How far is City of Janesville, WI from Wausau, WI?
The driving distance from City of Janesville, WI to Wausau, WI is about 175.5 miles (282.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 160.1 miles (257.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 17m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Civil town in Marquette County, Wisconsin
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Rain Showers Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between City of Janesville and Wausau.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Janesville and Wausau.
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1
Start on East Court Street
45 m · 6 sec · East Court Street
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2
Turn right onto Harrison Street
156 m · 27 sec · Harrison Street
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3
Turn left onto East Milwaukee Street
841 ft · 21 sec · East Milwaukee Street
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4
Turn sharp right onto Milton Avenue
3.1 mi · 7 min · Milton Avenue
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5
Take the exit slight left
1.3 km · 2 min
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6
Merge slight left
61.3 mi · 1 hr 6 min
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7
Keep slight right to continue on WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, Wausau
1128 ft · 15 sec
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8
Continue on I 39 North: Portage, Wausau
103.5 mi · 1 hr 51 min
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9
Merge slight right
3.9 mi · 4 min
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10
Take the exit slight right toward WI 52: Stewart Avenue
2706 ft · 1 min
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11
Keep slight right
93 m · 8 sec
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12
Turn straight onto Highway 52 Parkway
1568 ft · 45 sec · Highway 52 Parkway
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13
Continue on Stewart Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Stewart Avenue
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14
Continue on Slough Bridge
1599 ft · 55 sec · Slough Bridge
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Slough Bridge
51 m · 14 sec · Slough Bridge
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16
Turn left onto North 1st Street
92 m · 12 sec · North 1st Street
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17
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
49 m · 9 sec · Jefferson Street
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18
Turn right
22 m · 11 sec
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19
Turn left
18 m · 6 sec
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20
Turn right
68 m · 18 sec
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21
At the end of the road, turn right onto Washington Street
50 m · 7 sec · Washington Street
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between City of Janesville and Wausau.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 39 North
Continue on I 39 North: Portage, Wausau
104 mi · 01h 51m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving City of Janesville and Rain Showers Likely near Wausau.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from City of Janesville to Wausau?
The road trip is about 175.5 miles (282.4 km) and usually takes 03h 17m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Packwaukee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.7 miles from City of Janesville and 87.7 miles from Wausau.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 160.1 miles (257.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:26 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.34 one way or $46.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around City of Janesville and Rain Showers Likely near Wausau.
Stop Ideas Near Packwaukee
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Packwaukee.
Westfield, WI
Portage
Wisconsin Dells
Columbus
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between City of Janesville and Wausau. Straight-line distance: 160.05 mi (257.58 km).
#1 City of Janesville
The most populous city in Rock County, Wisconsin.
| Population | 64,128 |
| Coordinates | 42.6857000, -89.0138500 |
| Altitude | 261 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Wausau
City in and county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin
| Population | 2,157 |
| Coordinates | 44.9591400, -89.6301200 |
| Altitude | 367 |
| Country | United States |
End: Wausau (-89.63012, 44.95914)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 282 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 23m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 55m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 11m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $23.34 | $46.68 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $26.33 | $52.65 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $28.81 | $57.62 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $32.83 | $65.66 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Wisconsin · May 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.