Dakota, WI to Plainfield, WI is 24.4 miles and takes about 37 minutes via I 39 and State Highway 21, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest region. The drive is primarily highway-focused, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. You'll spend most of your time on interstates and state highways, so it's a good option if you're looking for a quick connection rather than an extended scenic exploration. Plan for a brief drive that can easily be completed in under an hour.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 39
12.1 mi
12m
County Road JJ
4.5 mi
10m
State Highway 21
3.7 mi
5m
State Highway 73
1.2 mi
2m
County Highway B
0.8 mi
1m
East Follett Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Wautoma Road
0.5 mi
<1m
West North Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 12.1 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dakota, WI and Plainfield, WI.
1
Start on CTH Y
0.2 mi·34 sec·County Highway Y
2
Turn right onto CTH JJ
4.5 mi·10 min·County Road JJ
3
Turn right onto CTH B
0.8 mi·1 min·County Highway B
4
Turn left onto WI 21
3.7 mi·5 min·State Highway 21
5
Continue on WI 21
0.5 mi·49 sec·Wautoma Road
6
Continue on WI 21
0.6 mi·1 min·East Follett Drive
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
8
Merge onto I 39; US 51
12 mi·12 min·I 39; US 51
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward WI 73: Plainfield, Wisconsin Rapids
10
Keep slight right at fork
159 ft·4 sec
11
Turn right onto WI 73
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 73
12
Continue on WI 73
0.2 mi·24 sec·West North Street
13
Continue on WI 73
0.2 mi·19 sec·State Highway 73
14
Continue on WI 73
387 ft·13 sec·North Street
15
Turn left onto North Main Street
53 ft·2 sec·North Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 24.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|CTH JJ / County Road JJ
Turn right onto CTH JJ / County Road JJ
Navigation decision point
4
4.7 mi into trip|~11m in|CTH B / County Highway B
Turn right onto CTH B / County Highway B
Navigation decision point
5
22.6 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward WI 73: Plainfield, Wisconsin Rapids
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WI 73: Plainfield, Wisconsin Rapids
5
22.8 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
24.4 mi into trip|~37m in|North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.60 one way
$7.21 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg9 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$3.98
$7.96
premium
$4.72
$4.53
$9.06
diesel
$4.80
$4.61
$9.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
7.3
0
$2.56
$1.17
Efficient EV
6.1
0
$2.14
$0.98
EV Truck/SUV
9.8
0
$3.42
$1.56
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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 Jul 20, 2026
Origin
Dakota, WI
Late night
in Dakota on Monday
Local time
5:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Areas Of Smoke
SSW 3 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 6:47PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 2:10PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Destination
Plainfield, WI
Late night
in Plainfield on Monday
Local time
5:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Areas Of Smoke
SSW 3 to 7 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 6:47PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 19 at 2:10PM CDT until July 21 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
37m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with about 70% of your time spent on interstates and state highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.1 miles on I 39, offering a chance for consistent speed. You'll transition from I 39 to County Road JJ and then onto State Highway 21, indicating a shift from faster, limited-access highway to a more conventional state highway. Expect a driving experience characterized by steady progress and minimal complexities.
70% 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: 12.1 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and County Road JJ. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CTH JJ / County Road JJ.
Driving Effort5/10
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 24.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.2 miles (CTH JJ / County Road JJ): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (CTH B / County Highway B): Navigation decision point; at 22.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,153 ft842 ft
Total Climb
341 ft
Total Descent
68 ft
Highest Point
1,153 ft
~12.2 mi in
Elevation Range
311 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 Dakota, WI to Plainfield, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin Rapids along the way.
Wisconsin Rapids
22.6 mi in|~34m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 24.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.1 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 0.2 miles (CTH JJ / County Road JJ): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (CTH B / County Highway B): Navigation decision point; at 22.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Plainfield, WI before heading back.
