Origin
Menomonee Falls, WI
Afternoon in Menomonee Falls on Thursday
Local time
3:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Menomonee Falls, WI to Potter Lake, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
52m
Distance
38.5 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Menomonee Falls, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Menomonee Falls, WI to Potter Lake, WI covers 38.5 miles and takes about 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 45, I 41, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.9 miles on US 45. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 38.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 52m highway drive covering 38.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 45 and I 41. The longest continuous stretch is about 16.9 miles on US 45.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 16.9 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 10 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.
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 38.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 34.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese 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 straight / slight right lanes.
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 lanes.
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
8
34.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward WI 83: Waterford, Mukwonago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43
Toward WI 83: Waterford, Mukwonago
5
34.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
35.3 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
CTH ES / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto CTH ES / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
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 Potter Lake, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Mukwonago along the way.
Mukwonago
34.3 mi in
|
~43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 45 | 16.9 mi | 18m |
| I 41 | 16.2 mi | 21m |
| Main Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| County Highway ES | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Miramar Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Rochester Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Maple Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Front Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 16.9 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Potter 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
0.1 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 straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 45
17 mi
·
18 min
·
US 45
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 43
Toward WI 83: Waterford, Mukwonago
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
504 ft
·
14 sec
9
Turn straight onto WI 83
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Rochester Street
10
Turn left
121 ft
·
5 sec
11
Turn straight onto Front Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Front Street
12
At end of road, turn left onto CTH ES
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on CTH ES
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
County Highway ES
14
Turn left onto Miramar Road
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Miramar Road
15
Continue on Miramar Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Miramar Road
16
Turn right onto Maple Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Maple Street
17
Arrive at destination
Maple Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.2 mi from Menomonee Falls, WI · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Potter Lake, WI
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Potter Lake, WI if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.02 one way
$12.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.61 | $13.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.41 | $14.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.50 | $17.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 62% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (62% 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
Potter Lake, WI
Afternoon in Potter Lake on Thursday
Local time
3:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
52m 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 Potter Lake, WI covers 38.5 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 45, I 41, Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.2 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 $6.02 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 38.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 34.3 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 Potter Lake, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Mukwonago along the way.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Potter Lake, WI
More trips to Potter Lake, WI
Explore more options from Menomonee Falls, WI or browse trips ending in Potter Lake, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.
Explore maps for Menomonee Falls, WI or Potter Lake, WI on MapSof.net.