How far is Balsam Lake, WI from West Allis, WI?

The driving distance from Balsam Lake, WI to West Allis, WI is about 324.6 miles (522.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 277.1 miles (445.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
324.62 mi
05h 05m
Flight
277.05 mi
445.87 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Balsam Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
277.05 mi
Kilometers
445.87 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
324.62 mi
Kilometers
522.43 km
Drive Time
05h 05m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Allis
Thu, Apr 16, 10:53 AM CDT
Return by in Balsam Lake
Thu, Apr 16, 3:58 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Balsam Lake
2026-04-16T05:47
Arrive West Allis
Thu, Apr 16, 10:53 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:05 AM to 1:05 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:50 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Balsam Lake
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Tomah
WI

City in Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States

From Balsam Lake
162.1 mi
02h 32m
To West Allis
162.6 mi
02h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
63°F
Thursday

Areas Of Fog

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Balsam Lake and West Allis.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Balsam Lake and West Allis.

  1. 1

    Start on Courthouse Avenue

    124 m · 20 sec · Courthouse Avenue

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Main Street

    2548 ft · 51 sec · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on 140th Street

    3.5 mi · 6 min · 140th Street

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East 130th Avenue

    4.4 mi · 6 min · East 130th Avenue

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East 130th Avenue

    39 m · 7 sec · East 130th Avenue

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto East 130th Avenue

    1.8 mi · 2 min · East 130th Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    8.1 mi · 12 min

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    41 m · 8 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    2780 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 14th Avenue

    37 m · 7 sec · 14th Avenue

  11. 11

    Exit the rotary onto 14th Avenue

    9 mi · 13 min · 14th Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on 13 1/2 - 14th Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · 13 1/2 - 14th Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on 13 1/2 Avenue

    3 mi · 4 min · 13 1/2 Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on West Division Avenue

    2 mi · 5 min · West Division Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on 13 1/2 Avenue

    3.3 mi · 5 min · 13 1/2 Avenue

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    1 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight right

    50.3 mi · 56 min

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto US 53 South: Brackett

    1257 ft · 21 sec

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward the route

    115 m · 6 sec

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout

    135 m · 9 sec

  21. 21

    Take the ramp right

    2643 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    167.8 mi · 3 hr

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94: Milwaukee

    65.1 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 181: 84th Street

    1.5 km · 2 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice Center

    59 m · 5 sec

  26. 26

    Turn right onto South 84th Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · South 84th Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto West Greenfield Avenue

    2754 ft · 2 min · West Greenfield Avenue

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Greenfield Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Balsam Lake and West Allis.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
28 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
2 merges, 11 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 53 South
169 mi · 52%
I 94
65.1 mi · 20%
13 1/2 Avenue
57.2 mi · 18%
East 130th Avenue
14.9 mi · 5%
14th Avenue
9.04 mi · 3%
140th Street
3.51 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 53 South

Merge slight left

168 mi · 03h 00m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.5 mi
277.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tomah
02h 32m from Balsam Lake
Leave By
6:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Balsam Lake and Areas Of Fog near West Allis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Balsam Lake to West Allis?

The road trip is about 324.6 miles (522.4 km) and usually takes 05h 05m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Tomah is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.1 miles from Balsam Lake and 162.6 miles from West Allis.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 277.1 miles (445.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.18 one way or $86.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Balsam Lake and Areas Of Fog near West Allis.

Stop Ideas Near Tomah

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Tomah, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Tomah.

RAIL

Tomah

1 mi away
North Superior Ave. and Washington St.
RAIL

La Crosse

62 mi away
St. Andrew and Caledonia Streets
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

69 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue
RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

70 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Balsam Lake and West Allis. Straight-line distance: 277.05 mi (445.87 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Balsam Lake

Civil town in Polk County, Wisconsin

Population1,419
Coordinates45.4521800, -92.4546400
Altitude354
CountryUnited States
West Allis

#2 West Allis

The most populous city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Population59,748
Coordinates43.0166800, -88.0070300
Altitude222
CountryUnited States
Start: Courthouse Avenue (-92.45464, 45.452166)
End: West Greenfield Avenue (-88.007075, 43.01665)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 522 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 38m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.45 gal
43.36 L · about $43.18
Round trip
$86.36
22.9 gal · 86.72 L
Estimated CO2
101.8 kg one way
Round trip: 203.5 kg / 449 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $43.18 $86.36
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.70 $97.39
Premium $4.65 $53.29 $106.58
Diesel $5.30 $60.73 $121.46

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Wisconsin · Apr 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Balsam Lake and West Allis. The current time is 05:47:40.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.