This 130.2-mile drive from Combined Locks to Janesville, Wisconsin, will take you approximately 2 hours and 53 minutes. It's a straightforward trip primarily utilizing State Highway 26 and I-41, making it an excellent candidate for a single-day excursion. With a projected fuel cost of around $20, this route offers an economical way to travel within Wisconsin's Midwest region. The highway-focused profile suggests a journey that prioritizes direct travel over leisurely sightseeing, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.1 miles from Combined Locks, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 26
55.7 mi
1h 13m
WI 26
34.8 mi
45m
I 41
19.5 mi
20m
Tri-County Expressway
6.4 mi
7m
US 151
4.1 mi
4m
North Main Street
2 mi
4m
County Road CE
0.8 mi
1m
East Kennedy Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 26
— 55.7 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Combined Locks, WI and City of Janesville, WI.
1
Start on Wallace Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Wallace Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto CTH N
0.3 mi·38 sec·South Washington Street
3
Turn right onto East Kennedy Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·East Kennedy Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto South Railroad Street
159 ft·8 sec·South Railroad Street
5
Continue on South Railroad Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Railroad Street
6
Turn straight onto CTH CE
0.4 mi·32 sec·County Road CE
7
Enter roundabout onto CTH CE
164 ft·2 sec·County Road CE
8
Continue on CTH CE
0.4 mi·36 sec·County Road CE
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on CTH CE
0.1 mi·17 sec·East College Avenue
10
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Use the left lane.
11
Merge onto WI 441
6.4 mi·7 min·Tri-County Expressway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on WI 441; US 10
0.7 mi·47 sec·Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 287 BToward I 41 South, US 41 South: Milwaukee, OshkoshUse the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Merge onto I 41; US 41
19 mi·20 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 113Toward WI 26, CTH N: RosendaleUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto WI 26; CTH N
11 mi·14 min·State Highway 26
17
Continue on WI 26
1.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
18
Continue on WI 26
9.7 mi·13 min·State Highway 26
19
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
20
Merge onto US 151; WI 26
4.1 mi·4 min·US 151; WI 26
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 144Toward WI 26: Waupun, Juneau
22
Keep slight left at fork
187 ft·4 sec
23
Turn left onto WI 26
6.9 mi·9 min·State Highway 26
24
Continue on WI 26
0.5 mi·1 min·Front Street
25
Continue on WI 26
5.6 mi·7 min·State Highway 26
26
Continue on WI 26
0.9 mi·1 min·North Main Street
27
Turn right onto CTH W
0.6 mi·1 min·West North Street
28
Turn left onto Western Avenue
0.3 mi·50 sec·Western Avenue
29
Turn right onto WI 26; CTH S
23 mi·27 min·State Highway 26
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on WI 26
35 mi·45 min·WI 26
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Turn left onto East Memorial Drive
261 ft·11 sec·East Memorial Drive
32
Continue on North Garfield Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·North Garfield Avenue
33
Turn right onto East Court Street
467 ft·15 sec·East Court Street
34
Arrive at destination
East Court Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 53-minute drive, you'll have ample flexibility for departure times. Given the relatively short distance, consider leaving in the morning to maximize your day at your destination. With only one suggested stop and a fuel cost of about $20, this trip is easy on the wallet and requires minimal logistical planning. Keep an eye out for transitions between State Highway 26 and I-41, as these are key points where the road character shifts. Since the longest stretch is over 55 miles, a mid-drive break is advisable for comfort.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.1 miles from Combined Locks, WI, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.7 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.1 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Janesville, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Combined Locks, 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 Combined Locks, WI
This is one driving day of about 130.2 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Combined Locks, 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 State Highway 26 for about 55.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 56.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|CTH N / South Washington Street
At end of road, turn left onto CTH N / South Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
10.1 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward I 41 South, US 41 South: Milwaukee, Oshkosh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 287 B
Toward I 41 South, US 41 South: Milwaukee, Oshk...
8
30.4 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward WI 26, CTH N: Rosendale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 113
Toward WI 26, CTH N: Rosendale
6
56.8 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward WI 26: Waupun, Juneau
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 144
Toward WI 26: Waupun, Juneau
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.36 one way
$40.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.35
$44.70
premium
$4.89
$25.06
$50.11
diesel
$5.61
$28.75
$57.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.1
0
$13.67
$6.25
Efficient EV
32.6
0
$11.39
$5.21
EV Truck/SUV
52.1
0
$18.23
$8.33
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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
Combined Locks, WI
Morning
in Combined Locks on Sunday
Local time
7:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Janesville, WI
Morning
in City of Janesville on Sunday
Local time
7:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 53m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this journey, with 93% of the drive taking place on major roadways like State Highway 26 and I-41. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 55.7 miles on State Highway 26, so plan your stops accordingly. This route is designed for steady progress, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads, offering a consistent driving environment. The character remains largely highway-centric, facilitating a predictable and efficient trip.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.7 mi on State Highway 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 26 and WI 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CTH N / South Washington Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 130.2 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 0.5 miles (CTH N / South Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 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 Combined Locks, WI and City of Janesville, WI, road signs point toward Oshkosh, Cth N: Rosendale and Juneau.
Oshkosh
10.1 mi in|~14m
Cth N: Rosendale
30.4 mi in|~36m
Juneau
56.8 mi in|~1h 14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 130.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.7 miles on State Highway 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 City of Janesville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CTH N / South Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 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 City of Janesville, WI before heading back.
