Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Afternoon in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI
Drive Time
29m
Distance
19.6 mi
32 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Wauwatosa, WI
Tom Fisk
Big Bend, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI covers 19.6 miles and takes about 29m 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 $2.98 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
9.8 miles from Wauwatosa, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 29m drive with frequent turns across 19.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI is easy. At 29m 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 Big Bend, 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 |
| West Bluemound Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 41 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Zoo Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 43 South | 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 Big Bend, 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
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Glenview Avenue
6
Turn right onto West Bluemound Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Bluemound Road
7
Turn left onto I 41 South, US 45 South
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 41 South, US 45 South
8
Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
10
Take the exit slight right toward WI 164: Big Bend, Waukesha
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
WI 164: Big Bend, Waukesha
11
Turn straight onto Big Bend Drive
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Big Bend Drive
12
Continue on Clark Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Clark Street
13
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
518 ft
·
25 sec
·
Maple Avenue
14
Turn right onto Jackson Parkway
30 ft
·
1 sec
·
Jackson Parkway
15
Arrive at your destination
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 9.8 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, or about 14m 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 19.6 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.8 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Bend, 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 19.6 miles and 29m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.8 mi from Wauwatosa, WI · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 19.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.8 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Big Bend, WI
The final approach into Big Bend, 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 Big Bend, 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
$2.98 one way
$5.95 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.28 | $6.56 |
| premium | $4.80 | $3.70 | $7.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.35 | $8.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Big Bend, WI
Afternoon in Big Bend on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
45°F
Addison, WI
10 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
6 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
29m 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 Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI covers 19.6 miles and takes about 29m 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 9.8 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 $2.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI is easy. At 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Wauwatosa, WI to Big Bend, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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