The drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Altoona, WI covers 240.1 miles and takes about 4h 30m 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 90, East-West Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.2 miles on I 94.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.54 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
120.1 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 240.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 30m highway drive covering 240.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 105.2 miles on I 94.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 105.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in near I 94 / East-West Freeway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 240.1 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 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; at 96.4 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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...
6
96.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
159.9 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
6
236.2 mi into trip|~4h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
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 Altoona, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Saint Paul.
Eau Claire
67.3 mi in|~1h 21m|via I 94
Saint Paul
159.9 mi in|~3h 1m|via I 94
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
105.2 mi
1h 52m
I 90
63.5 mi
1h 8m
East-West Freeway
54.8 mi
58m
Redford Boulevard
4.4 mi
6m
Main Street
3.4 mi
7m
West Main Street
2.5 mi
4m
US 53
1.6 mi
1m
Waukesha Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 105.2 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Altoona, 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
29 mi·31 min·I 94
Exit 240Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau ClaireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
76 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint PaulUse the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
17
Merge onto US 53
1.6 mi·1 min·US 53
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 12: Clairemont Avenue
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 12: East Clairemont Avenue
20
Keep slight right at fork
443 ft·10 sec
Toward US 12: East Clairemont Avenue
21
Turn straight onto US 12
0.2 mi·22 sec·US 12
22
Turn slight left
0.1 mi·25 sec
23
Turn left onto 10th Street West
0.5 mi·1 min·10th Street West
24
Turn right onto Bartlett Avenue
521 ft·28 sec·Bartlett Avenue
25
Turn left onto 9th Street West
340 ft·17 sec·9th Street West
26
Turn right onto Garfield Avenue
0.1 mi·30 sec·Garfield Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
Garfield Avenue
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 120.1 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.2 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 53 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.1 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, 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 240.1 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 94 for about 105.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.1 mi from Menomonee Falls, WI
· 2h 18m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 124.2
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.54 one way
$75.07 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$41.21
$82.43
premium
$4.89
$46.21
$92.41
diesel
$5.61
$53.01
$106.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72
0
$25.21
$11.52
Efficient EV
60
0
$21.01
$9.60
EV Truck/SUV
96
1
$33.61
$15.37
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Friday
Local time
8:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, WI
Evening
in Altoona on Friday
Local time
8:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 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
4h 30m 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 Altoona, WI covers 240.1 miles and takes about 4h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, I 90, East-West Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120.1 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 $37.54 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 demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 240.1 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 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; at 96.4 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Menomonee Falls, WI and Altoona, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Saint Paul.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
