Origin
Franklin, WI
Morning in Franklin on Friday
Local time
9:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, WI to Sauk City, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 8m
Distance
103.5 mi
167 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, WI
Tom Fisk
Sauk City, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Connecting Franklin to Sauk City, this 103.5-mile journey is an ideal candidate for a straightforward day trip. Expect to spend approximately 2 hours and 8 minutes behind the wheel, making it a manageable trek for those looking to traverse this corner of the Midwest. With a fuel budget of roughly $16, the trip is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. Since the entire route is contained within Wisconsin, you will stay within familiar regional territory throughout the drive. Because of the relatively short duration, there is no need to split this into an overnight excursion. It serves as a practical, direct link between these two communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.8 miles from Franklin, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 103.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will utilize West Saint Martins Road, South Lovers Lane Road, and I-43 North, the route maintains a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend your time navigating local roads. This configuration gives the drive a distinctly technical feel, requiring frequent adjustments behind the wheel as you navigate the turns. You won't find long, uninterrupted stretches of straight highway here, so plan for a more active driving experience from start to finish. The character of the road remains consistent, favoring local navigation over high-speed transit.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Franklin, WI to Sauk City, WI is easy. At 2h 8m 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 Sauk City, 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 Sauk City, 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
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
16
Take the exit slight right toward WI 19: Waunakee, Sun Prairie
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
WI 19: Waunakee, Sun Prairie
17
Keep slight left to continue on WI 19 West: Waunakee
453 ft
·
14 sec
·
WI 19 West: Waunakee
18
Continue on State Highway 19
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 19
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
125 ft
·
7 sec
·
the route
20
Exit the roundabout
2.4 mi
·
3 min
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 19
121 ft
·
7 sec
·
State Highway 19
22
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 19
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 19
23
Continue on East Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
24
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Main Street
115 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Main Street
25
Exit the roundabout onto West Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
26
Continue on State Highway 19
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 19
27
Turn right
11 mi
·
15 min
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the duration of 2 hours and 8 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. Because this route involves significant local road travel, it is wise to keep your eyes sharp for changing speed limits and intersection turns as you transition between roads. You should not need to plan for dedicated rest stops given the length, but having your $16 fuel budget ready before you head out will keep your logistics simple. If you prefer to avoid heavier traffic, consider leaving during off-peak morning or afternoon hours to maintain a steady pace. Focus your attention on the transition points between Saint Martins Road and Lovers Lane to ensure you stay on track throughout the 103.5-mile journey.
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 51.8 miles from Franklin, WI, or about 1h 4m 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.8 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sauk City, 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 103.5 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Franklin, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.8 mi from Franklin, WI · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.8 miles from Franklin, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sauk City, WI
The final approach into Sauk City, 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 Sauk City, 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
$16.18 one way
$32.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.77 | $35.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.92 | $39.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.85 | $45.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31 | 0 | $10.87 | $4.97 |
| Efficient EV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.06 | $4.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.4 | 0 | $14.49 | $6.62 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Sauk City, WI
Morning in Sauk City on Friday
Local time
9:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Watertown, WI
52 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 8m 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 Sauk City, WI covers 103.5 miles and takes about 2h 8m 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 51.8 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 $16.18 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.
The drive from Franklin, WI to Sauk City, WI is easy. At 2h 8m 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 Sauk City, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Franklin, WI to Sauk City, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Sauk City, WI
More trips to Sauk City, WI
Explore more options from Franklin, WI or browse trips ending in Sauk City, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.