Origin
Franklin, WI
Evening in Franklin on Wednesday
Local time
6:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, WI to Waukesha, WI
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
34m
Distance
18.5 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, WI
Tom Fisk
Waukesha, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Franklin, WI to Waukesha, WI covers 18.5 miles and takes about 34m 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, South 108th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.89 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
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
9.2 miles from Franklin, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 34m drive with frequent turns across 18.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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 Waukesha, WI is easy. At 34m 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 Waukesha, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Saint Martins Road | — | — |
| South Lovers Lane Road | — | — |
| South 108th Street | — | — |
| West Layton Avenue | — | — |
| I 43 South | — | — |
| Rock Freeway | — | — |
| CTH Y | — | — |
| I 43 | — | — |
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 Waukesha, 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
Continue on South 108th Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
South 108th Street
7
Turn left onto West Layton Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Layton Avenue
8
Take the ramp straight toward I 43 South
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
I 43 South
9
Merge slight left onto Rock Freeway
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Rock Freeway
10
Take the exit slight right toward CTH Y: Racine Avenue
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
CTH Y: Racine Avenue
11
Keep slight right to continue on CTH Y North, I 43 Alternate South: Racine Avenue
436 ft
·
11 sec
·
CTH Y North, I 43 Alternate South: Racine Avenue
12
Turn straight onto South Racine Avenue
6.4 mi
·
12 min
·
South Racine Avenue
13
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Broadway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Broadway
14
Continue on West Broadway
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Broadway
15
Turn slight right onto North Barstow Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Barstow Street
16
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
West Main Street
17
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 9.2 miles from Franklin, WI, or about 17m 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 18.5 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.2 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waukesha, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Franklin, WI.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Franklin, WI
This is one driving day of about 18.5 miles and 34m.
At 18.5 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.2 mi from Franklin, WI · 17m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.2 miles from Franklin, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waukesha, WI
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Waukesha, WI if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.89 one way
$5.78 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.18 | $6.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.56 | $7.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.08 | $8.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.94 | $0.89 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.59 | $1.18 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Waukesha, WI
Evening in Waukesha on Wednesday
Local time
6:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
34m 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 Waukesha, WI covers 18.5 miles and takes about 34m 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, South 108th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.2 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 $2.89 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 Waukesha, WI is easy. At 34m 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 Waukesha, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Franklin, WI to Waukesha, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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