Poynette Rest Area 12
0 mi from route
Trip from City of Janesville, WI to Tainter Lake, 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 26m
Distance
239.1 mi
385 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 14m
★
6 AM
4h 27m
8 AM
4h 54m
10 AM
4h 36m
12 PM
4h 34m
3 PM
4h 38m
5 PM
4h 52m
8 PM
4h 19m
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
Tainter Lake, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The City of Janesville, WI to Tainter Lake, WI is 239.1 miles and takes about 4h 26m via I 94, I 90, and I 39, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This all-Wisconsin trip stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward drive. With 94% of the route on major highways, it's designed for efficient travel. Plan for a single day to cover the distance, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a direct point-to-point trip.
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
119.5 miles from City of Janesville, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 101 mi | 1h 48m |
| I 90 | 63.5 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 39 | 61.3 mi | 1h 5m |
| CTH B | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Milton Avenue | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| County Road D | 3 mi | 5m |
| County Road BB | 1 mi | 1m |
| County Road G | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 101 mi, about 1h 48m
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 Tainter Lake, 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
101 mi
·
1 hr 48 min
·
I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 45
Toward CTH B: Menomonie
10
Keep slight right at fork
136 ft
·
3 sec
11
Turn right onto CTH B
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
CTH B
12
Continue on CTH BB
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road BB
13
At end of road, turn right onto CTH G
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road G
14
At end of road, turn right onto CTH D; CTH G
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road D
15
Turn right onto 622nd Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
622nd Street
16
Arrive at destination
848th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this trip is estimated at around 4 hours and 26 minutes, you can comfortably complete it in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and potential spontaneous brief stops. With a fuel cost estimated at $42, it's a budget-friendly option. The longest stretch without a major change is 101 miles on I 94, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking on that segment.
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 119.5 miles from City of Janesville, WI, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101 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 53 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.5 miles or 2h 12m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tainter Lake, 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 239.1 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 101 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
120 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 119.5 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 101 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
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
Rest Area #17 Janesville
0.2 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
Petro Stopping Centers
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 4.2 and 230.3 — 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
230 mi into trip
|
~4h 11m in
Take the exit toward CTH B: Menomonie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 45
Toward CTH B: Menomonie
5
230.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.31 one way
$70.62 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $38.98 | $77.96 |
| premium | $4.72 | $44.39 | $88.79 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $45.15 | $90.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.7 | 0 | $25.11 | $11.48 |
| Efficient EV | 59.8 | 0 | $20.92 | $9.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95.6 | 1 | $33.47 | $15.30 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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
5:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
NW 10 mph
16% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:08AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Tainter Lake, WI
Late night in Tainter Lake on Sunday
Local time
5:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
NNW 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:08AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
85°F
Merrimac, WI
120 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
4h 26m 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
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 98.9
Park Closure: Devil’s Lake Segment — Balanced Rock Trail Closed May 4–8
Park Closure: Lodi Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a primarily highway experience for most of this 239.1-mile drive, with 94% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 101 miles on I 94 before transitioning to surface roads. The high highway percentage means you'll likely notice frequent exits and merges as you navigate between I 94, I 90, and I 39.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101 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 13 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 239.1 miles you will encounter 13 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
1,013 ft
803 ft
Total Climb
495 ft
Total Descent
470 ft
Highest Point
1,013 ft
~187.9 mi in
Elevation Range
211 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 Tainter Lake, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Paul along the way.
Saint Paul
129 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via I 94
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 239.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 Tainter Lake, 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 25 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Tainter Lake, 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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