Lyndon Station Rest Area 9
0 mi from route
Trip from Somerset, WI to City of Janesville, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 17m
Distance
283 mi
455 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 4m
★
6 AM
5h 18m
8 AM
5h 45m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 25m
3 PM
5h 29m
5 PM
5h 43m
8 PM
5h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Somerset, WI
Tom Fisk
City of Janesville, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This 283-mile drive from Somerset, WI, to the City of Janesville, WI, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 17 minutes. You'll primarily be on the interstate, with 93% of the journey utilizing major highways like I-94 and I-39. Budget around $44 for fuel for this trip. Given its highway-focused profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward transit through the Midwest. You'll encounter just one recommended stop along the way, making it an efficient route for getting from point A to point B.
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
141.5 miles from Somerset, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 228.4 mi | 4h 4m |
| I 39 | 33.1 mi | 35m |
| County Road I | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| County Highway E | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| 120th Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 65 | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Milton Avenue | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| County Road E | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 228.4 mi, about 4h 4m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,183 veh/hr typical · worst 1,833
Quietest
2 AM
~138 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
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 Somerset, WI and City of Janesville, WI.
1
Start on WI 64 BUS; CTH VV
320 ft
·
18 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto CTH I
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road I
3
Enter roundabout onto County Road I
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
County Road I
4
Continue on County Road I
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road I
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn sharp left onto CTH E
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road E
6
Continue on CTH A; CTH E
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
County Highway E
7
Continue on CTH E
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
County Highway E
8
Turn right onto 120th Street
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
120th Street
9
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
129 ft
·
7 sec
·
State Highway 65
10
Continue on WI 65
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 65
11
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
110 ft
·
6 sec
·
State Highway 65
12
Continue on WI 65
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 65
13
Continue on WI 65
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
State Highway 65
14
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
94 ft
·
5 sec
·
State Highway 65
Toward River Falls
15
Continue on WI 65
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
State Highway 65
Toward River Falls
16
Enter roundabout
293 ft
·
17 sec
Toward Eau Claire, Madison
17
Continue
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward Eau Claire, Madison
18
Merge onto I 94
228 mi
·
4 hr 4 min
·
I 94
Use the straight lane.
19
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.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 171A
Toward WI 26: State Highway 26
22
Keep slight right at fork
414 ft
·
10 sec
Toward WI 26 South: Janesville
23
Turn slight right onto WI 26
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Milton Avenue
24
Turn left onto East Memorial Drive
261 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Memorial Drive
25
Continue on North Garfield Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Garfield Avenue
26
Turn right onto East Court Street
467 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Court Street
27
Arrive at destination
East Court Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 17-minute drive, starting early is a good strategy to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With only one recommended stop and a long stretch of highway driving, plan your breaks strategically to stay alert. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 228.4-mile mark on I-94, to ensure you don't need to deviate for gas. The $44 fuel cost is an estimate, so factor in your vehicle's MPG. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to depart at a time that suits you best.
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 141.5 miles from Somerset, WI, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 228.4 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 62 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.5 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 18m
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 Somerset, 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 Somerset, WI
This is one driving day of about 283 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Somerset, 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 228.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
142 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 141.5 miles from Somerset, 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 228.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Millston Rest Area 53
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Menomonie Eastbound Rest Area 61
0.1 mi from route
Menomonie Westbound Rest Area 62
0.1 mi from route
Portage Rest Area 11
0.1 mi from route
Poynette Rest Area 12
0.1 mi from route
Janesville Rest Area 17
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest area
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Black River Falls Rest Area 54
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pleasant Springs Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Mauston Rest Area 10
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Rest Area
1.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 17.5 and 279.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
17.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
WI 65 / State Highway 65
Enter roundabout onto WI 65 / State Highway 65 toward River Falls
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward River Falls
7
17.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Enter roundabout toward Eau Claire, Madison
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Eau Claire, Madison
8
246.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m 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
279.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m 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
279.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 10m 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
$41.79 one way
$83.59 round trip
$3.75/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.14 | $46.14 | $92.28 |
| premium | $4.72 | $52.54 | $105.09 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $53.44 | $106.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.9 | 1 | $29.72 | $13.58 |
| Efficient EV | 70.8 | 0 | $24.76 | $11.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 113.2 | 1 | $39.62 | $18.11 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Somerset, WI
Late night in Somerset on Sunday
Local time
2:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 5 mph
32% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:51PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 8:40PM CDT until July 17 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
City of Janesville, WI
Late night in City of Janesville on Sunday
Local time
2:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:51PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 8:40PM CDT until July 17 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
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
5h 17m 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 185.4
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 experience for the majority of this trip, with 93% of the drive on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 228.4 miles on I-94, meaning you can settle in for extended periods of driving. While largely an interstate transit, the route does incorporate County Road I, offering a brief change of pace. This profile suggests a journey characterized by consistent speeds and straightforward navigation for most of its length.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 228.4 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 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.5 miles in near WI 65 / State Highway 65.
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 283 miles you will encounter 18 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: at 17.5 miles (WI 65 / State Highway 65): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.4 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,214 ft
812 ft
Total Climb
933 ft
Total Descent
935 ft
Highest Point
1,214 ft
~40.4 mi in
Elevation Range
401 ft
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.
Between Somerset, WI and City of Janesville, WI, road signs point toward River Falls, Eau Claire and Madison.
River Falls
17.5 mi in
|
~27m
|
via WI 65
Eau Claire
17.6 mi in
|
~27m
Madison
17.6 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Starting in Somerset, WI
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Soo Line High Bridge — railway bridge in Wisconsin and Minnesota, 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 5h 17m. Total distance: 283 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m 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 228.4 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.5 miles (WI 65 / State Highway 65): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.6 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.4 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at City of Janesville, WI before the return drive.
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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