Origin
Janesville, WI
Morning in Janesville on Sunday
Local time
11:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Janesville, WI to Racine, 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 48m
Distance
73.2 mi
118 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 40m
★
6 AM
1h 48m
8 AM
2h 4m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 52m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Janesville, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Racine, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 73.9-mile drive from Janesville, WI to Racine, WI is a straightforward, one-day trip that should take about 1 hour and 29 minutes to complete. With a projected fuel cost of $11, it's an economical option for a quick excursion within the Midwest. The route is primarily on local roads, indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile and 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating through towns and communities for the majority of the journey. This makes it an ideal choice if you're looking for a less highway-intensive experience and are comfortable with more frequent turns and varied speed limits.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.6 miles from Janesville, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 14 | 14.2 mi | 19m |
| I 43 | 13.3 mi | 14m |
| Spring Street | 8.7 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 11 | 8.5 mi | 12m |
| Washington Avenue | 7.6 mi | 10m |
| Plank Road | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| Browns Lake Drive | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| East Delavan Drive | 2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 14
— 14.2 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Janesville, WI and Racine, WI.
1
Start on this road
124 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Saint Lawrence Avenue
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Saint Lawrence Avenue
3
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on Beloit Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Beloit Avenue
5
Turn left onto CTH O
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Delavan Drive
6
Continue on CTH O
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East County Road O
7
Turn right onto US 14; WI 11
11 mi
·
14 min
·
US 14; WI 11
8
Continue on US 14
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 14
9
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
10
Merge onto I 43
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 43
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 29
Toward WI 11: Elkhorn, Burlington
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
159 ft
·
3 sec
Toward WI 11 East, I 43 Alternate: Burlington
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto WI 11
8.5 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 11
14
Continue on WI 11
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Burlington Bypass
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
16
Turn left onto CTH JS
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
County Highway JS
17
Continue on West Chestnut Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Chestnut Street
18
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pine Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pine Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn left onto Adams Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Adams Street
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on East State Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
East State Street
21
Continue on Durand Avenue
367 ft
·
7 sec
·
Durand Avenue
22
Turn slight left
361 ft
·
16 sec
23
Turn slight left onto CTH W
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Browns Lake Drive
24
Turn right onto CTH A
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Plank Road
25
Enter roundabout onto CTH BD
199 ft
·
4 sec
·
County Road BD
26
Continue on CTH BD
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road BD
27
Enter roundabout onto WI 20
21 ft
·
1 sec
·
Washington Avenue
28
Continue on WI 20
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Avenue
29
Enter roundabout onto US 45; WI 20
130 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Avenue
30
Continue on US 45; WI 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
31
Enter roundabout onto WI 20
93 ft
·
5 sec
·
Washington Avenue
32
Continue on WI 20
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Washington Avenue
33
Enter roundabout onto CTH C
256 ft
·
13 sec
·
Spring Street
34
Continue on CTH C
8.7 mi
·
15 min
·
Spring Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
35
Continue on WI 38
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the straight lane.
36
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
37
Turn right onto WI 20; WI 32
309 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
38
Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue
284 ft
·
14 sec
·
Wisconsin Avenue
39
Turn left onto WI 20; WI 32
245 ft
·
8 sec
·
7th Street
40
Arrive at destination
WI 20; WI 32
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 29-minute duration for this 73.9-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility with timing. Starting your journey in Janesville in the morning allows you to arrive in Racine with plenty of daylight. Since there are no designated stops and the fuel cost is a modest $11, you can easily complete this drive without needing to plan for extensive breaks. Keep an eye on local traffic patterns, especially as you transition between Saint Lawrence Avenue and South Main Street, as these urban and suburban roadways can experience congestion. This route's local nature means you're never too far from a potential stop if needed, but packing snacks might be a good idea.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.6 miles from Janesville, WI, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.2 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 49m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Racine, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Janesville, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Janesville, WI
This is one driving day of about 73.2 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Janesville, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 14 for about 14.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 36.6 miles from Janesville, 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 255 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 44.8 — 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
|
Saint Lawrence Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Saint Lawrence Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
32.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward WI 11: Elkhorn, Burlington
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 29
Toward WI 11: Elkhorn, Burlington
9
32.5 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 11 East, I 43 Alternate: Burlington
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 11 East, I 43 Alternate: Burlington
6
44 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
North Pine Street
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pine Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
44.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
Adams Street
Turn left onto Adams Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.44 one way
$22.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.57 | $25.13 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.09 | $28.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.16 | $32.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22 | 0 | $7.69 | $3.51 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.25 | $4.68 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Racine, WI
Morning in Racine on Sunday
Local time
11:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Burlington, WI
37 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
2 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
1h 48m 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' for the entirety of this 73.9-mile route between Janesville and Racine. With no highway segments, your journey will unfold on roads like Saint Lawrence Avenue and South Main Street, keeping you engaged with frequent turns and varied traffic conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the profile suggests a continuous series of local road navigation rather than long, open highway driving. This character means you'll experience the nuances of Wisconsin's local infrastructure, with potential for slower speeds and more interaction with the communities you pass through.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.2 mi on US 14.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 early in the drive near Saint Lawrence Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.2 miles you will encounter 25 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: near the start (Saint Lawrence Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 32.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
On the drive from Janesville, WI to Racine, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Burlington along the way.
Burlington
32.3 mi in
|
~43m
About the Cities
Arriving in Racine, WI
Full guide →Racine is a city of 77,000 people (2019) in Southeast Wisconsin along Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River. It is the county seat of Racine County.
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 48m. Total distance: 73.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.2 miles on US 14. 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 Racine, 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: near the start (Saint Lawrence Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 32.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Racine, 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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