How far is Franklin, WI from Cottage Grove, WI?

The driving distance from Franklin, WI to Cottage Grove, WI is about 72.7 miles (117 km), with a travel time of about 01h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 60.1 miles (96.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 53m 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
72.69 mi
01h 26m
Flight
60.11 mi
96.73 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Franklin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
60.11 mi
Kilometers
96.73 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
72.69 mi
Kilometers
116.98 km
Drive Time
01h 26m

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 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cottage Grove
Sun, Apr 19, 8:21 AM CDT
Return by in Franklin
Sun, Apr 19, 9:48 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Franklin
2026-04-19T06:54
Arrive Cottage Grove
Sun, Apr 19, 8:21 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:27 AM to 11:27 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Franklin
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
Concord
WI

Town in Wisconsin, United States

From Franklin
36.3 mi
00h 43m
To Cottage Grove
36.4 mi
00h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
46°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Snow Showers then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W
Destination
48°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Snow Showers then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Franklin and Cottage Grove.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Franklin and Cottage Grove.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    43 m · 11 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    27 m · 8 sec

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right

    117 m · 17 sec

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Saint Martins Road

    765 ft · 15 sec · West Saint Martins Road

  5. 5

    Continue on South Lovers Lane Road

    4.4 mi · 8 min · South Lovers Lane Road

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 43 North, US 45 North

    2070 ft · 53 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Rock Freeway

    1224 ft · 19 sec · Rock Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight left toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison

    3078 ft · 55 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight right onto Zoo Freeway

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Zoo Freeway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee

    937 ft · 16 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison

    3267 ft · 56 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison

    665 ft · 11 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

    10.2 mi · 12 min · East-West Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

    49.3 mi · 53 min · East-West Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove

    1480 ft · 36 sec

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward County Highway N

    61 m · 4 sec · County Highway N

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout onto County Highway N

    156 m · 9 sec · County Highway N

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Highway N

    28 m · 2 sec · County Highway N

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto County Highway N

    1.2 km · 1 min · County Highway N

  20. 20

    Continue on North Main Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Franklin and Cottage Grove.

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
21 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East-West Freeway
59.5 mi · 82%
South Lovers Lane Road
4.43 mi · 6%
Zoo Freeway
3.68 mi · 5%
North Main Street
1.49 mi · 2%
I 94 West
0.92 mi · 1%
County Highway N
0.92 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

East-West Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

49.3 mi · 00h 53m

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 26m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.6 mi
60.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Concord
00h 43m from Franklin
Leave By
3:36 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Snow Showers then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Franklin and Slight Chance Snow Showers then Chance Rain Showers near Cottage Grove.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Franklin to Cottage Grove?

The road trip is about 72.7 miles (117 km) and usually takes 01h 26m 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?

Concord is a useful midpoint, sitting about 36.3 miles from Franklin and 36.4 miles from Cottage Grove.

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

The direct path is about 60.1 miles (96.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.6 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 3:36 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $9.69 one way or $19.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 22.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Snow Showers then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Franklin and Slight Chance Snow Showers then Chance Rain Showers near Cottage Grove.

Stop Ideas Near Concord

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

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

RAIL

Columbus

45 mi away
359 North Ludington Street
BUS

Beaver Dam, WI

46 mi away
817 Park Avenue
BUS

Janesville, Wisconsin

51 mi away
3120 North Pontiac Drive
RAIL

Milwaukee Intermodal Station

56 mi away
433 West St. Paul Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Franklin and Cottage Grove. Straight-line distance: 60.11 mi (96.73 km).

Franklin

#1 Franklin

Third-class city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Population36,222
Coordinates42.8886300, -88.0384200
Altitude244
CountryUnited States
Cottage Grove

#2 Cottage Grove

Civil town in Dane County, Wisconsin

Population3,989
Coordinates43.0761100, -89.1995600
Altitude269
CountryUnited States
Start: Franklin (-88.03842, 42.88863)
End: Cottage Grove (-89.19956, 43.07611)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 117 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.57 gal
9.71 L · about $9.69
Round trip
$19.38
5.14 gal · 19.42 L
Estimated CO2
22.8 kg one way
Round trip: 45.7 kg / 101 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $9.69 $19.38
Mid-grade $4.25 $10.93 $21.86
Premium $4.65 $11.96 $23.92
Diesel $5.30 $13.63 $27.26

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 Franklin and Cottage Grove. The current time is 06:54:23.

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.