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Trip from West Allis, WI to River Falls, WI

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

5h 35m

Distance

303.1 mi

488 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 22m ★
6 AM
5h 36m
8 AM
6h 2m
10 AM
5h 45m
12 PM
5h 42m
3 PM
5h 46m
5 PM
6h 1m
8 PM
5h 28m

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

city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA

West Allis, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in Wisconsin, United States

River Falls, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from West Allis, WI to River Falls, WI covers 303.1 miles and takes about 5h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 894 West, I 94, Zoo Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.39 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

151.6 miles from West Allis, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 35m drive with frequent turns across 303.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 894 West 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

This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Allis, WI to River Falls, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 894 West
I 94
Zoo Freeway
I 94 West
East-West Freeway
I 39 North
CTH T
County Highway T

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: I 894 West — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Allis, WI and River Falls, WI.

1

Start on West Greenfield Avenue

1.4 mi · 3 min · West Greenfield Avenue
2

Take the ramp slight right toward I 894 West, US 45 North

0.2 mi · 24 sec · I 894 West, US 45 North
3

Keep slight left to continue on I 94: Madison, Milwaukee

0.1 mi · 18 sec · I 94: Madison, Milwaukee
4

Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway

20 ft · Zoo Freeway
5

Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee

0.2 mi · 16 sec · I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
6

Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison

0.6 mi · 56 sec · I 94 West: Madison
7

Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison

0.1 mi · 11 sec · I 94 West: Madison
8

Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

10 mi · 11 min · East-West Freeway
9

Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

54 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway
10

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
11

Keep slight left

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min
12

Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul

130 mi · 2 hr 19 min · I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
13

Take the exit slight right toward CTH T: Hammond

0.3 mi · 38 sec · CTH T: Hammond
14

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward County Highway T

243 ft · 5 sec · County Highway T
15

Exit the roundabout onto County Highway T

486 ft · 28 sec · County Highway T
16

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Highway T

144 ft · 8 sec · County Highway T
17

Exit the roundabout onto County Highway T

1.5 mi · 2 min · County Highway T
18

Turn right onto County Highway N

2.5 mi · 3 min · County Highway N
19

At the end of the road, turn left onto County Highway J

4.0 mi · 5 min · County Highway J
20

Turn left onto State Highway 65

4.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 65
21

Continue on North Main Street

1.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street
22

Turn left onto East Cedar Street

171 ft · 8 sec · East Cedar Street
23

Turn right

69 ft · 5 sec
24

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 151.6 miles from West Allis, WI, or about 2h 47m 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 67 miles or 1h 14m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 151.6 miles or 2h 47m 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 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near River Falls, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving West Allis, 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 West Allis, WI

This is one driving day of about 303.1 miles and 5h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from West Allis, 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 151.6 mi from West Allis, WI · 2h 47m into the drive

city in Adams County, Wisconsin

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Adams, WI

152 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Adams, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 151.6 miles from West Allis, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in River Falls, WI

The final approach into River 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 River 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

$47.39 one way

$94.77 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 106 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $52.03 $104.06
premium $4.89 $58.33 $116.66
diesel $5.61 $66.92 $133.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 106 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 90.9 1 $31.83 $14.55
Efficient EV 75.8 0 $26.52 $12.12
EV Truck/SUV 121.2 1 $42.43 $19.40

Gas CO2

106 kg

EV CO2

35 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

West Allis, WI

Evening in West Allis on Wednesday

Local time

6:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

River Falls, WI

Evening in River Falls on Wednesday

Local time

6:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

64°F

Adams, WI

152 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

17 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 35m 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 West Allis, WI to River Falls, WI covers 303.1 miles and takes about 5h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 894 West, I 94, Zoo Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 151.6 miles from West Allis, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.39 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.
This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Allis, WI to River Falls, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Allis, WI to River Falls, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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