Origin
Three Lakes, WI
Late night in Three Lakes on Saturday
Local time
2:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Three Lakes, 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
3h 52m
Distance
226.4 mi
364 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 40m
★
6 AM
3h 53m
8 AM
4h 18m
10 AM
4h 2m
12 PM
3h 59m
3 PM
4h 3m
5 PM
4h 17m
8 PM
3h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Three Lakes, WI
Sean Ewing
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Three Lakes, WI to Wauwatosa, WI covers 226.4 miles and takes about 3h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Superior Street, Highway 45, Century Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.40 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
113.2 miles from Three Lakes, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 226.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 52m drive with frequent turns across 226.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Superior Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 52m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Three Lakes, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Street | — | — |
| Highway 45 | — | — |
| Century Avenue | — | — |
| Clermont Street | — | — |
| 10th Avenue | — | — |
| South Superior Street | — | — |
| US 45 South | — | — |
| East Prospect Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Superior Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Three Lakes, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on Lake Drive
16 ft
·
6 sec
·
Lake Drive
2
Turn left onto Superior Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Superior Street
3
Continue on US Highway 45
16 mi
·
22 min
·
US Highway 45
4
Take the exit slight right
0.8 mi
·
1 min
5
Turn left
30 mi
·
43 min
6
Turn right onto Century Avenue
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Century Avenue
7
Turn left onto Clermont Street
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Clermont Street
8
At the end of the road, turn left onto 10th Avenue
499 ft
·
16 sec
·
10th Avenue
9
Turn right onto South Superior Street
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
South Superior Street
10
Continue straight
4.7 mi
·
6 min
11
Continue straight
14 mi
·
18 min
12
Turn left
2.3 mi
·
3 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward CTH Q, US 45 South: Clintonville
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
CTH Q, US 45 South: Clintonville
14
Keep slight right
217 ft
·
6 sec
15
Merge slight left onto US Highway 45
17 mi
·
23 min
·
US Highway 45
16
Continue on East Prospect Avenue
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
East Prospect Avenue
17
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
18
Continue on US Highway 45
24 mi
·
33 min
·
US Highway 45
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US Highway 45
112 ft
·
6 sec
·
US Highway 45
20
Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 45
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 45
21
Keep slight right to continue on US 45 South: Oshkosh
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 45 South: Oshkosh
22
Take the exit slight left toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 41 South: Milwaukee
23
Merge slight left
80 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
24
Take the exit slight right toward Watertown Plank Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Watertown Plank Road
25
Keep slight left to continue on Watertown Plank Road East
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Watertown Plank Road East
26
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Watertown Plank Road
27
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
28
Turn left onto Harmonee Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Harmonee Avenue
29
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
499 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Menomonee River Parkway
30
Arrive at your destination
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 113.2 miles from Three Lakes, WI, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
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 50 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.2 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
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 Three Lakes, 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 Three Lakes, WI
This is one driving day of about 226.4 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Three Lakes, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.2 mi from Three Lakes, WI · 1h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113.2 miles from Three Lakes, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Wauwatosa, WI
The final approach into Wauwatosa, 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 Wauwatosa, 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
$35.40 one way
$70.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.86 | $77.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.57 | $87.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.99 | $99.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.9 | 0 | $23.77 | $10.87 |
| Efficient EV | 56.6 | 0 | $19.81 | $9.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.6 | 1 | $31.70 | $14.49 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Destination
Wauwatosa, WI
Late night in Wauwatosa on Saturday
Local time
2:00 AM
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
8 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
3h 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 Three Lakes, WI to Wauwatosa, WI covers 226.4 miles and takes about 3h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Superior Street, Highway 45, Century Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 113.2 miles from Three Lakes, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.40 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 52m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Three Lakes, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Three Lakes, WI to Wauwatosa, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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