This 20.7-mile drive from Rockland to Midway, Wisconsin, is a quick 30-minute trip perfect for a single day. You'll primarily navigate interstates and highways, with about 67% of your journey on these main arteries. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $3, making it an economical option. Given its short length and straightforward nature, this route is best treated as a simple transit rather than an overnight destination. It's a convenient way to connect two points within the Midwest region.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
10.4 mi
11m
US 53
3.3 mi
3m
County Highway U
3.3 mi
7m
Commercial Street
1 mi
2m
County Road OT
0.7 mi
1m
County Highway OT
0.6 mi
1m
State Highway 162
0.3 mi
<1m
17th Avenue North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 10.4 mi, about 11m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,219 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,482
Quietest
1 AM
~81 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockland, WI and Midway, WI.
1
Start on East Rock Street
208 ft·9 sec·East Rock Street
2
Continue on CTH U
3.3 mi·7 min·County Highway U
3
Continue on CTH B
0.5 mi·1 min·Commercial Street
4
Turn right onto CTH B
326 ft·14 sec·17th Avenue North
5
Turn left onto WI 162; CTH B
0.5 mi·1 min·Commercial Street
6
Continue on WI 162; CTH B
0.3 mi·32 sec·State Highway 162
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
8
Merge onto I 90
10 mi·11 min·I 90
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
11
Merge onto US 53; WI 157
3.3 mi·3 min·US 53; WI 157
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
121 ft·3 sec
14
Turn left onto CTH OT
0.6 mi·1 min·County Highway OT
15
Continue on CTH OT
0.6 mi·1 min·County Road OT
16
Continue on CTH OT; CTH XX
428 ft·8 sec·County Road OT
17
Arrive at destination
CTH OT; CTH XX
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 19.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.9 mi into trip|~9m in|WI 162; CTH B / Commercial Street
Turn left onto WI 162; CTH B / Commercial Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
15.4 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit 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
15.7 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
19.4 mi into trip|~28m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.44 one way
$6.88 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg7 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$3.75
$7.50
premium
$5.18
$4.22
$8.45
diesel
$5.35
$4.36
$8.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging
· 0 stops
· 71% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
6.2
0
$2.17
$0.99
Efficient EV
5.2
0
$1.81
$0.83
EV Truck/SUV
8.3
0
$2.90
$1.32
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Rockland, WI
Evening
in Rockland on Wednesday
Local time
6:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 3 at 2:20AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 3 at 1:45AM CDT until June 4 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Destination
Midway, WI
Evening
in Midway on Wednesday
Local time
6:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 3 at 2:20AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 3 at 1:45AM CDT until June 4 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
30m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive on this route, with 67% of your travel occurring on major roads like I-90 and US-53. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 10.4 miles on I-90, offering a period of consistent speed and minimal interruption. While the profile is largely highway, you'll also experience segments on County Highway U, likely offering a different driving feel. This mix means you'll transition between faster, more open highway driving and potentially more local road conditions.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.4 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near WI 162; CTH B / Commercial Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 20.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (WI 162; CTH B / Commercial Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
805 ft656 ft
Total Climb
106 ft
Total Descent
202 ft
Highest Point
805 ft
~5.9 mi in
Elevation Range
148 ft
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 Rockland, WI to Midway, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 20.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.4 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Midway, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (WI 162; CTH B / Commercial Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Midway, WI before heading back.
