Origin
Fond du Lac, WI
Evening in Fond du Lac on Wednesday
Local time
7:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fond du Lac, WI to Franklin, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
71.1 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fond du Lac, WI
Jean-Paul Wettstein
Franklin, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Fond du Lac to Franklin, you are in for a straightforward 71.1-mile journey through the heart of Wisconsin. Expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes behind the wheel for this trip. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $10 for fuel, making this an affordable excursion within the Midwest. This route is best suited for travelers who prefer local roads over the monotony of major interstates.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
35.5 miles from Fond du Lac, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
Forget about highway cruising on this trip, as the route maintains a 0% highway share. Instead, you will navigate a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged with the road rather than staring at asphalt for hours. You will spend your time navigating through 6th Street, South Main Street, and Pioneer Road. Since there is no single stretch longer than 0 miles on 6th Street, the drive requires constant attention to your surroundings and frequent adjustments. It is a technical, localized experience that feels more like a cross-county trek than a high-speed commute.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 61.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US 45. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near South Main Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.6 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (CTH VVV / South Hickory Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 65.2 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CTH VVV / South Hickory Street
Enter roundabout onto CTH VVV / South Hickory Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
65.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
8
66 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 60
Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
8
66.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward WI 100 South, US 45 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WI 100 South, US 45 South
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 41 | 61.9 mi | 1h 10m |
| US 45 | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| South Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Pioneer Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Hickory Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Park Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 61.9 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fond du Lac, WI and Franklin, WI.
1
Start on South Park Avenue
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Park Avenue
2
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
6th Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto South Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
4
Turn right onto CTH VV
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Pioneer Road
5
Enter roundabout onto CTH VV
109 ft
·
2 sec
·
Pioneer Road
6
Continue on CTH VV
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Pioneer Road
7
Enter roundabout onto CTH VVV
207 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Hickory Street
8
Continue on CTH VVV
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Hickory Street
9
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
10
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
62 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 41; US 41; US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 45
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
12
Take the exit onto US 45
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 45
Exit 60
Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
4.8 mi
·
9 min
·
US 45
Toward WI 100 South, US 45 South
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right
87 ft
·
8 sec
15
Turn right
160 ft
·
11 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this 1 hour and 28-minute trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, but keeping your fuel tank topped off before you leave will easily cover the $10 estimated cost. Pay close attention to your navigation as you transition between local roads, given the turn-heavy nature of the route. Use the lack of designated stops to your advantage by planning your own breaks whenever you feel the need to stretch your legs. Staying alert at every intersection is the best way to handle this winding local path.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.5 miles from Fond du Lac, WI, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.9 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.5 miles or 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fond du Lac, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fond du Lac, WI
This is one driving day of about 71.1 miles and 1h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Fond du Lac, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 41 for about 61.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.5 mi from Fond du Lac, WI · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.5 miles from Fond du Lac, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.9 miles.
Arriving in Franklin, WI
The final approach into Franklin, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.12 one way
$22.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.20 | $24.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.68 | $27.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.70 | $31.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.47 | $3.41 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.22 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Franklin, WI
Evening in Franklin on Wednesday
Local time
7:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Butler, WI
36 mi in
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 28m 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 Fond du Lac, WI to Franklin, WI covers 71.1 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 41, US 45, South Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.5 miles from Fond du Lac, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.12 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (CTH VVV / South Hickory Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 65.2 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Fond du Lac, WI to Franklin, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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