Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Afternoon in Wauwatosa on Saturday
Local time
1:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Townsend, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
179.4 mi
289 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 42m
★
6 AM
3h 55m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 4m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Townsend, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Townsend, WI covers 179.4 miles and takes about 3h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Menomonee River Parkway, Harmonee Avenue, Harwood Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.05 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
89.7 miles from Wauwatosa, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Menomonee River Parkway | — | — |
| Harmonee Avenue | — | — |
| Harwood Avenue | — | — |
| West Watertown Plank Road | — | — |
| I 41 South | — | — |
| I 41 | — | — |
| Zoo Freeway | — | — |
| US 41 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Menomonee River Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Townsend, WI.
1
Start on West State Street
138 ft
·
6 sec
·
West State Street
2
Continue on West Menomonee River Parkway
361 ft
·
22 sec
·
West Menomonee River Parkway
3
Turn left onto Harmonee Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Harmonee Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
5
Continue on West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Watertown Plank Road
6
Take the ramp slight right toward I 41 South, US 45 South: Milwaukee, Beloit, Madison, Appleton
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 41 South, US 45 South: Milwaukee, Beloit, Madison, Appleton
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 41, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 41, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
8
Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Zoo Freeway
9
Keep slight left to continue on US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
79 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
10
Take the exit slight right toward CTH 00, WIS 15: New London
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
CTH 00, WIS 15: New London
11
Keep slight right to continue on CTH 00
233 ft
·
8 sec
·
CTH 00
12
Turn straight onto West Northland Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Northland Avenue
13
Turn left onto North Lynndale Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Lynndale Drive
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Lynndale Drive
118 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Lynndale Drive
15
Exit the roundabout onto North Lynndale Drive
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lynndale Drive
16
Continue on County Road A
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
County Road A
17
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 47
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 47
18
Continue on South Main Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
19
Continue on State Highway 47
17 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 47
20
Continue on South Cecil Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cecil Street
21
Continue on State Highway 117
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 117
22
Turn right onto State Highway 22
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 22
23
Turn left onto County Road R
12 mi
·
17 min
·
County Road R
24
At the end of the road, turn right onto County Road M
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road M
25
Turn left onto Red Banks Road
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Red Banks Road
26
Turn left onto State Highway 32
27 mi
·
40 min
·
State Highway 32
27
Turn left onto Elm Street
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
Elm Street
28
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 89.7 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, or about 1h 57m 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 39 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.7 miles or 1h 57m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Townsend, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 179.4 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Wauwatosa, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 89.7 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.05 one way
$56.09 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.79 | $61.59 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.52 | $69.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.61 | $79.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.8 | 0 | $18.84 | $8.61 |
| Efficient EV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.70 | $7.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.8 | 0 | $25.12 | $11.48 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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
Townsend, WI
Afternoon in Townsend on Saturday
Local time
1:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
37°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
10 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
3h 55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
179.4 mi in 3h 55m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: West Menomonee River Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Townsend, WI is easy. At 3h 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Townsend, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 179.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Townsend, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Townsend, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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