Connecting Franklin to New Richmond is a straightforward 316.1-mile journey across Wisconsin that typically takes about 5 hours and 53 minutes. Because this route is heavily focused on major interstates, it is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip for most drivers. You should budget approximately $48 for fuel to complete the transit comfortably. Since the entire drive stays within the Midwest, you can expect a familiar regional atmosphere from start to finish. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick getaway, the efficiency of this path makes it a reliable choice. There is no need to worry about booking an overnight stay, as the duration fits well within a standard day of travel.
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
158 miles from Franklin, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 316.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 98% of this trip takes place on highways. Your route relies heavily on the I-94, I-90, and the East-West Freeway, providing a consistent pace throughout the journey. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the road tackling a 165.7-mile stretch on I-94, which serves as the backbone of the drive. The personality of this trip is defined by its interstate-focused nature, offering a steady, predictable flow rather than technical turns or winding backroads. Being behind the wheel here is all about maintaining a constant speed and navigating major thoroughfares as you traverse the state.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 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 165.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,194 ft805 ft
Total Climb
826 ft
Total Descent
651 ft
Highest Point
1,194 ft
~293.5 mi in
Elevation Range
389 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and East-West Freeway. 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 Effort9/10
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 24 significant decision points across 316.1 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 24 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 New Richmond, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Saint Paul.
Eau Claire
74.3 mi in|~1h 27m|via I 94
Saint Paul
166.9 mi in|~3h 6m|via I 94
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
165.7 mi
2h 57m
East-West Freeway
63.8 mi
1h 9m
I 90
63.5 mi
1h 8m
State Highway 65
9.9 mi
14m
South Lovers Lane Road
4.4 mi
8m
Zoo Freeway
3.7 mi
5m
South Knowles Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
US-12 & WI-65
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 165.7 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, WI and New Richmond, 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
137 mi·2 hr 26 min·I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint PaulUse the straight lane.
18
Take the exit onto Exit 10
0.3 mi·32 sec·Exit 10
Exit 10Toward WI 65: River Falls, New Richmond
19
Keep slight right at fork
257 ft·6 sec
Toward WI 65 NORTH
20
Turn straight onto WI 65
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 65
Toward Roberts, New Richmond
21
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
114 ft·6 sec·State Highway 65
22
Continue on WI 65
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 65
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto US 12; WI 65
1.1 mi·1 min·US-12 & WI-65
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
204 ft·11 sec·State Highway 65
25
Continue on WI 65
5.9 mi·8 min·State Highway 65
26
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
139 ft·2 sec·State Highway 65
27
Continue on WI 65
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 65
28
Continue on WI 65
0.2 mi·28 sec·State Highway 65
29
Continue on WI 65
1.3 mi·3 min·South Knowles Avenue
30
Turn right onto CTH K
259 ft·8 sec·East 1st Street
31
Arrive at destination
CTH K
Trip Plan
To keep your energy levels high, plan for at least one dedicated stop during the nearly six-hour duration. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day congestion on the major interstates. Since you are looking at a $48 fuel expense, filling up before you hit the longest 165.7-mile stretch on I-94 will help you avoid the pressure of finding gas stations during the busiest parts of the drive. The flexibility of a single-day trip allows you to adjust your departure time based on real-time traffic reports, which is a major advantage for this specific corridor. Keep an eye on your odometer to gauge your progress and ensure you are taking your break at a convenient interval.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158 miles from Franklin, WI, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.7 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158 miles or 2h 57m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Richmond, 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 316.1 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 165.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 158 mi from Franklin, WI
· 2h 57m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.42 one way
$98.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$54.26
$108.52
premium
$4.89
$60.83
$121.66
diesel
$5.61
$69.79
$139.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.8
1
$33.19
$15.17
Efficient EV
79
0
$27.66
$12.64
EV Truck/SUV
126.4
1
$44.25
$20.23
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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 15, 2026
Origin
Franklin, WI
Morning
in Franklin on Saturday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Richmond, WI
Morning
in New Richmond on Saturday
Local time
7:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
2 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
5h 53m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 New Richmond, WI covers 316.1 miles and takes about 5h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, East-West Freeway, I 90. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 158 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 $49.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 24 significant decision points across 316.1 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 New Richmond, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Saint Paul.
