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Trip from Menomonee Falls, WI to River Falls, WI

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

5h 42m

Distance

304 mi

489 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 29m ★
6 AM
5h 43m
8 AM
6h 9m
10 AM
5h 52m
12 PM
5h 49m
3 PM
5h 53m
5 PM
6h 8m
8 PM
5h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States

Menomonee Falls, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in Wisconsin, United States

River Falls, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to River Falls, WI covers 304 miles and takes about 5h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Main Street, West Main Street, Town Line Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.53 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

152 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 42m drive with frequent turns across 304 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 42m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to River Falls, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Main Street
West Main Street
Town Line Road
Waukesha Avenue
Redford Boulevard
East-West Freeway
I 39 North
I 94 West

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Appleton Avenue

23 ft · 8 sec · Appleton Avenue
2

Turn right onto Main Street

2.1 mi · 5 min · Main Street
3

Continue on West Main Street

2.5 mi · 4 min · West Main Street
4

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Town Line Road

128 ft · 7 sec · Town Line Road
5

Exit the roundabout onto Town Line Road

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Town Line Road
6

Turn right onto Main Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street
7

Turn left onto Waukesha Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · Waukesha Avenue
8

Continue on Redford Boulevard

4.4 mi · 6 min · Redford Boulevard
9

Take the ramp slight right

0.3 mi · 44 sec
10

Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

1.3 mi · 1 min · East-West Freeway
11

Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

54 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway
12

Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

29 mi · 31 min · I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
13

Keep slight left

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min
14

Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul

130 mi · 2 hr 19 min · I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
15

Take the exit slight right toward CTH T: Hammond

0.3 mi · 38 sec · CTH T: Hammond
16

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward County Highway T

243 ft · 5 sec · County Highway T
17

Exit the roundabout onto County Highway T

486 ft · 28 sec · County Highway T
18

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Highway T

144 ft · 8 sec · County Highway T
19

Exit the roundabout onto County Highway T

1.5 mi · 2 min · County Highway T
20

Turn right onto County Highway N

2.5 mi · 3 min · County Highway N
21

At the end of the road, turn left onto County Highway J

4.0 mi · 5 min · County Highway J
22

Turn left onto State Highway 65

4.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 65
23

Continue on North Main Street

1.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street
24

Turn left onto East Cedar Street

171 ft · 8 sec · East Cedar Street
25

Turn right

69 ft · 5 sec
26

Arrive at your destination

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 152 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 2h 51m into the drive.

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 67 miles or 1h 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 152 miles or 2h 51m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near River Falls, 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 304 miles and 5h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 152 mi from Menomonee Falls, WI · 2h 51m into the drive

city in Adams County, Wisconsin

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Adams, WI

152 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 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Adams, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 152 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in River Falls, WI

The final approach into River 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 River Falls, 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

$47.53 one way

$95.05 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 106 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $52.18 $104.37
premium $4.89 $58.50 $117.00
diesel $5.61 $67.12 $134.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 106.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 91.2 1 $31.92 $14.59
Efficient EV 76 0 $26.60 $12.16
EV Truck/SUV 121.6 1 $42.56 $19.46

Gas CO2

106 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Evening in Menomonee Falls on Wednesday

Local time

6:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

River Falls, WI

Evening in River Falls on Wednesday

Local time

6:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

64°F

Adams, WI

152 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

2 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

5h 42m 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 Menomonee Falls, WI to River Falls, WI covers 304 miles and takes about 5h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, West Main Street, Town Line Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 152 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 $47.53 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 42m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to River Falls, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Menomonee Falls, WI to River Falls, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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