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Trip from Menomonee Falls, WI to Dale, WI

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 37m ★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States

Menomonee Falls, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Dale, WI, WI

Dale, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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.

Longest stretch: I 41 — 68.8 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Pilgrim Road
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Toward I 41 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Appleton, West Bend
5

Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45

7.2 mi · 7 min · I 41; US 41; US 45
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41

62 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 41; US 41
Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton Use the slight left lane.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 58 sec
Toward US 45 North: New London Use the slight left lane.
9

Merge onto US 45

15 mi · 17 min · US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45

2.9 mi · 3 min · US 45
Exit 273 Toward US 45 North: New London Use the straight lane.
11

Enter roundabout onto WI 96

19 ft · 1 sec · Wisconsin Avenue
Toward WIS 96 East: Appleton
12

Continue on WI 96

2.3 mi · 3 min · Wisconsin Avenue
Toward WIS 96 East: Appleton
13

Continue on WI 96

0.7 mi · 1 min · State Road 96
14

Turn right onto Depot Road

13 ft · 0 sec · Depot Road
15

Arrive at destination

Depot Road

Trip Plan

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.

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 46.2 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.8 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 41 for about 68.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

civil town in Winnebago County, Wisconsin

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Black Wolf, WI

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Addison, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

North Fond du Lac, WI

Meal break

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 check

Top 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

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.

8
8.6 mi into trip | ~11m in | I 41; US 41

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
7
70.2 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard
7
70.4 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 45 North: New London

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 45 North: New London
5
71.2 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | US 45

Merge onto US 45

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
86.4 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | US 45

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward US 45 North: New London

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Exit 273 Toward US 45 North: New London

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.43 one way

$28.86 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Menomonee Falls, WI

Afternoon in Menomonee Falls on Saturday

Local time

12:42 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dale, WI

Afternoon in Dale on Saturday

Local time

12:42 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°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

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

1h 44m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.8 mi on I 41.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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.

Driving Effort 7/10

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.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

8.6 mi in | ~11m | via I 41; US 41

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 68.8 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Dale, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dale, WI before heading back.

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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