Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
90 mi
145 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Lodi, WI covers 90 miles and takes about 1h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East-West Freeway, I 94, State Highway 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.3 miles on East-West Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.67 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
45 miles from Wauwatosa, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
This is a 1h 44m highway drive covering 90 miles, with most of the trip on East-West Freeway and I 94. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.3 miles on East-West Freeway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and I 94. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 90 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 0.1 miles (WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 94 West
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 West: Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Lodi, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Eau Claire along the way.
Eau Claire
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East-West Freeway | 64.3 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 94 | 18.2 mi | 19m |
| State Highway 60 | 4 mi | 5m |
| North Glenview Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Portage Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South 84th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harmonee Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harwood Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Lodi, WI.
Start on West State Street
Continue on West Menomonee River Parkway
Turn left onto WI 181
Turn slight right onto WI 181
Turn left onto WI 181
Continue on WI 181
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
Take the exit
Enter roundabout onto WI 60
Continue on WI 60
Enter roundabout onto WI 60
Continue on WI 60
Continue on WI 60
Turn left onto WI 113
Arrive at destination
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.
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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45 miles or 53m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lodi, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Wauwatosa, 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 Wauwatosa, WI
This is one driving day of about 90 miles and 1h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45 mi from Wauwatosa, WI · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 45 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before East-West Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.3 miles.
The final approach into Lodi, 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 Lodi, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$13.67 one way
$27.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $15.07 | $30.14 |
| premium | $4.80 | $16.99 | $33.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.99 | $39.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27 | 0 | $9.45 | $4.32 |
| Efficient EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36 | 0 | $12.60 | $5.76 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (65% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Wauwatosa on Saturday
Local time
7:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Lodi on Saturday
Local time
7:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
Rockford, IL
45 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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