The drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Baileys Harbor, WI covers 176.1 miles and takes about 3h 37m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 43, WI 54, WI 57 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91.9 miles on I 43.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.53 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.1 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 176.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 37m highway drive covering 176.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 43 and WI 54. The longest continuous stretch is about 91.9 miles on I 43.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 43 is the longest continuous segment at about 91.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and WI 54. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.2 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 176.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 10.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (I 43 / North-South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
10.2 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the ramp toward I 43 North, WI 32 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 43 North, WI 32 North
5
10.6 mi into trip|~21m in|I 43 / North-South Freeway
Merge onto I 43 / North-South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
113.1 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward WI 54, WI 57: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WI 54, WI 57: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma
4
113.5 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
176.1 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|School Lane
Turn left onto School Lane
Navigation decision point
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 Menomonee Falls, WI to Baileys Harbor, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Algoma along the way.
Algoma
113.1 mi in|~2h 11m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 43
91.9 mi
1h 38m
WI 54
33 mi
37m
WI 57
18.4 mi
29m
State Highway 42/57
10.7 mi
16m
North-South Freeway
10.6 mi
11m
West Brown Deer Road
7.4 mi
14m
Main Street
2.7 mi
6m
Egg Harbor Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 91.9 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Baileys Harbor, WI.
1
Start on WI 175
21 ft·4 sec·Appleton Avenue
2
Turn left onto Main Street
2.7 mi·6 min·Main Street
3
Continue on WI 100
7.4 mi·14 min·West Brown Deer Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 43 North, WI 32 North
5
Merge onto I 43
11 mi·11 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 43; WI 57
92 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 43; WI 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward WI 54, WI 57: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
9
Merge onto WI 54; WI 57
33 mi·37 min·WI 54; WI 57
10
Continue on WI 42; WI 57
8.2 mi·12 min·State Highway 42/57
Use the straight lane.
11
Enter roundabout onto WI 42; WI 57
106 ft·1 sec·State Highway 42/57
12
Continue on WI 42; WI 57
1.3 mi·2 min·State Highway 42/57
13
Enter roundabout onto WI 42; WI 57
102 ft·2 sec·State Highway 42/57
14
Continue on WI 42; WI 57
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 42/57
15
Continue on WI 42; WI 57
0.1 mi·9 sec·Egg Harbor Road
16
Turn slight right onto WI 57
18 mi·29 min·WI 57
17
Turn left onto CTH F
397 ft·17 sec·County Road F
18
Turn left onto School Lane
261 ft·19 sec·School Lane
19
Arrive at destination
School Lane
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 88.1 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.9 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 39 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.1 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baileys Harbor, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Menomonee Falls, 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 Menomonee Falls, WI
This is one driving day of about 176.1 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Menomonee Falls, 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 43 for about 91.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.1 mi from Menomonee Falls, WI
· 1h 44m into the drive
The midpoint is around 88.1 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 43 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.9 miles.
Arriving in Baileys Harbor, WI
The final approach into Baileys Harbor, 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 Baileys Harbor, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Coffee Stop
Kompound Cafe
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Around the midpoint, short detour
2.2 mi from route
~6 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 113.2
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.53 one way
$55.06 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.23
$60.46
premium
$4.89
$33.89
$67.78
diesel
$5.61
$38.88
$77.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.8
0
$18.49
$8.45
Efficient EV
44
0
$15.41
$7.04
EV Truck/SUV
70.4
0
$24.65
$11.27
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Menomonee Falls, WI
Morning
in Menomonee Falls on Saturday
Local time
6:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Baileys Harbor, WI
Morning
in Baileys Harbor on Saturday
Local time
6:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Bellevue, WI
88 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
25 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
3h 37m 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 Menomonee Falls, WI to Baileys Harbor, WI covers 176.1 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 43, WI 54, WI 57. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.1 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.53 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 176.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (I 43 / North-South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Baileys Harbor, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Algoma along the way.
