Origin
City of Janesville, WI
Morning in City of Janesville on Tuesday
Local time
7:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Janesville, WI to Lowville, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
56.4 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
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
Lowville, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Janesville to Lowville is 56.4 miles and takes about 1h 9m via I 39, US Highway 51, and State Highway 22, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two points within the Midwest region, specifically within Wisconsin. Given its short duration and minimal mileage, it's best suited as a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a practical option for a quick journey without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 39 | 37.8 mi | 40m |
| US Highway 51 | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| State Highway 22 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Milton Avenue | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| East Milwaukee Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Harrison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road CS | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Court Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 37.8 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Janesville, WI and Lowville, 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
38 mi
·
40 min
·
I 39; I 90
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 132
Toward US 51, I 39 Alternate: Madison, De Forest
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US-51 NORTH: DeForest
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 51; CTH CV
10 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 51
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Enter roundabout onto WI 22
115 ft
·
1 sec
·
State Highway 22
11
Continue on WI 22
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 22
12
Turn right onto CTH CS
248 ft
·
6 sec
·
County Road CS
13
Arrive at destination
CTH CS
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.2 miles from City of Janesville, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42.5 — 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.
8
42 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward US 51, I 39 Alternate: Madison, De Forest
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 132
Toward US 51, I 39 Alternate: Madison, De Fores...
8
42.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US-51 NORTH: DeForest
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward US-51 NORTH: DeForest
5
42.5 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
US 51; CTH CV / US Highway 51
Merge onto US 51; CTH CV / US Highway 51
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.82 one way
$17.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.68 | $19.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.85 | $21.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.45 | $24.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.92 | $2.71 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.90 | $3.61 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Lowville, WI
Morning in Lowville on Tuesday
Local time
7:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
McFarland, WI
28 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
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
1h 9m 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 overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 92% of the drive taking place on interstates and major highways. You'll experience a 37.8-mile stretch on I 39, providing a consistent and fast-paced driving experience for a significant portion of the trip. The transition to US Highway 51 and then State Highway 22 will likely offer a slight change in scenery and speed, but the overall character remains that of efficient travel on well-maintained roads. Expect smooth sailing for the majority of your time behind the wheel.
92% 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: 37.8 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and US Highway 51. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Harrison Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 39; I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 42 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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 City of Janesville, WI to Lowville, WI, road signs begin pointing toward De Forest along the way.
De Forest
42 mi in
|
~49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 56.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m 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 37.8 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 Lowville, 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 (Harrison Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 39; I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 42 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Lowville, 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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