Origin
Silver Lake, WI
Afternoon in Silver Lake on Saturday
Local time
1:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Silver Lake, WI to Wauwatosa, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 24m
Distance
114.2 mi
184 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Silver Lake, WI
Tom Fisk
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Silver Lake, WI to Wauwatosa, WI covers 114.2 miles and takes about 2h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 41, State Highway 21, West Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 77.9 miles on I 41. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.85 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.
Midpoint
57.1 miles from Silver Lake, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 41 | 77.9 mi | 1h 25m |
| State Highway 21 | 28 mi | 38m |
| West Main Street | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| Bannerman Avenue | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| West Watertown Plank Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West River Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| Omro Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Harwood Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 77.9 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Silver Lake, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on WI 21
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 21
2
Continue on WI 21; CTH EE
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bannerman Avenue
3
Continue on WI 21
16 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 21
4
Continue on WI 21
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West River Drive
5
Continue on WI 116; CTH F
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Omro Road
6
Turn right
114 ft
·
10 sec
7
Turn right
114 ft
·
10 sec
8
Turn right onto North Webster Avenue
92 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Webster Avenue
9
Turn left onto WI 116; CTH F
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Omro Road
10
Turn left onto WI 21; WI 116; CTH F
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Spruce State Route
11
Turn left onto WI 21; WI 116; CTH F
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West Main Street
12
Continue on WI 21
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 21
13
Enter roundabout onto WI 21
143 ft
·
8 sec
·
Omro Road
14
Continue on WI 21
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Omro Road
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I-41_South: Milwaukee
16
Merge onto I 41; US 41
78 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
I 41; US 41
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Menomonee River Parkway
23
Arrive at destination
West State Street
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 57.1 miles from Silver Lake, WI, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.9 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 25 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.1 miles or 1h 18m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wauwatosa, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Silver Lake, 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 Silver Lake, WI
This is one driving day of about 114.2 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Silver Lake, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 41 for about 77.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.1 miles from Silver Lake, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.9 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 24.7 and 113.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
24.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
24.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
7
111.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward Watertown Plank Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
8
112 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Watertown Plank Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
6
113.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
|
WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Turn left onto WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.85 one way
$35.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.60 | $39.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.98 | $43.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.21 | $50.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.3 | 0 | $11.99 | $5.48 |
| Efficient EV | 28.6 | 0 | $9.99 | $4.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.7 | 0 | $15.99 | $7.31 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Wauwatosa, WI
Afternoon in Wauwatosa on Saturday
Local time
1:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
22 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
2h 24m 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.
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
114.2 mi in 2h 24m, mostly highway — 77.9 mi of that is on I 41.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.9 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and State Highway 21. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 24.7 miles in.
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 114.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 24.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 24.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 111.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 114.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.9 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 Wauwatosa, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 24.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 111.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wauwatosa, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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