The drive from Star Prairie, WI to Franklin, WI covers 319.9 miles and takes about 6h 1m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, County Highway T, US 45 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 286.1 miles on I 94.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
160 miles from Star Prairie, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 319.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 1m highway drive covering 319.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and County Highway T. The longest continuous stretch is about 286.1 miles on I 94.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 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 286.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and County Highway T. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 244.9 miles in near I 94.
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 20 significant decision points across 319.9 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 244.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 309.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
244.9 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
8
309.1 mi into trip|~5h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
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 305A-B
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
8
309.7 mi into trip|~5h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US...
8
314.9 mi into trip|~5h 51m in|US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 60
Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
8
315.1 mi into trip|~5h 51m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward WI 100 South, US 45 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WI 100 South, US 45 South
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Star Prairie, WI to Franklin, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Eau Claire along the way.
Eau Claire
22.6 mi in|~34m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
286.1 mi
5h 7m
County Highway T
10.2 mi
14m
US 45
5.8 mi
10m
State Highway 64
4.8 mi
6m
State Highway 65
4.1 mi
5m
Zoo Freeway
3.5 mi
4m
Davis Street
2.7 mi
5m
US-12
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 286.1 mi, about 5h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Star Prairie, WI and Franklin, WI.
1
Start on CTH M
79 ft·7 sec·Bridge Avenue
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto CTH C; CTH H
4.1 mi·5 min·State Highway 65
4
Turn slight left
478 ft·22 sec
Toward WIS 64 EAST
5
Turn left onto WI 64
4.8 mi·6 min·State Highway 64
6
Turn right onto CTH T
10 mi·13 min·County Highway T
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; CTH T
0.6 mi·47 sec·US-12
8
Continue on US 12; CTH T
2.7 mi·5 min·Davis Street
9
Enter roundabout onto CTH T
133 ft·2 sec·County Highway T
10
Continue on CTH T
486 ft·27 sec·County Highway T
11
Enter roundabout
254 ft·14 sec
Toward I-94 Eastbound: Menomonie, Eau Claire
12
Continue
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I-94 Eastbound: Menomonie, Eau Claire
13
Merge onto I 94
222 mi·3 hr 57 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 305A-BToward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
17
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·30 sec·this road
Exit 305AToward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
19
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
3.5 mi·4 min·Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit onto US 45
0.8 mi·1 min·US 45
Exit 4Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
21
Take the exit onto US 45
0.2 mi·22 sec·US 45
Exit 60Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th StreetUse the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
4.8 mi·9 min·US 45
Toward WI 100 South, US 45 SouthUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn right
87 ft·8 sec
24
Turn right
160 ft·11 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 160 miles from Star Prairie, WI, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 286.1 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 70 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160 miles or 3h 1m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Star Prairie, 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 Star Prairie, WI
This is one driving day of about 319.9 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Star Prairie, 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 286.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 160 mi from Star Prairie, WI
· 3h 1m into the drive
The midpoint is around 160 miles from Star Prairie, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 286.1 miles.
Arriving in Franklin, WI
The final approach into Franklin, 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 Franklin, WI.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 187.6
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.01 one way
$100.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$54.91
$109.82
premium
$4.89
$61.56
$123.12
diesel
$5.61
$70.63
$141.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96
1
$33.59
$15.36
Efficient EV
80
0
$27.99
$12.80
EV Truck/SUV
128
1
$44.79
$20.47
Gas CO2
112 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
Star Prairie, WI
Morning
in Star Prairie on Saturday
Local time
7:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, WI
Morning
in Franklin on Saturday
Local time
7:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
18 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
6h 1m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Star Prairie, WI to Franklin, WI covers 319.9 miles and takes about 6h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, County Highway T, US 45. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 160 miles from Star Prairie, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 20 significant decision points across 319.9 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 244.9 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 309.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Star Prairie, WI to Franklin, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Eau Claire along the way.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
