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Trip from City of Janesville, WI to Baraboo, 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 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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 33m ★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m

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

Downtown City of Janesville, WI, WI

City of Janesville, WI

Tom Fisk

Downtown Baraboo, WI, WI

Baraboo, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 39 — 61.3 mi, about 1h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Court Street

148 ft · 6 sec · East Court Street
2

Turn right onto Harrison Street

513 ft · 26 sec · Harrison Street
3

Turn left onto East Milwaukee Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · East Milwaukee Street
4

Turn sharp right onto Milton Avenue

3.1 mi · 6 min · Milton Avenue
5

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
6

Merge onto I 39; I 90

61 mi · 1 hr 5 min · I 39; I 90
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

3.0 mi · 3 min · I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 39 sec
Exit 106 Toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
9

Turn right onto WI 33

12 mi · 17 min · State Highway 33
10

Continue on WI 33

1.2 mi · 3 min · 8th Street
11

Continue on WI 33

473 ft · 15 sec · 8th Avenue
12

Turn left onto US 12 BUS; WI 113

0.3 mi · 26 sec · South Broadway Street
13

Arrive at destination

US 12 BUS; WI 113

Trip Plan

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.

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 40.9 miles from City of Janesville, WI, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.3 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from City of Janesville, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 39 for about 61.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Burke, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Burke, WI

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Stoughton, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Burke, WI

Meal break

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 check

Top 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

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.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Harrison Street

Turn right onto Harrison Street

Navigation decision point

5
4.2 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 39; I 90

Merge onto I 39; I 90

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
65.5 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in | I 90; I 94

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
68.5 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in

Take the exit toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo

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

Exit 106 Toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
5
81.6 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in | US 12 BUS; WI 113 / South Broadway Street

Turn left onto US 12 BUS; WI 113 / South Broadway Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.80 one way

$25.61 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

City of Janesville, WI

Night in City of Janesville on Saturday

Local time

11:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Baraboo, WI

Night in Baraboo on Saturday

Local time

11:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

4 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.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.3 mi on I 39.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

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.

Driving Effort 4/10

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.

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 61.3 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 (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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Baraboo, 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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