Drive Time
4h 57m
Distance
253.5 mi
408 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
Photo: Eduardo Reiser
The drive from City of Janesville, WI to Saint Germain, WI covers 253.5 miles and takes about 4h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 39, US 51, County Road D for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 165 miles on I 39. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.50 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.8 miles from City of Janesville, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .
This is a 4h 57m highway drive covering 253.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 39 and US 51. The longest continuous stretch is about 165 miles on I 39.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and US 51. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Harrison Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 253.5 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 39; I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.5 miles (I 39): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 39; I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39 toward WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, Wausau
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto US 51; WI 29
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto WI 70 / State Highway 70
Navigation decision point
Between City of Janesville, WI and Saint Germain, WI, road signs point toward Portage and Wausau.
Portage
Wausau
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 39 | 165 mi | 2h 57m |
| US 51 | 64.6 mi | 1h 18m |
| County Road D | 7.6 mi | 12m |
| County Road J | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| County Highway E | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Milton Avenue | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| County Highway D | 3 mi | 4m |
| Bradley Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Janesville, WI and Saint Germain, WI.
Start on East Court Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Turn left onto East Milwaukee Street
Turn sharp right onto Milton Avenue
Take the exit
Merge onto I 39; I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39
Continue on I 39
Merge onto US 51; WI 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 51
Turn right onto CTH D
At end of road, turn left onto WI 47; CTH D
Turn right onto CTH D
Turn straight onto CTH E
Turn right onto CTH J
Turn left onto Parkway Road
At end of road, turn left onto WI 70
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.8 miles or 2h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Germain, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving City of Janesville, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from City of Janesville, WI
This is one driving day of about 253.5 miles and 4h 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 126.8 mi from City of Janesville, WI · 2h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 126.8 miles from City of Janesville, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 39 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 165 miles.
The final approach into Saint Germain, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Saint Germain, WI.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$38.50 one way
$77.01 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $42.45 | $84.89 |
| premium | $4.80 | $47.86 | $95.71 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $56.32 | $112.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.1 | 0 | $26.62 | $12.17 |
| Efficient EV | 63.4 | 0 | $22.18 | $10.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.4 | 1 | $35.49 | $16.22 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in City of Janesville on Saturday
Local time
5:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Saint Germain on Saturday
Local time
5:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
Rockford, IL
127 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Return Trip
Saint Germain, WI to City of Janesville, WIPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from City of Janesville, WI or browse trips ending in Saint Germain, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.
Explore maps for City of Janesville, WI or Saint Germain, WI on MapSof.net.
