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Trip from Franklin, WI to Mauston, WI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 44m

Distance

144.3 mi

232 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 33m ★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 5m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 49m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 4m
8 PM
2h 38m

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

Downtown Franklin, WI, WI

Franklin, WI

Tom Fisk

Downtown Mauston, WI, WI

Mauston, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Franklin, WI to Mauston, WI covers 144.3 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Saint Martins Road, South Lovers Lane Road, I 43 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.56 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

72.2 miles from Franklin, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 44m drive with frequent turns across 144.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Saint Martins Road 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 Franklin, WI to Mauston, WI is easy. At 2h 44m 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 Franklin, WI to Mauston, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Saint Martins Road
South Lovers Lane Road
I 43 North
Rock Freeway
I 41 North
Zoo Freeway
I 94 West
East-West Freeway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Saint Martins Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, WI and Mauston, WI.

1

Start on the route

141 ft · 11 sec · the route
2

Turn right

89 ft · 8 sec
3

At the end of the road, turn right

384 ft · 17 sec
4

Turn left onto West Saint Martins Road

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West Saint Martins Road
5

Continue on South Lovers Lane Road

4.4 mi · 8 min · South Lovers Lane Road
6

Take the ramp slight right toward I 43 North, US 45 North

0.4 mi · 53 sec · I 43 North, US 45 North
7

Merge slight left onto Rock Freeway

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Rock Freeway
8

Take the exit slight left toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison

0.6 mi · 55 sec · I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
9

Merge slight right onto Zoo Freeway

3.7 mi · 5 min · Zoo Freeway
10

Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee

0.2 mi · 16 sec · I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
11

Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison

0.6 mi · 56 sec · I 94 West: Madison
12

Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison

0.1 mi · 11 sec · I 94 West: Madison
13

Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

10 mi · 11 min · East-West Freeway
14

Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

54 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway
15

Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

29 mi · 31 min · I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
16

Keep slight left

39 mi · 42 min
17

Take the exit slight right toward WI 82: Mauston, Oxford

0.3 mi · 33 sec · WI 82: Mauston, Oxford
18

Turn left onto State Highway 82

0.8 mi · 1 min · State Highway 82
19

At the end of the road, turn left onto North Union Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · North Union Street
20

Turn right onto East State Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · East State Street
21

Turn left onto Division Street

62 ft · 1 sec · Division Street
22

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 72.2 miles from Franklin, WI, or about 1h 22m 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 32 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.2 miles or 1h 22m 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 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mauston, 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 144.3 miles and 2h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.2 mi from Franklin, WI · 1h 22m into the drive

village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cottage Grove, WI

72 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

Elm Grove, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cottage Grove, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.2 miles from Franklin, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Mauston, WI

The final approach into Mauston, 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 Mauston, 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

$22.56 one way

$45.12 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $24.77 $49.54
premium $4.89 $27.77 $55.54
diesel $5.61 $31.86 $63.72

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.3 0 $15.15 $6.93
Efficient EV 36.1 0 $12.63 $5.77
EV Truck/SUV 57.7 0 $20.20 $9.24

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Franklin, WI

Night in Franklin on Wednesday

Local time

11:47 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mauston, WI

Night in Mauston on Wednesday

Local time

11:47 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Cottage Grove, WI

72 mi in

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

1 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 44m 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 Franklin, WI to Mauston, WI covers 144.3 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Saint Martins Road, South Lovers Lane Road, I 43 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.2 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 $22.56 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 Franklin, WI to Mauston, WI is easy. At 2h 44m 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 Franklin, WI to Mauston, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Franklin, WI to Mauston, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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