Origin
Menomonee Falls, WI
Afternoon in Menomonee Falls on Monday
Local time
12:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Menomonee Falls, WI to Elkhart Lake, WI
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
56.5 mi
91 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Menomonee Falls, WI
Tom Fisk
Elkhart Lake, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Elkhart Lake, WI covers 56.5 miles and takes about 1h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Bend Freeway, State Highway 28, I 41 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.2 miles on West Bend Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
28.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 23m highway drive covering 56.5 miles, with most of the trip on West Bend Freeway and State Highway 28. The longest continuous stretch is about 16.2 miles on West Bend Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Bend Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Bend Freeway and State Highway 28. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (US 45 / West Bend Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.6 miles (WI 67; CTH E / State Highway 67): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 41 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Appleton, West Bend
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 41 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Ap...
8
8.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
US 45 / West Bend Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 / West Bend Freeway toward US 45 North: West Bend
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 59
Toward US 45 North: West Bend
5
47.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
WI 67; CTH E / State Highway 67
At end of road, turn right onto WI 67; CTH E / State Highway 67
Navigation decision point
6
49.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
WI 67; CTH C; CTH E / East Mill Street
Turn right onto WI 67; CTH C; CTH E / East Mill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
49.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
WI 67 / Caroline Street
Turn left onto WI 67 / Caroline Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Bend Freeway | 16.2 mi | 17m |
| State Highway 28 | 9.7 mi | 13m |
| I 41 | 7.2 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 67 | 6.1 mi | 11m |
| County Road H | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| County Road E | 4 mi | 9m |
| State Highway 144 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
West Bend Freeway
— 16.2 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Elkhart Lake, 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 right at fork onto US 45
16 mi
·
17 min
·
West Bend Freeway
Exit 59
Toward US 45 North: West Bend
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto CTH H
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road H
8
Turn left onto WI 144
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 144
9
Continue on WI 28; WI 144
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 28
10
Continue on WI 28; CTH A; CTH SS
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
11
Continue on WI 28; CTH SS
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 28
12
Continue on WI 28; CTH F
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Avenue
13
Continue on WI 28
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
State Highway 28
14
Turn left onto CTH E
4.0 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road E
15
At end of road, turn right onto WI 67; CTH E
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
State Highway 67
16
Continue on WI 67; CTH E
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Milwaukee Street
17
Turn right onto WI 67; CTH C; CTH E
345 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Mill Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto WI 67
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Caroline Street
19
Turn left onto WI 67
347 ft
·
8 sec
·
Elizabeth Street
20
Turn right onto WI 67
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Milwaukee Street
21
Continue on WI 67
5.4 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 67
22
Continue on WI 67; CTH A; CTH J
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Lincoln Street
23
Turn left onto CTH A
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
East Rhine Street
24
Turn slight right onto Arno Way
95 ft
·
4 sec
·
Arno Way
25
Arrive at destination
Arno Way
Trip Plan
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 28.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.2 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 56.5 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.3 miles or 34m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elkhart Lake, 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 56.5 miles and 1h 23m.
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 West Bend Freeway for about 16.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.3 mi from Menomonee Falls, WI · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 56.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elkhart Lake, WI
The final approach into Elkhart Lake, 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 Elkhart Lake, 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
$8.58 one way
$17.16 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $9.46 | $18.92 |
| premium | $4.80 | $10.67 | $21.33 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.55 | $25.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.91 | $3.62 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Elkhart Lake, WI
Afternoon in Elkhart Lake on Monday
Local time
12:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°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
3 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 23m 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 Elkhart Lake, WI covers 56.5 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Bend Freeway, State Highway 28, I 41. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.3 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 $8.58 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 56.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (US 45 / West Bend Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.6 miles (WI 67; CTH E / State Highway 67): Navigation decision point.
The route from Menomonee Falls, WI to Elkhart Lake, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Return Trip
Elkhart Lake, WI to Menomonee Falls, WIPlan the drive back the other way.
55.6 mi
1h 23m
Continue From Elkhart Lake, WI
More trips to Elkhart Lake, WI
Explore more options from Menomonee Falls, WI or browse trips ending in Elkhart Lake, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.
Explore maps for Menomonee Falls, WI or Elkhart Lake, WI on MapSof.net.