Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Afternoon in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Balsam Lake, WI
Drive Time
6h 13m
Distance
325 mi
523 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
Wauwatosa, WI
Tom Fisk
Balsam Lake, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Balsam Lake, WI covers 325 miles and takes about 6h 13m 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 turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.36 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
162.5 miles from Wauwatosa, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 13m drive with frequent turns across 325 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Menomonee River Parkway 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 13m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Balsam Lake, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Menomonee River Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Harmonee Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Harwood Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Glenview Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 84th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East-West Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 39 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
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 Balsam Lake, 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
518 ft
·
16 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
5
Turn left onto North Glenview Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Glenview Avenue
6
Continue on South 84th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 84th Street
7
Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 West
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 94 West
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Madison
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 94 West: Madison
9
Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
East-West Freeway
10
Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway
54 mi
·
57 min
·
East-West Freeway
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
12
Keep slight left
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
76 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
15
Keep slight right to continue on US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
16
Merge slight left
50 mi
·
55 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 8: Barron, Cameron
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 8: Barron, Cameron
18
Keep slight left
259 ft
·
14 sec
19
Turn left
3.7 mi
·
5 min
20
Continue on East Division Avenue
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Division Avenue
21
Continue on 13 1/2 Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
13 1/2 Avenue
22
Continue on 13 1/2 - 14th Avenue
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
13 1/2 - 14th Avenue
23
Continue on 14th Avenue
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
14th Avenue
24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 14th Avenue
131 ft
·
7 sec
·
14th Avenue
25
Exit the roundabout onto 14th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
14th Avenue
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
102 ft
·
6 sec
·
the route
27
Exit the roundabout
10.0 mi
·
14 min
28
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East 130th Avenue
125 ft
·
7 sec
·
East 130th Avenue
29
Exit the roundabout onto East 130th Avenue
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East 130th Avenue
30
Turn right onto 140th Street
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
140th Street
31
Continue on West Main Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Main Street
32
Turn left onto Courthouse Avenue
407 ft
·
18 sec
·
Courthouse Avenue
33
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 162.5 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, or about 3h 6m 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.5 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Balsam Lake, 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 325 miles and 6h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 162.5 mi from Wauwatosa, WI · 3h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
163 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 162.5 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Balsam Lake, WI
The final approach into Balsam Lake, 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 Balsam Lake, 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
$49.36 one way
$98.73 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
114 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $54.42 | $108.84 |
| premium | $4.80 | $61.35 | $122.71 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $72.20 | $144.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.5 | 1 | $34.13 | $15.60 |
| Efficient EV | 81.3 | 0 | $28.44 | $13.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 130 | 1 | $45.50 | $20.80 |
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Balsam Lake, WI
Afternoon in Balsam Lake on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Altoona, WI
163 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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
6h 13m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Balsam Lake, WI covers 325 miles and takes about 6h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Menomonee River Parkway, Harmonee Avenue, Harwood Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 162.5 miles from Wauwatosa, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.36 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 13m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Balsam Lake, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Wauwatosa, WI to Balsam Lake, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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