Origin
Greendale, WI
Late night in Greendale on Friday
Local time
1:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Greendale, WI to Milwaukee, WI
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
18m
Distance
10.7 mi
17 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Greendale, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Milwaukee, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 10.7-mile drive from Greendale, WI to Milwaukee, WI takes approximately 18 minutes and is best suited for a single day trip. With 64% of the journey on highways, you'll primarily be navigating the North-South Freeway and I-43. The estimated fuel cost is a minimal $2, making it an economical option for a quick transit. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from one point to another within the Midwest region. You won't need an overnight stay for this short distance; it's more about getting you where you need to go in Milwaukee.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 10.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 10.7-mile trip, with 64% of the drive utilizing major freeways. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be about 5 miles on the North-South Freeway. The route is designed for efficiency, meaning you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained, high-speed roads like West Loomis Road and I-43. While not particularly scenic, it offers a smooth and predictable driving experience as you transition from the outskirts into the heart of Milwaukee.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North-South Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North-South Freeway and West Loomis Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 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 13 decision points packed into just 10.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 43): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 South
9
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 43 toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10A
Toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee
7
9.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 794 East: Lakefront
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront
8
9.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Plankington Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1D
Toward Plankington Avenue
7
10.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
West Michigan Street
Turn right onto West Michigan Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North-South Freeway | 5 mi | 7m |
| West Loomis Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| I 43 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Airport Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Northway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Michigan Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Plankinton Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North-South Freeway
— 5 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greendale, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
1
Start on Schoolway
27 ft
·
6 sec
·
Schoolway
2
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Broad Street
3
Turn right onto Northway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Northway
4
Turn right onto West Grange Avenue
224 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Grange Avenue
5
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
6
Turn slight left onto WI 36
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Loomis Road
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 South
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 43
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 43
Exit 10A
Toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 94
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 1D
Toward Plankington Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 1D
Toward Plankinton Avenue
14
Continue on North Plankinton Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Plankinton Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto West Michigan Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Michigan Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto US 18; WI 32
500 ft
·
19 sec
·
North Milwaukee Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 18; WI 32
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.67 one way
$3.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.84 | $3.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.06 | $4.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.36 | $4.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.12 | $0.51 |
| Efficient EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.94 | $0.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.50 | $0.68 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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 Friday
Local time
1:51 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
18m 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 Greendale, WI to Milwaukee, WI covers 10.7 miles and takes about 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North-South Freeway, West Loomis Road, I 43. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.4 miles from Greendale, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.67 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 is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 10.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 43): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Greendale, WI to Milwaukee, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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