Origin
Black River Falls, WI
Afternoon in Black River Falls on Saturday
Local time
3:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Black River Falls, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
192.3 mi
309 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 25m
★
6 AM
3h 38m
8 AM
4h 3m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 44m
3 PM
3h 48m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Black River Falls, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Menomonee Falls, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Black River Falls, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI covers 192.3 miles and takes about 3h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, West Main Street, Redford Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 178 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.06 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
96.1 miles from Black River Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 178 mi | 3h 10m |
| West Main Street | 4.6 mi | 9m |
| Redford Boulevard | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Waukesha Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Town Line Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Appleton Avenue | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 178 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Black River Falls, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI.
1
Start on this road
201 ft
·
20 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
154 ft
·
8 sec
·
South 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto WI 54
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
5
Merge onto I 94
122 mi
·
2 hr 11 min
·
I 94
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
56 mi
·
59 min
·
I 94
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 295
Toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
188 ft
·
6 sec
Toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
9
Turn left onto CTH F
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Redford Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on CTH F
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Waukesha Avenue
11
Turn straight
374 ft
·
12 sec
12
Turn straight onto CTH F
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto CTH F; CTH V
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Town Line Road
14
Enter roundabout onto CTH F
74 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Main Street
15
Continue on CTH F
4.6 mi
·
9 min
·
West Main Street
16
Turn left onto WI 175
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
Appleton Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
WI 175
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 96.1 miles from Black River Falls, WI, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178 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 42 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.1 miles or 1h 44m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Menomonee Falls, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Black River Falls, 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 Black River Falls, WI
This is one driving day of about 192.3 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Black River Falls, 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 178 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.1 miles from Black River Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 178 miles.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 179.9 — 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
|
South 3rd Street
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
124.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m 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
179.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 295
Toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex
7
179.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.06 one way
$60.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.01 | $66.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.01 | $74.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.46 | $84.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.7 | 0 | $20.19 | $9.23 |
| Efficient EV | 48.1 | 0 | $16.83 | $7.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.9 | 0 | $26.92 | $12.31 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Menomonee Falls, WI
Afternoon in Menomonee Falls on Saturday
Local time
3:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Lodi, WI
96 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
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 37m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 66.3
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
192.3 mi in 3h 37m, mostly highway — 178 mi of that is on I 94.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 178 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and West Main Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 3rd Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 192.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Black River Falls, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI, road signs point toward Cth F: Waukesha, Sussex and Cth F North: Waukesha.
Cth F: Waukesha
179.6 mi in
|
~3h 14m
Sussex
179.6 mi in
|
~3h 14m
Cth F North: Waukesha
179.9 mi in
|
~3h 14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 192.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 178 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Menomonee Falls, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
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 NPS for national parks. 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
Continue From Menomonee Falls, WI
More from Black River Falls, WI
More trips to Menomonee Falls, WI
Explore more options from Black River Falls, WI or browse trips ending in Menomonee Falls, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.