How far is Fitchburg, WI from Portage, WI?

The driving distance from Fitchburg, WI to Portage, WI is about 55.8 miles (89.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 40 miles (64.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
55.81 mi
01h 07m
Flight
39.96 mi
64.31 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fitchburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
39.96 mi
Kilometers
64.31 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
55.81 mi
Kilometers
89.81 km
Drive Time
01h 07m

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 01h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portage
Sun, Apr 19, 1:06 AM CDT
Return by in Fitchburg
Sun, Apr 19, 2:14 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fitchburg
2026-04-18T23:59
Arrive Portage
Sun, Apr 19, 1:06 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:16 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fitchburg
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Windsor
WI

Village in Dane County, Wisconsin , United States

From Fitchburg
27.9 mi
00h 33m
To Portage
27.9 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph W
Destination
52°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fitchburg and Portage.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fitchburg and Portage.

  1. 1

    Start on Wendt Road

    1511 ft · 1 min · Wendt Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto County Highway M

    4.8 mi · 7 min · County Highway M

  3. 3

    Turn straight

    31 m · 3 sec

  4. 4

    Turn slight left

    747 ft · 19 sec

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward County Road MM

    36 m · 3 sec · County Road MM

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto County Road MM

    103 m · 8 sec · County Road MM

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alternate

    73 m · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto US 14 West, US 18 Alternate, US 151 Alternate

    1755 ft · 43 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South

    633 ft · 15 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on US 12 East, US 18 East

    1988 ft · 51 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto West Beltline Highway

    5.8 mi · 8 min · West Beltline Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells

    1.3 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    32.4 mi · 35 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, Wausau

    1128 ft · 15 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on I 39 North: Portage, Wausau

    2.8 mi · 3 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 33, I 90 Alternate: Portage

    1373 ft · 34 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto State Highway 33

    1.8 mi · 3 min · State Highway 33

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Cook Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fitchburg and Portage.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
3 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
36 mi · 64%
US 14 West
5.98 mi · 11%
West Beltline Highway
5.79 mi · 10%
County Highway M
4.78 mi · 9%
State Highway 33
1.79 mi · 3%
US 12 East
0.38 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 39 North

Merge slight left

32.4 mi · 00h 35m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 07m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.8 mi
40 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Windsor
00h 33m from Fitchburg
Leave By
4:16 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fitchburg and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Portage.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fitchburg to Portage?

The road trip is about 55.8 miles (89.8 km) and usually takes 01h 07m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Windsor is a useful midpoint, sitting about 27.9 miles from Fitchburg and 27.9 miles from Portage.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 40 miles (64.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:16 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.43 one way or $14.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Fitchburg and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Portage.

Stop Ideas Near Windsor

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Windsor, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Windsor.

BUS

Madison, Wisconsin

17 mi away
800 Langdon St.
BUS

Madison (South), Wisconsin

19 mi away
Hwy 51 & East Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Columbus

30 mi away
359 North Ludington Street
RAIL

Portage

38 mi away
400 West Oneida Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fitchburg and Portage. Straight-line distance: 39.96 mi (64.31 km).

Fitchburg

#1 Fitchburg

City in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

Population30,866
Coordinates42.9608300, -89.4698400
Altitude310
CountryUnited States
Portage

#2 Portage

Fourth-class city in Columbia County, Wisconsin

Population10,381
Coordinates43.5391500, -89.4626200
Altitude241
CountryUnited States
Start: Fitchburg (-89.46984, 42.96083)
End: Portage (-89.46262, 43.53915)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 90 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.97 gal
7.45 L · about $7.43
Round trip
$14.86
3.94 gal · 14.9 L
Estimated CO2
17.5 kg one way
Round trip: 35 kg / 77 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $7.43 $14.86
Mid-grade $4.25 $8.38 $16.76
Premium $4.65 $9.17 $18.34
Diesel $5.30 $10.45 $20.90

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 · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Fitchburg and Portage. The current time is 23:59:23.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.