How far is South Milwaukee, WI from Wauwatosa, WI?
The driving distance from South Milwaukee, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is about 19.6 miles (31.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 12.1 miles (19.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 54m 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 27m.
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.
The thirtieth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Milwaukee metropolitan area.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Rain Showers
Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between South Milwaukee and Wauwatosa.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Milwaukee and Wauwatosa.
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1
Start on 10th Avenue
1645 ft · 1 min · 10th Avenue
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2
Continue on North Chicago Avenue
1.1 mi · 3 min · North Chicago Avenue
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3
Turn left onto East College Avenue
1.6 km · 2 min · East College Avenue
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4
Turn straight
55 m · 8 sec
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5
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Pennsylvania Avenue
1.5 mi · 3 min · South Pennsylvania Avenue
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6
Turn left onto John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway
4.1 mi · 6 min · John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway
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7
Continue on Lake Freeway
2.3 mi · 3 min · Lake Freeway
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8
Continue on East-West Freeway
1982 ft · 34 sec · East-West Freeway
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9
Continue on East-West Freeway
4.2 mi · 6 min · East-West Freeway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward 68th Street, 70th Street
926 ft · 26 sec
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11
Turn right onto South 68th Street
1.1 mi · 3 min · South 68th Street
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12
Turn left onto West State Street
2967 ft · 2 min · West State Street
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13
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West State Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South Milwaukee and Wauwatosa.
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
4.17 mi · 00h 06m
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.
Rain Showers leaving South Milwaukee 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 South Milwaukee to Wauwatosa?
The road trip is about 19.6 miles (31.5 km) and usually takes 00h 27m 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?
Milwaukee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.3 miles from South Milwaukee and 11.2 miles from Wauwatosa.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 12.1 miles (19.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.5 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 7:36 PM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.60 one way or $5.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around South Milwaukee and Showers And Thunderstorms near Wauwatosa.
Stop Ideas Near Milwaukee
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 Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Intermodal Station
Milwaukee Airport Railroad Station
Sturtevant station
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South Milwaukee and Wauwatosa. Straight-line distance: 12.14 mi (19.53 km).
#1 South Milwaukee
City in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
| Population | 20,673 |
| Coordinates | 42.9105700, -87.8606400 |
| Altitude | 204 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Wauwatosa
A city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
| Population | 48,084 |
| Coordinates | 43.0494600, -88.0075900 |
| Altitude | 203 |
| Country | United States |
End: West State Street (-88.007649, 43.049316)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 32 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 39m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 29m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $2.60 | $5.20 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $2.93 | $5.87 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $3.21 | $6.42 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $3.66 | $7.32 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.