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Trip from Beaver Dam, WI to City of Janesville, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 26m

Distance

72.8 mi

117 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m

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

Downtown Beaver Dam, WI, WI

Beaver Dam, WI

patrice schoefolt

Downtown City of Janesville, WI, WI

City of Janesville, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Beaver Dam, WI to City of Janesville, WI is 72.8 miles and takes about 1h 26m via I 39 and US 151, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two points within Wisconsin's Midwest region. Expect a high percentage of highway driving, making it a quick trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. It's a good option if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss, ideal for a single-day excursion.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 39 34.6 mi 37m
US 151 32.1 mi 35m
Milton Avenue 2.3 mi 5m
North Spring Street 0.9 mi 1m
County Road G 0.6 mi 1m
North Garfield Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
East Court Street <0.1 mi <1m
East Memorial Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 39 — 34.6 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Beaver Dam, WI and City of Janesville, WI.

1

Start on this road

42 ft · 3 sec · this road
2

Turn left

138 ft · 15 sec
3

At end of road, turn left onto West Maple Avenue

137 ft · 10 sec · West Maple Avenue
4

Turn right onto US 151 Business

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Spring Street
5

Continue on CTH G

0.6 mi · 1 min · County Road G
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
7

Merge onto US 151

32 mi · 35 min · US 151
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 97A Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Chicago, Milwaukee Use the right lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
10

Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 39; I 90; I 94
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90

33 mi · 35 min · I 39; I 90
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 171A Toward WI 26: State Highway 26
14

Keep slight right at fork

414 ft · 10 sec
Toward WI 26 South: Janesville
15

Turn slight right onto WI 26

2.3 mi · 5 min · Milton Avenue
16

Turn left onto East Memorial Drive

261 ft · 11 sec · East Memorial Drive
17

Continue on North Garfield Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Garfield Avenue
18

Turn right onto East Court Street

467 ft · 15 sec · East Court Street
19

Arrive at destination

East Court Street

Where to Stop

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

Downtown McFarland, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

McFarland, WI

36 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

Fall River, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Burke, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.4 miles from Beaver Dam, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 69.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Maple Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto West Maple Avenue

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

8
33.9 mi into trip | ~39m in

Take the exit toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Chicago, Milwaukee

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 97A Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Chicag...
8
36.2 mi into trip | ~42m in | I 39; I 90

Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90 toward I 39, I 90: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
7
69.5 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in

Keep slight right at fork toward WI 26: State Highway 26

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 171A Toward WI 26: State Highway 26
6
69.7 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in

Keep slight right at fork toward WI 26 South: Janesville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward WI 26 South: Janesville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.38 one way

$22.76 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.50 $24.99
premium $4.89 $14.01 $28.02
diesel $5.61 $16.07 $32.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.8 0 $7.64 $3.49
Efficient EV 18.2 0 $6.37 $2.91
EV Truck/SUV 29.1 0 $10.19 $4.66

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (64% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Beaver Dam, WI

Morning in Beaver Dam on Sunday

Local time

7:26 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Janesville, WI

Morning in City of Janesville on Sunday

Local time

7:26 AM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

66°F

McFarland, WI

36 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

20 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 26m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 92% of your journey on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion on I 39, including one stretch of 34.6 miles without needing to exit. While much of the drive is on interstates like I 39 and US 151, you'll also encounter Milton Avenue as you approach Janesville. The character is largely about covering distance efficiently on well-maintained roadways.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.6 mi on I 39.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and US 151. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Maple Avenue.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Maple Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 33.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.2 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Beaver Dam, WI to City of Janesville, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Milwaukee along the way.

Milwaukee

33.9 mi in | ~39m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 72.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34.6 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at City of Janesville, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Maple Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 33.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.2 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Janesville, WI before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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