How far is Rice Lake, WI from Franklin, WI?

The driving distance from Rice Lake, WI to Franklin, WI is about 303.9 miles (489.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 257.4 miles (414.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 18m 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
303.91 mi
05h 39m
Flight
257.42 mi
414.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rice Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
257.42 mi
Kilometers
414.28 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
303.91 mi
Kilometers
489.1 km
Drive Time
05h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Franklin
Thu, Apr 23, 4:48 AM CDT
Return by in Rice Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 10:27 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rice Lake
2026-04-22T23:09
Arrive Franklin
Thu, Apr 23, 4:48 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:39 AM to 1:39 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
5:42 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rice Lake
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
New Lisbon
WI

City in Juneau County, Wisconsin

From Rice Lake
151.8 mi
02h 49m
To Franklin
152.1 mi
02h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
64°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rice Lake and Franklin.

  1. 1

    Start on West Evans Street

    42 m · 8 sec · West Evans Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Tainter Avenue

    987 ft · 50 sec · Tainter Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto West Knapp Street

    1 mi · 2 min · West Knapp Street

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Knapp Street

    38 m · 2 sec · West Knapp Street

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto West Knapp Street

    153 m · 10 sec · West Knapp Street

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    72 m · 4 sec

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout

    2017 ft · 49 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 5 min

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto US 53 South: Brackett

    1257 ft · 21 sec

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward the route

    115 m · 6 sec

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout

    135 m · 9 sec

  12. 12

    Take the ramp right

    2643 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    167.8 mi · 3 hr

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 94: Milwaukee

    64.2 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac

    3167 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago

    1991 ft · 38 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago

    1477 ft · 30 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago

    1177 ft · 29 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Zoo Freeway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit

    1.4 km · 1 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight left toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street

    934 ft · 22 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on WI 100 South, US 45 South

    4.8 mi · 9 min

  23. 23

    Turn right

    26 m · 8 sec

  24. 24

    Turn right

    49 m · 12 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
3 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 53 South
169 mi · 56%
I 94
64.2 mi · 21%
West Knapp Street
60 mi · 20%
WI 100 South
4.82 mi · 2%
Zoo Freeway
3.5 mi · 1%
I 43 South
0.84 mi
Longest Stretch

US 53 South

Merge slight left

168 mi · 03h 00m

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 39m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.5 mi
257.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
New Lisbon
02h 49m from Rice Lake
Leave By
5:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Rice Lake and Sunny near Franklin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rice Lake to Franklin?

The road trip is about 303.9 miles (489.1 km) and usually takes 05h 39m 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?

New Lisbon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.8 miles from Rice Lake and 152.1 miles from Franklin.

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

The direct path is about 257.4 miles (414.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.5 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 5:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.46 one way or $80.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Rice Lake and Sunny near Franklin.

Stop Ideas Near New Lisbon

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

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

RAIL

Tomah

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

Wisconsin Dells

42 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Westfield, WI

55 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

63 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rice Lake and Franklin. Straight-line distance: 257.42 mi (414.28 km).

Rice Lake

#1 Rice Lake

City in Barron County, Wisconsin, United States

Population3,078
Coordinates45.5060700, -91.7382300
Altitude350
CountryUnited States
Franklin

#2 Franklin

Third-class city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Population36,222
Coordinates42.8886300, -88.0384200
Altitude244
CountryUnited States
Start: Rice Lake (-91.73823, 45.50607)
End: Franklin (-88.03842, 42.88863)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 489 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.73 gal
40.6 L · about $40.46
Round trip
$80.93
21.46 gal · 81.2 L
Estimated CO2
95.4 kg one way
Round trip: 190.7 kg / 420 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.46 $80.93
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.63 $91.27
Premium $4.65 $49.94 $99.87
Diesel $5.30 $56.91 $113.82

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 Rice Lake and Franklin. The current time is 23:09:25.

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.