Trip from Menomonee Falls, WI to Bergen, WI

Drive Time

1h 33m

Distance

76.8 mi

124 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

Downtown Menomonee Falls, WI, WI

Menomonee Falls, WI

Tom Fisk

Downtown Bergen, WI, WI

Bergen, WI

Barnabas Davoti

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Menomonee Falls to Bergen, Wisconsin, you can expect a straightforward 76.8-mile journey. Clocking in at approximately 1 hour and 33 minutes, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. Budgeting around $12 for fuel should comfortably cover your travel costs between these two Midwestern locations. Because the route is highly efficient, you gain maximum flexibility in your schedule. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, the transit remains simple and predictable throughout the entire state-based route.

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

38.4 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 91% of your time spent on major roads like US 45, I 41, and South State Road 140. You will settle into a consistent rhythm early on, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 53.6 miles on US 45. Expect a blend of fast-paced interstate travel transitioning into the more localized feel of state highways. While the road is designed for efficiency rather than technical curves, the shifting road types keep the driving experience from feeling entirely monotonous. You can maintain a steady pace for the duration of the 1-hour and 33-minute commute.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 45 is the longest continuous segment at about 53.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and I 41. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near I 41; US 41; US 45.

Route Complexity 5/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.2 miles (I 41; US 41; US 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

5
1.2 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 41; US 41; US 45

Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
8
17.4 mi into trip | ~24m in | US 45

Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes. Exit 4 Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
8
71 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in

Take the exit toward WI 140, I 39 Alternate, I 43 Alternate: Clinton, Avalon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6 Toward WI 140, I 39 Alternate, I 43 Alternate:...
5
71.3 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
76.8 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Bergen, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Avalon along the way.

Avalon

71 mi in | ~1h 22m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 45 53.6 mi 58m
I 41 16.2 mi 21m
South State Road 140 4.1 mi 7m
Church Street 1 mi 1m
Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
South State Highway 140 0.2 mi <1m
South Bergen Road 0.2 mi <1m
Pilgrim Road 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 45 — 53.6 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on WI 175

21 ft · 4 sec · Appleton Avenue
2

Turn left onto Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
3

Turn left onto Pilgrim Road

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Pilgrim Road
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 41 South, US 45 South
5

Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45

16 mi · 21 min · I 41; US 41; US 45
Use the none lane.
6

Take the exit onto US 45

54 mi · 58 min · US 45
Exit 4 Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 6 Toward WI 140, I 39 Alternate, I 43 Alternate: Clinton, Avalon Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

198 ft · 4 sec
9

Turn left onto WI 140

0.3 mi · 32 sec · South State Road 140
10

Continue on WI 140

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South State Highway 140
11

Continue on WI 140

1.0 mi · 1 min · Church Street
12

Continue on WI 140

3.8 mi · 6 min · South State Road 140
13

Turn slight right onto South Bergen Road

0.2 mi · 45 sec · South Bergen Road
14

Turn right

78 ft · 5 sec
15

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of choosing your departure time based on personal preference rather than strict endurance limits. With no mandatory stops required to reach your destination, you can easily drive the full 76.8 miles in one go. Keep in mind that because US 45 accounts for the bulk of your time behind the wheel, checking traffic reports for that specific corridor before you leave is a smart move. Plan to allocate roughly $12 for gas to ensure your tank is ready for the round trip. The lack of required stops gives you the freedom to head out whenever it best fits your day's itinerary.

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 38.4 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.6 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 76.8 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 38.4 miles or 47m 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bergen, 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 76.8 miles and 1h 33m.

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 US 45 for about 53.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.4 mi from Menomonee Falls, WI · 47m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukegan, IL

38 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 76.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukegan, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.4 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bergen, WI

The final approach into Bergen, 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 Bergen, 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

$11.67 one way

$23.33 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $12.86 $25.72
premium $4.80 $14.50 $29.00
diesel $5.64 $17.06 $34.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23 0 $8.06 $3.69
Efficient EV 19.2 0 $6.72 $3.07
EV Truck/SUV 30.7 0 $10.75 $4.92

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (67% 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 2 days ago

Origin

Menomonee Falls, WI

Afternoon in Menomonee Falls on Sunday

Local time

1:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bergen, WI

Afternoon in Bergen on Sunday

Local time

1:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°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

7 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

1h 33m 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 Bergen, WI covers 76.8 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 45, I 41, South State Road 140. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.4 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 $11.67 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.2 miles (I 41; US 41; US 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Bergen, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Avalon along the way.

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Return Trip

Bergen, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

77.2 mi 1h 34m

Explore more options from Menomonee Falls, WI or browse trips ending in Bergen, WI.

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