Origin
Fitchburg, WI
Night in Fitchburg on Wednesday
Local time
10:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fitchburg, WI to Rothschild, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 53m
Distance
153.9 mi
248 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fitchburg, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Rothschild, WI
Christina & Peter
Trip Overview
The drive from Fitchburg, WI to Rothschild, WI covers 153.9 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on County Highway M, County Road MM, US 14 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.06 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
77 miles from Fitchburg, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 53m drive with frequent turns across 153.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
County Highway M is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Fitchburg, WI to Rothschild, WI is easy. At 2h 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fitchburg, WI to Rothschild, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| County Highway M | — | — |
| County Road MM | — | — |
| US 14 West | — | — |
| US 12 | — | — |
| US 12 East | — | — |
| West Beltline Highway | — | — |
| I 39 North | — | — |
| US 51 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
County Highway M
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fitchburg, WI and Rothschild, WI.
1
Start on Wendt Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Wendt Road
2
Turn left onto County Highway M
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
County Highway M
3
Turn straight
102 ft
·
3 sec
4
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward County Road MM
118 ft
·
3 sec
·
County Road MM
6
Exit the roundabout onto County Road MM
338 ft
·
8 sec
·
County Road MM
7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alternate
240 ft
·
14 sec
·
US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alternate
8
Exit the roundabout onto US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alternate
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alternate
9
Merge slight left
5.6 mi
·
6 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South
11
Keep slight right to continue on US 12 East, US 18 East
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 12 East, US 18 East
12
Merge slight left onto West Beltline Highway
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
West Beltline Highway
13
Take the exit slight left toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
14
Merge slight left
32 mi
·
34 min
15
Keep slight right to continue on WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, Wausau
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, Wausau
16
Continue on I 39 North: Portage, Wausau
100 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
I 39 North: Portage, Wausau
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 51 Business: Rothschild, Kronenwetter
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
US 51 Business: Rothschild, Kronenwetter
18
Keep slight right to continue on US 51 Business: Rothschild
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 51 Business: Rothschild
19
Turn right onto Weston Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Weston Avenue
20
Turn right onto Leon Street
30 ft
·
1 sec
·
Leon Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77 miles from Fitchburg, WI, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
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 34 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77 miles or 1h 26m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rothschild, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fitchburg, 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 Fitchburg, WI
This is one driving day of about 153.9 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Fitchburg, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77 mi from Fitchburg, WI · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 77 miles from Fitchburg, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rothschild, WI
The final approach into Rothschild, 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 Rothschild, 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
$24.06 one way
$48.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.42 | $52.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.62 | $59.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.98 | $67.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.16 | $7.39 |
| Efficient EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.47 | $6.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.6 | 0 | $21.55 | $9.85 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Rothschild, WI
Night in Rothschild on Wednesday
Local time
10:01 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
23 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
2h 53m 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 Fitchburg, WI to Rothschild, WI covers 153.9 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are County Highway M, County Road MM, US 14 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 77 miles from Fitchburg, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.06 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Fitchburg, WI to Rothschild, WI is easy. At 2h 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fitchburg, WI to Rothschild, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fitchburg, WI to Rothschild, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Rothschild, WI
Explore more options from Fitchburg, WI or browse trips ending in Rothschild, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.
Explore maps for Fitchburg, WI or Rothschild, WI on MapSof.net.