How far is Franklin, WI from Ladysmith, WI?

The driving distance from Franklin, WI to Ladysmith, WI is about 293.8 miles (472.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 233.9 miles (376.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 50m 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
293.77 mi
05h 55m
Flight
233.88 mi
376.39 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Franklin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
233.88 mi
Kilometers
376.39 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
293.77 mi
Kilometers
472.78 km
Drive Time
05h 55m

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 05h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ladysmith
Thu, Apr 23, 12:03 PM CDT
Return by in Franklin
Thu, Apr 23, 5:58 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Franklin
2026-04-23T06:08
Arrive Ladysmith
Thu, Apr 23, 12:03 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:55 AM to 1:55 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
5:10 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Franklin
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Mauston
WI

City in and county seat of Juneau County, Wisconsin

From Franklin
146.8 mi
02h 57m
To Ladysmith
147 mi
02h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
73°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Franklin and Ladysmith.

  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

    53.5 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

    29.1 mi · 31 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    63.5 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul

    58.5 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 10, CTH R: Osseo, Augusta

    1354 ft · 33 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight right

    60 m · 5 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto 10th Street

    1 km · 1 min · 10th Street

  21. 21

    Continue on US Highway 10

    1.4 km · 1 min · US Highway 10

  22. 22

    Turn left onto County Road R

    2667 ft · 53 sec · County Road R

  23. 23

    Continue on County Highway R

    6.8 mi · 12 min · County Highway R

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn right

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  25. 25

    Turn left onto State Highway 27

    34.6 mi · 51 min · State Highway 27

  26. 26

    Continue on South 3rd Street

    2958 ft · 50 sec · South 3rd Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Bridge Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Bridge Street

  28. 28

    Continue on State Highway 27

    20.6 mi · 31 min · State Highway 27

  29. 29

    Continue on West 9th Street South

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West 9th Street South

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Miner Avenue West

    1663 ft · 1 min · Miner Avenue West

  31. 31

    Turn right

    135 m · 33 sec

  32. 32

    Turn right

    11 m · 3 sec

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
33 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
92.6 mi · 32%
East-West Freeway
63.8 mi · 22%
I 94 West
59.4 mi · 20%
State Highway 27
55.2 mi · 19%
County Highway R
6.76 mi · 2%
South Lovers Lane Road
4.43 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 39 North

Keep slight left

63.5 mi · 01h 08m

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
05h 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+59.9 mi
233.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mauston
02h 57m from Franklin
Leave By
5:10 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Franklin and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Ladysmith.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Franklin to Ladysmith?

The road trip is about 293.8 miles (472.8 km) and usually takes 05h 55m 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?

Mauston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.8 miles from Franklin and 147 miles from Ladysmith.

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

The direct path is about 233.9 miles (376.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.9 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 5:10 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.11 one way or $78.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Franklin and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Ladysmith.

Stop Ideas Near Mauston

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

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

RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

31 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
RAIL

Tomah

40 mi away
North Superior Ave. and Washington St.
BUS

Westfield, WI

49 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
RAIL

Portage

56 mi away
400 West Oneida Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Franklin and Ladysmith. Straight-line distance: 233.88 mi (376.39 km).

Franklin

#1 Franklin

Third-class city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Population36,222
Coordinates42.8886300, -88.0384200
Altitude244
CountryUnited States
Ladysmith

#2 Ladysmith

City in and county seat of Rusk County, Wisconsin, United States

Population3,054
Coordinates45.4630200, -91.1040400
Altitude349
CountryUnited States
Start: Franklin (-88.03842, 42.88863)
End: Ladysmith (-91.10404, 45.46302)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 473 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.37 gal
39.24 L · about $39.11
Round trip
$78.21
20.74 gal · 78.48 L
Estimated CO2
92.2 kg one way
Round trip: 184.3 kg / 406 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.11 $78.21
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.10 $88.21
Premium $4.65 $48.26 $96.52
Diesel $5.30 $55.00 $110.00

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Franklin and Ladysmith. The current time is 06:08:14.

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.