How far is Wauwatosa, WI from Clayton, WI?

The driving distance from Wauwatosa, WI to Clayton, WI is about 308.2 miles (496 km), with a travel time of about 05h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 259.5 miles (417.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 46m 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 53m
Flight
259.57 mi
417.74 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wauwatosa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
259.57 mi
Kilometers
417.74 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
308.21 mi
Kilometers
496.02 km
Drive Time
05h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clayton
Thu, Apr 23, 7:41 AM CDT
Return by in Wauwatosa
Thu, Apr 23, 1:34 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wauwatosa
2026-04-23T01:48
Arrive Clayton
Thu, Apr 23, 7:41 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:53 AM to 1:53 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
5:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wauwatosa
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
Oakdale
WI

Village in Monroe County, Wisconsin

From Wauwatosa
153.9 mi
02h 56m
To Clayton
154.3 mi
02h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
73°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West State Street

    42 m · 6 sec · West State Street

  2. 2

    Continue on West Menomonee River Parkway

    110 m · 22 sec · West Menomonee River Parkway

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Harmonee Avenue

    876 ft · 30 sec · Harmonee Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Harwood Avenue

    158 m · 16 sec · Harwood Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Glenview Avenue

    1.1 mi · 3 min · North Glenview Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on South 84th Street

    1146 ft · 35 sec · South 84th Street

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 West

    988 ft · 26 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Madison

    1.2 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

    10.8 mi · 13 min · East-West Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

    53.5 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway

  11. 11

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

    29.1 mi · 31 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    63.5 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  13. 13

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

    118.4 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 128: Spring Valley, Glenwood City

    757 ft · 18 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on WI 128: Glenwood City

    95 m · 9 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto State Highway 128

    9.1 mi · 13 min · State Highway 128

  17. 17

    Continue on West Oak Street

    1227 ft · 30 sec · West Oak Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 1st Street

    2316 ft · 46 sec · 1st Street

  19. 19

    Continue on State Highway 128

    5.7 mi · 10 min · State Highway 128

  20. 20

    Continue on County Highway P

    5 mi · 9 min · County Highway P

  21. 21

    Continue on 20th Street

    5.9 mi · 10 min · 20th Street

  22. 22

    Continue on County Highway P

    1.6 mi · 3 min · County Highway P

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn right

    1.7 mi · 3 min

  24. 24

    Turn right onto County Highway D

    707 ft · 20 sec · County Highway D

  25. 25

    Turn left onto East Clayton Avenue

    71 m · 10 sec · East Clayton Avenue

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Clayton Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 West
119 mi · 39%
I 39 North
92.6 mi · 30%
East-West Freeway
64.3 mi · 21%
State Highway 128
14.8 mi · 5%
County Highway P
6.69 mi · 2%
20th Street
5.91 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 94 West

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

118 mi · 02h 07m

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 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.7 mi
259.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Oakdale
02h 56m from Wauwatosa
Leave By
5:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Wauwatosa and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Clayton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 308.2 miles (496 km) and usually takes 05h 53m 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?

Oakdale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 153.9 miles from Wauwatosa and 154.3 miles from Clayton.

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

The direct path is about 259.5 miles (417.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.7 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 5:14 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 Mostly Sunny around Wauwatosa and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Clayton.

Stop Ideas Near Oakdale

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

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

RAIL

Tomah

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

Wisconsin Dells

61 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

64 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue
RAIL

La Crosse

71 mi away
St. Andrew and Caledonia Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wauwatosa and Clayton. Straight-line distance: 259.57 mi (417.74 km).

Wauwatosa

#1 Wauwatosa

A city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Population48,084
Coordinates43.0494600, -88.0075900
Altitude203
CountryUnited States
Clayton

#2 Clayton

Village in Polk County, Wisconsin

Population4,227
Coordinates45.3313500, -92.1713000
Altitude369
CountryUnited States
Start: Wauwatosa (-88.00759, 43.04946)
End: Clayton (-92.1713, 45.33135)

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Wauwatosa and Clayton. The current time is 01:48:38.

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.