30,000 people in Southeast Wisconsin.
Arriving in Wauwatosa, WI
Full guide →Wauwatosa is 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 44m. Total distance: 33.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.2 miles on West Bend 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 Wauwatosa, 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 0.2 miles (North 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wauwatosa, 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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