Trip from Menomonee Falls, WI to Colfax, WI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 57m

Distance

264.4 mi

426 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 44m ★

6 AM

4h 57m

8 AM

5h 24m

10 AM

5h 7m

12 PM

5h 4m

3 PM

5h 8m

5 PM

5h 23m

8 PM

4h 49m

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

Colfax, WI

Alex Dos Santos

Trip Overview

The drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Colfax, WI covers 264.4 miles and takes about 4h 57m 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 124 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.34 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

132.2 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 264.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 57m highway drive covering 264.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 124 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 20 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 124 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in near I 94 / East-West Freeway.

Driving Effort 6/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 264.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 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 11 key points

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

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.

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...

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.

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

254.8 mi into trip | ~4h 43m in

Take the exit toward US 12, WI 29, WI 40: Colfax, Elk Mound

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

Exit 52 Toward US 12, WI 29, WI 40: Colfax, Elk Mound

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 Colfax, 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	124 mi	2h 13m
I 90	63.5 mi	1h 8m
East-West Freeway	54.8 mi	58m
State Highway 40	7.8 mi	10m
Redford Boulevard	4.4 mi	6m
Main Street	3.9 mi	9m
West Main Street	2.5 mi	4m
Waukesha Avenue	1.5 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 94 — 124 mi, about 2h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on WI 175

21 ft · 7 sec · Appleton Avenue

Turn right onto Main Street

2.1 mi · 5 min · Main Street

Continue on CTH F

2.5 mi · 4 min · West Main Street

Enter roundabout onto CTH F; CTH V

127 ft · 7 sec · Town Line Road

Continue on CTH F; CTH V

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Town Line Road

Turn right onto CTH F

1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Turn left onto CTH F

1.5 mi · 2 min · Waukesha Avenue

Continue on CTH F

4.4 mi · 6 min · Redford Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Merge onto I 94; WI 164

1.3 mi · 1 min · East-West Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

54 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94

29 mi · 31 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.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 90; I 94

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94

95 mi · 1 hr 41 min · I 94

Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Exit 52 Toward US 12, WI 29, WI 40: Colfax, Elk Mound

At end of road, turn left onto US 12; WI 29

0.7 mi · 57 sec · US 12; WI 29

Take the exit onto US 12

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 12

Exit 61 Toward US 12 East, WI 40 North: Colfax, Elk Mound

Continue on US 12

7.8 mi · 10 min · State Highway 40

Continue on WI 40

0.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Arrive at destination

WI 40

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 132.2 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 2h 31m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124 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 58 miles or 1h 12m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 132.2 miles or 2h 31m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colfax, 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 264.4 miles and 4h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 124 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 132.2 mi from Menomonee Falls, WI · 2h 31m into the drive

reservoir on the Wisconsin River in Sauk and Columbia counties in Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake Wisconsin, WI

132 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

Harlem, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Adams, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 132.2 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 124 miles.

Arriving in Colfax, WI

The final approach into Colfax, 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 Colfax, WI.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

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 127.7

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.34 one way

$82.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$45.39	$90.77
premium	$4.89	$50.88	$101.76
diesel	$5.61	$58.38	$116.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 92.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	79.3	0	$27.76	$12.69
Efficient EV	66.1	0	$23.13	$10.58
EV Truck/SUV	105.8	1	$37.02	$16.92

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 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 16, 2026

Origin

Menomonee Falls, WI

Afternoon in Menomonee Falls on Thursday

Local time

12:56 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Colfax, WI

Afternoon in Colfax on Thursday

Local time

12:56 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Sunny

S 0 to 10 mph 2% chance 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

14 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

4h 57m 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 Colfax, WI covers 264.4 miles and takes about 4h 57m 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 132.2 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 $41.34 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.

Between Menomonee Falls, WI and Colfax, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Saint Paul.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Colfax, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

264.4 mi 4h 57m

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