Trip from City of Janesville, WI to Washington, WI

Drive Time

6h 8m

Distance

256 mi

412 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

24 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
5h 56m ★
6 AM
6h 9m
8 AM
6h 34m
10 AM
6h 18m
12 PM
6h 15m
3 PM
6h 19m
5 PM
6h 33m
8 PM
6h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown City of Janesville, WI, WI

City of Janesville, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from City of Janesville, WI to Washington, WI covers 256 miles and takes about 6h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 41, WI 26, WI 54 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.4 miles on I 41. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.88 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

128 miles from City of Janesville, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 8m highway drive covering 256 miles, with most of the trip on I 41 and WI 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 56.4 miles on I 41.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 41 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and WI 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 58.8 miles in near CTH W / West North Street.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 256 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 58.8 miles (CTH W / West North Street): Navigation decision point; at 100 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.3 miles (I 41; US 41): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

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

5
58.8 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | CTH W / West North Street

At end of road, turn right onto CTH W / West North Street

Navigation decision point

5
100 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in

Turn left toward I-41_North: Appleton, Green_Bay

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I-41_North: Appleton, Green_Bay
6
100.3 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in | I 41; US 41

Merge onto I 41; US 41 toward Appleton

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Appleton
6
156.9 mi into trip | ~3h 18m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 43 South: Milwaukee

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 170B Toward I 43 South: Milwaukee
6
163 mi into trip | ~3h 26m in

Keep slight left at fork toward WI 54 East, WI 57 North: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward WI 54 East, WI 57 North: Sturgeon Bay, A...

Towns Along This Route

Between City of Janesville, WI and Washington, WI, road signs point toward Green_Bay, Appleton, Lmct: Sturgeon Bay and Algoma.

Green_Bay

100 mi in | ~2h 16m

Appleton

100.3 mi in | ~2h 16m | via I 41; US 41

Lmct: Sturgeon Bay

162.8 mi in | ~3h 26m

Algoma

162.8 mi in | ~3h 26m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 41 56.4 mi 1h
WI 26 44 mi 54m
WI 54 33.4 mi 38m
State Highway 26 33.3 mi 46m
WI 57 27.1 mi 42m
Milton Avenue 14.2 mi 20m
State Highway 42 12.5 mi 22m
State Highway 42/57 10.7 mi 16m
Longest stretch: I 41 — 56.4 mi, about 1h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Court Street

148 ft · 6 sec · East Court Street
2

Turn right onto Harrison Street

513 ft · 26 sec · Harrison Street
3

Turn left onto East Milwaukee Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · East Milwaukee Street
4

Turn sharp right onto Milton Avenue

14 mi · 20 min · Milton Avenue
5

Continue on WI 26

21 mi · 26 min · WI 26
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on WI 26

23 mi · 27 min · WI 26
Use the straight lane.
7

Turn left onto Western Avenue

0.3 mi · 51 sec · Western Avenue
8

At end of road, turn right onto CTH W

0.6 mi · 1 min · West North Street
9

At end of road, turn left onto WI 26

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
10

Continue on WI 26

5.6 mi · 7 min · State Highway 26
11

Continue on WI 26

0.5 mi · 1 min · Front Street
12

Continue on WI 26

6.7 mi · 9 min · State Highway 26
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
14

Merge onto US 151

3.8 mi · 4 min · US 151
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward WI 26 North: Rosendale
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 46 sec
17

Turn left onto State Highway 26

10 mi · 13 min · State Highway 26
18

Continue on WI 26

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
19

Continue on WI 26

11 mi · 15 min · State Highway 26
20

Turn left

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I-41_North: Appleton, Green_Bay
21

Merge onto I 41; US 41

56 mi · 1 hr · I 41; US 41
Toward Appleton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 43 South, US 141 South: Milwaukee
23

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 2 min
Exit 170B Toward I 43 South: Milwaukee
24

Continue on I 43

4.7 mi · 5 min · I 43
25

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward WI 54, WI 57, LMCT: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma
26

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Toward WI 54 East, WI 57 North: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma
27

Merge onto WI 54; WI 57

33 mi · 38 min · WI 54; WI 57
Toward WI 54 East, WI 57 North: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma
28

Continue on WI 42; WI 57

8.2 mi · 12 min · State Highway 42/57
Use the straight lane.
29

Enter roundabout onto WI 42; WI 57

106 ft · 1 sec · State Highway 42/57
30

Continue on WI 42; WI 57

1.3 mi · 2 min · State Highway 42/57
31

Enter roundabout onto WI 42; WI 57

102 ft · 2 sec · State Highway 42/57
32

Continue on WI 42; WI 57

1.2 mi · 1 min · State Highway 42/57
33

Continue on WI 42; WI 57

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Egg Harbor Road
34

Turn slight right onto WI 57

27 mi · 42 min · WI 57
35

At end of road, turn right onto WI 42

10 mi · 17 min · State Highway 42
36

Continue on WI 42

2.2 mi · 4 min · State Highway 42
37

Turn straight

0.1 mi · 38 sec
38

Continue on Washington Island Ferry Line

4.2 mi · 30 min · Washington Island Ferry Line
39

Continue on CTH W

1.8 mi · 4 min · Lobdell Point Road
40

Turn left onto CTH W

2.6 mi · 6 min · Main Road
41

Arrive at destination

CTH W

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 128 miles from City of Janesville, WI, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.4 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 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 128 miles or 2h 46m 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 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington, 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 256 miles and 6h 8m.

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 41 for about 56.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 128 mi from City of Janesville, WI · 2h 46m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukegan, IL

128 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

Rockford, 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 128 miles from City of Janesville, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Washington, WI

The final approach into Washington, 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 Washington, WI.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.88 one way

$77.77 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $42.86 $85.73
premium $4.80 $48.33 $96.66
diesel $5.64 $56.87 $113.75

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: 89.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

24 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Janesville, WI Rechargery Relay - Morse St

Janesville, WI

IONNA

16 DCFC

Woodman's Food Market - Tesla Supercharger

Janesville, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

2500 Humes Rd

Janesville, WI

CHARGELAB

8 DCFC

Kwik Trip - Tesla Supercharger

Johnson Creek, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Appleton, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Howard, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Festival Foods - Tesla Supercharger

Oshkosh, WI

Tesla

6 DCFC

Bergstrom Neenah Ford

Neenah, WI

FORD_CHARGE

6 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 9 Tesla: 5 FORD_CHARGE: 4 SYNERGEV: 2 CHARGELAB: 1 IONNA: 1 EV Connect: 1 Electrify America: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 76.8 0 $26.88 $12.29
Efficient EV 64 0 $22.40 $10.24
EV Truck/SUV 102.4 1 $35.84 $16.38

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

City of Janesville, WI

Afternoon in City of Janesville on Monday

Local time

2:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 10 to 15 mph 51% chance Live forecast

Destination

Washington, WI

Afternoon in Washington on Monday

Local time

2:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

40°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

34 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

6h 8m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Washington, WI covers 256 miles and takes about 6h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 41, WI 26, WI 54. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 128 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 $38.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 256 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 58.8 miles (CTH W / West North Street): Navigation decision point; at 100 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.3 miles (I 41; US 41): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between City of Janesville, WI and Washington, WI, road signs point toward Green_Bay, Appleton, Lmct: Sturgeon Bay and Algoma.

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