The drive from Franklin, WI to Hayward, WI covers 351.6 miles and takes about 6h 36m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, US 53, East-West Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.2 miles on I 94.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.97 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
175.8 miles from Franklin, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 36m. Total distance: 351.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 36m highway drive covering 351.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and US 53. The longest continuous stretch is about 105.2 miles on I 94.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 105.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near US 45.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 351.6 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 5.3 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
6
5.3 mi into trip|~10m in|US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fon...
8
9.6 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
8
9.8 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 94 West: Madison
9
74.3 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
8
166.9 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Franklin, WI and Hayward, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire, Saint Paul, Superior and Cth E: Hayward.
Eau Claire
74.3 mi in|~1h 27m|via I 94
Saint Paul
166.9 mi in|~3h 6m|via I 94
Superior
242.9 mi in|~4h 28m
Cth E: Hayward
330.6 mi in|~6h 6m|via US 63
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
105.2 mi
1h 52m
US 53
87 mi
1h 37m
East-West Freeway
63.8 mi
1h 9m
I 90
63.5 mi
1h 8m
US 63
21 mi
30m
South Lovers Lane Road
4.4 mi
8m
Zoo Freeway
3.7 mi
5m
US 45
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 105.2 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, WI and Hayward, WI.
1
Start on this road
141 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right
89 ft·8 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 45
384 ft·16 sec·US 45
4
Turn left onto US 45; WI 100
0.1 mi·14 sec·West Saint Martins Road
5
Continue on US 45; WI 100
4.4 mi·8 min·South Lovers Lane Road
6
Take the ramp onto US 45
0.4 mi·52 sec·US 45
Toward I 43 North, US 45 North
7
Merge onto I 43; US 45
0.2 mi·19 sec·Rock Freeway
8
Take the exit onto US 45
0.6 mi·55 sec·US 45
Exit 61Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
9
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
3.7 mi·5 min·Zoo Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 1B-AToward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, MilwaukeeUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·56 sec
Exit 1BToward I 94 West: MadisonUse the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 94 West: Madison
13
Merge onto I 94
10 mi·11 min·East-West Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
54 mi·57 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
29 mi·31 min·I 94
Exit 240Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau ClaireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
76 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint PaulUse the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Toward US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
20
Merge onto US 53
87 mi·1 hr 37 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit onto US 63
0.3 mi·56 sec·US 63
Exit 172Toward US 63 North, CTH E: Hayward
22
Enter roundabout onto US 63
29 ft·1 sec·US 63
23
Continue on US 63
21 mi·29 min·US 63
Use the straight lane.
24
Arrive at destination
US 63
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 175.8 miles from Franklin, WI, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.2 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 77 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.8 miles or 3h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hayward, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Franklin, 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 Franklin, WI
This is one driving day of about 351.6 miles and 6h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Franklin, 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 94 for about 105.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 175.8 mi from Franklin, WI
· 3h 16m into the drive
The midpoint is around 175.8 miles from Franklin, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.2 miles.
Arriving in Hayward, WI
The final approach into Hayward, 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 Hayward, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 133.4
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.97 one way
$109.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$60.35
$120.71
premium
$4.89
$67.66
$135.32
diesel
$5.61
$77.63
$155.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.5
1
$36.92
$16.88
Efficient EV
87.9
1
$30.77
$14.06
EV Truck/SUV
140.6
1
$49.22
$22.50
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Franklin, WI
Afternoon
in Franklin on Friday
Local time
2:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hayward, WI
Afternoon
in Hayward on Friday
Local time
2:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Cloudy then Rain
SW 15 mph95% chanceLive 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 36m 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 Franklin, WI to Hayward, WI covers 351.6 miles and takes about 6h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, US 53, East-West Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 175.8 miles from Franklin, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.97 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 351.6 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 5.3 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Franklin, WI and Hayward, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire, Saint Paul, Superior and Cth E: Hayward.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
