Origin
Windsor, WI
Late night in Windsor on Thursday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Windsor, WI to Franklin, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
83.7 mi
135 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Windsor, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Franklin, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Windsor, WI to Franklin, WI covers 83.7 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lake Road, Highway 19, I 39 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.09 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.
Midpoint
41.8 miles from Windsor, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 83.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 40m drive with frequent turns across 83.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lake 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 Windsor, WI to Franklin, WI is easy. At 1h 40m 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 Windsor, WI to Franklin, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Road | — | — |
| Highway 19 | — | — |
| I 39 South | — | — |
| I 94 | — | — |
| I 41 | — | — |
| I 41 South | — | — |
| Zoo Freeway | — | — |
| I 43 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Lake Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windsor, WI and Franklin, WI.
1
Start on 2nd Street
489 ft
·
27 sec
·
2nd Street
2
Turn left onto Lake Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Road
3
Turn straight
207 ft
·
10 sec
4
Turn slight right onto State Highway 19
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Highway 19
5
Turn left onto I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Madison
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Madison
6
Merge slight left
6.3 mi
·
6 min
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 94: Milwaukee
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 94: Milwaukee
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
10
Continue on I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
12
Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Zoo Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
14
Take the exit slight left toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
15
Keep slight right to continue on WI 100 South, US 45 South
4.8 mi
·
9 min
·
WI 100 South, US 45 South
16
Turn right
85 ft
·
8 sec
17
Turn right
161 ft
·
12 sec
18
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 41.8 miles from Windsor, WI, or about 50m 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 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.8 miles or 50m 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 25m
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 Windsor, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Windsor, WI
This is one driving day of about 83.7 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Windsor, 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 41.8 mi from Windsor, WI · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.8 miles from Windsor, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.09 one way
$26.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.37 | $28.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.11 | $32.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.48 | $36.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.79 | $4.02 |
| Efficient EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.72 | $5.36 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 Thursday
Local time
5:50 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
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
1h 40m 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 Windsor, WI to Franklin, WI covers 83.7 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lake Road, Highway 19, I 39 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.8 miles from Windsor, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.09 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 Windsor, WI to Franklin, WI is easy. At 1h 40m 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 Windsor, WI to Franklin, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Windsor, WI to Franklin, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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