Origin
Fond du Lac, WI
Late night in Fond du Lac on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fond du Lac, 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 28m
Distance
71.1 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fond du Lac, WI
Jean-Paul Wettstein
Franklin, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Fond du Lac to Franklin, you are in for a straightforward 71.1-mile journey through the heart of Wisconsin. Expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes behind the wheel for this trip. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $10 for fuel, making this an affordable excursion within the Midwest. This route is best suited for travelers who prefer local roads over the monotony of major interstates.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 41 | 61.9 mi | 1h 10m |
| US 45 | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| South Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Pioneer Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Hickory Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Park Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 61.9 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fond du Lac, WI and Franklin, WI.
1
Start on South Park Avenue
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Park Avenue
2
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
6th Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto South Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
4
Turn right onto CTH VV
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Pioneer Road
5
Enter roundabout onto CTH VV
109 ft
·
2 sec
·
Pioneer Road
6
Continue on CTH VV
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Pioneer Road
7
Enter roundabout onto CTH VVV
207 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Hickory Street
8
Continue on CTH VVV
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
South Hickory Street
9
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
10
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
62 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
I 41; US 41; US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 45
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
12
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.
13
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.
14
Turn right
87 ft
·
8 sec
15
Turn right
160 ft
·
11 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.5 miles from Fond du Lac, 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 61.9 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 66.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CTH VVV / South Hickory Street
Enter roundabout onto CTH VVV / South Hickory Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
65.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
8
66 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m 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
66.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m 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
$11.12 one way
$22.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.20 | $24.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.68 | $27.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.70 | $31.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.47 | $3.41 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.22 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Franklin, WI
Late night in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Butler, WI
36 mi in
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
15 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 28m 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?
Forget about highway cruising on this trip, as the route maintains a 0% highway share. Instead, you will navigate a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged with the road rather than staring at asphalt for hours. You will spend your time navigating through 6th Street, South Main Street, and Pioneer Road. Since there is no single stretch longer than 0 miles on 6th Street, the drive requires constant attention to your surroundings and frequent adjustments. It is a technical, localized experience that feels more like a cross-county trek than a high-speed commute.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.9 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US 45. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near South Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 71.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.6 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (CTH VVV / South Hickory Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 65.2 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,128 ft
725 ft
Total Climb
581 ft
Total Descent
535 ft
Highest Point
1,128 ft
~35.5 mi in
Elevation Range
402 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Fond du Lac, WI
Full guide →Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. It is the seat of Fond du Lac County. The name Fond du Lac translates to Bottom of the Lake, referring to its location at the southern tip of Lake Winnebago.
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 1h 28m. Total distance: 71.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.9 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.6 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (CTH VVV / South Hickory Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 65.2 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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