Origin
West Allis, WI
Afternoon in West Allis on Thursday
Local time
2:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Allis, WI to Potter Lake, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
37m
Distance
26 mi
42 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Allis, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from West Allis, WI to Potter Lake, WI covers 26 miles and takes about 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 45, Zoo Freeway, West Greenfield Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.9 miles on US 45. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.06 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 26 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 37m highway drive covering 26 miles, with most of the trip on US 45 and Zoo Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 16.9 miles on US 45.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 45 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and Zoo Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 26 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
1.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 45 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 45 South
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
8
21.9 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward WI 83: Waterford, Mukwonago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43
Toward WI 83: Waterford, Mukwonago
6
22.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
CTH ES / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto CTH ES / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from West Allis, WI to Potter Lake, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Mukwonago along the way.
Mukwonago
21.9 mi in
|
~27m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 45 | 16.9 mi | 18m |
| Zoo Freeway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| West Greenfield Avenue | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| County Highway ES | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Miramar Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Rochester Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Maple Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 16.9 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Allis, WI and Potter Lake, WI.
1
Start on WI 59
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 45 South
Use the left lane.
3
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 45
17 mi
·
18 min
·
US 45
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 43
Toward WI 83: Waterford, Mukwonago
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
504 ft
·
14 sec
7
Turn straight onto WI 83
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Rochester Street
8
Turn left
121 ft
·
5 sec
9
Turn straight onto Front Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Front Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto CTH ES
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on CTH ES
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
County Highway ES
12
Turn left onto Miramar Road
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Miramar Road
13
Continue on Miramar Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Miramar Road
14
Turn right onto Maple Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Maple Street
15
Arrive at destination
Maple Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.06 one way
$8.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.46 | $8.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.00 | $10.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.74 | $11.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.64 | $1.66 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Potter Lake, WI
Afternoon in Potter Lake on Thursday
Local time
2:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
37m 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 West Allis, WI to Potter Lake, WI covers 26 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 45, Zoo Freeway, West Greenfield Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13 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 $4.06 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.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 26 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from West Allis, WI to Potter Lake, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Mukwonago along the way.
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