Origin
Big Bend, WI
Afternoon in Big Bend on Sunday
Local time
1:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Big Bend, WI to West Allis, WI
Drive Time
25m
Distance
17.6 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Big Bend, WI
Tom Fisk
West Allis, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward commute, the 17.6-mile trip from Big Bend to West Allis is an ideal choice. You can expect a travel time of about 25 minutes, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. With fuel costs estimated at just $3, this is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion within the Midwest. Because the duration is so short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. It is a practical, highway-focused drive that connects these two Wisconsin communities efficiently. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, this route offers a reliable way to navigate between the two locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8.8 miles from Big Bend, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 17.6-mile route is heavily centered on highway driving, which accounts for 77% of your time behind the wheel. You will spend the bulk of your journey navigating I-43 and the Zoo Freeway, with a transition onto Big Bend Drive to round out the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-43, where you will cover 9.8 miles of highway. Expect a fast-paced environment that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, scenic backroads. While the drive is purely functional, the consistent highway access ensures you can maintain a steady pace for the duration of the 25-minute trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 43 is the longest continuous segment at about 9.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and Zoo Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Maple Avenue.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 (Maple Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Maple Avenue
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 43 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 43 North
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 43
Merge onto I 43
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
12.2 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
15.9 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Big Bend, WI to West Allis, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Madison along the way.
Madison
12.2 mi in
|
~16m
|
via US 45
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 43 | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Zoo Freeway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Big Bend Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| West Greenfield Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| US 45 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Clark Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Maple Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jackson Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 9.8 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Bend, WI and West Allis, WI.
1
Start on Jackson Parkway
30 ft
·
7 sec
·
Jackson Parkway
2
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
519 ft
·
24 sec
·
Maple Avenue
3
Turn right onto WI 164
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Clark Street
4
Continue on WI 164
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Big Bend Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 43 North
6
Merge onto I 43
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
I 43
Use the none lane.
7
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
8
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 1D
Toward WI 59: Greenfield Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto WI 59
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left / none lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
WI 59
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 25-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You will not need to worry about planning intermediate stops, as you can easily complete the entire 17.6-mile distance in one go. Keep in mind that because the route relies on I-43 and the Zoo Freeway, traffic patterns on these major arteries will dictate your actual travel time more than anything else. Before you head out, verify your fuel levels, though the $3 cost makes it an easy trip to manage. Your best strategy is to monitor real-time traffic reports for the Zoo Freeway to avoid potential delays during peak commuting hours.
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 8.8 miles from Big Bend, WI, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.8 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 17.6 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.8 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Allis, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Big Bend, 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 Big Bend, WI
This is one driving day of about 17.6 miles and 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Big Bend, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 43 for about 9.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.8 mi from Big Bend, WI · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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 17.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.8 miles from Big Bend, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Allis, WI
The final approach into West Allis, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around West Allis, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.67 one way
$5.35 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.95 | $5.89 |
| premium | $4.80 | $3.32 | $6.65 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.91 | $7.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.13 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
West Allis, WI
Afternoon in West Allis on Sunday
Local time
1:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
45°F
Addison, WI
9 mi in
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
6 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
25m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Big Bend, WI to West Allis, WI covers 17.6 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 43, Zoo Freeway, Big Bend Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.8 miles from Big Bend, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.67 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.6 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Maple Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Big Bend, WI to West Allis, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Madison along the way.
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