Origin
Lake Geneva, WI
Late night in Lake Geneva on Friday
Local time
2:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Geneva, WI to Franklin, WI
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
50m
Distance
32.9 mi
53 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Geneva, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Franklin, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Geneva, WI to Franklin, WI covers 32.9 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 36, Milwaukee Avenue, Loomis Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.3 miles on State Highway 36. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 32.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Lake Geneva, WI to Franklin, WI covers 32.9 miles and takes about 50m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 36 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near WI 120.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lake Geneva, WI to Franklin, WI is easy. At 50m with 54% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (WI 120): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (WI 120): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (WI 120 / State Highway 120): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
WI 120
Turn left onto WI 120
Navigation decision point
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
WI 120
Take the exit onto WI 120 toward WI 120 North, CTH H North: Lake Geneva, Burlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WI 120 North, CTH H North: Lake Geneva,...
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
WI 120 / State Highway 120
Enter roundabout onto WI 120 / State Highway 120
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
WI 36 / State Highway 36
Turn right onto WI 36 / State Highway 36
Navigation decision point
4
32.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lake Geneva, WI and Franklin, WI, road signs point toward Cth H North: Lake Geneva and Burlington.
Cth H North: Lake Geneva
2.5 mi in
|
~4m
|
via WI 120
Burlington
2.5 mi in
|
~4m
|
via WI 120
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 36 | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| Milwaukee Avenue | 6.8 mi | 11m |
| Loomis Road | 6 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 120 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| WI 120 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West State Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 50 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 36
— 13.3 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Geneva, WI and Franklin, WI.
1
Start on WI 50
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on WI 50
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 50
3
Turn left onto WI 120
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 120
4
Take the exit onto WI 120
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
WI 120
Toward WI 120 North, CTH H North: Lake Geneva, Burlington
5
Enter roundabout onto WI 120
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
State Highway 120
6
Continue on WI 120
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 120
7
Turn right onto WI 36
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 36
8
Continue on WI 36
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
State Highway 36
9
Continue on Highway 36
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 36
10
Continue on Spring Valley Road
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Spring Valley Road
11
Continue on West State Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West State Street
12
Turn straight onto Milwaukee Avenue
6.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Milwaukee Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Continue on WI 36
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 36
14
Continue on WI 36
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Loomis Road
15
Turn right
80 ft
·
9 sec
16
Turn left
141 ft
·
10 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.4 mi from Lake Geneva, WI · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Lake Geneva, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Franklin, WI
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Franklin, 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
$5.14 one way
$10.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.65 | $11.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.33 | $12.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.26 | $14.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Franklin, WI
Late night in Franklin on Friday
Local time
2:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Burlington, WI
16 mi in
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
50m 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 Lake Geneva, WI to Franklin, WI covers 32.9 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 36, Milwaukee Avenue, Loomis Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.4 miles from Lake Geneva, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.14 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 Lake Geneva, WI to Franklin, WI is easy. At 50m with 54% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (WI 120): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (WI 120): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (WI 120 / State Highway 120): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Between Lake Geneva, WI and Franklin, WI, road signs point toward Cth H North: Lake Geneva and Burlington.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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