How far is Waunakee, WI from Rutland, WI?

The driving distance from Waunakee, WI to Rutland, WI is about 31.1 miles (50 km), with a travel time of about 00h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 22.3 miles (35.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
31.04 mi
00h 43m
Flight
22.28 mi
35.85 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waunakee.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
22.28 mi
Kilometers
35.85 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
31.04 mi
Kilometers
49.96 km
Drive Time
00h 43m

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 00h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rutland
Fri, Sep 25, 3:35 PM CDT
Return by in Waunakee
Fri, Sep 25, 4:19 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waunakee
2026-09-25T14:52
Arrive Rutland
Fri, Sep 25, 3:35 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:43 AM to 7:43 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:04 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Waunakee
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Shorewood Hills
WI

Village in Dane County, Wisconsin

From Waunakee
15.5 mi
00h 21m
To Rutland
15.5 mi
00h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Fri, Sep 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph E
Destination
66°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Fri, Sep 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Waunakee and Rutland.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waunakee and Rutland.

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    1594 ft · 54 sec · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward South Century Avenue

    61 m · 12 sec · South Century Avenue

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto South Century Avenue

    1.7 mi · 4 min · South Century Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on County Highway Q

    1.5 mi · 2 min · County Highway Q

  5. 5

    Turn right onto County Highway K

    1.5 mi · 2 min · County Highway K

  6. 6

    Continue on County Road K

    1.3 mi · 2 min · County Road K

  7. 7

    Turn left

    12.6 mi · 17 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 151 North, US 14 East: Park Street, Oregon

    1064 ft · 20 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on US 14 East: Oregon

    1182 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    11.6 mi · 14 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Old Stage Road

    134 m · 11 sec · Old Stage Road

  12. 12

    Turn right

    54 m · 13 sec

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Waunakee and Rutland.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
13 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
41.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 14 East
11.8 mi · 38%
South Century Avenue
1.73 mi · 6%
County Highway K
1.54 mi · 5%
County Highway Q
1.48 mi · 5%
County Road K
1.31 mi · 4%
West Main Street
0.3 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

12.6 mi · 00h 17m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 43m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.8 mi
22.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Shorewood Hills
00h 21m from Waunakee
Leave By
7:04 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy leaving Waunakee and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy near Rutland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waunakee to Rutland?

The road trip is about 31.1 miles (50 km) and usually takes 00h 43m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Shorewood Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.5 miles from Waunakee and 15.5 miles from Rutland.

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

The direct path is about 22.3 miles (35.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:04 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.83 one way or $9.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy around Waunakee and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy near Rutland.

Stop Ideas Near Shorewood Hills

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

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

BUS

Madison, Wisconsin

4 mi away
800 Langdon St.
BUS

Madison (South), Wisconsin

11 mi away
Hwy 51 & East Broadway Ave.
RAIL

Columbus

46 mi away
359 North Ludington Street
RAIL

Portage

52 mi away
400 West Oneida Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waunakee and Rutland. Straight-line distance: 22.28 mi (35.85 km).

Waunakee

#1 Waunakee

Village in Dane County, Wisconsin

Population14,188
Coordinates43.1919400, -89.4556700
Altitude283
CountryUnited States
Rutland

#2 Rutland

Town in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

Population2,090
Coordinates42.8788900, -89.3501200
Altitude288
CountryUnited States
Start: Waunakee (-89.45567, 43.19194)
End: Rutland (-89.35012, 42.87889)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 50 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.1 gal
4.15 L · about $4.83
Round trip
$9.65
2.2 gal · 8.3 L
Estimated CO2
9.8 kg one way
Round trip: 19.6 kg / 43 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.39 $4.83 $9.65
Mid-grade $4.97 $5.47 $10.94
Premium $5.56 $6.12 $12.23
Diesel $6.59 $7.25 $14.50

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 · Sep 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Waunakee and Rutland. The current time is 14:52:33.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.