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Major city · United States

SpartaSparta, Wisconsin

Give Sparta one night, or a half-day stop off I-90: the bike trail, the Deke Slayton museum and the fiberglass graveyard fill an afternoon.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Sparta is a small Wisconsin town on I-90 between La Crosse and Tomah, best known as the eastern end of the 32-mile Elroy-Sparta State Trail, one of the first rail-trails in the US. It is a practical overnight or lunch stop for drivers and cyclists, not a destination in itself. Two nights only if you plan to ride the trail.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Oct (trail season); Sep–Oct for colour
avoid Nov–Mar (trail closed to riding, cold, few services)
Airports
LSE · MSN · MSP
Nights
1
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.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Sparta911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

Show all 12 answers

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$3–5
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, one mainTip 18–22% on top.$15–28
  • Street or quick mealRamen or a sandwich lunch$10–16
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Deke Slayton)Local history section free; check current hours.$5
  • Budget bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$70
  • Mid-range bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$95
  • High-end bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$130

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200

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

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

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.

Elroy-Sparta State TrailBen Bikin' statueDeke Slayton Memorial Space and Bike MuseumFAST Fiberglass Mold Graveyard
Airports
LSE La Crosse Regional (About 45 min west on I-90; small airport, limited routes.) · MSN Dane County Regional (Madison) (About 2 h east on I-90.) · MSP Minneapolis-St. Paul (About 3 h northwest; the biggest hub for this area.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    −3°C (27°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    0°C (32°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    15°C (59°F)

  5. May

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    −1°C (30°F)

Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (28°C (82°F)), coolest Jan (−13°C (9°F) low), wettest May (11 rain days), driest Feb (7). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Sparta: 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 (27°F)

−13°C (9°F)

8 rd

Feb

0°C (32°F)

−11°C (12°F)

7 rd

Mar

7°C (45°F)

−5°C (23°F)

9 rd

Apr

15°C (59°F)

2°C (36°F)

10 rd

May

21°C (70°F)

8°C (46°F)

11 rd

Jun

26°C (79°F)

13°C (55°F)

11 rd

Jul

28°C (82°F)

16°C (61°F)

10 rd

Aug

27°C (81°F)

15°C (59°F)

10 rd

Sep

22°C (72°F)

10°C (50°F)

9 rd

Oct

15°C (59°F)

4°C (39°F)

9 rd

Nov

6°C (43°F)

−3°C (27°F)

8 rd

Dec

−1°C (30°F)

−10°C (14°F)

9 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

A car is the practical choice: downtown is walkable, but the trailhead, the fiberglass graveyard and the I-90 motels are spread out. The trail itself is for bikes and feet. No useful local bus network for visitors.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
La Crossego

Door to door: About 40 min

I-90 west, about 30 min by car

River town with a bigger restaurant and bar scene; good evening out.

Tomah

go

Door to door: About 35 min

I-90 east, about 25 min by car

Closest full set of services and chain hotels on the interstate.

Elroy (via the state trail)

overnight

Door to door: 3–5 h one way

Elroy-Sparta State Trail, 32 miles one way by bike

Ride it one way and arrange a shuttle or a second night; not a return day.

Wisconsin Dells

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h

I-90 east, about 1 h 15 min by car

Waterparks and scenery, but a long day from Sparta; better as a separate stop.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Downtown / Water St

Walk to the museum, Ginny's Cupboard and the trailhead; the Sparta Inn is the budget option here.

I-90 exit (Theater Rd)

Chain motels with parking, 5 min drive from downtown; easiest with a car or trailer.

Country stays south of town

Cabin and B&B resorts on acreage, 15–25 min drive; quiet, need a car.

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

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
Chain hotel room at the I-90 exit1 × 1 night × US$130US$130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110US$220
Car, one day (rental plus fuel)1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
Elroy-Sparta State Trail day pass2 × US$5 · checkUS$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$46
Trip total≈ US$253 per person per day, bed includedUS$506

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

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–5
Ramen or a sandwich lunch$10–16
Sit-down dinner, one mainTip 18–22% on top.$15–28
Ice cream at a soda fountain$4–8
Museum entry (Deke Slayton)Local history section free; check current hours.$5
Gallon of gascheck$3–4

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Sparta is a low-crime small town; the real risks are winter road conditions, deer on the highway at dusk and trail tunnels without a light.
  • The Elroy-Sparta State Trail has three unlit tunnels and a crushed-limestone surface: bring a light and check trail status before riding.
  • The trail is closed to bikes in winter and sections can be soft or washed after heavy rain.
  • Small-town hours: many kitchens close by 20:00 and some places shut Sun–Mon.
  • Winter driving on I-90 can turn bad fast: check road conditions before a long leg.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Sparta Police (non-emergency)
608-269-3122
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.

SpartaSparta, Wisconsin

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Sparta Police (non-emergency)608-269-3122
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies in Sparta; nearest consulates are in Chicago or Minneapolis. US visitors: your own embassy is in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • La Crosse → Sparta by car: about 30 min, 30 miles on I-90 (check)
  • Madison → Sparta by car: about 2 h, 110 miles on I-90 (check)
  • Trail day pass: about $5 per person (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Is the trail open today? — Is the trail open today?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • A table for two, please. — A table for two, please.
  • How far to La Crosse? — How far to La Crosse?

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

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 Sparta. 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 (trail season); Sep–Oct for colour · avoid Nov–Mar (trail closed to riding, cold, few services) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 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 LSE and MSN: last departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking cluster around Water St and the trailhead with rescue anchors.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the Deke Slayton museum, the trail and the fiberglass graveyard.
  4. Trail-day fixture: tunnel lights, surface status and shuttle options.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Sparta

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