Category: Wisconsin’s Worst Roads

Wisconsin’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Wisconsin, Wisconsin survival prepper, Wisconsin's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Wisconsin’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster: A Survivalist’s Guide

When you’ve spent as much time behind the wheel as I have, clocking miles through backwoods, city chaos, and unforgiving terrain, you learn a few things the hard way. One of the golden rules of survival driving? Don’t trust the road just because it’s paved. And in Wisconsin, when the skies open up or disaster strikes, there are a few roads that go from challenging to downright deadly. I’ve driven them all—through snow squalls, floods, tornado warnings, and fire evacuations. Trust me when I say these roads demand respect.

Before I tell you which roads to avoid, let’s talk about the skills that can keep you alive behind the wheel. Because in a true disaster, your engine and your instincts are your best friends.

15 Survival Driving Skills to Help You Escape a Disaster Scenario

  1. Situational Awareness
    Don’t just drive—observe. Note exit routes, traffic flow, weather patterns, and people’s behavior. Disasters evolve quickly, and awareness gives you the edge.
  2. Low-Visibility Navigation
    Learn how to drive with limited sight. Whether it’s smoke from a wildfire or blinding snow, keeping your wheels straight and slow might be your only ticket out.
  3. Flood Driving Tactics
    Never drive through water you can’t see the bottom of. But if you must, go slow, stay in the middle of the road, and keep the revs up to avoid stalling.
  4. Off-Road Readiness
    Your car doesn’t have to be a 4×4 to survive a backroad escape. Drop tire pressure slightly, steer steady, and avoid sudden turns to handle loose gravel or mud.
  5. Escape Planning Under Duress
    Know multiple escape routes from any given location. GPS is nice—until the signal’s gone. Paper maps save lives.
  6. Panic Braking Control
    Train yourself not to slam the brakes. In a crisis, pumping the brakes or using threshold braking can prevent skidding or a full loss of control.
  7. Tactical U-Turns
    Practice tight 3-point and J-turns. If you’re blocked in or ambushed, knowing how to turn around in limited space could be life-saving.
  8. Drive-by Fire Awareness
    Wildfires are fast. Heat can burst tires, and smoke kills visibility. Keep windows up, air on recirculate, and avoid stopping near dry brush.
  9. Engine Preservation in Crisis
    Avoid overheating in slow-moving traffic by switching off the A/C, shifting to neutral when stopped, and staying off the gas.
  10. Fuel Conservation Driving
    Smooth acceleration, low RPMs, and coasting when safe can stretch a nearly empty tank farther than you’d think.
  11. Driving with a Damaged Vehicle
    Know how to handle a car with a blown tire, dragging bumper, or broken windshield. Sometimes crawling forward is better than walking.
  12. Crowd & Riot Navigation
    Stay calm, avoid eye contact, and never accelerate through crowds. If blocked in, reverse slowly or reroute altogether.
  13. No-Lights Driving
    Practice stealth driving at night without headlights. Use the moonlight and follow painted lines or the road edge if it’s safe to do so.
  14. Signal Use & Communication
    Hand signals, hazard lights, and honking rhythms can warn others of danger or show intent when electronic systems fail.
  15. Escape on Empty
    Learn to coast in neutral, avoid idling, and use gravity. Don’t burn precious fuel unless it gets you closer to safety.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

  1. DIY Fuel from Lawn Equipment (Gas Siphoning)
    If you’re stranded near a residential area, check garages or sheds for lawnmowers or chainsaws. These often have a small stash of gasoline. Use clear tubing and gravity to siphon into a bottle—do it safely and always check for contamination.
  2. Alcohol-Based Fuel Substitutes
    In an absolute pinch, small amounts of isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol (from first-aid kits or stove fuel) can be mixed with the remaining gas. Don’t make a habit of it—it’s hard on your engine—but it might get you a mile or two closer to help.
  3. Portable Solar Charger for Navigation Devices
    Out of fuel but not out of options? A small solar panel charger can keep your GPS or phone alive long enough to find help. Mount it to the roof or dashboard and let it trickle charge while you assess your surroundings or prepare to walk.

Wisconsin’s Worst Roads During a Disaster

Now let’s talk Wisconsin. Most people know it for cheese and Packers, but during a flood, blizzard, or blackout, the roads here can turn lethal. Based on my experience and reports from emergency responders, here are the worst offenders:

1. I-94 Between Milwaukee and Madison

This high-volume artery gets jammed fast during an evacuation. Add a snowstorm or a wreck, and you’re parked for hours with nowhere to go.

2. Highway 35 Along the Mississippi River

Scenic? Sure. But during floods or spring thaws, this road gets washed out. It’s also narrow with few escape routes up the bluffs.

3. I-41 Through the Fox Valley

Too many drivers and too few exits. In a fire or chemical spill scenario, you could get trapped quickly between Appleton and Green Bay.

4. County Trunk Highway A in Door County

Tourist traffic clogs this scenic stretch, especially during summer. One accident and you’re stuck on a narrow peninsula with no alternate roads.

5. US-2 Through Northern Wisconsin

Isolated and poorly maintained in winter, this road turns treacherous fast. Cell service is spotty, and gas stations are miles apart.

6. Highway 29 West of Wausau

Crosswinds and black ice make this route a nightmare in winter storms. Combine that with low visibility and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

7. I-43 Between Sheboygan and Milwaukee

Slick with freezing rain and overburdened with big rigs, this stretch bottlenecks in storms. Add panic evac traffic, and you’re going nowhere.

8. Highway 13 in the Wisconsin Dells

Tourist central. If disaster strikes in peak season, traffic grinds to a halt. Narrow side roads aren’t meant for mass evacuation.

9. State Highway 23 Through the Driftless Region

Beautiful hills, winding curves—but landslides and fallen trees after heavy rain can block entire sections with no warning.

10. Beltline Highway (US-12/18) in Madison

A short but crucial urban connector that becomes gridlocked even on a normal day. A disaster here would trap thousands between city zones.

Final Thoughts from the Road

I’ve broken axles in potholes, coasted on fumes through blizzards, and navigated washed-out backroads with nothing but a compass and instinct. Surviving on Wisconsin’s worst roads during a disaster isn’t about luck—it’s about preparation, improvisation, and guts.

Don’t wait until you’re stuck on I-94 behind a jackknifed semi to figure this stuff out. Train now. Practice these skills. Stock your car with a get-home bag, paper maps, snacks, water, and a portable battery bank. Remember, your vehicle is your first line of defense—and possibly your last chance at escape.

And above all, don’t assume the fastest route on your GPS is the safest. Sometimes, the long way through the woods is the only way home.