Origin
Dunkirk, WI
Morning in Dunkirk on Sunday
Local time
7:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dunkirk, WI to City of Janesville, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
26.4 mi
42 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dunkirk, WI
Wikimedia Commons
City of Janesville, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This 26.4-mile drive from Dunkirk, WI to the City of Janesville, WI is a quick trip, estimated to take just 38 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays and fitting easily into a single day. The route is primarily highway-focused, with a significant 77% share of its mileage on major roadways. You can expect a fuel cost of around $4 for this journey. Traveling within the Midwest, this drive offers a straightforward transition between two Wisconsin locations, making it a simple and efficient option for your travel plans.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 39 | 9.9 mi | 10m |
| US Highway 51 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| US 51 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Milton Avenue | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| County Road N | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Veterans Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Garfield Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Court Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 9.9 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunkirk, WI and City of Janesville, WI.
1
Start on CTH N
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road N
2
Continue on CTH N
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Veterans Road
3
Turn right onto US 51
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 51
4
Take the ramp onto US 51
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 51
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 51
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, US 51 South: Janesville
6
Continue on I 39; I 90
9.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 39; I 90
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 171A
Toward WI 26: State Highway 26
9
Keep slight right at fork
414 ft
·
10 sec
Toward WI 26 South: Janesville
10
Turn slight right onto WI 26
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Milton Avenue
11
Turn left onto East Memorial Drive
261 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Memorial Drive
12
Continue on North Garfield Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Garfield Avenue
13
Turn right onto East Court Street
467 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Court Street
14
Arrive at destination
East Court Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 25.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 51 / US Highway 51
Turn right onto US 51 / US Highway 51
Navigation decision point
6
8.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 51
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51 toward I 39 South, I 90 East, US 51 South: Janesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, US 51 South: Jane...
7
23.1 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 26: State Highway 26
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 171A
Toward WI 26: State Highway 26
6
23.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 26 South: Janesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward WI 26 South: Janesville
4
25.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
East Memorial Drive
Turn left onto East Memorial Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.13 one way
$8.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.53 | $9.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.08 | $10.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.83 | $11.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
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.
Destination
City of Janesville, WI
Morning in City of Janesville on Sunday
Local time
7:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
38m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 38-minute trip. With 77% of the route on major roads like I-39 and US-51, you'll experience stretches of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 9.9 miles on I-39. While not a winding scenic byway, this route offers a practical and direct connection, prioritizing efficiency over leisurely exploration. The character remains largely consistent, emphasizing forward momentum.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.9 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and US Highway 51. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near US 51 / US Highway 51.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 26.4 miles you will encounter 7 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 2.7 miles (US 51 / US Highway 51): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 26.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.9 miles on I 39. 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.
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 2.7 miles (US 51 / US Highway 51): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
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