Origin
Waterford, WI
Morning in Waterford on Sunday
Local time
7:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterford, 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
1h 8m
Distance
51.3 mi
83 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterford, WI
Tom Fisk
City of Janesville, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Waterford to Janesville, Wisconsin, you are looking at a straightforward 51.3-mile journey. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 8 minutes on the road, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel cost estimate of just $8, it is a budget-friendly way to navigate the Midwest. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, ensuring a consistent pace throughout your travel. Because of the manageable distance and duration, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when to head out and when to return home. It is a practical, efficient connection between these two Wisconsin locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 43 | 22.7 mi | 24m |
| US 14 | 14.5 mi | 19m |
| State Highway 20 | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| High Drive | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| East Racine Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| West Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Randall Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 22.7 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterford, WI and City of Janesville, WI.
1
Start on South River Street
52 ft
·
7 sec
·
South River Street
2
Turn left onto WI 20; WI 83
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on WI 20; WI 83
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
High Drive
4
Continue on WI 20
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
High Drive
5
Continue on WI 20
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 20
6
Continue on WI 20
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Street
7
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
8
Merge onto I 43
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 43
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 15
Toward US 14: Darien, Janesville
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
121 ft
·
3 sec
11
Merge onto US 14
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
US 14
12
Turn left onto US 14; WI 11
11 mi
·
15 min
·
US 14; WI 11
13
Turn left onto WI 11
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Racine Street
14
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
118 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Racine Street
15
Continue on WI 11
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
East Racine Street
16
Enter roundabout onto East Racine Street
96 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Racine Street
17
Continue on East Racine Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Racine Street
18
Turn right onto South Randall Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Randall Avenue
19
Turn left onto CTH MM
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ruger Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto East Court Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
East Court Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Court Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.7 miles from Waterford, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 10 and 49.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 43
Merge onto I 43
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
32.8 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward US 14: Darien, Janesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward US 14: Darien, Janesville
5
33 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
33 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 14
Merge onto US 14
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
49.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
East Racine Street
Enter roundabout onto East Racine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.02 one way
$16.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.81 | $17.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.87 | $19.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.33 | $22.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Morning in City of Janesville on Sunday
Local time
7:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 8m 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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 80% of your travel time spent on major roads. You will utilize a combination of I-43, US-14, and State Highway 20 to complete your trek. Much of your time behind the wheel will involve a steady 22.7-mile stretch on I-43, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the route. Because the drive is dominated by high-speed corridors, you can expect a very predictable experience. The transition between these roads keeps the drive moving quickly, allowing you to focus on the road ahead without the need for complex navigation through local side streets.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.7 mi on I 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and US 14. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10 miles in near I 43.
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 51.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 10 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Waterford, WI to City of Janesville, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Janesville along the way.
Janesville
32.8 mi in
|
~39m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 51.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.7 miles on I 43. 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 10 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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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