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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Hudson, Wisconsin
Hudson
Spend a day in Hudson, Wisconsin – walk downtown, see the Octagon House, then relax at a riverfront park; stay if you need a base for I‑94 road trips.
Hudson is a small river town on the St. Croix, just across from Minnesota. Its historic downtown is walkable, with Victorian homes, boutique shops and a few restaurants. No public transit, so a car is required for arrival and any side trips. One full day covers the main sights; an extra night is useful only if you need a convenient I‑94 stopover.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Hudson
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, possible snow)
- Stay
- 1 (optional) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–$100 excl. bed · Mid $100–$150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | $2–$4 |
| Pizza slice | $3–$5 |
| Beer (draft, bar) | $4–$6 |
| Gasoline (per gallon) | $3.30–$3.80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MSP · Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- —
Typical fares
- I‑94 exit 2 to downtown Hudson
- ≈5 km (3.1 mi) drive, about $5–$7 fuel (check)≈3.1 mi (5 km) drive, about $5–$7 fuel (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The downtown area along 2nd Street is compact and walkable. A car is needed for arrival (I‑94) and any trips beyond town; no local public transit.
See and do
Known for
- Octagon House
- Phipps Center for the Arts
- St. Croix River
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| St. Croix River Trail | Car to trailhead on I‑94, then walk or bike along the river bridge path | 15–30 min each way |
| Madison, WI | Drive east on I‑94, about 1 h 15 min | ≈2 h round |
Sleep
- Comfort Suites
- Free WiFi, breakfast, indoor pool; $100+ per night
- AmericInn by Wyndham Hudson
- $89+ per night, free breakfast, pool
- Holiday Inn Express
- $110+ per night, free breakfast, pool
- Hudson Inn & Suites
- $65+ per night, free breakfast, pool
- Regency Inn
- $60+ per night, free WiFi
- Royal Inn
- $55+ per night, basic amenities
- Super 8
- $67+ per night, pool, hot tub
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse meExcuse me |
| Thank you | Thank youThank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom?Where is the restroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter snow can make road travel tricky; check conditions if visiting Jan–Feb.
- Octagon House hours vary seasonally; verify opening times before you go.
Hudson is generally safe; typical small‑town precautions apply. Watch for icy roads in winter and keep valuables out of sight in cars.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hudson, Wisconsin yet. Suggested stay: 1 (optional) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Octagon House
- Phipps Center for the Arts
- St. Croix River
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Hudson (Wisconsin), revision 4716711 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4716711
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Hudson, WisconsinHudson
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US consulates are in Minneapolis (MN) and Madison (WI).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/hudson-wisconsin). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.