Spanning 115.2 miles, the journey from Combined Locks to Franklin is a straightforward 2-hour and 16-minute excursion across Wisconsin. Because this route stays off major highways entirely, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to complete the trek. Navigating through the Midwest, the path relies on local infrastructure rather than high-speed corridors. This drive is ideal if you prefer a direct, no-fuss connection between these two locations. Whether you are heading out for business or visiting family, the trip is manageable enough to handle in a single session without needing to budget for extra travel days.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.6 miles from Combined Locks, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
98.4 mi
1h 49m
Tri-County Expressway
6.4 mi
7m
US 45
5.8 mi
10m
County Road CE
0.8 mi
1m
East Kennedy Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge
0.7 mi
<1m
Wallace Street
0.5 mi
1m
South Washington Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 98.4 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Combined Locks, WI and Franklin, 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
98 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto US 45
0.8 mi·1 min·US 45
Exit 4Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
16
Take the exit onto US 45
0.2 mi·22 sec·US 45
Exit 60Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th StreetUse the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
4.8 mi·9 min·US 45
Toward WI 100 South, US 45 SouthUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn right
87 ft·8 sec
19
Turn right
160 ft·11 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 2-hour and 16-minute route, plan to leave during daylight hours to ensure you can clearly navigate the frequent transitions between local streets. Since there are no designated stops included in the itinerary, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a break, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge to ensure you stay within your $16 budget. Because you are avoiding major highways, traffic patterns may shift unexpectedly, so stay alert for local congestion. My best piece of advice for this specific drive is to keep your navigation tools active and accessible, as the reliance on local roads like South Railroad Street and East Kennedy Avenue requires constant awareness of upcoming turns.
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 57.6 miles from Combined Locks, WI, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.4 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 25 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.6 miles or 1h 7m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, 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 115.2 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Combined Locks, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 41 for about 98.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 110.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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...
6
109.3 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
8
110.2 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 60
Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
8
110.4 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward WI 100 South, US 45 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WI 100 South, US 45 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.01 one way
$36.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.77
$39.55
premium
$4.89
$22.17
$44.34
diesel
$5.61
$25.43
$50.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.6
0
$12.10
$5.53
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.08
$4.61
EV Truck/SUV
46.1
0
$16.13
$7.37
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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 20, 2026
Origin
Combined Locks, WI
Late night
in Combined Locks on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, WI
Late night
in Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
2 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 16m 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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Since there is zero highway usage on this route, you will be navigating via South Washington Street, East Kennedy Avenue, and South Railroad Street for the duration of the 115.2-mile trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch is negligible, as you will be frequently adjusting your path through local corridors. This is not a high-speed interstate cruise; instead, it is a technical, winding experience that keeps you engaged with the local road network. Prepare for a steady pace as you transition between these specific local arteries throughout the drive.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.4 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and Tri-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
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 14 significant decision points across 115.2 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 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; at 109.3 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,036 ft724 ft
Total Climb
516 ft
Total Descent
437 ft
Highest Point
1,036 ft
~57.6 mi in
Elevation Range
312 ft
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 Combined Locks, WI to Franklin, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Oshkosh along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 115.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.4 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 Franklin, 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. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 109.3 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 Franklin, WI before heading back.
