Origin
Franklin, WI
Late night in Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, WI to Johnson Creek, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
49 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, WI
Tom Fisk
Johnson Creek, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This straightforward 49-mile drive from Franklin, WI, to Johnson Creek, WI, is easily manageable in about an hour, making it a perfect day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, this route is budget-friendly. The majority of your journey, 87% to be exact, will be on the highway, offering a consistent pace. Since it's a short trip within the Midwest region of Wisconsin, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. This drive is ideal for a quick, no-fuss excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East-West Freeway | 37 mi | 40m |
| South Lovers Lane Road | 4.4 mi | 8m |
| Zoo Freeway | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| US 45 | 1 mi | 2m |
| WI 26 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Milwaukee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rock Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Saint Martins Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 37 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, WI and Johnson Creek, 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 left at fork
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
Toward I 94 West: Madison
13
Merge onto I 94
10 mi
·
11 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
27 mi
·
28 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 267
Toward WI 26: Watertown, Johnson Creek
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
320 ft
·
9 sec
Toward WI 26 South, I 94 Alternate: Johnson Creek, Jefferson, Fort Atkinson
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto WI 26
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 26
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto CTH B
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Milwaukee Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto South Watertown Street
109 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Watertown Street
20
Arrive at destination
South Watertown Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Franklin, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 47.7 — 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
47.5 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward WI 26: Watertown, Johnson Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 267
Toward WI 26: Watertown, Johnson Creek
9
47.7 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WI 26 South, I 94 Alternate: Johnson Creek, Jefferson, Fort Atkinson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward WI 26 South, I 94 Alternate: Johnson Cre...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.66 one way
$15.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.43 | $18.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.82 | $21.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Johnson Creek, WI
Late night in Johnson Creek on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
4 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 1m 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 highway-focused experience for most of this 49-mile journey, with 87% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter the East-West Freeway, South Lovers Lane Road, and the Zoo Freeway as your main arteries. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 37 miles on the East-West Freeway, allowing for a steady pace without frequent exits. This drive is characterized by its efficiency, prioritizing getting you to your destination with minimal detours.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and South Lovers Lane Road. 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
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49 miles you will encounter 17 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 (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 Johnson Creek, 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 1h 1m. Total distance: 49 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37 miles on East-West Freeway. 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 Johnson Creek, 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 Johnson Creek, 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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