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Trip from Farmington, WI to Franklin, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h

Distance

43.4 mi

70 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 55m ★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Farmington, WI, WI

Farmington, WI

Tom Fisk

Downtown Franklin, WI, WI

Franklin, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Farmington to Franklin, you are looking at a straightforward 43.4-mile journey that typically takes about one hour. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You should budget approximately $6 for fuel, making this an economical trip within the Midwest. While the route utilizes main roads like I-41 and the Zoo Freeway, it functions primarily as a local connection between these two Wisconsin communities. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you to your destination efficiently without requiring extensive multi-day planning.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 27.9 mi 30m
US 45 5.8 mi 10m
County Road B 3.8 mi 9m
Zoo Freeway 3.5 mi 4m
CTH B 0.6 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 27.9 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Farmington, WI and Franklin, WI.

1

Start on CTH B

3.8 mi · 9 min · County Road B
2

Turn left onto CTH B; CTH F

0.6 mi · 59 sec · CTH B; CTH F
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
4

Merge onto I 94

28 mi · 30 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 305A-B Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago Use the slight left lane.
7

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 30 sec · this road
Exit 305A Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
9

Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45

3.5 mi · 4 min · Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit onto US 45

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 45
Exit 4 Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
11

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.
12

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.
13

Turn right

87 ft · 8 sec
14

Turn right

160 ft · 11 sec
15

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukesha, WI

22 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

Oconomowoc, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukesha, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.7 miles from Farmington, 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 32.5 and 38.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
32.5 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac

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 305A-B Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
8
33.1 mi into trip | ~42m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US...
7
33.8 mi into trip | ~43m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
8
38.3 mi into trip | ~50m 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
38.5 mi into trip | ~50m 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

$6.79 one way

$13.57 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $7.45 $14.90
premium $4.89 $8.35 $16.70
diesel $5.61 $9.58 $19.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13 0 $4.56 $2.08
Efficient EV 10.9 0 $3.80 $1.74
EV Truck/SUV 17.4 0 $6.08 $2.78

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Farmington, WI

Night in Farmington on Saturday

Local time

9:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Franklin, WI

Night in Franklin on Saturday

Local time

9:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°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

2 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

1h 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 43.4-mile stretch. While you will utilize I-41 South and the Zoo Freeway, the route lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, meaning you will spend more time navigating local transitions. The drive features zero percentage of sustained highway driving, emphasizing the technical nature of the path. You won't find yourself locked into a long, straight interstate grind, so stay alert for frequent turns. The character of the road shifts as you move through these Wisconsin corridors, requiring your full attention behind the wheel.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.9 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 45. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Farmington, WI to Franklin, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Fond Du Lac along the way.

Fond Du Lac

32.5 mi in | ~41m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 43.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.9 miles on I 94. 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 Franklin, 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 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

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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