Origin
Portland, WI
Late night in Portland on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portland, 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
3h 3m
Distance
160.8 mi
259 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 52m
★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 13m
5 PM
3h 26m
8 PM
2h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portland, WI
Brett Sayles
City of Janesville, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Portland, WI to City of Janesville, WI is 160.8 miles and takes about 3h 3m via I 90 and I 39, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin, making it a straightforward journey. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it's an ideal option for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so expect a direct path rather than a leisurely, meandering drive. Consider this route when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.4 miles from Portland, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 111.9 mi | 1h 59m |
| I 39 | 33.1 mi | 35m |
| County Highway X | 6.5 mi | 11m |
| State Highway 27 | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Milton Avenue | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| North Garfield Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Black River Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Court Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 111.9 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, WI and City of Janesville, WI.
1
Start on CTH X
151 ft
·
11 sec
·
County Highway X
2
Turn left onto WI 33; CTH X
315 ft
·
5 sec
·
State Highway 33
3
Turn right onto CTH X
6.5 mi
·
11 min
·
County Highway X
4
At end of road, turn left onto WI 27
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 27
5
Continue on WI 27
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
South Black River Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
7
Merge onto I 90
112 mi
·
1 hr 59 min
·
I 90
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
Since this drive is only about 3 hours and stays within Wisconsin, it's perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive with plenty of time to spare. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated around $25, planning is minimal. Consider utilizing the longest stretch on I 90 to get a significant portion of your miles covered before potentially needing a brief break. A good strategy is to push through the majority of the interstate driving before looking for your stop.
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 80.4 miles from Portland, WI, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.9 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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.4 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
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 Portland, 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 Portland, WI
This is one driving day of about 160.8 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Portland, 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 90 for about 111.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.4 miles from Portland, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.9 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 157.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WI 33; CTH X / State Highway 33
Turn left onto WI 33; CTH X / State Highway 33
Navigation decision point
5
12.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
124.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m 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
157.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 55m 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
157.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 56m 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
$25.14 one way
$50.28 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.60 | $55.20 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.94 | $61.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.50 | $71.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.88 | $7.72 |
| Efficient EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.07 | $6.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.3 | 0 | $22.51 | $10.29 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
46°F
Portage, WI
80 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
5 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
3h 3m 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.
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 66.6
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with a substantial 93% of the journey on major roads like I 90 and I 39. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 111.9 miles on I 90, offering a sustained period of steady driving. While County Highway X makes up a small portion, the overall character is one of efficient travel on well-maintained interstates. Expect minimal deviations from high-speed cruising, making it a predictable and straightforward driving experience for the most part.
93% 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: 111.9 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 39. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 33; CTH X / State Highway 33.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 160.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 (WI 33; CTH X / State Highway 33): Navigation decision point; at 12.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.2 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 3h 3m. Total distance: 160.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.9 miles on I 90. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 33; CTH X / State Highway 33): Navigation decision point; at 12.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.2 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 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 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.
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Return Trip
City of Janesville, WI to Portland, WIPlan the drive back the other way.
161.6 mi
3h 4m
Continue From City of Janesville, WI
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