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Major city · United States

Mauston

Give Mauston one night as an I-90/I-94 halfway stop between Chicago and Minneapolis, or skip it if you are not driving through.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Oct
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow), and winter storm days on I-90/I-94
Airports
MSN · 82C
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Mauston is a small Juneau County seat on the Lemonweir River, roughly halfway between Chicago and Minneapolis on I-90/I-94. It works as a one-night road-trip break with a cheese stop, a county park and a downtown brewery, not as a destination in itself. Two nights only if you are using it as a base for Buckhorn State Park or the Juneau County Fair.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Mauston, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • BeerPint at a local brewery$5–8
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$120
  • Mid-range bedHighway motel double room, a night, per roomUS$110
  • High-end bedHighway motel double room, a night, per roomUS$170

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$240

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

I-90/I-94 halfway point between Chicago and MinneapolisCarr Valley CheeseGravity Box Brewing in a former opera houseBuckhorn State Park and Castle Rock FlowageJuneau County Fair
Airports
MSN Dane County Regional (Madison) (About 1 h 15 min by car via I-90/I-94; the practical commercial airport for Mauston.) · 82C Mauston–New Lisbon Union Airport (Municipal field about 4 mi northwest of town; small planes only, no scheduled service.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Mauston: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−3°C

−13°C

8 rd

Feb

0°C

−11°C

7 rd

Mar

7°C

−5°C

9 rd

Apr

15°C

2°C

10 rd

May

21°C

8°C

11 rd

Jun

26°C

13°C

11 rd

Jul

28°C

16°C

10 rd

Aug

27°C

15°C

10 rd

Sep

22°C

10°C

9 rd

Oct

15°C

4°C

9 rd

Nov

6°C

−3°C

8 rd

Dec

−1°C

−10°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the default: on-street parking is free and plentiful, but watch posted hour limits and winter alternate-side rules. Mauston Taxi runs in town and up to about 5 mi beyond the city limits, by appointment only, daily roughly 6:30am–10pm (check).

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Wisconsin Dellsgo

Door to door: About 30 min

I-90/I-94 southeast, about 25 min by car

Water parks, boat tours on the Wisconsin River and outlet shopping; a full day, or an easy evening run.

Buckhorn State Park (Necedah)

go

Door to door: About 25 min

US 58 and County G north-northwest, about 20 min by car

Castle Rock Flowage shoreline, canoe trail and camping; a Wisconsin state park vehicle sticker is required.

Bass Hollow County Recreation Area

caution

Door to door: About 20 min

US 12 and County K south-southeast, about 15 min by car

Free county park with trails and camping, but ticks are heavy in season — repellent and a tick check after.

Elroy

go

Door to door: About 35 min

WIS 82 west, about 30 min by car

Trail-town base for the Elroy-Sparta State Trail; pair it with a bike day.

Camp Douglas

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

I-90/I-94 northwest, about 25 min by car

Mill Bluff and the Wisconsin National Guard base; thin on sights unless you are hiking the bluffs.

Prairie du Sac

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 10 min

I-90/I-94 southeast then WIS 78 south, about 1 h by car

Wollersheim Winery and the Wisconsin River bluffs; better as a half-day on the way to Madison.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

I-90/I-94 exit strip (Gateway Ave / State Hwy 82)

Motels and the full-service lodge cluster near the interchange; easiest for one night with a car.

Downtown Mauston (State St)

Brewery, coffee shop and the historic main street; a short drive from the highway.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–100 excl. bed
Mid
$100–170 excl. bed
High
$170+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Highway motel double room1 × 1 night × US$110US$110
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130US$260
Wisconsin state park vehicle sticker, one day1 × US$13 · checkUS$13
Mauston Taxi, in-town ride2 × US$5 · check; minimum fare appliesUS$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$43
Trip total≈ US$238 per person per day, bed includedUS$476

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at the till. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Bar burger or fish fry$12–20
Pint at a local brewery$5–8
Cheese from the Carr Valley counterSold by weight; the Maustoner is the local variety.$6–15
Motel room, one nightRates jump on summer weekends and fair week.$70–170
Gas, per galloncheck$3–4

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Mauston is a quiet small town; the real risks are winter road conditions on I-90/I-94, ticks in the county parks, and walking dark highway shoulders after a drink. Lock the car and keep to lit streets downtown.
  • Winter driving on I-90/I-94: snow, ice and closures; check road conditions before you set out.
  • Ticks in the county parks and state natural areas — long grass and woods, May–Oct.
  • Small-town hours: several kitchens and taprooms close by 8–9pm and some shut early in winter; call ahead.
  • Mauston Taxi is appointment-only, so do not count on a curb hail after a late dinner.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Poison control (US)
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MaustonMauston

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies in Mauston; consulates sit in Chicago and Minneapolis. US travellers: your state department of motor vehicles and insurer are the useful contacts.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Mauston Taxi, minimum fare: about $3.75 per adult, appointment only (check)
  • Drive Mauston → Wisconsin Dells: about 25 min on I-90/I-94
  • Drive Mauston → Madison: about 1 h 15 min on I-90/I-94

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the I-90 entrance? — Where is the highway entrance?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is the kitchen still open? — Is the kitchen still open?

Area code 608; dial it before every local number.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mauston. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow), and winter storm days on I-90/I-94 · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MSN: last sensible arrival, drive time to Mauston, motel fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown State St, the Gateway Ave strip, the fairgrounds, the Lemonweir riverfront.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Boorman House, Carr Valley Cheese, Gravity Box, Juneau County Fair) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and storm arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources