Trip from French Island, WI to Midway, WI

Q: How long is the trip from French Island, WI to Midway, WI?

The drive from French Island, WI to Midway, WI covers 8.3 miles and takes about 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are US 53, I 90, County Road OT. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 4.2 miles from French Island, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.30 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

12m

Distance

8.3 mi

13 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

4 AM

0h 12m ★

6 AM

0h 13m

8 AM

0h 15m

10 AM

0h 13m

12 PM

0h 13m

3 PM

0h 14m

5 PM

0h 15m

8 PM

0h 12m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

This quick 8.3-mile drive from French Island, WI to Midway, WI takes just about 12 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. Primarily on US 53 and I-90, with a short section on County Road OT, this route offers a highway-focused experience. With a fuel cost estimated at just $1, it's an economical way to travel between these two Midwest locations. You won't need an overnight stay, and with no planned stops, you can easily fit this into any schedule. Consider this a straightforward and efficient journey.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 12m. Total distance: 8.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 73% of the route utilizing major roadways like US 53 and I-90. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 4 miles on US 53, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the inclusion of County Road OT introduces a slight variation. Expect a driving experience that leans towards efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 53 is the longest continuous segment at about 4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and I 90. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Bainbridge Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 8.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Bainbridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Olivet Court): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CTH B / Dawson Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Bainbridge Street

Turn right onto Bainbridge Street

Navigation decision point

5

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Olivet Court

Turn left onto Olivet Court

Navigation decision point

4

0.2 mi into trip | ~1m in | CTH B / Dawson Avenue

Turn left onto CTH B / Dawson Avenue

Navigation decision point

5

2.8 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 53

Take the exit onto US 53 toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska

5

7.1 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from French Island, WI to Midway, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.

Onalaska

2.8 mi in | ~4m | via US 53

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 53	4 mi	5m
I 90	2.1 mi	2m
County Road OT	0.7 mi	1m
County Highway OT	0.6 mi	1m
Dawson Avenue	0.2 mi	<1m
Olivet Court	0.2 mi	<1m
Bainbridge Street	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: US 53 — 4 mi, about 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between French Island, WI and Midway, WI.

1

Start on this road

135 ft · 12 sec · this road

2

Turn right onto Bainbridge Street

194 ft · 13 sec · Bainbridge Street

3

Turn left onto Olivet Court

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Olivet Court

4

Turn left onto CTH B

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Dawson Avenue

5

Turn left

0.3 mi · 38 sec

6

Merge onto I 90

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 90

7

Take the exit onto US 53

0.2 mi · 29 sec · US 53

Toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska

8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 53

3.8 mi · 4 min · US 53

9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

10

Keep slight left at fork

121 ft · 3 sec

11

Turn left onto CTH OT

0.6 mi · 1 min · County Highway OT

12

Continue on CTH OT

0.6 mi · 1 min · County Road OT

13

Continue on CTH OT; CTH XX

428 ft · 8 sec · County Road OT

14

Arrive at destination

CTH OT; CTH XX

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.30 one way

$2.60 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$1.42	$2.85
premium	$4.89	$1.60	$3.19
diesel	$5.61	$1.83	$3.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$1

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	2.5	$0.87	$0.40
Efficient EV	2.1	$0.73	$0.33
EV Truck/SUV	3.3	$1.16	$0.53

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

French Island, WI

Morning in French Island on Thursday

Local time

10:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Midway, WI

Morning in Midway on Thursday

Local time

10:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

5 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

12m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from French Island, WI to Midway, WI covers 8.3 miles and takes about 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 53, I 90, County Road OT. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 4.2 miles from French Island, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.30 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 8.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Bainbridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Olivet Court): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CTH B / Dawson Avenue): Navigation decision point.

On the drive from French Island, WI to Midway, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.

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