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
Trip from City of Janesville, WI to Montello, 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 51m
Distance
96.2 mi
155 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 46m
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
Montello, WI
Marco Piccinelli
Trip Overview
Janesville to Montello is 96.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 51 minutes via I 39 and State Highway 23, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a primarily highway-focused drive that’s straightforward and efficient. It’s a short enough distance that you can easily complete it in a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a segment of a larger road trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.1 miles from City of Janesville, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 39 | 83.2 mi | 1h 29m |
| State Highway 23 | 6 mi | 8m |
| Milton Avenue | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| Underwood Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| WI 23 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Montello Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Milwaukee Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Montello Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 83.2 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Janesville, WI and Montello, 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 right at fork onto I 39
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
I 39
Exit 108A; 108B
Toward WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, Wausau
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 39
22 mi
·
23 min
·
I 39
Exit 108B
Toward I 39 North: Portage, Wausau
9
Take the exit onto WI 23
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
WI 23
Toward WI 82 West, WI 23 East: Oxford, Montello
10
Continue on WI 23
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 23
11
Continue on WI 23
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Underwood Avenue
12
Continue on WI 23; CTH C
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
West Montello Street
13
Continue on WI 22; WI 23; CTH C
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Montello Street
14
Arrive at destination
WI 22; WI 23; CTH C
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour 51 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can leave Janesville anytime, but departing in the morning will give you ample time to enjoy Montello upon arrival. Since the longest stretch is 83.2 miles on I 39, you won’t need to worry about frequent stops for fuel or rest, though it’s always wise to top off your tank before you begin. Keep an eye out for transitions from I 39 to State Highway 23, as this is where the character of the drive will change slightly.
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 48.1 miles from City of Janesville, WI, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.2 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.1 miles or 56m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montello, 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 96.2 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 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 83.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.1 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 83.2 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 87.4 — 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
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Milwaukee Street
Turn left onto East Milwaukee 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.
9
65.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
I 39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39 toward WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, Wausau
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 108A; 108B
Toward WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Porta...
5
87.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
WI 23
Take the exit onto WI 23 toward WI 82 West, WI 23 East: Oxford, Montello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WI 82 West, WI 23 East: Oxford, Montello
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.04 one way
$30.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.51 | $33.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.51 | $37.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.24 | $42.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.10 | $4.62 |
| Efficient EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.42 | $3.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.47 | $6.16 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Montello, WI
Night in Montello on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°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
3 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 51m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 89.5
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey on high-speed roads. You’ll spend most of your time on I 39, experiencing a long, uninterrupted stretch of 83.2 miles. This means the drive will likely feel consistent and allow for steady progress. While the primary roads include State Highway 23 and Milton Avenue, the vast majority of your time behind the wheel will be on the interstate, offering a predictable driving experience.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.2 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and State Highway 23. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Harrison Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 51m 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 0.1 miles (East Milwaukee Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 39; I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Between City of Janesville, WI and Montello, WI, road signs point toward Portage and Wausau.
Portage
65.5 mi in
|
~1h 15m
|
via I 39
Wausau
65.5 mi in
|
~1h 15m
|
via I 39
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 96.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.2 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 0.1 miles (East Milwaukee Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 39; I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montello, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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