Lomira Rest Area 63
0 mi from route
Trip from Dover, WI to Franklin, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 32m
Distance
267.7 mi
431 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 19m
★
6 AM
5h 32m
8 AM
5h 59m
10 AM
5h 42m
12 PM
5h 39m
3 PM
5h 43m
5 PM
5h 58m
8 PM
5h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dover, WI
guo fengrui
Franklin, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Dover to Franklin is 267.7 miles and takes about 5h 32m via I 41 and US 10, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest. With 95% of the route on highways, expect a straightforward drive that's mostly about covering ground efficiently. It's a single-day trip, making it ideal if you want to get to your destination without an overnight stay. The primary roads suggest a route focused on major arteries for most of the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
133.8 miles from Dover, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 41 | 85.6 mi | 1h 35m |
| US 10 | 51.3 mi | 1h 1m |
| US 51 | 46.3 mi | 53m |
| I 39 | 29.8 mi | 32m |
| US 8 | 22.3 mi | 30m |
| US 45 | 18.2 mi | 25m |
| County Road D | 12.6 mi | 30m |
| Martins Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 85.6 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-41
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 57 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,802 veh/hr typical · worst 3,336
Quietest
1 AM
~167 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dover, WI and Franklin, WI.
1
Start on Martins Drive
30 ft
·
1 sec
·
Martins Drive
2
Continue on CTH D
3.0 mi
·
7 min
·
County Road D
3
Continue on CTH D
7.5 mi
·
18 min
·
County Road D
4
Continue on CTH D
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road D
5
Turn left onto US 8; CTH D
22 mi
·
30 min
·
US 8; CTH D
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 51
46 mi
·
53 min
·
US 51
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51
22 mi
·
24 min
·
I 39; US 51
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
9
Continue on I 39; US 10; US 51
7.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 39; US 10; US 51
10
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 10; WI 66
Exit 158
Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
51 mi
·
1 hr
·
US 10
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
14
Merge onto I 41; US 41
86 mi
·
1 hr 35 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 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
16
Take the exit onto US 45
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 45
Exit 60
Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
Use 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 South
Use 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 5h 32m estimated drive time and 267.7 miles, leaving Dover in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Franklin with daylight to spare. The route is mostly highway, so you can cover ground quickly, but keep an eye on your fuel. The estimated $47 fuel cost is a good benchmark, but it's always wise to fill up before embarking. The longest stretch without a major exit is 85.6 miles on I 41, so plan your break before that segment if needed. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility with departure time, but an early start maximizes your options upon arrival.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 133.8 miles from Dover, WI, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.6 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 59 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.8 miles or 2h 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 4h 33m
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 Dover, 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 Dover, WI
This is one driving day of about 267.7 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Dover, 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 I 41 for about 85.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 133.8 miles from Dover, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85.6 miles.
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.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Theresa Rest Area 64
0.1 mi from route
64
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 34.9 and 262.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
34.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
111.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
|
US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
8
162.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m 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
8
262.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 22m 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
262.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 22m 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
$39.53 one way
$79.07 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $43.64 | $87.29 |
| premium | $4.72 | $49.70 | $99.41 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $50.55 | $101.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.3 | 0 | $28.11 | $12.85 |
| Efficient EV | 66.9 | 0 | $23.42 | $10.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.1 | 1 | $37.48 | $17.13 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Dover, WI
Morning in Dover on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Patchy Smoke
NW 5 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:46AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:28AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Franklin, WI
Morning in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:46AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:28AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
10 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
5h 32m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 predominantly highway, with 95% of the 267.7 miles on major roads like I 41 and US 10. You'll experience about 85.6 miles without a significant break on I 41, so be prepared for extended cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur late in the trip, likely after you've covered the majority of the distance on faster routes. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate different highway sections.
95% 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: 85.6 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 34.9 miles in.
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 14 significant decision points across 267.7 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 34.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.8 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 162.7 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,660 ft
758 ft
Total Climb
324 ft
Total Descent
1,179 ft
Highest Point
1,660 ft
Elevation Range
902 ft
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 Dover, WI and Franklin, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Waupaca and Appleton.
Madison
81.6 mi in
|
~1h 55m
|
via I 39; US 51
Waupaca
111.4 mi in
|
~2h 28m
|
via US 10; WI 66
Appleton
111.4 mi in
|
~2h 28m
|
via US 10; WI 66
About the Cities
Starting in Dover, WI
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Dover Castle — medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England, UK
- • Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery — Local history museum in Dover, England, United Kingdom
- • East Kent Railway — Heritage railway in southern England
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 267.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.6 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 34.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.8 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 162.7 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Franklin, WI before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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