Trip from Independence, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

4h 26m

Distance

228.1 mi

367 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 13m ★

6 AM

4h 26m

8 AM

4h 53m

10 AM

4h 36m

12 PM

4h 33m

3 PM

4h 37m

5 PM

4h 52m

8 PM

4h 18m

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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village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States

Menomonee Falls, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Independence, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI covers 228.1 miles and takes about 4h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 94, Main Street, State Highway 121 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 196 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.66 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

114.1 miles from Independence, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 4h 26m highway drive covering 228.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and Main Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 196 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 24 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 196 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and Main Street. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 228.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 5.8 miles (US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.5 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 159.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

5.8 mi into trip | ~10m in | US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street

Navigation decision point

19.5 mi into trip | ~32m in | I 94

Merge onto I 94

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

159.9 mi into trip | ~3h 3m 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

215.5 mi into trip | ~4h 2m 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

215.8 mi into trip | ~4h 3m 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

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Independence, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI, road signs point toward Cth F: Waukesha, Sussex and Cth F North: Waukesha.

Cth F: Waukesha

215.5 mi in | ~4h 2m

Sussex

215.5 mi in | ~4h 2m

Cth F North: Waukesha

215.8 mi in | ~4h 3m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 94	196 mi	3h 30m
Main Street	8.4 mi	12m
State Highway 121	5.1 mi	8m
West Main Street	4.6 mi	9m
Redford Boulevard	4.5 mi	7m
Dewey Street	4.1 mi	7m
Waukesha Avenue	1.5 mi	2m
Whitehall Road	1.2 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 94 — 196 mi, about 3h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Independence, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI.

Start on Railroad Street

102 ft · 5 sec · Railroad Street

Turn right onto CTH Q

70 ft · 2 sec · 1st Street

Turn right onto WI 93

213 ft · 7 sec · Washington Street

Continue on WI 93

0.4 mi · 54 sec · Osseo Road

Turn right onto WI 121

1.2 mi · 2 min · Whitehall Road

Continue on WI 121

4.1 mi · 7 min · Dewey Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D

7.2 mi · 10 min · Main Street

Turn right onto WI 121

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Continue on WI 121

5.1 mi · 8 min · State Highway 121

Continue on WI 121

0.6 mi · 1 min · WI 121

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Merge onto I 94

140 mi · 2 hr 30 min · I 94

Use the straight lane.

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.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec

Exit 295 Toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

188 ft · 6 sec

Toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex

Turn left onto CTH F

4.5 mi · 7 min · Redford Boulevard

Use the left / straight lanes.

Continue on CTH F

1.5 mi · 2 min · Waukesha Avenue

Turn straight

374 ft · 12 sec

Turn straight onto CTH F

1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street

At end of road, turn left onto CTH F; CTH V

0.4 mi · 54 sec · Town Line Road

Enter roundabout onto CTH F

74 ft · 4 sec · West Main Street

Continue on CTH F

4.6 mi · 9 min · West Main Street

Turn left onto WI 175

21 ft · 0 sec · Appleton Avenue

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 114.1 miles from Independence, WI, or about 2h 14m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 114.1 miles or 2h 14m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 32m

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 Independence, 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 Independence, WI

This is one driving day of about 228.1 miles and 4h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Independence, 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 196 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 114.1 mi from Independence, WI · 2h 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

114 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 114.1 miles from Independence, 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 196 miles.

Arriving in Menomonee Falls, WI

The final approach into Menomonee Falls, 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 Menomonee Falls, WI.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

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 102.3

Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River

Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.66 one way

$71.32 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 80 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$39.15	$78.31
premium	$4.89	$43.90	$87.79
diesel	$5.61	$50.36	$100.72

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	68.4	0	$23.95	$10.95
Efficient EV	57	0	$19.96	$9.12
EV Truck/SUV	91.2	1	$31.93	$14.60

Gas CO2

80 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Independence, WI

Evening in Independence on Tuesday

Local time

5:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Menomonee Falls, WI

Evening in Menomonee Falls on Tuesday

Local time

5:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 33% chance 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

31 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

4h 26m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Independence, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI covers 228.1 miles and takes about 4h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, Main Street, State Highway 121. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 114.1 miles from Independence, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.66 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Independence, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI, road signs point toward Cth F: Waukesha, Sussex and Cth F North: Waukesha.

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