How far is Prairie du Chien, WI from Wauwatosa, WI?

The driving distance from Prairie du Chien, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is about 176.8 miles (284.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 158.2 miles (254.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
176.84 mi
03h 00m
Flight
158.21 mi
254.61 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Prairie du Chien.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
158.21 mi
Kilometers
254.61 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
176.84 mi
Kilometers
284.6 km
Drive Time
03h 00m

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 03h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wauwatosa
Wed, Apr 22, 11:33 PM CDT
Return by in Prairie du Chien
Thu, Apr 23, 2:34 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Prairie du Chien
2026-04-22T20:33
Arrive Wauwatosa
Wed, Apr 22, 11:33 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:30 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Prairie du Chien
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Verona
WI

Civil town in Dane County, Wisconsin

From Prairie du Chien
88.3 mi
01h 30m
To Wauwatosa
88.5 mi
01h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SE
Destination
64°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Prairie du Chien and Wauwatosa.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Prairie du Chien and Wauwatosa.

  1. 1

    Start on South Marquette Road

    124 m · 10 sec · South Marquette Road

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Marquette Road

    43 m · 3 sec · South Marquette Road

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto South Marquette Road

    104 m · 8 sec · South Marquette Road

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Marquette Road

    37 m · 3 sec · South Marquette Road

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto South Marquette Road

    1.7 mi · 4 min · South Marquette Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Great River Road

    12.3 mi · 17 min · Great River Road

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    15.3 mi · 21 min

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Lincoln Avenue

    2685 ft · 2 min · Lincoln Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn left onto 12th Street

    2616 ft · 1 min · 12th Street

  10. 10

    Continue on US Highway 18

    15.6 mi · 22 min · US Highway 18

  11. 11

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  12. 12

    Continue on US Highway 18

    8.4 mi · 12 min · US Highway 18

  13. 13

    Continue on Dodgeville Expressway

    2 mi · 3 min · Dodgeville Expressway

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Dodgeville Expressway

    45 m · 6 sec · Dodgeville Expressway

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto Dodgeville Expressway

    1699 ft · 26 sec · Dodgeville Expressway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    38.2 mi · 46 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 12 East, US 14 East, US 18 East, US 151 North

    2419 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto West Beltline Highway

    8.8 mi · 12 min · West Beltline Highway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight left toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells

    1.3 km · 1 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    3.1 mi · 3 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 94 East: Milwaukee

    1805 ft · 22 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    969 ft · 12 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    63.3 mi · 1 hr 9 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac

    3167 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac

    1.3 km · 1 min

  26. 26

    Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway

    2848 ft · 44 sec · Zoo Freeway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward Watertown Plank Road

    852 ft · 21 sec

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on Watertown Plank Road East

    719 ft · 25 sec

  29. 29

    Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Watertown Plank Road

  30. 30

    Continue on Harwood Avenue

    1576 ft · 52 sec · Harwood Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Harmonee Avenue

    822 ft · 32 sec · Harmonee Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway

    152 m · 21 sec · West Menomonee River Parkway

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Prairie du Chien and Wauwatosa.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
33 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
16
5 merges, 11 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 East
63.8 mi · 36%
Dodgeville Expressway
40.6 mi · 23%
Great River Road
27.6 mi · 16%
US Highway 18
24.1 mi · 14%
West Beltline Highway
8.75 mi · 5%
I 39 North
3.93 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 94 East

Merge slight left

63.3 mi · 01h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
03h 00m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
06h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.6 mi
158.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Verona
01h 30m from Prairie du Chien
Leave By
12:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Prairie du Chien and Sunny near Wauwatosa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Prairie du Chien to Wauwatosa?

The road trip is about 176.8 miles (284.6 km) and usually takes 03h 00m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Verona is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88.3 miles from Prairie du Chien and 88.5 miles from Wauwatosa.

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

The direct path is about 158.2 miles (254.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:30 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.53 one way or $47.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Prairie du Chien and Sunny near Wauwatosa.

Stop Ideas Near Verona

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

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

BUS

Madison, Wisconsin

14 mi away
800 Langdon St.
BUS

Madison (South), Wisconsin

19 mi away
Hwy 51 & East Broadway Ave.
BUS

Janesville, Wisconsin

53 mi away
3120 North Pontiac Drive
RAIL

Columbus

57 mi away
359 North Ludington Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Prairie du Chien and Wauwatosa. Straight-line distance: 158.21 mi (254.61 km).

Prairie du Chien

#1 Prairie du Chien

County seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States

Population1,010
Coordinates43.0516500, -91.1412400
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Wauwatosa

#2 Wauwatosa

A city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Population48,084
Coordinates43.0494600, -88.0075900
Altitude203
CountryUnited States
Start: South Marquette Road (-91.141125, 43.051676)
End: West State Street (-88.007649, 43.049316)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 285 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.24 gal
23.62 L · about $23.53
Round trip
$47.06
12.48 gal · 47.24 L
Estimated CO2
55.5 kg one way
Round trip: 110.9 kg / 244 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.53 $47.06
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.54 $53.08
Premium $4.65 $29.04 $58.08
Diesel $5.30 $33.10 $66.19

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Prairie du Chien and Wauwatosa. The current time is 20:33:17.

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.