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Drive Time
5h 24m
Distance
273.3 mi
440 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Janesville, WI
Tom Fisk
Mercer, WI
Wolrider YURTSEVEN
The drive from City of Janesville, WI to Mercer, WI covers 273.3 miles and takes about 5h 24m 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, Chippewa Street 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 $42.73 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
136.7 miles from City of Janesville, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
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This is a 5h 24m highway drive covering 273.3 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 10 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 273.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (East Milwaukee Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 39; I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Turn left onto East Milwaukee 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
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between City of Janesville, WI and Mercer, WI, road signs point toward Portage and Wausau.
Portage
Wausau
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 39 | 165 mi | 2h 57m |
| US 51 | 70.9 mi | 1h 28m |
| Chippewa Street | 33.2 mi | 50m |
| Milton Avenue | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| East Milwaukee Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harrison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Court Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Janesville, WI and Mercer, 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 slight right onto US 51
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 136.7 miles or 2h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mercer, 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 273.3 miles and 5h 24m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 136.7 mi from City of Janesville, WI · 2h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 136.7 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 Mercer, 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 Mercer, 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
$42.73 one way
$85.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $46.91 | $93.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $52.59 | $105.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.34 | $120.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82 | 1 | $28.70 | $13.12 |
| Efficient EV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.91 | $10.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.3 | 1 | $38.26 | $17.49 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in City of Janesville on Wednesday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Mercer on Wednesday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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