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Trip from City of Janesville, WI to Thiensville, 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 55m

Distance

87.3 mi

140 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 47m ★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown City of Janesville, WI, WI

City of Janesville, WI

Tom Fisk

Downtown Thiensville, WI, WI

Thiensville, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Janesville to Thiensville is 87.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 55 minutes via I 43, Zoo Freeway, and WI 11, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, taking you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a fairly direct trip, mostly on highways, making it a straightforward option for getting from Point A to Point B. If you're looking for a quick, no-fuss journey through the Badger State, this route fits the bill.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

43.7 miles from City of Janesville, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 43 45.2 mi 48m
Zoo Freeway 12.7 mi 17m
WI 11 11.2 mi 15m
US 14 3.5 mi 4m
North 76th Street 3.1 mi 5m
East Racine Street 2.6 mi 4m
West Good Hope Road 2.4 mi 4m
Wauwatosa Road 2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 43 — 45.2 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Court Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Court Street
2

Turn right onto CTH MM

0.5 mi · 1 min · Ruger Avenue
3

Turn right onto South Randall Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Randall Avenue
4

Turn left onto East Racine Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Racine Street
5

Continue on East Racine Street

445 ft · 8 sec · East Racine Street
6

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

144 ft · 8 sec · East Racine Street
7

Continue on WI 11

0.1 mi · 12 sec · East Racine Street
8

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

112 ft · 6 sec · East Racine Street
9

Continue on WI 11

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Racine Street
10

Turn straight onto WI 11

11 mi · 15 min · WI 11
11

Continue on US 14

3.5 mi · 4 min · US 14
12

Turn left

0.4 mi · 47 sec
13

Merge onto I 43

45 mi · 48 min · I 43
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto US 45

0.6 mi · 55 sec · US 45
Exit 61 Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
15

Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45

13 mi · 17 min · Zoo Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
16

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 47B Toward Good Hope Road Use the slight right lane.
17

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward Good Hope Road East Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Turn straight onto CTH PP

2.4 mi · 4 min · West Good Hope Road
19

Turn left onto WI 181

3.1 mi · 5 min · North 76th Street
Use the left lane.
20

Continue on WI 181

2.0 mi · 3 min · Wauwatosa Road
21

Turn right onto WI 167

1.0 mi · 2 min · West Mequon Road
22

Turn slight left

229 ft · 10 sec
23

Turn left onto Cedarburg Road

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Cedarburg Road
24

Continue on South Main Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · South Main Street
25

Turn right onto Green Bay Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Green Bay Road
26

Turn right onto East Freistadt Road

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Freistadt Road
27

Turn left onto Vernon Avenue

492 ft · 21 sec · Vernon Avenue
28

Arrive at destination

Vernon Avenue

Trip Plan

With a total drive time of under two hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility for your departure. Leaving Janesville in the morning or early afternoon should get you to Thiensville with plenty of daylight to spare. Given the short duration and minimal stops required, you can easily power through this drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $14, and plan your last fill-up accordingly before hitting the longer highway stretches.

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 43.7 miles from City of Janesville, WI, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.2 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 19 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.7 miles or 55m 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 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thiensville, 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 87.3 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 43 for about 45.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New Berlin, WI

44 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

Delavan, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Bend, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.7 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Vendetta Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Later in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 68.6

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

Valentine Coffee Roasters on Vliet Street

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2.9 mi

Vendetta Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 68.6

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

Valentine Coffee Roasters on Vliet Street

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 68.6

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+14149888018

Visit website

Blüm Coffee Garden

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 62.4

Greenfield, Wisconsin

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14142824220

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 77.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in | WI 11 / East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
2.3 mi into trip | ~5m in | WI 11 / East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

6
63.9 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | US 45

Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison

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

Exit 61 Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fon...
7
77.3 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Take the exit toward Good Hope Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 47B Toward Good Hope Road
8
77.4 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Good Hope Road East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Good Hope Road East

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.65 one way

$27.30 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.99 $29.97
premium $4.89 $16.80 $33.60
diesel $5.61 $19.27 $38.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.2 0 $9.17 $4.19
Efficient EV 21.8 0 $7.64 $3.49
EV Truck/SUV 34.9 0 $12.22 $5.59

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 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

Evening in City of Janesville on Sunday

Local time

6:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Thiensville, WI

Evening in Thiensville on Sunday

Local time

6:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

44°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

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

1h 55m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the journey on major roadways like I 43 and the Zoo Freeway. You'll experience a significant stretch of 45.2 miles on I 43 without needing to exit, allowing for consistent speed. While primarily highway, the inclusion of WI 11 suggests a brief transition to a state highway before reaching your destination. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.2 mi on I 43.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and Zoo Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near WI 11 / East Racine Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.3 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 2.2 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.3 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 63.9 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Thiensville, WI, road signs point toward Madison and Good Hope Road East.

Madison

63.9 mi in | ~1h 17m | via US 45

Good Hope Road East

77.4 mi in | ~1h 36m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 87.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 45.2 miles on I 43. 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 Thiensville, 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: at 2.2 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.3 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 63.9 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Thiensville, 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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