WIS 35 is a major north–south route through westernmost Wisconsin, often following close to the state border. Because of the lower population of counties along the state's western border with
Iowa and
Minnesota, it is a mostly rural routing with lower traffic counts than in other parts of the state. WIS 35 is also the terminus of 15 different state, US, and Interstate highways along its route.
Illinois state line to Prairie du Chien The southern terminus of WIS 35 is at the
Illinois–
Wisconsin border, north of
East Dubuque, Illinois. It continues on into that state as
Illinois Route 35 (IL 35), which is the shortest state highway in Illinois. From the state line, WIS 35 continues north for about a mile (1.6 km) before intersecting with
WIS 11 at Badger Road. This section of highway is the only segment of WIS 35 between the state line and Prairie du Chien, with the exception of the stretch between
WIS 81 and
Bloomington, that is not co-signed with at least one other highway. WIS 35/WIS 11 continues to the west to the interchange with
U.S. Highway 61 (US 61) and
US 151, as the two US Highways enter
Wisconsin after crossing the
Mississippi River from
Dubuque, Iowa. WIS 11 terminates at the Welcome Center on the other side of US 61/US 151, while WIS 35 continues north with the two US routes on an expressway to the city of
Dickeyville. WIS 35 and US 61 exit the freeway to the northwest into Dickeyville at exit 8, while US 151 continues north towards
Platteville. WIS 35 and US 61 continue to the northwest to the village of
Tennyson before heading north towards the city of
Lancaster. On the outskirts of Lancaster, WIS 35 and US 61 interchange with
WIS 81, which continues on into the city with the other two routes. After intersecting with the southern terminus of
WIS 129, the three routes enter Lancaster as Madison Street. In downtown Lancaster, at the
Grant County Courthouse square, Madison Street becomes one-way northbound at Cherry Street. WIS 35 and WIS 81 turn left a block north at West Maple Street, while US 61 continues north on North Madison Street out of the city. On the west side of the Courthouse Square, WIS 35/WIS 81 turns south on South Jefferson Street for one block to West Cherry Street. The two state highways then head west for two blocks. At South Harrison Street, WIS 35/WIS 81 heads south for two blocks before turning southwest and out of the city. About a mile (1.6 km) outside the city limits of Lancaster, WIS 35/WIS 81 turns in a westerly direction for about before the two highways split up in rural Grant County. WIS 81 continues southwest towards
Beetown, while WIS 35 heads northwest toward the village of
Bloomington. On the northwest side of Bloomington, WIS 35 intersects with
WIS 133 at 4th Street. The two highways continue in a generally northerly direction towards the village of
Patch Grove, where they intersect with
US 18. WIS 133 turns east with US 18, while WIS 35 continues towards the northwest with US 18 towards the
Wisconsin River and
Bridgeport. Crossing the Wisconsin River into
Crawford County, WIS 35/US 18 intersects with
WIS 60 in Bridgeport, with the three highways continuing on into the city of
Prairie du Chien as South Marquette Road.
Prairie du Chien to La Crosse At Wisconsin Street in downtown Prairie du Chien, US 18 and WIS 60 head west as a one-way street to the bridge crossing the Mississippi into
Marquette, Iowa. Eastbound US 18 and WIS 60 joins WIS 35 one block prior at Iowa Street. One block north of Wisconsin Street, WIS 35 meets the western terminus of
WIS 27 at East Blackhawk Avenue. WIS 35 continues north out of the city, becoming the Great River Road. WIS 35 runs along the Mississippi River's east banks through the cities of
Lynxville and
Ferryville. About south of the city of
De Soto, WIS 35 intersects with the western segment of
WIS 82, which crosses over the Mississippi River into the city of
Lansing, Iowa. In downtown De Soto, WIS 82 heads to the Northeast as Main Street, while WIS 35 continues across the
Vernon County line. WIS 35 continues north along the eastern banks of the Mississippi River into the city of
Genoa. Here, it meets another western terminus of a state highway,
WIS 56 at Main Street. WIS 35 continues north to the city of
Stoddard, where it meets yet another western terminus, this time of
WIS 162 at Division Street. WIS 35 continues to the north and into
La Crosse County. Upon entering the southern edge of the city of
La Crosse, WIS 35 interchanges with
US 14 and US 61. The three routes continue into the city as Mormon Coulee Road. At Ward Avenue, the street name changes to South Avenue until it reaches West Avenue. At that intersection, northbound traffic for WIS 35 turns north onto West Avenue, while US 14/US 61 continue on South Avenue. At La Crosse Street, the route intersects with
WIS 16. North of La Crosse Street, West Avenue becomes Lang Drive, crossing over the
La Crosse River. On the other side of the river, Lang Drive becomes George Street. WIS 35 continues north on George Street through North La Crosse before joining US 53 just south of exit 3 on
Interstate 90.
La Crosse to Hudson WIS 35 continues north on the Great River Road while US 53 heads east on I-90 for a mile (1.6 km) to exit 4. Upon entering the city of
Onalaska, WIS 35 becomes Second Avenue. WIS 35 continues along the eastern banks of the Mississippi River, running parallel to the US 53 freeway to the east before interchanging with it just south of
Holmen. Business WIS 35 continues north into Holmen as County Trunk Highway HD (CTH-HD, Holmen Drive), while WIS 35 and US 53 bypass the city to the west. On the north side of Holmen, WIS 35 leaves the freeway and turns west back towards the river, while US 53 continues north with
WIS 93. WIS 93 south terminates at the interchange with WIS 35. About west of the US 53 interchange, WIS 35 crosses the
Black River into
Trempealeau County. WIS 35 enters the village of
Trempealeau on Third Street before turning north on Main Street on the western edge of downtown Trempealeau. WIS 35 continues north to its intersection with
WIS 54 and WIS 93. WIS 93 continues north while WIS 35/WIS 54 heads west, crossing into
Buffalo County into the unincorporated community of
East Winona. In East Winona, WIS 54 turns south and crosses the river into
Winona, Minnesota, where it becomes
Minnesota State Highway 43 (MN 43). WIS 35 continues along the eastern banks of the Mississippi River as the Great River Road, into
Fountain City. Upon entering the city limits, WIS 35 becomes Main Street, before turning slightly northwest on South Shore Drive at Eagle Street. On the north side of Fountain City, WIS 35 intersects with the western terminus of
WIS 95 at North Street. WIS 35 continues north as North Shore Drive to the city limits. About northwest of Fountain City, WIS 35 passes the entrance to
Merrick State Park. WIS 35 continues northwest to its intersection with the southern terminus of
WIS 88 outside the unincorporated community of
Czechville. About to the northwest, WIS 35 enters the city of
Cochrane. WIS 35 misses
Buffalo City by about to the east, along the Belvidere Ridge of West Central Wisconsin. WIS 35 continues along the Mississippi River banks into the city of
Alma. North of Alma, WIS 35 intersects with the western terminus of yet another state highway,
WIS 37. WIS 35 continues into the city of
Nelson, where it intersects with
WIS 25. WIS 25/WIS 35 continues north out of Nelson, curving to the west after their intersection with CTH-D. About half a mile (0.8 km) from CTH-D, WIS 25 turns due north while WIS 35 continues west as the Great River Road, crossing the
Chippewa River into
Pepin County. About west of the Chippewa River, WIS 35 enters the community of
Pepin. Continuing its route along the Mississippi, WIS 35 goes through the community of
Stockholm and turns to the north along the river banks before entering
Pierce County. In Pierce County, WIS 35 goes through the small community of
Maiden Rock,
Warrentown and
Bay City. On the western end of Bay City, WIS 35 passes
Red Wing Regional Airport, a municipal airport that serves the city of
Red Wing, Minnesota on the other side of the Mississippi River. About from the airport, WIS 35 crosses
US 63, just east of
Hager City. US 63 continues north towards
Ellsworth, while WIS 35 continues to the northwest through
Diamond Bluff and into the city of
Prescott, as Jefferson Street. In downtown Prescott, WIS 35 intersects with
US 10 at Cherry Street, just northeast of the
confluence of the
St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. US 10 westbound heads northeast across the mouth of the St. Croix into
Minnesota as Point Douglas Drive, while WIS 35 and US 10 eastbound run north for about 11 blocks as Lake Street North to Cedar Street. At Campbell Street North, WIS 35 turns to the northeast as US 10 continues east to start its long journey across the state of Wisconsin. The intersection of the two highways is also the western terminus of
WIS 29, one of the main arterial routes connecting the Twin Cities area with
Green Bay. WIS 35/WIS 29 turns in a northeasterly direction into the city of
River Falls, where it makes a right turn on to Cemetery Road, and hugs the City of River Falls southern boundary. When the two highways meet
WIS 65 at a roundabout, the three highways continue north to the intersection of Cascade Avenue, where WIS 29 continues east out of the city. This recent re-routing shortened WIS 35 by about . WIS 35/WIS 65 continues north as a limited-access expressway across the county line into
St. Croix County. At the north end of North Main Street in River Falls, WIS 65 heads to the northeast while WIS 35 continues to the northwest as a four-lane divided highway, all the way to its interchange with
I-94 at exit 3, east of
Hudson.
Hudson to St. Croix Falls WIS 35 and
US 12 head west with I-94 towards the St. Croix River and the Minnesota state line. At exit 1, WIS 35 exits from the freeway and heads north into the city of Hudson on Second Street. Crossing over the mouth of the
Willow River, west of Lake Mallalieu, WIS 35 enters
North Hudson as Sixth Street North. Heading north out of the city, WIS 35 continues its route as a river-side highway, this time along the banks of the St. Croix into the city of
Houlton. At Houlton, WIS 35 intersects with
WIS 64, which runs for about a mile (1.6 km) to the southwest across the St. Croix River on the
St. Croix Crossing bridge into
Stillwater, Minnesota, where it becomes
MN 36. WIS 35/WIS 64 heads northeast out of the city of Houlton as a divided highway towards the city of
Somerset. On the far southwestern side of the city, WIS 35/WIS 64 becomes a limited-access freeway that bypasses downtown Somerset. On the southeast side of the city, WIS 35 exits onto the eastern half of Business WIS 64, heading west and back into the city of Somerset. WIS 35 turns to the north, about a block east of the
Apple River, onto Church Hill Road. WIS 35 continues north out of the city, crossing over the county line into
Polk County about to the north. After passing through the unincorporated town of
East Farmington, WIS 35 continues on to the city of
Osceola as Cascade Street. After crossing under a railroad bridge for the
Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway, WIS 35 intersects with the eastern terminus of
WIS 243. This is one of only two eastern termini that WIS 35 intersects on its route through the state. WIS 243 is the shortest regularly-signed highway in Wisconsin, as it runs the length of Osceola Road over the St. Croix River to
MN 243 in
Franconia Township, Chisago County, Minnesota. The length of the highway in Wisconsin is only . WIS 35 swings to the northeast on North Cascade Street through downtown Osceola, then out of the city. Passing Osceola Bedrock Glades State Natural Area, WIS 35 continues north towards the village of
Dresser on its way to
St. Croix Falls.
St. Croix Falls to Superior Just outside the city of St. Croix Falls, WIS 35 heads east with
US 8 on a limited-access expressway for about . In St. Croix Falls township, WIS 35 turns to the north while US 8 continues east to
Turtle Lake. WIS 35 continues north through the small towns of
Centuria,
Milltown and
Luck. On the east side of Milltown, WIS 35 intersects with the western terminus of
WIS 46 after the latter crosses the Gandy Dancer State Bicycle Trail. At First Avenue in Luck, WIS 35 intersects with
WIS 48, which heads to the east along the northern edge of town. WIS 48 turns to the north with WIS 35, continuing into
Frederic where WIS 48 turns west on West Oak Street. WIS 35 continues on a northeastern route, through the unincorporated town of
Lewis and across the county line into
Burnett County. In Burnett County, WIS 35 enters
Siren, where it intersects with
WIS 70 as Second Avenue at CTH-B. WIS 35/WIS 70 continues north out of the village limits to the
Burnett County Airport. At the southern edge of the airport, WIS 70 heads east on Airport Road, while WIS 35 continues its northerly route. Passing through
Webster, WIS 35 heads north toward
Danbury. WIS 35 passes Danbury to the east, intersecting with
WIS 77 at Main Street East. WIS 35/WIS 77 continues to the north, coming within from the
Minnesota border at the mouth of the Yellow River. This segment is the 23rd different state trunk highway that shares its routing with WIS 35 in the state. About a mile and a half (2.4 km) northwest, WIS 77 heads east while WIS 35 continues to the northeast, crossing the
Big Island State Natural Area and the St. Croix River and turning north into
Douglas County. Continuing north, WIS 35 passes through the unincorporated towns of
Dairyland,
Moose Junction, and
Chaffey before entering
Pattison State Park. WIS 35 crosses over the Manitou Falls Spillway in the park before turning northward to
Superior. WIS 35 enters Superior as Tower Avenue, running north through the South End neighborhood of the city. At 61st Street/Central Avenue, WIS 35 reaches the eastern terminus of
WIS 105, the only other eastern terminus of a state highway that intersects with the route. WIS 35 continues north into Superior, passing
Richard I. Bong Airport into the downtown area. At Belknap Street, WIS 35 crosses
US 2 at Center City Park. WIS 35 continues north for 12 blocks before turning east onto North Third Street. WIS 35 turns east for four blocks, ending at both Hughitt Avenue and Hammond Avenue, at the foot of the
John A. Blatnik Bridge across the
Saint Louis Bay. The bridge takes
I-535/
US 53 over the bay to
Duluth, Minnesota. I-535's southern terminus is also WIS 35's northern terminus. ==History==