Great River Road - Wisconsin

Department of Transportation.

Wisconsin's Great River Road flanks the majestic Mississippi River as it leisurely winds its way along 250 miles of Wisconsin's western border. Along its way, the road is nestled between the river on one side and towering bluffs on the other, becoming one of the most scenic drives in mid-America.


Directions

Getting to the Byway:

###From St. Paul, MN### * Head east on Kellogg Blvd W toward Wabasha St N. * Turn right (south) at 2nd St E. * Turn right (west) at Jackson St. * Turn left (south) at Shepard Rd E. * Continue south on Warner Rd. * Turn slight right onto US-10 E (US-61 S.). * Turn left (west) at US-10 (entering Wisconsin). * Turn right (south) at Broad St N. to enter Prescott, Wisconsin, where the byway begins. ###From Madison### * Head southwest on W Washington Ave toward N Henry St. * Slight left at CR-D S/S Park St/US-151 S; continue to follow S Park St/US-151 S. * Take the US-18 S/US-12 S/US-151 W/US-14 S ramp. * Merge onto W Beltline Hwy/US-12 W/US-14 W/US-151 S/US-18 W. * Take exit 258 for US-18 W/US-151 S toward Dodgeville. * Turn left at S Midvale Blvd/US-151 S/US-18 W/Verona Rd. Continue to follow US-151 S. * Turn right at Hill Climb Rd. * Continue on N Main St. * Turn right at US-61. * Enter Dickeyville, Wisconsin, where the byway begins. (The northern gateway of the Wisconsin Great River Road at Prescott is some 30 miles southeast of St. Paul via US Highways 10 and 61. The southern gateway is near the east end of the US Highway 20 Mississippi River bridge in Dubuque, Iowa, at the Illinois state line. Interstate 90 intersects the Wisconsin Great River Road at LaCrosse, Wisconsin. In addition, there are interstate bridges crossing the Mississippi River at or near the Wisconsin Great River Road communities of Bay City, Nelson, Fountain City, DeSoto, and Prairie du Chien.)

Navigating the Byway:
#Wisconsin Section ##From Prescott to La Crosse (120 miles) * Beginning in Prescott, follow WI 35, passing through the towns of Diamond Bluff, Hager City, Bay City, Maiden Rock, Stockholm, Pepin, Alma, Cochrane, and Fountain City before arriving in Centerville. * In Centerville, turn south to continue along WI 35 through Trempealeau and Holmen. * At the junction of I-90 and WI 35, US 53 merges with WI 35. * Continue straight along US 53. * US 53 becomes 3rd St. North, then merges with US 61/US 14 before merging again with WI 35. * Continue on WI 35 as US 61/ US 14 split to the west near the La Crosse city limits. ##From La Crosse to Potosi (104 miles) * Continue along WI 35, passing through the towns of Stoddard, Ferryville, and Prairie Du Chien, where WI 35 merges with US 18. * Continue south on WI 35 towards Bloomington, * Turn right onto WI 133. * Continue on WI 133 through Cassville to Potosi. ##From Potosi to Illinois Border (18 miles) * Continue east on WI 133. * Turn right onto US 61/WI 35 and continue through Dickeyville to its junction with US 151. * Merge onto US 151 S. * Take Exit 1 and head east on WI 11. * Turn south on WI 35 and continue to the Wisconsin-Illinois border.

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