Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
90 mi
145 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Lodi, WI to Wauwatosa, WI covers 90 miles and takes about 1h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, I 39, State Highway 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.2 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.67 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
45 miles from Lodi, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
This is a 1h 43m highway drive covering 90 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I 39. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.2 miles on I 94.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 39. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.2 miles in near I 94.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 90 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22.2 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Watertown Plank Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Watertown Plank Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 64.2 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 39 | 17.7 mi | 18m |
| State Highway 60 | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| West Watertown Plank Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Zoo Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Portage Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Harwood Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Harmonee Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lodi, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
Start on WI 113
Turn right onto WI 60
Continue on WI 60
Enter roundabout
Continue
Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
Continue on Harwood Avenue
Turn left onto WI 181
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
Arrive at destination
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.
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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45 miles or 50m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wauwatosa, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lodi, 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 Lodi, WI
This is one driving day of about 90 miles and 1h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45 mi from Lodi, WI · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 45 miles from Lodi, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.2 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$13.67 one way
$27.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $15.07 | $30.14 |
| premium | $4.80 | $16.99 | $33.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.99 | $39.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27 | 0 | $9.45 | $4.32 |
| Efficient EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36 | 0 | $12.60 | $5.76 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (65% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Lodi on Saturday
Local time
7:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Wauwatosa on Saturday
Local time
7:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
Rockford, IL
45 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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