Trip from Menomonee Falls, WI to Elkhart Lake, WI

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 23m

Distance

56.5 mi

91 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min

4 AM

1h 17m ★

6 AM

1h 24m

8 AM

1h 36m

10 AM

1h 28m

12 PM

1h 27m

3 PM

1h 29m

5 PM

1h 36m

8 PM

1h 20m

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

Elkhart Lake, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Elkhart Lake, WI covers 56.5 miles and takes about 1h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Bend Freeway, State Highway 28, I 41 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.2 miles on West Bend Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.83 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

28.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 1h 23m highway drive covering 56.5 miles, with most of the trip on West Bend Freeway and State Highway 28. The longest continuous stretch is about 16.2 miles on West Bend Freeway.

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.

West Bend Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Bend Freeway and State Highway 28. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.

Route Complexity 5/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (US 45 / West Bend Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.6 miles (WI 67; CTH E / State Highway 67): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

1 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 41 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Appleton, West Bend

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 41 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Ap...

8.6 mi into trip | ~11m in | US 45 / West Bend Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 / West Bend Freeway toward US 45 North: West Bend

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 59 Toward US 45 North: West Bend

47.6 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | WI 67; CTH E / State Highway 67

At end of road, turn right onto WI 67; CTH E / State Highway 67

Navigation decision point

49.5 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in | WI 67; CTH C; CTH E / East Mill Street

Turn right onto WI 67; CTH C; CTH E / East Mill Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

49.6 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | WI 67 / Caroline Street

Turn left onto WI 67 / Caroline Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
West Bend Freeway	16.2 mi	17m
State Highway 28	9.7 mi	13m
I 41	7.2 mi	7m
State Highway 67	6.1 mi	11m
County Road H	4.1 mi	5m
County Road E	4 mi	9m
State Highway 144	3.1 mi	4m
Main Street	1.7 mi	3m

Longest stretch: West Bend Freeway — 16.2 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on WI 175

21 ft · 4 sec · Appleton Avenue

Turn left onto Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Turn left onto Pilgrim Road

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Pilgrim Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward I 41 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Appleton, West Bend

Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45

7.2 mi · 7 min · I 41; US 41; US 45

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45

16 mi · 17 min · West Bend Freeway

Exit 59 Toward US 45 North: West Bend Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto CTH H

4.1 mi · 5 min · County Road H

Turn left onto WI 144

3.1 mi · 4 min · State Highway 144

Continue on WI 28; WI 144

4.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 28

Continue on WI 28; CTH A; CTH SS

1.0 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Continue on WI 28; CTH SS

4.6 mi · 6 min · State Highway 28

Continue on WI 28; CTH F

0.9 mi · 1 min · Madison Avenue

Continue on WI 28

0.6 mi · 52 sec · State Highway 28

Turn left onto CTH E

4.0 mi · 9 min · County Road E

At end of road, turn right onto WI 67; CTH E

0.6 mi · 52 sec · State Highway 67

Continue on WI 67; CTH E

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Milwaukee Street

Turn right onto WI 67; CTH C; CTH E

345 ft · 12 sec · East Mill Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto WI 67

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Caroline Street

Turn left onto WI 67

347 ft · 8 sec · Elizabeth Street

Turn right onto WI 67

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Milwaukee Street

Continue on WI 67

5.4 mi · 10 min · State Highway 67

Continue on WI 67; CTH A; CTH J

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Lincoln Street

Turn left onto CTH A

0.2 mi · 19 sec · East Rhine Street

Turn slight right onto Arno Way

95 ft · 4 sec · Arno Way

Arrive at destination

Arno Way

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 28.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 34m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.2 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 56.5 miles or 1h 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 28.3 miles or 34m 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 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elkhart Lake, 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 56.5 miles and 1h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI.

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

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on West Bend Freeway for about 16.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 28.3 mi from Menomonee Falls, WI · 34m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukegan, IL

28 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

Waukegan, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 56.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukegan, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Elkhart Lake, WI

The final approach into Elkhart Lake, 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 Elkhart Lake, WI.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.83 one way

$17.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$9.70	$19.40
premium	$4.89	$10.87	$21.75
diesel	$5.61	$12.47	$24.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	17	$5.93	$2.71
Efficient EV	14.1	$4.94	$2.26
EV Truck/SUV	22.6	$7.91	$3.62

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast data refreshed 18 hours ago

Origin

Menomonee Falls, WI

Morning in Menomonee Falls on Wednesday

Local time

6:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 50% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 12:13PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 12:13PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Destination

Elkhart Lake, WI

Morning in Elkhart Lake on Wednesday

Local time

6:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 10 mph 47% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 12:13PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 12:13PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

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

5 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

1h 23m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Elkhart Lake, WI covers 56.5 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Bend Freeway, State Highway 28, I 41. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 28.3 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 $8.83 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.

The route from Menomonee Falls, WI to Elkhart Lake, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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