Origin
Butler, WI
Late night in Butler on Saturday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Butler, WI to Milwaukee, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
13.6 mi
22 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Butler, WI
Tom Fisk
Milwaukee, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Butler, WI to Milwaukee, WI is 13.6 miles and takes about 21 minutes via East-West Freeway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Wisconsin. Given its brevity, you won't encounter significant regional shifts. The drive is primarily highway-focused, making it a quick and efficient connection between these two locales. It's an ideal route for a simple commute or an easy extension of another journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 13.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is heavily highway-focused, with an 80% highway share. Expect to spend most of your 21-minute drive on major freeways like the East-West Freeway and Zoo Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.7 miles on the East-West Freeway. The character of the drive is predominantly fast-paced, with minimal slowdowns unless traffic dictates. You'll experience a consistent driving rhythm on this predominantly highway-centric path.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East-West Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and Zoo Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 13.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
5.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
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 38A-B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
9
6.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwauk...
6
6.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
11.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 794 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794 / East-West Freeway toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
6
12.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1E
Toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Butler, WI and Milwaukee, WI, road signs point toward Madison and Port Of Milwaukee.
Madison
5.9 mi in
|
~9m
Port Of Milwaukee
11.9 mi in
|
~18m
|
via I 794
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East-West Freeway | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Zoo Freeway | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Hampton Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Milwaukee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Saint Paul Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 126th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Stark Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 5.7 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Butler, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
1
Start on West Stark Street
313 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Stark Street
2
Turn right onto North 126th Street
383 ft
·
13 sec
·
North 126th Street
3
Turn left onto CTH KK
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Hampton Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 41 South, US 45 South
5
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 38A-B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwaukee
Use the slight left lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 94
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East-West Freeway
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 1E
Toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
12
Turn slight right
309 ft
·
14 sec
Toward Jackson Street South
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto East Saint Paul Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Saint Paul Avenue
14
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Milwaukee Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 18; WI 32
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.13 one way
$4.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.33 | $4.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.62 | $5.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.00 | $6.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.65 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.19 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.90 | $0.87 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Milwaukee, WI
Late night in Milwaukee on Saturday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
1 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
21m 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 Butler, WI to Milwaukee, WI covers 13.6 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East-West Freeway, Zoo Freeway, Hampton Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.8 miles from Butler, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.13 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 is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 13.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Butler, WI and Milwaukee, WI, road signs point toward Madison and Port Of Milwaukee.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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