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Trip from Wilson, WI to Franklin, WI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 52m

Distance

244.5 mi

394 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 39m ★
6 AM
4h 52m
8 AM
5h 19m
10 AM
5h 2m
12 PM
4h 59m
3 PM
5h 3m
5 PM
5h 18m
8 PM
4h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Wilson, WI, WI

Wilson, WI

Tom Fisk

Downtown Franklin, WI, WI

Franklin, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Wilson, WI to Franklin, WI covers 244.5 miles and takes about 4h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 94, US Highway 12, County Highway H for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 187.9 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.22 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

122.3 miles from Wilson, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 244.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 52m highway drive covering 244.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and US Highway 12. The longest continuous stretch is about 187.9 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 23 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 187.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US Highway 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 169.5 miles in near I 94.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 16 significant decision points across 244.5 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 169.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
169.5 mi into trip | ~3h 23m 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
233.7 mi into trip | ~4h 33m 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
234.3 mi into trip | ~4h 34m 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
239.5 mi into trip | ~4h 42m 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
239.7 mi into trip | ~4h 42m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 187.9 mi 3h 22m
US Highway 12 20.9 mi 28m
County Highway H 17 mi 29m
US 45 5.8 mi 10m
County Highway MM 4 mi 5m
Zoo Freeway 3.5 mi 4m
US Highway 10 2.5 mi 3m
Washington Street 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 187.9 mi, about 3h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wilson, WI and Franklin, WI.

1

Start on CTH G; CTH MM

4.0 mi · 5 min · County Highway MM
2

Turn right onto CTH H

17 mi · 29 min · County Highway H
3

Continue on CTH H

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Center Street
4

Turn left onto US 12; WI 27

197 ft · 5 sec · US Highway 12
5

Turn left onto US 10; US 12; WI 27

2.5 mi · 3 min · US Highway 10
6

Turn right onto US 12; WI 27

11 mi · 15 min · US Highway 12
7

Continue on US 12; WI 27

0.4 mi · 1 min · Washington Street
8

Continue on US 12; WI 27

0.3 mi · 50 sec · South Hammond Street
9

Continue on US 12; WI 27

9.9 mi · 13 min · US Highway 12
10

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
11

Merge onto I 94

124 mi · 2 hr 12 min · I 94
Use the straight lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

64 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 94
Exit 138A Toward I 94: Milwaukee Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 305A-B Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago Use the slight left lane.
15

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 30 sec · this road
Exit 305A Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
17

Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45

3.5 mi · 4 min · Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit onto US 45

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 45
Exit 4 Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
19

Take the exit onto US 45

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 45
Exit 60 Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45

4.8 mi · 9 min · US 45
Toward WI 100 South, US 45 South Use the slight right lane.
21

Turn right

87 ft · 8 sec
22

Turn right

160 ft · 11 sec
23

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 122.3 miles from Wilson, WI, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 187.9 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 54 miles or 1h 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 122.3 miles or 2h 33m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 57m

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 Wilson, 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 Wilson, WI

This is one driving day of about 244.5 miles and 4h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Wilson, 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 187.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 122.3 mi from Wilson, WI · 2h 33m into the drive

reservoir on the Wisconsin River in Sauk and Columbia counties in Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake Wisconsin, WI

122 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 122.3 miles from Wilson, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

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 109.6
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.22 one way

$76.45 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 86 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $41.97 $83.94
premium $4.89 $47.05 $94.10
diesel $5.61 $53.98 $107.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 85.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 73.4 0 $25.67 $11.74
Efficient EV 61.1 0 $21.39 $9.78
EV Truck/SUV 97.8 1 $34.23 $15.65

Gas CO2

86 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Wilson, WI

Afternoon in Wilson on Thursday

Local time

2:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Franklin, WI

Afternoon in Franklin on Thursday

Local time

2:34 PM

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

4h 52m 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 Wilson, WI to Franklin, WI covers 244.5 miles and takes about 4h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, US Highway 12, County Highway H. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 122.3 miles from Wilson, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.22 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 16 significant decision points across 244.5 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 169.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Wilson, WI to Franklin, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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