Origin
Madison, WI
Late night in Madison on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, WI to City of Janesville, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
40.1 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, WI
Wikimedia Commons
City of Janesville, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Madison to Janesville, you are looking at a straightforward 40.1-mile drive that typically takes about 55 minutes. This Midwest route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you can easily head out and return without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $6 for fuel, making it a very economical trip. Since both cities are located within Wisconsin, the transition between them is seamless and familiar. Because the drive is so short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for business or leisure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 39 | 28.1 mi | 30m |
| West Beltline Highway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Milton Avenue | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| John Nolen Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| North Garfield Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Proudfit Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Park Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Regent Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 28.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, WI and City of Janesville, WI.
1
Start on CTH MS
317 ft
·
18 sec
·
University Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Brooks Street
432 ft
·
26 sec
·
North Brooks Street
3
Turn left onto West Johnson Street
430 ft
·
19 sec
·
West Johnson Street
4
Turn right onto North Park Street
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Park Street
5
Turn left onto Regent Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Regent Street
6
Continue on US 151
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Proudfit Street
7
Continue on US 151
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Shore Drive
8
Turn right onto John Nolen Drive
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
John Nolen Drive
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward US 12 East, US 18 East
10
Merge onto US 12; US 18
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Beltline Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 267A
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East: Janesville, Chicago
12
Merge onto I 39; I 90
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 39; I 90
Toward I 39:I 90: Chicago
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 171A
Toward WI 26: State Highway 26
15
Keep slight right at fork
414 ft
·
10 sec
Toward WI 26 South: Janesville
16
Turn slight right onto WI 26
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Milton Avenue
17
Turn left onto East Memorial Drive
261 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Memorial Drive
18
Continue on North Garfield Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Garfield Avenue
19
Turn right onto East Court Street
467 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Court Street
20
Arrive at destination
East Court Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Madison, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 37.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Brooks Street
Turn left onto North Brooks Street
Navigation decision point
6
3.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 12 East, US 18 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 East, US 18 East
6
7.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 39 South, I 90 East: Janesville, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 267A
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East: Janesville, Chica...
7
36.9 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 26: State Highway 26
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 171A
Toward WI 26: State Highway 26
6
37.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 26 South: Janesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward WI 26 South: Janesville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.27 one way
$12.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.88 | $13.77 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.72 | $15.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.85 | $17.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
City of Janesville, WI
Late night in City of Janesville on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Cottage Grove, WI
20 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
11 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
55m 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, as 70% of your travel takes place on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of the West Beltline Highway, I-39, and Milton Avenue as you transition from the capital area into Janesville. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-39, where you will spend 28.1 miles cruising at highway speeds. While the route is efficient, it leans toward a functional commute rather than a leisurely backroads tour. Once you exit the interstate, the final leg along Milton Avenue will guide you directly into the heart of the city.
70% 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: 28.1 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and West Beltline Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Brooks Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 40.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Brooks Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Madison, WI to City of Janesville, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Chicago along the way.
Chicago
7.7 mi in
|
~14m
About the Cities
Starting in Madison, WI
Full guide →Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. As the anchor of the Greater Madison Area, it is home to the University of Wisconsin — Madison, one of the premier universities in the United States. It is a vibrant city known for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and academic excellence. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the city's many museums and art galleries. The city is also known for its diverse and delicious food options.
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 55m. Total distance: 40.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.1 miles on I 39. 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 City of Janesville, 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 0.1 miles (North Brooks Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.7 miles: 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 City of Janesville, 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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