Trip from Butler, WI to Wauwatosa, WI

Drive Time

11m

Distance

7 mi

11 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

Downtown Wauwatosa, WI, WI

Photo: Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Butler, WI to Wauwatosa, WI covers 7 miles and takes about 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North 126th Street, Hampton Avenue, I 41 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $0.95 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

3.5 miles from Butler, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 11m drive with frequent turns across 7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North 126th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North 126th Street Unavailable Refreshing
Hampton Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
I 41 South Unavailable Refreshing
Zoo Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
Watertown Plank Road Unavailable Refreshing
Watertown Plank Road East Unavailable Refreshing
West Watertown Plank Road Unavailable Refreshing
Harwood Avenue Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: North 126th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Butler, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.

1

Start on West Stark Street

315 ft · 13 sec · West Stark Street
2

Turn right onto North 126th Street

384 ft · 13 sec · North 126th Street
3

Turn left onto Hampton Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Hampton Avenue
4

Take the ramp slight right toward I 41 South, US 45 South

0.3 mi · 38 sec · I 41 South, US 45 South
5

Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway

3.8 mi · 5 min · Zoo Freeway
6

Take the exit slight right toward Watertown Plank Road

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Watertown Plank Road
7

Keep slight left to continue on Watertown Plank Road East

0.5 mi · 1 min · Watertown Plank Road East
8

Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · West Watertown Plank Road
9

Continue on Harwood Avenue

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Harwood Avenue
10

Turn left onto Harmonee Avenue

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Harmonee Avenue
11

Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway

499 ft · 21 sec · West Menomonee River Parkway
12

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 3.5 miles from Butler, WI, or about 5m into the drive.

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 7 miles or 11m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 3.5 miles or 5m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 9m

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 Butler, 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 Butler, WI

This is one driving day of about 7 miles and 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Butler, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 3.5 mi from Butler, WI · 5m into the drive

Downtown Waukegan, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukegan, IL

4 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

Waukegan, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukegan, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 3.5 miles from Butler, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Wauwatosa, WI

The final approach into Wauwatosa, 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 Wauwatosa, 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

$0.95 one way

$1.90 round trip

$3.45/gal 25.4 MPG avg 2 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.85 $1.06 $2.12
premium $4.15 $1.14 $2.29
diesel $3.75 $1.03 $2.07

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$26–$51

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.4 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.1 0 $0.74 $0.34
Efficient EV 1.8 0 $0.61 $0.28
EV Truck/SUV 2.8 0 $0.98 $0.45

Gas CO2

2 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (50% 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Butler, WI

Morning in Butler on Saturday

Local time

9:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Wauwatosa, WI

Morning in Wauwatosa on Saturday

Local time

9:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

Along the Route

43°F

Waukegan, IL

4 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

28 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

11m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Butler, WI to Wauwatosa, WI covers 7 miles and takes about 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North 126th Street, Hampton Avenue, I 41 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.5 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 $0.95 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.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Wauwatosa, WI to Butler, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

6.9 mi 12m

Explore more options from Butler, WI or browse trips ending in Wauwatosa, WI.

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