Origin
Menomonie, WI
Night in Menomonie on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Menomonie, 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
4h 19m
Distance
233 mi
375 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 7m
★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 46m
10 AM
4h 29m
12 PM
4h 26m
3 PM
4h 30m
5 PM
4h 45m
8 PM
4h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Menomonie, WI
Tom Fisk
City of Janesville, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Menomonie, WI to Janesville, WI is 233 miles and takes about 4h 19m via I 94 and I 39, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, making it a solid option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a single-day trip, as the 4-hour duration is very manageable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
116.5 miles from Menomonie, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 186.5 mi | 3h 19m |
| I 39 | 33.1 mi | 35m |
| Stout Road | 9.1 mi | 13m |
| Milton Avenue | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| North Garfield Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 4th Avenue East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 9th Street East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Crescent Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 186.5 mi, about 3h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonie, WI and City of Janesville, WI.
1
Start on Wilson Avenue
50 ft
·
6 sec
·
Wilson Avenue
2
Turn right onto 9th Street East
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
9th Street East
3
Turn right onto US 12; WI 29
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Crescent Street
4
Continue on US 12; WI 29
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
4th Avenue East
5
Continue on US 12; WI 29
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
Stout Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
7
Merge onto I 94
187 mi
·
3 hr 19 min
·
I 94
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 39; I 90
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 171A
Toward WI 26: State Highway 26
11
Keep slight right at fork
414 ft
·
10 sec
Toward WI 26 South: Janesville
12
Turn slight right onto WI 26
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Milton Avenue
13
Turn left onto East Memorial Drive
261 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Memorial Drive
14
Continue on North Garfield Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Garfield Avenue
15
Turn right onto East Court Street
467 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Court Street
16
Arrive at destination
East Court Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving Menomonie in the morning allows ample time to reach Janesville before evening. With only one recommended stop, plan your break strategically, perhaps midway through the 186.5-mile stretch on I 94, to refuel and stretch your legs. Keep an eye on the fuel cost estimate of $36, and be aware that driving primarily on interstates means fewer immediate services compared to rural routes. Wisconsin's efficient highway system makes this a smooth and predictable drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 116.5 miles from Menomonie, WI, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.5 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 51 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.5 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Janesville, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Menomonie, 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 Menomonie, WI
This is one driving day of about 233 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Menomonie, 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 94 for about 186.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 116.5 miles from Menomonie, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 186.5 miles.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 230 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
9th Street East
Turn right onto 9th Street East
Navigation decision point
5
9.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
196.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 35m in
|
I 39; I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90 toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
7
229.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 11m 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
230 mi into trip
|
~4h 12m 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
$36.43 one way
$72.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $40.00 | $79.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $44.84 | $89.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.44 | $102.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.9 | 0 | $24.46 | $11.18 |
| Efficient EV | 58.3 | 0 | $20.39 | $9.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.62 | $14.91 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Night in City of Janesville on Saturday
Local time
11:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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
4h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 136.6
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this 233-mile trip, with 94% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 94, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 186.5 miles. While primarily interstate, you'll also navigate via Stout Road for a brief segment. The journey is designed for steady progress rather than winding scenic detours.
94% 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: 186.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 39. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 9th Street East.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 233 miles you will encounter 10 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 (9th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 9.9 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.4 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 233 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 186.5 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
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 (9th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 9.9 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.4 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Janesville, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From City of Janesville, WI
More from Menomonie, WI
More trips to City of Janesville, WI
Explore more options from Menomonie, WI or browse trips ending in City of Janesville, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.