How far is Milwaukee, WI from River Falls, WI?

The driving distance from Milwaukee, WI to River Falls, WI is about 308.2 miles (496 km), with a travel time of about 05h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 266.3 miles (428.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 23m 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
308.21 mi
05h 41m
Flight
266.25 mi
428.48 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Milwaukee.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
266.25 mi
Kilometers
428.48 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
308.21 mi
Kilometers
496.01 km
Drive Time
05h 41m

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 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in River Falls
Wed, Apr 15, 10:54 PM CDT
Return by in Milwaukee
Thu, Apr 16, 4:35 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Milwaukee
2026-04-15T17:12
Arrive River Falls
Wed, Apr 15, 10:54 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:42 AM to 1:42 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
5:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Milwaukee
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
Camp Douglas
WI

Village in Juneau County, Wisconsin

From Milwaukee
153.9 mi
02h 50m
To River Falls
154.3 mi
02h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Today

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
44°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Milwaukee and River Falls.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Milwaukee and River Falls.

  1. 1

    Start on North Milwaukee Street

    14 m · 9 sec · North Milwaukee Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Wisconsin Avenue

    671 ft · 25 sec · East Wisconsin Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Jackson Street

    894 ft · 29 sec · North Jackson Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 794 West

    1550 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight right onto East-West Freeway

    1269 ft · 22 sec · East-West Freeway

  6. 6

    Continue on East-West Freeway

    17.1 mi · 22 min · East-West Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

    53.5 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

    29.1 mi · 31 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    63.5 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  10. 10

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

    130.1 mi · 2 hr 20 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward CTH T: Hammond

    1547 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward County Highway T

    74 m · 5 sec · County Highway T

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto County Highway T

    148 m · 28 sec · County Highway T

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Highway T

    44 m · 8 sec · County Highway T

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto County Highway T

    1.5 mi · 2 min · County Highway T

  16. 16

    Turn right onto County Highway N

    2.5 mi · 3 min · County Highway N

  17. 17

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

    4 mi · 6 min · County Highway J

  18. 18

    Turn left onto State Highway 65

    4.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 65

  19. 19

    Continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto East Cedar Street

    52 m · 8 sec · East Cedar Street

  21. 21

    Turn right

    21 m · 5 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Milwaukee and River Falls.

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
22 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 West
130 mi · 42%
I 39 North
92.6 mi · 30%
East-West Freeway
70.9 mi · 23%
State Highway 65
4.39 mi · 1%
County Highway J
3.97 mi · 1%
County Highway N
2.49 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 94 West

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

130 mi · 02h 20m

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 41m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.9 mi
266.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Camp Douglas
02h 50m from Milwaukee
Leave By
5:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Milwaukee and Partly Cloudy near River Falls.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Milwaukee to River Falls?

The road trip is about 308.2 miles (496 km) and usually takes 05h 41m 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?

Camp Douglas is a useful midpoint, sitting about 153.9 miles from Milwaukee and 154.3 miles from River Falls.

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

The direct path is about 266.3 miles (428.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.9 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 5:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.03 one way or $82.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Milwaukee and Partly Cloudy near River Falls.

Stop Ideas Near Camp Douglas

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Camp Douglas, 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 Camp Douglas.

RAIL

Tomah

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

Wisconsin Dells

52 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

62 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue
BUS

Westfield, WI

63 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Milwaukee and River Falls. Straight-line distance: 266.25 mi (428.48 km).

Milwaukee

#1 Milwaukee

The thirtieth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Milwaukee metropolitan area.

Population589,067
Coordinates43.0389000, -87.9064700
Altitude188
CountryUnited States
River Falls

#2 River Falls

City in Pierce and St.

Population3,442
Coordinates44.8613600, -92.6238100
Altitude273
CountryUnited States
Start: Milwaukee (-87.90647, 43.0389)
End: River Falls (-92.62381, 44.86136)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 496 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.88 gal
41.17 L · about $41.03
Round trip
$82.06
21.76 gal · 82.34 L
Estimated CO2
96.7 kg one way
Round trip: 193.4 kg / 426 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.03 $82.06
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.27 $92.55
Premium $4.65 $50.64 $101.27
Diesel $5.30 $57.71 $115.42

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Milwaukee and River Falls. The current time is 17:12:48.

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.