How far is Milwaukee, WI from Waukesha, WI?
The driving distance from Milwaukee, WI to Waukesha, WI is about 18 miles (29 km), with a travel time of about 00h 28m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 16.5 miles (26.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 00h 28m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Milwaukee and Waukesha.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milwaukee and Waukesha.
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1
Start on North Milwaukee Street
14 m · 9 sec · North Milwaukee Street
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2
Turn left onto East Wisconsin Avenue
671 ft · 25 sec · East Wisconsin Avenue
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3
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
894 ft · 29 sec · North Jackson Street
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4
Take the ramp slight right toward I 794 West
1550 ft · 28 sec
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5
Merge slight right onto East-West Freeway
1269 ft · 22 sec · East-West Freeway
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6
Continue on East-West Freeway
12.9 mi · 17 min · East-West Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward US 18, WI 164 South, CTH JJ: Barker Road, Bluemound Road
765 ft · 19 sec
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8
Keep slight right to continue on US 18 East, CTH Y, CTH JJ: Barker Road, Bluemound Road
561 ft · 14 sec
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9
Keep slight right to continue on US 18, CTH JJ: Waukesha, Barker Road North
764 ft · 30 sec
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10
Turn left onto West Bluemound Road
1.7 mi · 3 min · West Bluemound Road
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11
Turn slight left
2232 ft · 57 sec
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12
Turn slight right
134 m · 17 sec
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13
Turn straight onto Main Street
1.6 mi · 4 min · Main Street
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14
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Milwaukee and Waukesha.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
East-West Freeway
Continue on East-West Freeway
12.9 mi · 00h 17m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Milwaukee and Showers And Thunderstorms near Waukesha.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Milwaukee to Waukesha?
The road trip is about 18 miles (29 km) and usually takes 00h 28m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Elm Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 9 miles from Milwaukee and 9.1 miles from Waukesha.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 16.5 miles (26.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.5 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:34 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.41 one way or $4.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Milwaukee and Showers And Thunderstorms near Waukesha.
Stop Ideas Near Elm Grove
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Milwaukee City Hall
West Allis City Hall
City Hall Square Apartments
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Elm Grove.
Milwaukee Intermodal Station
Milwaukee Airport Railroad Station
Sturtevant station
Beaver Dam, WI
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Milwaukee and Waukesha. Straight-line distance: 16.52 mi (26.59 km).
#1 Milwaukee
The thirtieth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Milwaukee metropolitan area.
| Population | 589,067 |
| Coordinates | 43.0389000, -87.9064700 |
| Altitude | 188 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Waukesha
City in and county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States
| Population | 8,939 |
| Coordinates | 43.0116800, -88.2314800 |
| Altitude | 248 |
| Country | United States |
End: Waukesha (-88.23148, 43.01168)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 29 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 36m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 27m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 18m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 15m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 13m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $2.41 | $4.83 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $2.72 | $5.44 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $2.98 | $5.96 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $3.39 | $6.79 |
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 · May 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.