Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
77.6 mi
125 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fitchburg, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Merton, WI
Stefan Coders
The drive from Fitchburg, WI to Merton, WI covers 77.6 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, West Beltline Highway, US 14 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.4 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.8 miles from Fitchburg, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 46.4 mi | 49m |
| West Beltline Highway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| US 14 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| County Highway M | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| I 39 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| North Shore Drive | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 83 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Winkleman Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,105 veh/hr typical · worst 2,660
Quietest
1 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Fitchburg, WI and Merton, WI.
Start on Wendt Road
Turn left onto CTH M
Turn straight onto CTH MM
Turn slight left onto CTH MM
Enter roundabout onto CTH MM
Continue on CTH MM
Enter roundabout
Continue
Merge onto US 14
Take the exit onto US 14
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 12; US 18
Take the exit
Merge onto I 39; I 90
Take the exit
Merge onto WI 30
Merge onto I 94
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork onto Milwaukee Street
Turn left onto WI 83
Turn right onto CTH KE
Continue on CTH KE
Continue on CTH KE; CTH JK
At end of road, turn right onto CTH K; CTH KE
Turn left onto CTH KE
Continue on CTH VV
Arrive at destination
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.
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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Merton, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fitchburg, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fitchburg, WI
This is one driving day of about 77.6 miles and 1h 37m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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.
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 38.8 miles from Fitchburg, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 68.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout toward US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alternate
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 14 toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 12 East, US 18 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward WI 83: Hartland, Wales
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$12.03 one way
$24.06 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $13.19 | $26.38 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.06 | $30.11 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $17.11 | $34.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.15 | $3.72 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31 | 0 | $10.86 | $4.97 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Fitchburg on Friday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Merton on Friday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
77.6 mi in 1h 37m, mostly highway — 46.4 mi of that is on I 94.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and West Beltline Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.6 miles you will encounter 19 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 5.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles (US 14): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
370 ft
Total Descent
411 ft
Highest Point
1,013 ft
Elevation Range
209 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fitchburg, WI and Merton, WI, road signs point toward Wisconsin Dells and Wales.
Wisconsin Dells
Wales
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 77.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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