Trip from Fitchburg, WI to Elm Grove, WI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

85.2 mi

137 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

1h 34m ★

6 AM

1h 41m

8 AM

1h 57m

10 AM

1h 47m

12 PM

1h 45m

3 PM

1h 48m

5 PM

1h 56m

8 PM

1h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

Fitchburg, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Elm Grove, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Fitchburg, WI to Elm Grove, WI covers 85.2 miles and takes about 1h 41m 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 Beltline Highway, US 14 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.1 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.32 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.

Midpoint

42.6 miles from Fitchburg, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 85.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 41m highway drive covering 85.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and West Beltline Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 60.1 miles on I 94.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 60.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and West Beltline Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.2 miles you will encounter 19 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 5.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles (US 14): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5.3 mi into trip | ~8m in

Enter roundabout toward US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alternate

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alte...

11.3 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 14

Take the exit onto US 14 toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South

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 132A-B Toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South

11.4 mi into trip | ~16m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 12 East, US 18 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 132A Toward US 12 East, US 18 East

17.6 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 267B Toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wiscon...

82.1 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Take the exit toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 301A-B Toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road

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 Fitchburg, WI to Elm Grove, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin Dells along the way.

Wisconsin Dells

17.6 mi in | ~24m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 94	60.1 mi	1h 4m
West Beltline Highway	5.8 mi	7m
US 14	5.7 mi	6m
County Highway M	4.8 mi	7m
I 39	3.1 mi	3m
South Moorland Road	0.9 mi	1m
West Bluemound Road	0.9 mi	1m
Watertown Plank Road	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 94 — 60.1 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fitchburg, WI and Elm Grove, WI.

Start on Wendt Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Wendt Road

Turn left onto CTH M

4.8 mi · 7 min · County Highway M

Turn straight onto CTH MM

101 ft · 2 sec · CTH MM

Turn slight left onto CTH MM

0.1 mi · 18 sec · CTH MM

Enter roundabout onto CTH MM

118 ft · 2 sec · County Road MM

Continue on CTH MM

338 ft · 8 sec · County Road MM

Enter roundabout

239 ft · 13 sec

Toward US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alternate

Continue

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alternate

Merge onto US 14

5.6 mi · 6 min · US 14

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 14

0.1 mi · 15 sec · US 14

Exit 132A-B Toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 50 sec

Exit 132A Toward US 12 East, US 18 East

Merge onto US 12; US 18

5.8 mi · 7 min · West Beltline Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 267B Toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Merge onto I 39; I 90

3.1 mi · 3 min · I 39; I 90

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec

Exit 138A Toward I 94 East: Milwaukee

Merge onto WI 30

0.2 mi · 11 sec · WI 30

Merge onto I 94

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 94

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec

Exit 301A-B Toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

112 ft · 5 sec

Toward Elm Grove Use the left lane.

Turn left onto CTH O

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Moorland Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto US 18

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Bluemound Road

Turn slight left

0.1 mi · 24 sec

Turn left onto Sunny Slope Road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Sunny Slope Road

Turn right onto Watertown Plank Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Watertown Plank Road

Arrive at destination

Watertown Plank Road

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 42.6 miles from Fitchburg, WI, or about 52m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.1 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 19 miles or 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 42.6 miles or 52m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elm Grove, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Fitchburg, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Fitchburg, WI

This is one driving day of about 85.2 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Fitchburg, WI.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 60.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.6 mi from Fitchburg, WI · 52m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fort Atkinson, WI

43 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

McFarland, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Farmington, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.6 miles from Fitchburg, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.1 miles.

Arriving in Elm Grove, WI

The final approach into Elm Grove, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.32 one way

$26.64 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$14.62	$29.25
premium	$4.89	$16.40	$32.79
diesel	$5.61	$18.81	$37.62

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	25.6	$8.95	$4.09
Efficient EV	21.3	$7.46	$3.41
EV Truck/SUV	34.1	$11.93	$5.45

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fitchburg, WI

Afternoon in Fitchburg on Thursday

Local time

4:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elm Grove, WI

Afternoon in Elm Grove on Thursday

Local time

4:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 41m 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 Fitchburg, WI to Elm Grove, WI covers 85.2 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, West Beltline Highway, US 14. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 42.6 miles from Fitchburg, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.32 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.