Location & Transportation
Prairie du Chien residents depend on the transportation facilities in our community and the region to connect them to other areas of the state and to the rest of the nation and the world. The type, quality and location of transportation facilities are an important component in residents’ quality of life and necessary to develop and maintain a sustainable economy.
Prairie du Chien is located in southwest Wisconsin along the Great River Road, which winds for 250 miles along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. This National Scenic Byway offers breathtaking scenes of the river and nearby bluffs. For ease of transportation flow, there are three federal and state highways that travel through the Prairie du Chien area – U.S. Highway 18, State Highway 35 and State Highway 27.
Prairie du Chien’s municipal airport offers corporate jet access with two runways – one 5,000 feet by 75 feet and the other 4,000 feet by 75 feet. Charter service is available through the airport. The city also has handicapped-accessible taxicab service.
Railroad facilities in Prairie du Chien include Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Wisconsin & Southern Railroad lines. Typically, there are 40 BNSF and six WSOR trains that travel through the city daily.
The port of Prairie du Chien is located on the Upper Mississippi River system linking Wisconsin to the Gulf of Mexico. The Prairie du Chien Municipal Riverfront Harbor accommodates large paddlewheel cruise boats and small excursion vessels. The port of Prairie du Chien handles approximately 600,000 metric tons of cargo annually. Common types of cargo include coal, salt, sand, cement, grain and fertilizer.
Bicycle/pedestrian facilities play an important role in moving people within our community. Prairie du Chien has a number of sidewalks and multi-use trails. The major recreation trail runs along the west side of Marquette Road from Webster Street to South Town Lane. Other trails are located along Wells Street south of the high school and on St. Feriole Island.
Prairie du Chien residents may go to neighboring cities to access services such as major airline, rail and bus transportation. Prairie du Chien is located 60 miles south of La Crosse, Wisconsin, 60 miles north of Dubuque, Iowa and 100 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin.
