Origin
City of Janesville, WI
Night in City of Janesville on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
81.9 mi
132 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Janesville, WI
Tom Fisk
Baraboo, WI
Tom Fisk
This 81.9-mile drive from the City of Janesville, WI to Baraboo, WI is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in just 1 hour and 40 minutes. With 93% of the route on highways, you'll cover a significant portion of the distance quickly. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, making it an economical option for a day trip. Given its short duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing you to depart and arrive without needing an overnight stay. You'll remain within the Midwest region throughout this Wisconsin excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from City of Janesville, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 39 | 61.3 mi | 1h 5m |
| State Highway 33 | 11.6 mi | 17m |
| Milton Avenue | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| I 90 | 3 mi | 3m |
| 8th Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| South Broadway Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Milwaukee Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harrison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Janesville, WI and Baraboo, WI.
Start on East Court Street
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Turn left onto East Milwaukee Street
Turn sharp right onto Milton Avenue
Take the exit
Merge onto I 39; I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Take the exit
Turn right onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Turn left onto US 12 BUS; WI 113
Arrive at destination
For this 1 hour and 40-minute drive, you have considerable flexibility with your departure time. Since it's a short trip, you won't need to worry about splitting the journey or planning extensive rest stops. The estimated fuel cost of $13 is quite manageable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out on the 61.3-mile stretch on I-39, to ensure you have plenty of gas. This route is efficient, so consider leaving a bit later in the morning to avoid any early rush hour traffic.
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.
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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 48m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baraboo, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving City of Janesville, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from City of Janesville, WI
This is one driving day of about 81.9 miles and 1h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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.
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 40.9 miles from City of Janesville, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 39 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 81.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Harrison Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 39; I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto US 12 BUS; WI 113 / South Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$12.80 one way
$25.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.06 | $28.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.76 | $31.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.08 | $36.16 |
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: 28.7 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 | 24.6 | 0 | $8.60 | $3.93 |
| Efficient EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.47 | $5.24 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in City of Janesville on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Baraboo on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
45°F
Burke, WI
41 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a predominantly highway-driven experience on this route, with 93% of your travel occurring on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 61.3 miles on I-39, offering a consistent pace for a considerable part of the journey. You'll navigate using I-39 and State Highway 33, with Milton Avenue also playing a role in the latter stages. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads, allowing you to cover ground smoothly.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and State Highway 33. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Harrison Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 39; I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.5 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 81.9 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 (93%). Straightforward navigation.
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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