Origin
Franklin, WI
Night in Franklin on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, WI to Elm Grove, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
13.2 mi
21 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, WI
Tom Fisk
Elm Grove, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip between Franklin and Elm Grove, you are looking at a brief 13.2-mile journey that typically takes about 24 minutes to complete. This route keeps you entirely within the Midwest, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will not need to worry about booking an overnight stay for such a short transit. With a modest fuel budget of just $2, the trip is highly economical and straightforward. Because it requires no planned stops, you have the flexibility to head out whenever it best suits your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Lovers Lane Road | 4.4 mi | 8m |
| Zoo Freeway | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| West Bluemound Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| US 45 | 1 mi | 2m |
| Elm Grove Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Rock Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Mayfair Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Saint Martins Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Lovers Lane Road
— 4.4 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, WI and Elm Grove, WI.
1
Start on this road
141 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
89 ft
·
8 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 45
384 ft
·
16 sec
·
US 45
4
Turn left onto US 45; WI 100
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
West Saint Martins Road
5
Continue on US 45; WI 100
4.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Lovers Lane Road
6
Take the ramp onto US 45
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 45
Toward I 43 North, US 45 North
7
Merge onto I 43; US 45
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Rock Freeway
8
Take the exit onto US 45
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 45
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
9
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 94 West: Madison
Use the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward WI 100: Mayfair Road, 108th Street
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
279 ft
·
8 sec
Toward WI 100 North: Mayfair Road
Use the slight left lane.
14
Turn left onto WI 100
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Mayfair Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto US 18
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West Bluemound Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Elm Grove Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Elm Grove Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto Watertown Plank Road
466 ft
·
15 sec
·
Watertown Plank Road
Use the right lane.
19
Arrive at destination
Watertown Plank Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 10.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fon...
8
9.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
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 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
8
9.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 94 West: Madison
8
10.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 100: Mayfair Road, 108th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WI 100: Mayfair Road, 108th Street
7
10.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WI 100 North: Mayfair Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward WI 100 North: Mayfair Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.06 one way
$4.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.27 | $4.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.54 | $5.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.91 | $5.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4 | 0 | $1.39 | $0.63 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.84 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Elm Grove, WI
Night in Elm Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
10 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
24m 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 high-speed interstate cruise, as this route contains no highway mileage. You will navigate a series of local roads, primarily utilizing West Saint Martins Road and South Lovers Lane Road to reach your destination. Because there are no long highway stretches, your longest uninterrupted drive is zero miles on West Saint Martins Road. The experience behind the wheel is defined by constant adjustments rather than long, monotonous stretches of pavement. You should be prepared for a steady pace that requires your full attention throughout the entire 24-minute drive.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.4 mi on South Lovers Lane Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near US 45.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 13.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Franklin, WI and Elm Grove, WI, road signs point toward Madison and Milwaukee.
Madison
5.3 mi in
|
~10m
|
via US 45
Milwaukee
9.6 mi in
|
~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 13.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.4 miles on South Lovers Lane Road. 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 Elm Grove, 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 5.3 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elm Grove, 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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