Trip from Red Cedar, WI to West Allis, WI

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

4h 59m

Distance

264.4 mi

426 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 46m ★

6 AM

4h 59m

8 AM

5h 26m

10 AM

5h 9m

12 PM

5h 6m

3 PM

5h 10m

5 PM

5h 25m

8 PM

4h 51m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Red Cedar, WI to West Allis, WI covers 264.4 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 94, State Highway 85, County Road H for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 238.8 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.34 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

132.2 miles from Red Cedar, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 4h 59m highway drive covering 264.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and State Highway 85. The longest continuous stretch is about 238.8 miles on I 94.

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 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 238.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 264.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 23.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 197.2 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7

23.1 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the ramp toward I 94 East: Madison

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 94 East: Madison

5

23.4 mi into trip | ~36m in | I 94

Merge onto I 94

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

Use the straight lane.

8

197.2 mi into trip | ~3h 43m in | I 94

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 138A Toward I 94: Milwaukee

7

262.2 mi into trip | ~4h 53m in

Take the exit toward WI 181: 84th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 306 Toward WI 181: 84th Street

8

263.1 mi into trip | ~4h 55m in

Keep slight right at fork toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice Center

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwauk...

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 94	238.8 mi	4h 17m
State Highway 85	16.4 mi	23m
County Road H	2.5 mi	3m
State Highway 37	2.4 mi	3m
County Road MM	1.1 mi	2m
South 84th Street	0.7 mi	1m
West Greenfield Avenue	0.5 mi	1m
50th Avenue	0.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 94 — 238.8 mi, about 4h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Red Cedar, WI and West Allis, WI.

1

Start on 50th Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · 50th Avenue

2

Keep slight left at fork onto 50th Avenue

172 ft · 9 sec · 50th Avenue

3

Turn left onto 10th Avenue

0.3 mi · 45 sec · 10th Avenue

4

Continue on CTH MM

1.1 mi · 2 min · County Road MM

5

Turn left onto WI 85

11 mi · 15 min · State Highway 85

6

Continue on WI 85; CTH H

2.5 mi · 3 min · County Road H

7

Continue on WI 85; CTH H

5.7 mi · 7 min · State Highway 85

Use the straight lane.

8

At end of road, turn left onto WI 37

2.4 mi · 3 min · State Highway 37

9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward I 94 East: Madison Use the right lane.

10

Merge onto I 94

174 mi · 3 hr 6 min · I 94

Use the straight lane.

11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

65 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 94

Exit 138A Toward I 94: Milwaukee Use the straight / slight right lanes.

12

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 306 Toward WI 181: 84th Street Use the slight right lane.

13

Keep slight right at fork

192 ft · 4 sec

Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice Center Use the straight / slight right lanes.

14

Turn right onto WI 181

0.7 mi · 1 min · South 84th Street

15

Turn left onto WI 59

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Greenfield Avenue

Use the left lane.

16

Arrive at destination

WI 59

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 132.2 miles from Red Cedar, WI, or about 2h 33m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 238.8 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 132.2 miles or 2h 33m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Allis, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Red Cedar, 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 Red Cedar, WI

This is one driving day of about 264.4 miles and 4h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Red Cedar, WI.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 238.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 132.2 mi from Red Cedar, WI · 2h 33m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

132 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 132.2 miles from Red Cedar, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 238.8 miles.

Arriving in West Allis, WI

The final approach into West Allis, 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 West Allis, WI.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour Free near mile 136.8

Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River

Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.34 one way

$82.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$45.39	$90.77
premium	$4.89	$50.88	$101.76
diesel	$5.61	$58.38	$116.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 92.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	79.3	0	$27.76	$12.69
Efficient EV	66.1	0	$23.13	$10.58
EV Truck/SUV	105.8	1	$37.02	$16.92

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Red Cedar, WI

Evening in Red Cedar on Tuesday

Local time

8:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

West Allis, WI

Evening in West Allis on Tuesday

Local time

8:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

41°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

4h 59m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Red Cedar, WI to West Allis, WI covers 264.4 miles and takes about 4h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, State Highway 85, County Road H. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 132.2 miles from Red Cedar, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.34 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 264.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 23.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 197.2 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Red Cedar, WI to West Allis, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Red Cedar, WI to West Allis, WI

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in West Allis, WI

National Parks Near This Route

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Red Cedar, WI

West Allis, WI

Same local time

3 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 59m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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