How far is Wauwatosa, WI from Sparta, WI?

The driving distance from Wauwatosa, WI to Sparta, WI is about 179.4 miles (288.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 153.6 miles (247.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 40m 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
179.39 mi
03h 20m
Flight
153.58 mi
247.17 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
153.58 mi
Kilometers
247.17 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
179.39 mi
Kilometers
288.7 km
Drive Time
03h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sparta
Thu, Apr 23, 4:25 AM CDT
Return by in Wauwatosa
Thu, Apr 23, 7:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wauwatosa
2026-04-23T01:05
Arrive Sparta
Thu, Apr 23, 4:25 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:20 AM to 11:20 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:20 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
Poynette
WI

Village in Columbia County, Wisconsin

From Wauwatosa
89.5 mi
01h 40m
To Sparta
89.9 mi
01h 40m

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
75°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 21 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 left to continue on I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

    16.9 mi · 18 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 16: Sparta

    1727 ft · 42 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    61 m · 5 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto East Wisconsin Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · East Wisconsin Street

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 16

    36 m · 7 sec · State Highway 16

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 16

    1296 ft · 25 sec · State Highway 16

  19. 19

    Continue on East Wisconsin Street

    3163 ft · 1 min · East Wisconsin Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East Avenue

    1256 ft · 34 sec · East Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn slight right onto South Tyler Street

    113 m · 16 sec · South Tyler Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    1912 ft · 57 sec · East Main Street

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Court Street

    7 m · 6 sec · North Court Street

  24. 24

    Turn left

    43 m · 10 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
92.6 mi · 52%
East-West Freeway
64.3 mi · 36%
I 90 West
16.9 mi · 9%
East Wisconsin Street
1.56 mi · 1%
North Glenview Avenue
1.13 mi · 1%
I 94 West
0.96 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 39 North

Keep slight left

63.5 mi · 01h 08m

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
03h 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.8 mi
153.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Poynette
01h 40m from Wauwatosa
Leave By
10:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Wauwatosa and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Sparta.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 179.4 miles (288.7 km) and usually takes 03h 20m 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?

Poynette is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89.5 miles from Wauwatosa and 89.9 miles from Sparta.

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

The direct path is about 153.6 miles (247.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.8 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.87 one way or $47.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Wauwatosa and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Sparta.

Stop Ideas Near Poynette

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

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

RAIL

Portage

18 mi away
400 West Oneida Street
RAIL

Columbus

32 mi away
359 North Ludington Street
BUS

Madison, Wisconsin

35 mi away
800 Langdon St.
BUS

Madison (South), Wisconsin

39 mi away
Hwy 51 & East Broadway Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wauwatosa and Sparta. Straight-line distance: 153.58 mi (247.17 km).

Wauwatosa

#1 Wauwatosa

A city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

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

#2 Sparta

City in and county seat of Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States

Population3,290
Coordinates43.9441300, -90.8129100
Altitude241
CountryUnited States
Start: Wauwatosa (-88.00759, 43.04946)
End: Sparta (-90.81291, 43.94413)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 289 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.33 gal
23.96 L · about $23.87
Round trip
$47.74
12.66 gal · 47.92 L
Estimated CO2
56.3 kg one way
Round trip: 112.5 kg / 248 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.87 $47.74
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.92 $53.84
Premium $4.65 $29.46 $58.92
Diesel $5.30 $33.57 $67.15

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 Sparta. The current time is 01:05:13.

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.