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Trip from City of Janesville, WI to Oshkosh, WI

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

Drive Time

2h 25m

Distance

106.1 mi

171 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 16m ★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 20m

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 Oshkosh, WI, WI

Oshkosh, WI

Dina mandarina

Trip Overview

Traveling from Janesville to Oshkosh covers 106.1 miles through the heart of the Wisconsin Midwest. You should plan for a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Because this route involves a turn-heavy local drive rather than a direct interstate sprint, you won't need to worry about splitting the journey into multiple days. Budgeting around $16 for fuel is a safe estimate for the trip. Since you’ll be staying entirely within the state of Wisconsin, the transition between these two cities feels familiar and straightforward. It’s a practical route if you prefer local roads over high-speed highway travel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

53.1 miles from City of Janesville, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
WI 26 44 mi 54m
State Highway 26 33.3 mi 46m
Milton Avenue 14.2 mi 20m
US 151 3.8 mi 4m
I 41 2.2 mi 2m
West South Park Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
South Main Street 1 mi 2m
North Main Street 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: WI 26 — 44 mi, about 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

14 mi · 20 min · Milton Avenue
5

Continue on WI 26

21 mi · 26 min · WI 26
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on WI 26

23 mi · 27 min · WI 26
Use the straight lane.
7

Turn left onto Western Avenue

0.3 mi · 51 sec · Western Avenue
8

At end of road, turn right onto CTH W

0.6 mi · 1 min · West North Street
9

At end of road, turn left onto WI 26

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
10

Continue on WI 26

5.6 mi · 7 min · State Highway 26
11

Continue on WI 26

0.5 mi · 1 min · Front Street
12

Continue on WI 26

6.7 mi · 9 min · State Highway 26
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
14

Merge onto US 151

3.8 mi · 4 min · US 151
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward WI 26 North: Rosendale
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 46 sec
17

Turn left onto State Highway 26

10 mi · 13 min · State Highway 26
18

Continue on WI 26

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
19

Continue on WI 26

11 mi · 15 min · State Highway 26
20

Turn left

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I-41_North: Appleton, Green_Bay
21

Merge onto I 41; US 41

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 41; US 41
Toward Appleton
22

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 116 Toward WI 44, WI 91 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Turn straight onto WI 44

0.4 mi · 38 sec · W South Park Ave
24

Continue on WI 44

1.4 mi · 2 min · West South Park Avenue
25

Turn left onto WI 44

0.9 mi · 1 min · Ohio Street
Use the straight lane.
26

Continue on WI 44

0.6 mi · 1 min · Wisconsin Street
27

Turn right onto WI 44

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West Irving Avenue
28

Turn right onto US 45

73 ft · 2 sec · Jackson Street
29

Arrive at destination

US 45

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major highways, keep an eye on your navigation to manage the frequent turns effectively. You don't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, though taking a break to stretch your legs is always a good idea given the technical nature of the driving. Fueling up before you head out of Janesville is a smart way to ensure your $16 budget goes toward a smooth, uninterrupted ride. Staying focused on the local road signs will be your best strategy for navigating this 106.1-mile journey successfully.

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 53.1 miles from City of Janesville, WI, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44 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 23 miles or 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 53.1 miles or 1h 9m 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 57m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oshkosh, 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.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from City of Janesville, WI

This is one driving day of about 106.1 miles and 2h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 WI 26 for about 44 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Juneau, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Juneau, WI

53 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

Fort Atkinson, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Juneau, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 53.1 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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 58.8 and 106.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
58.8 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | CTH W / West North Street

At end of road, turn right onto CTH W / West North Street

Navigation decision point

5
100 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in

Turn left toward I-41_North: Appleton, Green_Bay

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I-41_North: Appleton, Green_Bay
8
102.4 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in

Take the exit toward WI 44, WI 91

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 116 Toward WI 44, WI 91
5
104.6 mi into trip | ~2h 22m in | WI 44 / Ohio Street

Turn left onto WI 44 / Ohio Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
106.1 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in | US 45 / Jackson Street

Turn right onto US 45 / Jackson Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.59 one way

$33.18 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $18.21 $36.42
premium $4.89 $20.42 $40.84
diesel $5.61 $23.43 $46.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.8 0 $11.14 $5.09
Efficient EV 26.5 0 $9.28 $4.24
EV Truck/SUV 42.4 0 $14.85 $6.79

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

City of Janesville, WI

Late night in City of Janesville on Sunday

Local time

5:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Oshkosh, WI

Late night in Oshkosh on Sunday

Local time

5:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

46°F

Juneau, WI

53 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

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

2h 25m 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 hands-on driving experience as you navigate through local corridors like Harrison Street, East Milwaukee Street, and Milton Avenue. With a 0% highway share, this route trades high-speed efficiency for a more tactical, turn-heavy pace. You won't find long, monotonous stretches here, as the road requires your constant attention and engagement. The character of this drive is defined by its steady, local rhythm rather than the quick momentum of an interstate. Prepare for a trip where the turns keep you alert and involved behind the wheel for the entire duration.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44 mi on WI 26.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WI 26 and State Highway 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 58.8 miles in near CTH W / West North Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 106.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 58.8 miles (CTH W / West North Street): Navigation decision point; at 100 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.4 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.

Between City of Janesville, WI and Oshkosh, WI, road signs point toward Green_Bay and Appleton.

Green_Bay

100 mi in | ~2h 16m

Appleton

100.3 mi in | ~2h 16m | via I 41; US 41

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 106.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 44 miles on WI 26. 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 Oshkosh, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 58.8 miles (CTH W / West North Street): Navigation decision point; at 100 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.4 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 Oshkosh, 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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