Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Dale, WI to City of Janesville, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
128.8 mi
207 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 40m
★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dale, WI
Tom Fisk
City of Janesville, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Dale, WI to the City of Janesville, WI is 128.8 miles and takes about 2h 51m via State Highway 26/US 45, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest. With 93% of the route on highways, you'll experience a predominantly high-speed transit. Expect a straightforward trip, suitable for a single-day excursion. The estimated fuel cost of $20 makes it an economical option for crossing the state.
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
64.4 miles from Dale, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 26 | 55.7 mi | 1h 13m |
| WI 26 | 34.8 mi | 45m |
| US 45 | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| I 41 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| US Highway 45 | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| US 151 | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 26
— 55.7 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dale, WI and City of Janesville, WI.
1
Start on Depot Road
13 ft
·
6 sec
·
Depot Road
2
Turn left onto WI 96
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
State Road 96
3
Continue on WI 96
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Wisconsin Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto US 45
229 ft
·
13 sec
·
US Highway 45
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
5
Continue on US 45
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 45
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 45
Exit 276
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
8
Merge onto I 41; US 41
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 113
Toward WI 26, CTH N: Rosendale
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto WI 26; CTH N
11 mi
·
14 min
·
State Highway 26
11
Continue on WI 26
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
12
Continue on WI 26
9.7 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 26
13
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
14
Merge onto US 151; WI 26
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 151; WI 26
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 144
Toward WI 26: Waupun, Juneau
16
Keep slight left at fork
187 ft
·
4 sec
17
Turn left onto WI 26
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 26
18
Continue on WI 26
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
19
Continue on WI 26
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 26
20
Continue on WI 26
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
21
Turn right onto CTH W
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West North Street
22
Turn left onto Western Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Western Avenue
23
Turn right onto WI 26; CTH S
23 mi
·
27 min
·
State Highway 26
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on WI 26
35 mi
·
45 min
·
WI 26
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto East Memorial Drive
261 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Memorial Drive
26
Continue on North Garfield Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Garfield Avenue
27
Turn right onto East Court Street
467 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Court Street
28
Arrive at destination
East Court Street
Trip Plan
For this 2h 51m drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Janesville. Since it's only 128.8 miles and primarily highway, you can afford to be flexible with your departure time. You'll only need one stop, so consider breaking up the 55.7-mile stretch on State Highway 26 for a quick stretch or snack. With a fuel cost estimated at $20, it's wise to fill up before you leave Dale, WI, as services might be less frequent on parts of this route.
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 64.4 miles from Dale, WI, or about 1h 25m 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 28 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.4 miles or 1h 25m 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 19m
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 Dale, 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 Dale, WI
This is one driving day of about 128.8 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Dale, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.4 miles from Dale, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 55.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 45 / US Highway 45
Enter roundabout onto US 45 / US Highway 45 toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
8
8.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 276
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
5
22.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 41; US 41
Merge onto I 41; US 41
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
29.1 mi into trip
|
~35m 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
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m 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
$20.14 one way
$40.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.11 | $44.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.79 | $49.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.44 | $56.87 |
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: 45.1 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 | 38.6 | 0 | $13.52 | $6.18 |
| Efficient EV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.27 | $5.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.03 | $8.24 |
Gas CO2
45 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.
Origin
Dale, WI
Late night in Dale on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
25°F
Clear
E 3 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:08PM CDT until April 20 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:08PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
City of Janesville, WI
Late night in City of Janesville on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
25°F
Clear then Widespread Frost
N 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:08PM CDT until April 20 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:08PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
43°F
Juneau, WI
64 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 51m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 93% of the 128.8 miles on high-speed roads like State Highway 26 and US 45. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 55.7 miles on State Highway 26 before potentially transitioning to surface roads. This means you can expect long periods of consistent cruising. The prevalence of highway driving suggests a steady pace with fewer interruptions from traffic signals.
93% 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: 55.7 mi on State Highway 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 3 miles in near US 45 / US Highway 45.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 128.8 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 3 miles (US 45 / US Highway 45): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.9 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (I 41; US 41): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Between Dale, WI and City of Janesville, WI, road signs point toward Cth N: Rosendale and Juneau.
Cth N: Rosendale
29.1 mi in
|
~35m
Juneau
55.5 mi in
|
~1h 12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 128.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m 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.
Yes — we found about 3 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 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. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (US 45 / US Highway 45): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.9 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles (I 41; US 41): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Janesville, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From City of Janesville, WI
More trips to City of Janesville, WI
Explore more options from Dale, WI or browse trips ending in City of Janesville, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.