▁ ▁From ▁the ▁South ▁Dak ota / M inn esota ▁state ▁line ▁at ▁Or ton ville , ▁to ▁Way z ata , ▁US ▁ 1 2 ▁is ▁mostly ▁a ▁rural ▁two - lane ▁highway ▁with ▁a ▁ ▁speed ▁limit , ▁with ▁slower ▁speed ▁limits ▁through ▁towns ▁and ▁a ▁four - lane ▁surface ▁ar ter ial ▁segment ▁through ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Will mar . ▁ ▁From ▁western ▁Way z ata ▁to ▁Inter state ▁ 3 9 4 ▁in ▁Min net on ka , ▁US ▁ 1 2 ▁is ▁a ▁six - lane ▁fre ew ay . ▁ ▁East ▁of ▁I - 4 9 4 , ▁US ▁ 1 2 ▁is ▁in vis ibly ▁concurrent ▁with ▁Inter states ▁ 3 9 4 ▁and ▁ 9 4 ▁through ▁Min ne apolis ▁and ▁St . ▁Paul ▁to ▁the ▁Minnesota / W is consin ▁state ▁line ▁at ▁Hudson . ▁ ▁The ▁Minnesota ▁section ▁of ▁US ▁ 1 2 ▁is ▁defined ▁as ▁Rout es ▁ 1 4 9 , ▁ 2 6 , ▁and ▁ 1 0 ▁in ▁Minnesota ▁Stat utes ▁§ § ▁ 1 6 1 . 1 1 5 ( 8 0 ) ▁and ▁ 1 6 1 . 1 1 4 ( 2 ). ▁ ▁Wisconsin ▁ ▁From ▁El kh orn , ▁Wisconsin ▁to ▁near ▁the ▁Illinois / W is consin ▁state ▁line , ▁U . S . ▁ 1 2 ▁is ▁a ▁fre ew ay ▁with ▁a ▁ ▁speed ▁limit . ▁ ▁It ▁continues ▁as ▁a ▁two - lane ▁highway ▁until ▁it ▁approaches ▁the ▁city