How far is Franklin, WI from River Falls, WI?

The driving distance from Franklin, WI to River Falls, WI is about 311 miles (500.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 265.9 miles (427.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 35m 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
310.99 mi
05h 47m
Flight
265.9 mi
427.93 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
265.9 mi
Kilometers
427.93 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
310.99 mi
Kilometers
500.49 km
Drive Time
05h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in River Falls
Wed, Apr 15, 11:06 PM CDT
Return by in Franklin
Thu, Apr 16, 4:54 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Franklin
2026-04-15T17:19
Arrive River Falls
Wed, Apr 15, 11:06 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:48 AM to 1:48 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
5:24 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

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
Camp Douglas
WI

Village in Juneau County, Wisconsin

From Franklin
155.3 mi
02h 53m
To River Falls
155.7 mi
02h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Today

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW
Destination
44°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Franklin and River Falls.

  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

    130.1 mi · 2 hr 20 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward CTH T: Hammond

    1547 ft · 38 sec

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward County Highway T

    74 m · 5 sec · County Highway T

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto County Highway T

    148 m · 28 sec · County Highway T

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Highway T

    44 m · 8 sec · County Highway T

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto County Highway T

    1.5 mi · 2 min · County Highway T

  23. 23

    Turn right onto County Highway N

    2.5 mi · 3 min · County Highway N

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn left onto County Highway J

    4 mi · 6 min · County Highway J

  25. 25

    Turn left onto State Highway 65

    4.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 65

  26. 26

    Continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto East Cedar Street

    52 m · 8 sec · East Cedar Street

  28. 28

    Turn right

    21 m · 5 sec

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
29 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
3 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 West
131 mi · 42%
I 39 North
92.6 mi · 30%
East-West Freeway
63.8 mi · 21%
South Lovers Lane Road
4.43 mi · 1%
State Highway 65
4.39 mi · 1%
County Highway J
3.97 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 94 West

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

130 mi · 02h 20m

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 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+45.1 mi
265.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Camp Douglas
02h 53m from Franklin
Leave By
5:24 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Franklin and Partly Cloudy near River Falls.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Franklin to River Falls?

The road trip is about 311 miles (500.5 km) and usually takes 05h 47m 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?

Camp Douglas is a useful midpoint, sitting about 155.3 miles from Franklin and 155.7 miles from River Falls.

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

The direct path is about 265.9 miles (427.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.1 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 5:24 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.37 one way or $82.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Franklin and Partly Cloudy near River Falls.

Stop Ideas Near Camp Douglas

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

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

RAIL

Tomah

20 mi away
North Superior Ave. and Washington St.
RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

52 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

62 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue
BUS

Westfield, WI

63 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Franklin and River Falls. Straight-line distance: 265.9 mi (427.93 km).

Franklin

#1 Franklin

Third-class city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Population36,222
Coordinates42.8886300, -88.0384200
Altitude244
CountryUnited States
River Falls

#2 River Falls

City in Pierce and St.

Population3,442
Coordinates44.8613600, -92.6238100
Altitude273
CountryUnited States
Start: Franklin (-88.03842, 42.88863)
End: River Falls (-92.62381, 44.86136)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 500 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.97 gal
41.54 L · about $41.37
Round trip
$82.74
21.94 gal · 83.08 L
Estimated CO2
97.5 kg one way
Round trip: 195 kg / 430 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.37 $82.74
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.66 $93.31
Premium $4.65 $51.05 $102.11
Diesel $5.30 $58.18 $116.37

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Franklin and River Falls. The current time is 17:19:01.

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.