Wisconsin Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary
Trent Jonas
Author
The Badger State is so blessed with landmarks, sights, and natural beauty that coming up with the best road trips in Wisconsin can be overwhelming. Wisconsin is home to cosmopolitan cities, charming small towns, two great lakes, Northwoods, Big Woods, the Mississippi River, Door County, the Apostle Islands – and too much more to even name here. So, where do you even begin when it comes to planning a road trip? Not to worry – we’ve got you covered with almost a dozen of our favorite Wisconsin road trip ideas that will keep you exploring year-round. Before heading out, be sure to pack all your road trip essentials – and don’t forget the snacks – then hit the road to explore these 11 Wisconsin road trip ideas for yourself!
For a Wisconsin road trip map that you can use to follow along on your smartphone, tap on the “Route” link at the beginning of any of the following 11 Wisconsin road trip ideas.
Table of Contents
1-Day Road Trip In Wisconsin
- Route: Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve > Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit > Dodge County Ledge Park > Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center > Edgewater Park
- Distance: 63 miles
- Trip Time: 1.5 hours driving time
Although this may be the shortest Wisconsin road trip itinerary on this list, feel free to take as long as you like on this scenic day trip. Not only will you experience some of the most dramatic natural beauty the state has to offer, from the Great Lakes to the largest cattail marsh in the country, you’ll have the opportunity to hit some lesser-traveled hiking trails, explore shore scenic shorelines, and maybe glimpse some rare bird species - these are some of the prime birding areas in Wisconsin. Be sure to put this weekend trip in on your Wisconsin bucket list!
3-Day Weekend Road Trip In Wisconsin
- Route: Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit > Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest > Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest
- Distance: 270 miles
- Trip Time: 5 hours driving time
This three-day road trip to three state forests in Wisconsin highlights some of the best nature that the Badger State has to offer. Although the trip is designed as three days, you could certainly plan it in a way that allows a little more time in each forest, where you’ll find plenty to explore.
Door County Road Trip
- Route: Newport State Park > Peninsula State Park > Cave Point - Clay Banks State Natural Area > Whitefish Dunes State Park > Potawatomi State Park
- Distance: 56 miles
- Trip Time: 1.5 hours driving time
Follow this itinerary for a trip through five state parks in Wisconsin’s iconic Door County. As one of the Upper Midwest’s premier destinations, Door County is renowned for its history, dining, and entertainment as much as it is for its natural areas, sandy beaches, and stunning views across Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Although you’ll enjoy this trip anytime of year, we think you’ll appreciate it most in the summer or fall. This may just be one of the best road trips in Wisconsin!
Lake Winnebago Road Trip
- Route: Lakeside Park > The Little Farmer > Heritage Orchard > High Cliff State Park > Waverly Beach Bar and Grille > Dockside Tavern
- Distance: 83 miles
- Trip Time: 2 hours driving time
Start this central Wisconsin road trip around Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago in the city of Fond du Lac. You’ll then circumnavigate the lake in a counterclockwise direction, visiting the small towns and cities on the lake, such as Appleton and Oshkosh, while taking in the natural beauty of the area, like cliffs, bluffs, and beaches. Be sure to stop at the orchards, breweries, and wineries you’ll encounter along the way. This is one of the best road trips you can take for a summer weekend getaway in Wisconsin.
Best Wisconsin Road Trip For Spring
- Route: Big Manitou Falls > Little Manitou Falls > Amnicon Falls State Park > Morgan Falls > Brownstone Falls > Potato River River Falls > Superior Falls > Saxon Falls > Long Slide Falls County Park
- Distance: 292 miles
- Trip Time: 6 hours driving time
When the snow begins to melt, the state’s streams and rivers swell, making the waterfalls spectacular. That’s why spring is the perfect season for a road trip to the best waterfalls in northern Wisconsin. On this road trip through Wisconsin - the northern part, at least - you’ll start in the northeastern corner, where you’ll find the state’s tallest waterfalls. Then you’ll travel through the Northwoods, skipping from one waterfall to the next, until you’ve seen all the magic that spring brings to Wisconsin’s tallest cascades.
Best Summer Road Trip In Wisconsin
- Route: Veterans Park, Milwaukee > Wakesha > Madison > Mt. Horeb > Governor Dodge State Park > Prairie du Chien
- Distance: 195 miles
- Trip Time: 3.75 hours driving time
This road trip from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River traces some of Wisconsin’s most fascinating natural areas and historic sites, including the state capitol in Madison. Once you reach Governor Dodge State Park, just south of Spring Green, you’re in Frank Lloyd Wright country. Consider a side trip to Taliesin, Wright’s home and studio. And if you can handle a little mania, pay a visit to the nearby House on the Rock - a bucket list-worthy roadside attraction, the likes of which you will only find in Wisconsin.
For a stretch goal, head north from Prairie du Chien on Wisconsin’s Great River Road, tracing the Mississippi River bluffs, through the state’s charming river towns, to Prescott and the river’s confluence with the St. Croix, along the Minnesota border. There you can stop in at the Great River Road National Scenic Byway visitor information center and learn more about this scenic drive that crosses the country along North America’s longest river.
Best Wisconsin Road Trip For Fall
- Route: High Cliff State Park > Peninsula State Park > Kettle Moraine State Forest > Devil’s Lake State Park > Blue Mounds > Wyalusing State Park > Wildcat Mountain State Park > Mill Bluff State Park
- Distance: 597 miles
- Trip Time: 11.5 hours driving time
Any self-respecting fall road trip in Wisconsin includes Door County. This one, however, is a fall colors marathon that takes you from the beloved peninsula through the Big Woods of the state’s Driftless Area to the magnificent Mississippi River valley. You’ll see the state’s best fall foliage in eight different state parks, forests, and natural areas. You will probably need to set aside a whole weekend for leaf peeping to fit in this entire itinerary. Or you could even split it across two weekends!
Best Winter Road Trip In Wisconsin
- Route: Lake Geneva > Cambridge > Madison > Wisconsin Dells > Tomah > Sparta > La Crosse > Chippewa Falls > Hayward
- Distance: 468 miles
- Trip Time: 8.75 hours driving time
This Christmas town road trip is an ideal way to put a little light in your Wisconsin winter. The cities and towns on this itinerary offer some of the best holiday decorations and displays in the state. Lake Geneva is a popular holiday destination for folks from as far away as Chicago - and it’s just the beginning of your journey! Break up the trip with a stay at Wisconsin Dells, which not only is an awesome Christmas destination but, as the Waterpark Capital of the World, it can also make you forget that it’s winter for a while.
Family Friendly Wisconsin Road Trip
- Route: Choo-Choo Charlies Shriner Diner > SafeHouse > Bronze Fonz > Cedar Park > Bobrowitz Sculpture > Wisconsin Maritime Museum
- Distance: 159 miles
- Trip Time: 3 hours driving time
This family friendly road trip covers a lot of ground, but it does so in less than three hours of driving time, so nobody is going to get too squirmy in the car. Better yet, there are plenty of awesome sights and activities - as well as opportunities for meals and snacks - along the way to keep both children and adults entertained and satisfied.
Road Trip to Wisconsin Landmarks & Natural Wonders
- Route: Cave Point County Park > Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve > Athelstane > Long Slide Falls > Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest > Minocqua > Copper Falls State Park > Apostle Islands National Lakeshore > Amnicon Falls State Park > Big Manitou
- Distance: 489 miles
- Trip Time: 9.75 hours driving time
This road trip to some of the best landmarks and natural wonders in Wisconsin will take you from the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan and lighthouses of Door County, through Sturgeon Bay, down around Green Bay, to the woods and waterfalls of northern Wisconsin and the waves and rocky shoreline of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on Lake Superior. Along the way, you’ll find some of the best spots in the state for hiking, biking, canoeing, and kayaking - so be sure to take your time on this trip and experience what Wisconsin has to offer.
Road Trip to Best Small Towns in Wisconsin
- Route: Lake Nebagamon > Hayward > Phillips > Mercer > Woodruff > Rhinelander > Athens > Marshfield > Neillsville > Black River Falls
- Distance: 385 miles
- Trip Time: 7.5 hours driving time
This road trip will take you to some unbelievable roadside attractions that are located in some of Wisconsin's most charming small towns. From several of “the world’s largest” entries to a mythical beast rumored to roam the Northwoods, you’ll find plenty to delight and amuse as you visit several delightful towns.
If you follow the itinerary, you’ll end your trip at Black River Falls. But if you want to keep going for a little bonus Wisconsin agritainment, head 20 minutes down the road to Warrens, and hit the Cranberry Highway for a spell.
Clearly, these Wisconsin road trip ideas are only a few of a near-infinite number of possible itineraries – but we hope you find them useful as you consider your next vacation in the Badger State. If you need to find places to stay along the way, whether hotels and resorts or vacation home rentals, be sure to check out some of our many accommodation suggestions.
Do you agree that these are some of the best Wisconsin road trip ideas? What are some of your road trip suggestions? We’d love to hear about them!
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More to Explore
Road Trips In Wisconsin
What are the most popular landmarks to visit in Wisconsin?
There are many natural and man-made landmarks to visit in Wisconsin. Among the most popular are:
- Wisconsin State Capitol
- Milwaukee Art Museum
- Lambeau Field
- Taliesin
- Apostle Islands
- Amnicon Falls
- Cana Island Lighthouse
What are the most popular state parks to visit in Wisconsin?
Of the most popular state parks to visit in Wisconsin, Devil’s Lake State Park - which happens to be the largest unit in the system - is the most visited. It typically welcomes more than a million visitors every year. Other popular state parks in Wisconsin include:
- Peninsula State Park
- Willow River State Park
- Kohler-Andrae State Park
- Copper Falls State Park
- Whitefish Dunes State Park
What are the major highways in Wisconsin?
There are several major highways in Wisconsin, including Interstates 39, 41, 43, 90, and 94. Other federal highways include Routes 2, 8, 10, 12, 14, 45, 53, and 63. Route 12 tracks across southern and central Wisconsin, passing through cities like Whitewater, Madison, and Eau Claire. Interstate 43 cuts toward Lake Michigan and skirts the shoreline north from Milwaukee, through Sheboygan and Manitowoc, to Green Bay. Routes 2 and 8 are among the most scenic of Wisconsin’s major highways, as they’re routed through the national forests in the northern part of the state.