Trip from City of Janesville, WI to Cooperstown, WI

Drive Time

3h 19m

Distance

169.9 mi

273 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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City of Janesville, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Traveling from Janesville to Cooperstown covers 169.9 miles of Wisconsin landscape, typically taking about 3 hours and 19 minutes behind the wheel. Because this trip is comfortably under four hours, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $26 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly excursion across the Midwest. Since 96% of the route is highway-focused, you will spend the vast majority of your time cruising on major thoroughfares. It is a practical, efficient route that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads, ideal for travelers who want to minimize time spent in transit.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

84.9 miles from City of Janesville, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .

Drive Character

This drive is defined by its efficiency, relying heavily on I-43, the North-South Freeway, and WI-11 to keep you moving. You will spend a significant portion of your journey on the interstate, specifically tackling a longest uninterrupted stretch of 121.5 miles on I-43. With 96% of the trip dedicated to high-speed highway travel, the experience is consistent and predictable rather than technical or slow-paced. Expect a steady, interstate-heavy rhythm that allows for easy cruising across the state. As you transition between these major arteries, the road maintains a professional, streamlined feel that favors steady progress over frequent turns or dramatic shifts in terrain.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 43 is the longest continuous segment at about 121.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and North-South Freeway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near WI 11 / East Racine Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 169.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 2.2 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.3 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18.8 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in | WI 11 / East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

2.3 mi into trip | ~5m in | WI 11 / East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

18.8 mi into trip | ~28m in | I 43

Merge onto I 43

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

68.7 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | I 43

Keep slight right at fork onto I 43 toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 10A Toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee

166.8 mi into trip | ~3h 15m in

Take the exit toward WI 147, CTH Z: Maribel, Mishicot

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 164 Toward WI 147, CTH Z: Maribel, Mishicot

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 43	121.5 mi	2h 12m
North-South Freeway	26.5 mi	33m
WI 11	11.2 mi	15m
US 14	3.5 mi	4m
East Racine Street	2.6 mi	4m
County Road R	2.5 mi	3m
South Randall Avenue	0.5 mi	1m
Ruger Avenue	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 43 — 121.5 mi, about 2h 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between City of Janesville, WI and Cooperstown, WI.

Start on East Court Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Court Street

Turn right onto CTH MM

0.5 mi · 1 min · Ruger Avenue

Turn right onto South Randall Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Randall Avenue

Turn left onto East Racine Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Racine Street

Continue on East Racine Street

445 ft · 8 sec · East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

144 ft · 8 sec · East Racine Street

Continue on WI 11

0.1 mi · 12 sec · East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

112 ft · 6 sec · East Racine Street

Continue on WI 11

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Racine Street

Turn straight onto WI 11

11 mi · 15 min · WI 11

Continue on US 14

3.5 mi · 4 min · US 14

Turn left

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Merge onto I 43

50 mi · 55 min · I 43

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 43

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 43

Exit 10A Toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 94

27 mi · 33 min · North-South Freeway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 43; WI 57

71 mi · 1 hr 15 min · I 43; WI 57

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Exit 164 Toward WI 147, CTH Z: Maribel, Mishicot

Keep slight right at fork

170 ft · 4 sec

Turn straight onto WI 147

0.2 mi · 22 sec · WI 147

Turn left onto CTH R

2.5 mi · 3 min · County Road R

Arrive at destination

CTH R

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for one strategic stop will help you break up the three-hour journey comfortably. Keep in mind that with over 120 miles of your route occurring on a single interstate stretch, you should prepare for a consistent highway pace. Check your fuel levels before merging onto I-43 to ensure you aren't forced to exit unnecessarily, keeping that $26 estimated fuel cost in mind. If you are traveling during peak hours, be mindful that the high percentage of highway use means traffic patterns on the North-South Freeway can impact your arrival time. Making your single planned stop toward the middle of the trip is the best way to maintain focus during the longer segments.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 84.9 miles from City of Janesville, WI, or about 1h 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.5 miles.

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 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 84.9 miles or 1h 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 45m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cooperstown, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

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 169.9 miles and 3h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from City of Janesville, WI.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 43 for about 121.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 84.9 mi from City of Janesville, WI · 1h 45m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukegan, IL

85 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Waukegan, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukegan, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 84.9 miles from City of Janesville, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 43 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 121.5 miles.

Arriving in Cooperstown, WI

The final approach into Cooperstown, 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 Cooperstown, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.81 one way

$51.61 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$28.45	$56.90
premium	$4.80	$32.07	$64.15
diesel	$5.64	$37.75	$75.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 59.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	51	$17.84	$8.16
Efficient EV	42.5	$14.87	$6.80
EV Truck/SUV	68	$23.79	$10.87

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

City of Janesville, WI

Afternoon in City of Janesville on Sunday

Local time

1:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cooperstown, WI

Afternoon in Cooperstown on Sunday

Local time

1:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

6 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 19m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from City of Janesville, WI to Cooperstown, WI covers 169.9 miles and takes about 3h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 43, North-South Freeway, WI 11. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 84.9 miles from City of Janesville, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.81 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The route from City of Janesville, WI to Cooperstown, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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