Origin
Whitewater, WI
Late night in Whitewater on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Whitewater, WI to West Allis, 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
1h 5m
Distance
46.7 mi
75 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Whitewater, WI
Wikimedia Commons
West Allis, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 46.7-mile drive from Whitewater to West Allis, Wisconsin, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 5 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, so no overnight stays are necessary. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 73% of the journey on major roads like I-43 and State Highway 20. With an estimated fuel cost of $7, this is an economical option for getting between these two Midwest locations. You'll find it to be a practical and efficient way to travel within the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 43 | 21.8 mi | 23m |
| Iron Brigade Memorial Highway | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 20 | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| Zoo Freeway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| North Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| West Greenfield Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| WI 59 | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Milwaukee Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 21.8 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Whitewater, WI and West Allis, WI.
1
Start on West Center Street
411 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Center Street
2
Turn left onto West Whitewater Street
254 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Whitewater Street
3
Turn right onto US 12 Business
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Main Street
4
Continue on US 12 Business
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Milwaukee Street
5
Turn slight right onto WI 59; US 12 Business
171 ft
·
8 sec
·
WI 59; US 12 Business
6
Enter roundabout onto WI 59; US 12 Business
95 ft
·
5 sec
·
WI 59; US 12 Business
7
Continue on WI 59; US 12 Business
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
WI 59; US 12 Business
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto US 12
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Iron Brigade Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto WI 20
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 20
10
Continue on WI 20
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 20
11
Continue on WI 20
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Street
12
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 43 North
13
Merge onto I 43
22 mi
·
23 min
·
I 43
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 45
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 45
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
15
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Zoo Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 1D
Toward WI 59: Greenfield Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto WI 59
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
WI 59
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 23.3 miles from Whitewater, 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 1.2 and 45 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
WI 59; US 12 Business
Enter roundabout onto WI 59; US 12 Business
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 12 / Iron Brigade Memorial Highway
Turn left onto US 12 / Iron Brigade Memorial Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
19.5 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 43
Merge onto I 43
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
41.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fon...
7
45 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward WI 59: Greenfield Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1D
Toward WI 59: Greenfield Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.30 one way
$14.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.02 | $16.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.99 | $17.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.31 | $20.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.09 | $1.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
West Allis, WI
Late night in West Allis on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 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
4 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 5m 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 for the majority of this 46.7-mile journey. With 73% of the drive on major roads, you'll spend most of your time on I-43 and the Iron Brigade Memorial Highway, covering a significant 21.8-mile stretch on I-43 without interruption. While primarily on faster routes, you will also navigate segments of State Highway 20. The character of the drive is consistent, prioritizing direct travel over winding scenic byways.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.8 mi on I 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and Iron Brigade Memorial Highway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near WI 59; US 12 Business.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.7 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: at 1.2 miles (WI 59; US 12 Business): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.1 miles (US 12 / Iron Brigade Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Whitewater, WI to West Allis, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Madison along the way.
Madison
41.3 mi in
|
~56m
|
via US 45
About the Cities
Starting in Whitewater, WI
Full guide →For information about rafting, kayaking, and canoeing on whitewater rivers, see Whitewater sports. Whitewater is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin.
Top landmarks
- • Whitewater Hotel — hotel in Wisconsin, United States of America
Arriving in West Allis, WI
Full guide →West Allis is a city 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 1h 5m. Total distance: 46.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.8 miles on I 43. 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 West Allis, 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 1.2 miles (WI 59; US 12 Business): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.1 miles (US 12 / Iron Brigade Memorial Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Allis, 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.
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