Trip from Rhinelander, WI to City of Janesville, WI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 24m

Distance

231.9 mi

373 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 11m ★

6 AM

4h 24m

8 AM

4h 51m

10 AM

4h 34m

12 PM

4h 31m

3 PM

4h 35m

5 PM

4h 50m

8 PM

4h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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Rhinelander, WI

Tom Fisk

City of Janesville, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Rhinelander to Janesville is 231.9 miles and takes about 4h 24m via I 39, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to the same region. It's primarily a highway-focused drive that should be manageable in a single day. You'll be covering a significant distance, so be prepared for a solid few hours on the road. The route is straightforward, making it a good option for a direct trip between these two points.

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 miles from Rhinelander, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 39	165.7 mi	2h 57m
US 51	46.3 mi	53m
US 8	11.6 mi	15m
US Highway 8	2.9 mi	4m
Milton Avenue	2.3 mi	5m
West Kemp Street	1.2 mi	2m
North Garfield Avenue	0.5 mi	1m
South Petham Street	0.2 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 39 — 165.7 mi, about 2h 57m

Traffic on I-39

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,886 veh/hr typical · worst 2,380

Quietest

2 AM

~145 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

13×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rhinelander, WI and City of Janesville, WI.

Start on West King Street

200 ft · 11 sec · West King Street

Turn right onto South Stevens Street

356 ft · 9 sec · South Stevens Street

Continue on South Petham Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · South Petham Street

Continue on Arbutus Street

476 ft · 17 sec · Arbutus Street

Turn right onto CTH P

1.2 mi · 2 min · West Kemp Street

Use the right lane.

Enter roundabout onto US 8

134 ft · 7 sec · US Highway 8

Continue on US 8

2.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 8

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 8

12 mi · 15 min · US 8

Use the straight lane.

Turn left

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Use the left lane.

Merge onto US 51

46 mi · 53 min · US 51

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51

22 mi · 24 min · I 39; US 51

Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison

Continue on I 39; US 10; US 51

7.4 mi · 7 min · I 39; US 10; US 51

Continue on I 39; US 51

73 mi · 1 hr 18 min · I 39; US 51

Keep slight right at fork onto I 39

30 mi · 31 min · I 39

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 171A Toward WI 26: State Highway 26

Keep slight right at fork

414 ft · 10 sec

Toward WI 26 South: Janesville

Turn slight right onto WI 26

2.3 mi · 5 min · Milton Avenue

Turn left onto East Memorial Drive

261 ft · 11 sec · East Memorial Drive

Continue on North Garfield Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Garfield Avenue

Turn right onto East Court Street

467 ft · 15 sec · East Court Street

Arrive at destination

East Court Street

Trip Plan

Given the 4h 24m duration, leaving Rhinelander in the morning allows ample time to reach Janesville before evening. With a recommended 1-day trip, you have flexibility in your stop timing. Consider making your main stop around the halfway point or when you feel the need to stretch. The longest stretch on I 39 is over 165 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly to avoid fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially on the longer highway segments, as services can sometimes be spaced out.

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 miles from Rhinelander, WI, or about 2h 15m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.7 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 1h 4m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 116 miles or 2h 15m 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 34m

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 Rhinelander, 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 Rhinelander, WI

This is one driving day of about 231.9 miles and 4h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Rhinelander, 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 39 for about 165.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake Wazeecha, WI

116 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

Wausau, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake Wazeecha, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 116 miles from Rhinelander, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

1 mi from route

Rest Area

1.7 mi from route

George Street Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Rothschild, Wisconsin

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+17153593660

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 228.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | CTH P / West Kemp Street

Turn right onto CTH P / West Kemp Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

62.8 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | I 39; US 51

Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51 toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point,...

165.7 mi into trip | ~3h 8m in | I 39

Keep slight right at fork onto I 39

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

195.3 mi into trip | ~3h 40m 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

228.7 mi into trip | ~4h 16m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.25 one way

$68.49 round trip

$3.75/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.14	$37.81	$75.61
premium	$4.72	$43.06	$86.11
diesel	$4.80	$43.79	$87.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	69.6	0	$24.35	$11.13
Efficient EV	58	0	$20.29	$9.28
EV Truck/SUV	92.8	1	$32.47	$14.84

Gas CO2

81 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.

Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Rhinelander, WI

Late night in Rhinelander on Sunday

Local time

2:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Smoke

N 12 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:08AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Destination

City of Janesville, WI

Late night in City of Janesville on Sunday

Local time

2:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

88°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 10 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:08AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

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

8 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

4h 24m 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...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 128

Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River

Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with a 98% highway share. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 165.7 miles on I 39. The profile suggests a steady pace, largely on major interstates. You'll likely experience a consistent driving environment for most of the 4h 24m journey. This isn't a route for winding backroads; it's built for covering ground efficiently.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 165.7 mi on I 39.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and US 51. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CTH P / West Kemp Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 231.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CTH P / West Kemp Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 62.8 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 165.7 miles (I 39): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,549 ft 797 ft

Total Climb

198 ft

Total Descent

893 ft

Highest Point

1,549 ft

Elevation Range

751 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Janesville, WI

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Campus Café

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Subway

Fast_food

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Rhinelander, WI

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 10:00-21:00

Visit website

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: Tu-Sa 11:00-20:00

Visit website

Genisa Wine Bar

Halfway reset 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Rhinelander, WI

Full guide →

Rhinelander is a town in North Central Wisconsin that is a commercial, industrial, and recreation hub for the Northwoods area of Wisconsin. Because of the forests, lakes, and trails in the area, it is both a summer and winter vacation destination. Its population was 8,300 in 2020.

Top landmarks

• Oneida County Courthouse — county courthouse in Rhinelander, Wisconsin
• First National Bank — historic bank building in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, United States

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 4h 24m. Total distance: 231.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 165.7 miles on I 39. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Rhinelander, WI to City of Janesville, WI

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-39

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

Petro Stopping Centers

Coloma Rest Area 81

Portage Rest Area 11

Poynette Rest Area 12

Janesville Rest Area 17

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Pleasant Springs Travel Plaza

Service Plaza

TA

Westfield Rest Area 82

Petro Stopping Centers

Rest Area

George Street Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Rhinelander, WI

City of Janesville, WI

Same local time

8 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 24m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Detours Along the Way

Caribou Coffee

Mocha Moment

Bytes Snack & Shop

Starbucks

Campus Café

Subway

Pizza Hut

Nacho's Mexican Grill

Burger King

Sandwich Bar

Genisa Wine Bar

Prairie Park

Five Points

Lions Park

West Side Park

Georgetown Park

Upper Fox Headwaters State Natural Area

First State Fair

Chamber of Commerce Hodag

Hodag

Best Western Country Inn

Vista Royalle Campground

About the Cities

Starting in Rhinelander, WI

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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