Trip from Wauwatosa, WI to Park Falls, WI

Drive Time

5h 48m

Distance

285.4 mi

459 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

22 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 36m ★

6 AM

5h 49m

8 AM

6h 15m

10 AM

5h 58m

12 PM

5h 55m

3 PM

5h 59m

5 PM

6h 14m

8 PM

5h 41m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Wauwatosa, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Wauwatosa, WI to Park Falls, WI covers 285.4 miles and takes about 5h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 41, US Highway 10, US 51 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.6 miles on I 41. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.35 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

142.7 miles from Wauwatosa, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 48m highway drive covering 285.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 41 and US Highway 10. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.6 miles on I 41.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 41 is the longest continuous segment at about 61.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US Highway 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 285.4 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 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.2 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

1.6 mi into trip | ~4m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 41, US 45 North: Fond du Lac

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 41, US 45 North: Fond du Lac

2.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway

Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway toward Appleton, Green Bay

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Appleton, Green Bay

20.2 mi into trip | ~26m in | I 41; US 41

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton

81.8 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in

Take the exit toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard

82 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 45 North: New London

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 45 North: New London

Towns Along This Route

Between Wauwatosa, WI and Park Falls, WI, road signs point toward Appleton and Rhinelander.

Appleton

20.2 mi in | ~26m | via I 41; US 41

Rhinelander

222.3 mi in | ~4h 15m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 41	61.6 mi	1h 6m
US Highway 10	46.6 mi	54m
US 51	46.5 mi	53m
US 8	32.2 mi	45m
State Highway 13	24.8 mi	33m
I 39	23.3 mi	25m
Zoo Freeway	18.2 mi	21m
US 45	15.2 mi	17m

Longest stretch: I 41 — 61.6 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Park Falls, WI.

Start on West State Street

138 ft · 6 sec · West State Street

Continue on West Menomonee River Parkway

361 ft · 22 sec · West Menomonee River Parkway

Turn left onto Harmonee Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Harmonee Avenue

Turn slight right onto Harwood Avenue

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Harwood Avenue

Continue on West Watertown Plank Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Watertown Plank Road

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

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

Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway

18 mi · 21 min · Zoo Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton

62 mi · 1 hr 6 min · US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton

Take the exit slight right toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard

0.2 mi · 23 sec · US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard

Keep slight left to continue on US 45 North: New London

0.8 mi · 58 sec · US 45 North: New London

Merge slight left

15 mi · 17 min

Keep slight left to continue on US Highway 10

47 mi · 54 min · US Highway 10

Continue on Main Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Take the exit slight right toward I 39 North, US 51 North, US 10 West

6.6 mi · 7 min · I 39 North, US 51 North, US 10 West

Continue straight

23 mi · 25 min

Merge slight right

47 mi · 53 min

Take the exit slight right toward US 8: Prentice, Rhinelander

0.4 mi · 48 sec · US 8: Prentice, Rhinelander

Keep slight left to continue on US 8: Prentice

387 ft · 13 sec · US 8: Prentice

Merge slight right

32 mi · 45 min

Turn right

0.2 mi · 41 sec

Turn straight onto State Highway 13

11 mi · 14 min · State Highway 13

Continue on South Lake Avenue

2.4 mi · 5 min · South Lake Avenue

Continue on State Highway 13

12 mi · 16 min · State Highway 13

Continue on Flambeau Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · Flambeau Avenue

Continue on State Highway 13

2.1 mi · 2 min · State Highway 13

Continue on 4th Ave S

374 ft · 6 sec · 4th Ave S

Continue on 4th Avenue South

1.7 mi · 3 min · 4th Avenue South

Turn right onto 1st Street South

0.3 mi · 51 sec · 1st Street South

Continue on Birch Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Birch Street

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 142.7 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, or about 2h 44m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 miles.

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 142.7 miles or 2h 44m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Park Falls, 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 285.4 miles and 5h 48m.

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.

The longest stretch is on I 41 for about 61.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 142.7 mi from Wauwatosa, WI · 2h 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bonduel, WI

143 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

Waukegan, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 142.7 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.6 miles.

Arriving in Park Falls, WI

The final approach into Park Falls, 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 Park Falls, 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

$43.35 one way

$86.70 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$47.79	$95.58
premium	$4.80	$53.88	$107.76
diesel	$5.64	$63.41	$126.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 99.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

22 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Fond du Lac, WI

Tesla

12 DCFC

Walmart 5669 (West Milwaukee, WI)

West Milwaukee, WI

Electrify America

10 DCFC

Woodman's Food Market - Tesla Supercharger

Menomonee Falls, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Target T2199 (West Allis, WI)

West Allis, WI

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Ewalds Hartford Ford - DCFC

Hartford, WI

Blink Network

6 DCFC

Uptown Ford

Milwaukee, WI

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Boucher Ford of Menomonee Falls

Menomonee Falls, WI

SYNERGEV

4 DCFC

Kwik Trip #1013

Richfield, WI

KWIK_CHARGE

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 7 SYNERGEV: 3 Electrify America: 2 FORD_CHARGE: 2 Tesla: 2 KWIK_CHARGE: 2 Blink Network: 2 RED_E: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	85.6	1	$29.97	$13.70
Efficient EV	71.4	0	$24.97	$11.42
EV Truck/SUV	114.2	1	$39.96	$18.27

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

33 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Wauwatosa, WI

Late night in Wauwatosa on Monday

Local time

4:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Park Falls, WI

Late night in Park Falls on Monday

Local time

4:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°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

26 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

5h 48m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Park Falls, WI covers 285.4 miles and takes about 5h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 41, US Highway 10, US 51. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 142.7 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 $43.35 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Wauwatosa, WI and Park Falls, WI, road signs point toward Appleton and Rhinelander.

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