Franklin, WI to Ashwaubenon, WI is 128.2 miles and takes about 2h 31m via I 43, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, making it a straightforward trip across the Midwest. You'll primarily be on the interstate, so expect a generally efficient journey. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under three hours, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. It's a practical option if you need to get between these two points without a lot of fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.1 miles from Franklin, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 43
87.8 mi
1h 34m
North-South Freeway
26.5 mi
33m
West Loomis Road
6.2 mi
10m
WI 172
4.6 mi
5m
Airport Freeway
0.8 mi
1m
Pilgrim Way
0.4 mi
1m
South Oneida Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 87.8 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, WI and Ashwaubenon, WI.
1
Start on this road
141 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right
80 ft·10 sec
3
Turn right onto WI 36
6.2 mi·10 min·West Loomis Road
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 SouthUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
0.8 mi·1 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 43
1.1 mi·1 min·I 43
Exit 10AToward I 43, I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 94
27 mi·33 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 43; WI 57
87 mi·1 hr 32 min·I 43; WI 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 180Toward WI 172 West: Austin Straubel Airport
10
Continue on WI 172
4.6 mi·5 min·WI 172
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Oneida Street, Ashland Avenue
12
Keep slight left at fork
189 ft·7 sec
13
Turn left onto Pilgrim Way
0.4 mi·1 min·Pilgrim Way
14
Turn left onto South Oneida Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·South Oneida Street
15
Continue on South Oneida Street
457 ft·20 sec·South Oneida Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Oneida Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 31m duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you ample daylight. The longest stretch is 87.8 miles on I 43, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping in mind the estimated $20 fuel cost. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive, you have flexibility. Consider a mid-morning departure to avoid potential rush hour traffic around Milwaukee, and aim to arrive in Ashwaubenon well before evening.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.1 miles from Franklin, WI, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.8 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 28 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashwaubenon, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Franklin, 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 Franklin, WI
This is one driving day of about 128.2 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Franklin, 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 43 for about 87.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 8.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|WI 36 / West Loomis Road
Turn right onto WI 36 / West Loomis Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
6.3 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 South
5
6.5 mi into trip|~11m in|I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41 / Airport Freeway
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41 / Airport Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
7.3 mi into trip|~12m in|I 43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 43 toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10A
Toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee
5
8.4 mi into trip|~13m in|I 94 / North-South Freeway
Merge onto I 94 / North-South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.04 one way
$40.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.01
$44.01
premium
$4.89
$24.67
$49.34
diesel
$5.61
$28.30
$56.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.5
0
$13.46
$6.15
Efficient EV
32.1
0
$11.22
$5.13
EV Truck/SUV
51.3
0
$17.95
$8.20
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 19, 2026
Origin
Franklin, WI
Night
in Franklin on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ashwaubenon, WI
Night
in Ashwaubenon on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Cedar Grove, WI
64 mi in
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
14 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 31m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 43 and the North-South Freeway. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including one uninterrupted segment of 87.8 miles on I 43. While the profile suggests a predominantly highway experience, there are brief portions on local roads like West Loomis Road. Expect a predictable driving rhythm for the majority of your trip, with minimal distractions from slower traffic or complex intersections.
93% 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: 87.8 mi on I 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and North-South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 36 / West Loomis Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 128.2 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: near the start (WI 36 / West Loomis Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles (I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41 / Airport Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 128.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.8 miles on I 43. 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 Ashwaubenon, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 36 / West Loomis Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles (I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41 / Airport Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ashwaubenon, WI before heading back.
