Origin
Menomonee Falls, WI
Afternoon in Menomonee Falls on Saturday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
92.3 mi
149 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Menomonee Falls, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Dale, WI
Tom Fisk
Menomonee Falls to Dale is 92.3 miles and takes about 1h 44m via I 41 and US 45, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip entirely within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest region. You'll be spending most of your time on major highways, making it an efficient drive for getting from point A to point B. Consider this route when you need to cover ground quickly without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.2 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 41 | 68.8 mi | 1h 13m |
| US 45 | 18.1 mi | 21m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| State Road 96 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Pilgrim Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Appleton Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Depot Road | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Dale, WI.
Start on WI 175
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn left onto Pilgrim Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
Enter roundabout onto WI 96
Continue on WI 96
Continue on WI 96
Turn right onto Depot Road
Arrive at destination
Given its short duration of under two hours, this route is best tackled in a single day, offering flexibility for departure times. You can easily leave in the morning and arrive by midday, or depart after lunch. The longest stretch on I 41 is substantial, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you begin the longest leg, ensuring you don't need to detour. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical trip, and since you're staying within Wisconsin, you won't encounter state border complexities.
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.
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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.2 miles or 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 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dale, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Menomonee Falls, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Menomonee Falls, WI
This is one driving day of about 92.3 miles and 1h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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.
A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 46.2 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 86.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 45 North: New London
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward US 45 North: New London
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$14.43 one way
$28.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.84 | $31.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.76 | $35.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.38 | $40.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.69 | $4.43 |
| Efficient EV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.08 | $3.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.9 | 0 | $12.92 | $5.91 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Menomonee Falls on Saturday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Dale on Saturday
Local time
12:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the route utilizing major roads like I 41 and US 45. Expect a predominantly high-speed experience for most of the 92.3 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 68.8 miles on I 41, indicating long periods of consistent driving. While Wisconsin Avenue offers a brief change of pace, the overall character is one of efficient travel on well-maintained highways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US 45. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in near I 41; US 41.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.3 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 8.6 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Dale, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Appleton along the way.
Appleton
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 92.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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