Poynette Rest Area 12
0 mi from route
Trip from City of Janesville, WI to Spring Valley, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 44m
Distance
255.5 mi
411 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 31m
★
6 AM
4h 45m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 54m
12 PM
4h 51m
3 PM
4h 55m
5 PM
5h 10m
8 PM
4h 36m
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
Spring Valley, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Janesville to Spring Valley is 255.5 miles and takes about 4h 44m via I-94, I-90, and I-39, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip designed for efficiency. Expect a full day of driving, but with a manageable duration and clear path, it's a practical option for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.7 miles from City of Janesville, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 118.4 mi | 2h 7m |
| I 90 | 63.5 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 39 | 61.3 mi | 1h 5m |
| State Highway 128 | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Milton Avenue | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 29 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| 5th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Milwaukee Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 118.4 mi, about 2h 7m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,585 veh/hr typical · worst 2,364
Quietest
2 AM
~199 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Janesville, WI and Spring Valley, 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
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
118 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
·
I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto 28
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
28
Toward WI 128: Spring Valley, Glenwood City
10
Keep slight left at fork
291 ft
·
8 sec
Toward WI 128: Spring Valley, Glenwood City
11
Enter roundabout onto WI 128
281 ft
·
5 sec
·
State Highway 128
12
Continue on WI 128
484 ft
·
9 sec
·
State Highway 128
13
Enter roundabout onto WI 128
151 ft
·
3 sec
·
State Highway 128
14
Continue on WI 128
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 128
15
Turn right onto WI 29
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 29
16
Continue on WI 29; CTH B
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Street
17
Turn right onto CTH B
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
McKay Avenue
18
Turn left onto CTH B
280 ft
·
9 sec
·
Akers Street
19
Turn right onto CTH B
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Newman Avenue
20
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
139 ft
·
8 sec
·
South 2nd Street
21
Turn right
30 ft
·
2 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 44m duration, departing Janesville in the morning will allow you to reach Spring Valley with plenty of daylight. The route is primarily interstate, so you'll want to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 118.4 miles on I-94, as services can sometimes be spaced out. Plan for one brief stop to break up the drive and refuel if needed. With a total of 255.5 miles, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 127.7 miles from City of Janesville, WI, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.4 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 56 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.7 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spring Valley, 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 255.5 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from City of Janesville, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 118.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 127.7 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 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Menomonie Eastbound Rest Area 61
0.1 mi from route
Menomonie Westbound Rest Area 62
0.1 mi from route
Portage Rest Area 11
0.1 mi from route
Janesville Rest Area 17
0.1 mi from route
Lyndon Station Rest Area 9
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Millston Rest Area 53
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Mauston Rest Area 10
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Black River Falls Rest Area 54
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pleasant Springs Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 4.2 and 247.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
8
129 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
5
247.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 30m in
|
28
Take the exit onto 28 toward WI 128: Spring Valley, Glenwood City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WI 128: Spring Valley, Glenwood City
7
247.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WI 128: Spring Valley, Glenwood City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WI 128: Spring Valley, Glenwood City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.73 one way
$75.46 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $41.65 | $83.31 |
| premium | $4.72 | $47.44 | $94.88 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $48.24 | $96.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.7 | 0 | $26.83 | $12.26 |
| Efficient EV | 63.9 | 0 | $22.36 | $10.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.2 | 1 | $35.77 | $16.35 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
City of Janesville, WI
Late night in City of Janesville on Sunday
Local time
2:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 2:04AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Spring Valley, WI
Late night in Spring Valley on Sunday
Local time
2:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
NNW 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 2:04AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
85°F
Merrimac, WI
128 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
5 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
4h 44m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 96.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the journey on major interstates like I-94, I-90, and I-39. You'll experience long stretches of efficient travel, including one uninterrupted segment of 118.4 miles on I-94. The character of the drive is consistent for most of the trip, prioritizing speed and directness over winding scenic byways. Prepare for a steady pace on well-maintained interstate highways for the bulk of your travel time.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.4 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near I 39; I 90.
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 255.5 miles you will encounter 16 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: 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; at 129 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,091 ft
806 ft
Total Climb
524 ft
Total Descent
459 ft
Highest Point
1,091 ft
~182.5 mi in
Elevation Range
284 ft
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 Spring Valley, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
129 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via I 94
About the Cities
Arriving in Spring Valley, WI
Full guide →Spring Valley is a city in Northwest Wisconsin.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 255.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.4 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Spring Valley, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 129 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Spring Valley, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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