How far is Rochester, WI from Wauwatosa, WI?

The driving distance from Rochester, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is about 26.7 miles (42.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 23.9 miles (38.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
26.68 mi
00h 35m
Flight
23.94 mi
38.53 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rochester.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
23.94 mi
Kilometers
38.53 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
26.68 mi
Kilometers
42.93 km
Drive Time
00h 35m

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 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wauwatosa
Sat, Apr 18, 10:32 AM CDT
Return by in Rochester
Sat, Apr 18, 11:08 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rochester
2026-04-18T09:56
Arrive Wauwatosa
Sat, Apr 18, 10:32 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:36 AM to 7:36 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:18 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Rochester
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Franklin
WI

Third-class city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

From Rochester
13.7 mi
00h 17m
To Wauwatosa
13 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W
Destination
60°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rochester and Wauwatosa.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rochester and Wauwatosa.

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    1575 ft · 43 sec · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Washington Avenue

    766 ft · 28 sec · Washington Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Milwaukee Avenue

    1.4 km · 1 min · Milwaukee Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on State Highway 36

    7.3 mi · 10 min · State Highway 36

  5. 5

    Continue on Loomis Road

    6 mi · 8 min · Loomis Road

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    137 m · 19 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto West Saint Martins Road

    765 ft · 15 sec · West Saint Martins Road

  8. 8

    Continue on South Lovers Lane Road

    4.4 mi · 8 min · South Lovers Lane Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 43 North, US 45 North

    2070 ft · 53 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Rock Freeway

    1224 ft · 19 sec · Rock Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison

    3078 ft · 55 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight right onto Zoo Freeway

    5.1 mi · 7 min · Zoo Freeway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Watertown Plank Road

    852 ft · 21 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Watertown Plank Road East

    719 ft · 25 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Watertown Plank Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Harwood Avenue

    1576 ft · 52 sec · Harwood Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Harmonee Avenue

    822 ft · 32 sec · Harmonee Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway

    152 m · 21 sec · West Menomonee River Parkway

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West State Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rochester and Wauwatosa.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

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.

Directions
19 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
71.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 36
7.3 mi · 27%
Loomis Road
6.08 mi · 23%
Zoo Freeway
5.1 mi · 19%
South Lovers Lane Road
4.43 mi · 17%
Milwaukee Avenue
0.9 mi · 3%
West Watertown Plank Road
0.87 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

State Highway 36

Continue on State Highway 36

7.3 mi · 00h 10m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
00h 35m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.8 mi
23.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Franklin
00h 17m from Rochester
Leave By
7:18 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Rochester and Showers And Thunderstorms near Wauwatosa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rochester to Wauwatosa?

The road trip is about 26.7 miles (42.9 km) and usually takes 00h 35m 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?

Franklin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.7 miles from Rochester and 13 miles from Wauwatosa.

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

The direct path is about 23.9 miles (38.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.8 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 7:18 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.54 one way or $7.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Rochester and Showers And Thunderstorms near Wauwatosa.

Stop Ideas Near Franklin

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Franklin and the surrounding midpoint area.
Milwaukee City Hall
Scenic stop 13.4 mi away

Milwaukee City Hall

Milwaukee , WI
200 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202, United States
Rating 4.4/5 84 reviews Tourist attraction,City or town hall
West Allis City Hall
Meeting point 9.8 mi away

West Allis City Hall

West Allis , WI
7525 W Greenfield Ave, West Allis, WI 53214
Rating 4.1/5 38 reviews City Hall,City government office
City Hall Square Apartments
Nearby stop 13.3 mi away

City Hall Square Apartments

Milwaukee , WI
104 E Mason St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Rating 3.0/5 28 reviews Apartment building,Property management company

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Milwaukee Airport Railroad Station

11 mi away
5601 South 6th Street
RAIL

Milwaukee Intermodal Station

19 mi away
433 West St. Paul Ave.
RAIL

Sturtevant station

22 mi away
9900 East Exploration Court
BUS

Janesville, Wisconsin

80 mi away
3120 North Pontiac Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rochester and Wauwatosa. Straight-line distance: 23.94 mi (38.53 km).

Rochester

#1 Rochester

Village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States

Population3,880
Coordinates42.7414100, -88.2242600
Altitude234
CountryUnited States
Wauwatosa

#2 Wauwatosa

A city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Population48,084
Coordinates43.0494600, -88.0075900
Altitude203
CountryUnited States
Start: West Main Street (-88.224257, 42.741255)
End: West State Street (-88.007649, 43.049316)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 43 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.94 gal
3.56 L · about $3.54
Round trip
$7.09
1.88 gal · 7.12 L
Estimated CO2
8.4 kg one way
Round trip: 16.7 kg / 37 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.54 $7.09
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.00 $8.00
Premium $4.65 $4.37 $8.75
Diesel $5.30 $4.99 $9.97

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Rochester and Wauwatosa. The current time is 09:56:52.

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.