The drive from Westport, WI to Wauwatosa, WI covers 145.4 miles and takes about 3h 9m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, US 14, State Highway 60 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.2 miles on I 94.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.82 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.7 miles from Westport, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
64.2 mi
1h 9m
US 14
27.9 mi
39m
State Highway 60
19.5 mi
29m
State Highway 19
17.7 mi
24m
I 39
6.3 mi
6m
West Main Street
1.8 mi
4m
US 12
1.5 mi
2m
State Highway 19/78
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 9m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 140 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,390 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,998
Quietest
2 AM
~169 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westport, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on WI 60
20 mi·29 min·State Highway 60
2
Turn right onto US 14; WI 60
28 mi·39 min·US 14; WI 60
3
Turn left onto WI 78; WI 19
1.4 mi·2 min·State Highway 19/78
4
Continue on WI 19
9.6 mi·13 min·State Highway 19
5
Turn right onto US 12; WI 19
1.5 mi·2 min·US 12; WI 19
6
Turn left onto WI 19
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 19
7
Continue on WI 19
0.7 mi·1 min·West Main Street
8
Enter roundabout onto WI 19; WI 113
115 ft·6 sec·West Main Street
9
Continue on WI 19; WI 113
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
10
Continue on WI 19; WI 113
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 19
11
Enter roundabout onto WI 19
136 ft·7 sec·State Highway 19
12
Continue on WI 19
2.4 mi·3 min·State Highway 19
13
Enter roundabout onto WI 19
143 ft·8 sec·WI 19
14
Continue on WI 19
0.9 mi·1 min·WI 19
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: MadisonUse the right lane.
16
Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94
6.3 mi·6 min·I 39; I 90; I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 305A-BToward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 305BToward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
0.5 mi·44 sec·Zoo Freeway
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 40A-BToward Watertown Plank RoadUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·24 sec
Exit 40AToward Watertown Plank Road EastUse the right lane.
23
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi·2 min·West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi·32 sec·Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft·21 sec·West Menomonee River Parkway
27
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
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 72.7 miles from Westport, WI, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 32 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.7 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wauwatosa, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Westport, 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 Westport, WI
This is one driving day of about 145.4 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Westport, 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 94 for about 64.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 70.8 and 143.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
70.8 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the ramp toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Madison
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Madiso...
8
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
8
141.7 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
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 305A-B
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
9
142.3 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 305B
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
9
143.8 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Watertown Plank Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.82 one way
$45.65 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.39
$25.12
$50.24
premium
$5.00
$28.63
$57.27
diesel
$5.97
$34.16
$68.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.6
0
$15.27
$6.98
Efficient EV
36.4
0
$12.72
$5.82
EV Truck/SUV
58.2
0
$20.36
$9.31
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Sep 6, 2026
Origin
Westport, WI
Late night
in Westport on Thursday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wauwatosa, WI
Late night
in Wauwatosa on Thursday
Local time
2:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
E 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
7 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
3h 9m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
145.4 mi in 3h 9m, mostly highway — 64.2 mi of that is on I 94.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 14. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 70.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 145.4 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 70.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 145.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 70.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Wauwatosa, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
