How far is Fitchburg, WI from Rhinelander, WI?

The driving distance from Fitchburg, WI to Rhinelander, WI is about 217.4 miles (349.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 184.9 miles (297.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
217.38 mi
04h 10m
Flight
184.9 mi
297.57 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fitchburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
184.9 mi
Kilometers
297.57 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
217.38 mi
Kilometers
349.84 km
Drive Time
04h 10m

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 04h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rhinelander
Tue, May 5, 1:03 AM CDT
Return by in Fitchburg
Tue, May 5, 5:14 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fitchburg
2026-05-04T20:53
Arrive Rhinelander
Tue, May 5, 1:03 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:11 AM to 12:11 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fitchburg
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Plainfield
WI

Village in Waushara County, Wisconsin, United States

From Fitchburg
108.7 mi
02h 05m
To Rhinelander
108.7 mi
02h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Monday

Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 20 mph SW
Destination
65°F
Monday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, May 4 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    103.5 mi · 1 hr 51 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight right

    46.5 mi · 54 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 8: Prentice, Rhinelander

    1980 ft · 48 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on US 8: Rhinelander

    85 m · 10 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right

    14.3 mi · 20 min

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Kemp Street

    42 m · 8 sec · West Kemp Street

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto West Kemp Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Kemp Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Arbutus Street

    145 m · 13 sec · Arbutus Street

  24. 24

    Continue on South Petham Street

    1319 ft · 41 sec · South Petham Street

  25. 25

    Turn slight left onto South Stevens Street

    109 m · 11 sec · South Stevens Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto West King Street

    61 m · 9 sec · West King Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West King Street

Car Route Details

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

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
27 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
4 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
183 mi · 84%
US 14 West
5.98 mi · 3%
West Beltline Highway
5.79 mi · 3%
County Highway M
4.78 mi · 2%
West Kemp Street
1.17 mi · 1%
US 8
0.43 mi
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.5 mi
184.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Plainfield
02h 05m from Fitchburg
Leave By
8:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fitchburg and Chance Rain Showers near Rhinelander.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 217.4 miles (349.8 km) and usually takes 04h 10m 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?

Plainfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 108.7 miles from Fitchburg and 108.7 miles from Rhinelander.

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

The direct path is about 184.9 miles (297.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.5 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 8:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.92 one way or $57.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Fitchburg and Chance Rain Showers near Rhinelander.

Stop Ideas Near Plainfield

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Plainfield, 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 Plainfield.

BUS

Waupaca, Wisconsin

34 mi away
1222 West Fulton St.
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

35 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue
BUS

Westfield, WI

36 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
BUS

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

36 mi away
200 Division St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fitchburg and Rhinelander. Straight-line distance: 184.9 mi (297.57 km).

Fitchburg

#1 Fitchburg

City in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

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

#2 Rhinelander

City in and county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin

Population7,637
Coordinates45.6366200, -89.4120800
Altitude472
CountryUnited States
Start: Fitchburg (-89.46984, 42.96083)
End: Rhinelander (-89.41208, 45.63662)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 350 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.67 gal
29.04 L · about $28.92
Round trip
$57.85
15.34 gal · 58.08 L
Estimated CO2
68.2 kg one way
Round trip: 136.3 kg / 300 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.92 $57.85
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.62 $65.24
Premium $4.65 $35.70 $71.39
Diesel $5.30 $40.68 $81.36

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between Fitchburg and Rhinelander. The current time is 20:53:03.

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.