Origin
French Island, WI
Night in French Island on Wednesday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from French Island, WI to Midway, WI
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
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.
French Island, WI
Jan van der Wolf
Midway, WI
Ali Soheil
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.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
4.2 miles from French Island, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6m into the drive .
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.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
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 pointsThese 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
Trip Plan
Given the short 12-minute duration and 8.3-mile distance, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart at any time without needing to worry about breaking up a long journey. With a minimal fuel cost of around $1, refueling isn't a major concern. Pay attention to signage as you transition between US 53, I-90, and County Road OT to ensure you stay on the most direct path to Midway. Since there are no designated stops, feel free to add a quick detour if you spot something of interest along the way.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 4.2 miles from French Island, WI, or about 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 8 miles or 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.2 miles or 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Midway, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving French Island, WI.
Day 1
Settle into the route from French Island, WI
This is one driving day of about 8.3 miles and 12m.
At 8.3 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on US 53 for about 4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.2 mi from French Island, WI · 6m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4.2 miles from French Island, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Midway, WI
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Midway, WI if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
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 | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.87 | $0.40 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.73 | $0.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.3 | 0 | $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.
Destination
Midway, WI
Night in Midway on Wednesday
Local time
11:22 PM
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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