Wisconsin Highway 13

Wisconsin Highway 13
State	WI
Type	WI
Route	13
Length mi	294.47
Direction a	South
Terminus a	Iowa–Dubuque border (near Prairie du Chien)
Direction b	North
Terminus b	Ironwood border (near Park Falls)
Counties	Grant County, Richland County, Sauk County, Wood County, Taylor County, Price County, Ashland County, Iron County

Wisconsin Highway 13 is a state trunk highway in Wisconsin running roughly south–north from the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien through cities such as Madison, Marshfield, Park Falls, and terminating near Ironwood. The route connects multiple regional corridors including US Route 18, Interstate 90, Interstate 94, US Route 2 and traverses diverse landscapes such as the Driftless Area, the Wisconsin River, and the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest.

Route description

Beginning at the Mississippi River crossing near Prairie du Chien, the highway proceeds northeast toward Reedsburg where it intersects US Route 14 and US Route 12. It continues through the Baraboo Range region, skirting the Devil's Lake State Park and meeting Interstate 90/Interstate 94 near Madison and Portage before joining US Route 51 toward Wisconsin Dells. north of the Wisconsin River, the route passes through Stevens Point and Marshfield where it intersects US Route 10 and WIS 73. Further north it traverses the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest region, serving communities such as Park Falls and Ashland, and connects with US Route 2 near the Lake Superior corridor before reaching the Michigan state line near Ironwood.

History

The corridor that became the modern highway was influenced by 19th-century trails tied to Mississippi River commerce, lead mining in Grant County, and logging operations tied to the Lake Superior watershed. Early 20th-century automobile routes such as the National Auto Trail movement and state trunkline legislation shaped its designation during the 1920s, with alignments paralleling US Route 18 and later adjustments near Madison to accommodate Interstate Highway System development. Postwar expansions reflected traffic growth tied to regional centers including La Crosse, Stevens Point, and Marshfield, while environmental concerns around Devil's Lake State Park and the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest affected routing and improvements.

Major intersections

The route intersects several major corridors that form the interstate and US highway network: junctions with US Route 18 near the Mississippi River approach; interchanges with Interstate 90/Interstate 94 serving Madison and Portage; a concurrency with US Route 51 and crossings of US Route 12 and US Route 14 near Reedsburg; intersections with US Route 10 in Marshfield; and connections with US Route 2 and WIS 77 near the northern Lake Superior corridor and the Iron County border. Local connectors include joins with WIS 21, WIS 58, and WIS 73 serving regional traffic.

Traffic and usage

Traffic volumes vary from rural stretches in the Driftless Area and northern Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest to busier segments near Madison, Stevens Point, and Marshfield. Commuter and freight flows tie into the Interstate Highway System at I-90/I-94 interchanges and support industries such as agriculture, timber, and regional manufacturing in cities like Marshfield and Stevens Point. Seasonal tourism—driven by Devil's Lake State Park, the Wisconsin Dells, and Lake Superior shoreline attractions near Ashland—produces significant summer peaks and increased usage during winter recreation periods.

Future developments

Planned and proposed improvements have focused on safety upgrades, targeted widening near urbanized centers such as Stevens Point and Marshfield, intersection reconfigurations with US Route 10 and US Route 51, and pavement rehabilitation across northern segments near the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest. Regional transportation plans co-developed by Wisconsin Department of Transportation and metropolitan planning organizations addressing connectivity to Interstate 39 and freight links to Port of Superior aim to balance economic objectives with conservation priorities for areas adjacent to Devil's Lake State Park and Lake Superior shoreline habitats.

Related routes and spurs

Several state and US highways form concurrencies or spur connections along the corridor, including shared alignments with US Route 51, junctions with US Route 2, and feeder links from WIS 21, WIS 73, WIS 77, and WIS 54. Local county trunk highways provide additional access to communities such as Park Falls, Reedsburg, and Prairie du Chien while interfacing with national corridors including Interstate 90 and Interstate 94.

Category:State highways in Wisconsin