Origin
Potter Lake, WI
Afternoon in Potter Lake on Thursday
Local time
1:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Potter Lake, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
54m
Distance
39.1 mi
63 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 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
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 Potter Lake, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI covers 39.1 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 43, Zoo Freeway, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.5 miles on I 43. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.11 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 39.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m 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 54m highway drive covering 39.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 43 and Zoo Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 16.5 miles on I 43.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 43 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and Zoo Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Miramar Road.
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 39.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.2 miles (Miramar Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Miramar Road
At end of road, turn left onto Miramar Road
Navigation decision point
6
3.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 43
Merge onto I 43
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
20.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fon...
7
37.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Pilgrim Road South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 51B
Toward Pilgrim Road South
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 Potter Lake, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Madison along the way.
Madison
20.8 mi in
|
~28m
|
via US 45
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 43 | 16.5 mi | 18m |
| Zoo Freeway | 16.4 mi | 21m |
| Main Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| County Highway ES | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South Rochester Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| US 45 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Miramar Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Pilgrim Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 16.5 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Potter Lake, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI.
1
Start on Maple Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Maple Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Miramar Road
466 ft
·
20 sec
·
Miramar Road
3
Continue on Miramar Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Miramar Road
4
Turn right onto CTH ES
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
County Highway ES
5
Continue on CTH ES
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
6
Turn right onto Front Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Front Street
7
Turn straight onto WI 83
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Rochester Street
8
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 43
16 mi
·
18 min
·
I 43
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 45
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 45
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
11
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 51B
Toward Pilgrim Road South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Pilgrim Road
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Pilgrim Road
14
Turn right onto Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
15
Turn right onto WI 175
21 ft
·
0 sec
·
Appleton Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
WI 175
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.6 mi from Potter Lake, WI · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from Potter Lake, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Menomonee Falls, WI
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Menomonee Falls, 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
$6.11 one way
$12.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.71 | $13.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.52 | $15.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.63 | $17.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Menomonee Falls, WI
Afternoon in Menomonee Falls on Thursday
Local time
1:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
54m 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 Potter Lake, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI covers 39.1 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 43, Zoo Freeway, 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 19.6 miles from Potter Lake, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.11 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 39.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.2 miles (Miramar Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Potter Lake, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Madison along the way.
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