Origin
Menomonee Falls, WI
Morning in Menomonee Falls on Friday
Local time
10:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Menomonee Falls, WI to Sauk City, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
96.6 mi
155 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Menomonee Falls, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Sauk City, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Sauk City, WI covers 96.6 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East-West Freeway, US 12, I 94 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.8 miles on East-West Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.10 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.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 96.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 3m highway drive covering 96.6 miles, with most of the trip on East-West Freeway and US 12. The longest continuous stretch is about 54.8 miles on East-West 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.
East-West Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 54.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and US 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.5 miles in near I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 96.6 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 12.5 miles (I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.3 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
12.5 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway
Merge onto I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 94 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
67.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
8
74.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward WI 19: Waunakee, Sun Prairie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 131
Toward WI 19: Waunakee, Sun Prairie
8
74.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WI 19 West: Waunakee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward WI 19 West: Waunakee
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Menomonee Falls, WI and Sauk City, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Sun Prairie.
Eau Claire
67.3 mi in
|
~1h 21m
|
via I 94
Sun Prairie
74.2 mi in
|
~1h 29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East-West Freeway | 54.8 mi | 58m |
| US 12 | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| I 94 | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 19 | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| Redford Boulevard | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 3.4 mi | 7m |
| West Main Street | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| WI 19 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 54.8 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Sauk City, WI.
1
Start on WI 175
21 ft
·
7 sec
·
Appleton Avenue
2
Turn right onto Main Street
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on CTH F
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
West Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto CTH F; CTH V
127 ft
·
7 sec
·
Town Line Road
5
Continue on CTH F; CTH V
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Town Line Road
6
Turn right onto CTH F
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
7
Turn left onto CTH F
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Waukesha Avenue
8
Continue on CTH F
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Redford Boulevard
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
10
Merge onto I 94; WI 164
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
54 mi
·
57 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
I 94
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 131
Toward WI 19: Waunakee, Sun Prairie
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
452 ft
·
13 sec
Toward WI 19 West: Waunakee
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on WI 19; CTH CV
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 19
Use the straight lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto WI 19
124 ft
·
7 sec
·
WI 19
17
Continue on WI 19
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
WI 19
18
Enter roundabout onto WI 113
123 ft
·
6 sec
·
State Highway 19
19
Continue on WI 113
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 19
20
Continue on WI 19; WI 113
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Enter roundabout onto WI 19
116 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Main Street
22
Continue on WI 19
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
23
Continue on WI 19
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 19
24
Turn right onto US 12; WI 19
11 mi
·
15 min
·
US 12; WI 19
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
WI 60; WI 78; US 12 Business
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 48.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.8 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 21 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 1h 1m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sauk City, 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 96.6 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East-West Freeway for about 54.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.3 mi from Menomonee Falls, WI · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sauk City, WI
The final approach into Sauk City, 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 Sauk City, 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
$15.10 one way
$30.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.58 | $33.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.59 | $37.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.33 | $42.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29 | 0 | $10.14 | $4.64 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.45 | $3.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.52 | $6.18 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Sauk City, WI
Morning in Sauk City on Friday
Local time
10:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Cottage Grove, WI
48 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
17 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
2h 3m 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 Sauk City, WI covers 96.6 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East-West Freeway, US 12, I 94. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.3 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 $15.10 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 96.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.5 miles (I 94; WI 164 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.3 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Menomonee Falls, WI and Sauk City, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Sun Prairie.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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