Looking for some unique day trips in Wisconsin? There’s something so wonderfully magical about trains. Despite the advances in technology all around us, trains still hold a mystique and make us think about life in a different way. Wisconsin came to statehood around the same time trains became a truly integral part of our nation’s transportation history. Across the state, there are options for you to not only learn about railroad history but to use those trains as a means to get out and explore parts of our state you might not otherwise get to see. So if you’ve been searching for train trips near me in Wisconsin, check out these trips you can take in just one afternoon:

 

1. East Troy Electric Railroad, East Troy
Facebook.com/EastTroyRR
Facebook.com/EastTroyRR
Part of the East Troy Railroad Museum, a stop here is one of the best day trips in Wisconsin you can take. The last remaining stretch of track left from the Wisconsin interurban network, passenger excursions run on a seven-mile stretch of track from East Troy to Mukwonago. They also have a Sunday Brunch Train, a Dinner Train, a Full Moon Ride, and multiple themed events for some exciting train rides in Wisconsin throughout the year.
Learn more about visiting the East Troy Railroad Museum.
2. Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway, Osceola
Facebook.com/osceoladinnertrain
Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway, 114 Depot Rd, Osceola, WI 54020, USA
Facebook.com/osceoladinnertrain
There are 45-minute, one-hour, 90-minute, and two-hour train ride options as well as brunch, pizza, dinner, and a few seasonal specialty rides here. Excursions run on the weekends and begin for the season in May. The train museum is open every Wednesday and Saturday.
Get more information on the Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway and other train trips near me in Wisconsin.
3. Riverside and Great Northern Railway, Wisconsin Dells
Facebook.com/Dellstrains
Riverside & Great Northern Railway, N115 County Rd N, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965, USA
Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society/Facebook
Though it does not have quite the giant trains as some of the other locations, a train ride at this railroad and living museum lets you get close to some of the wonderful scenery in the Dells. It's a 15-inch gauge light railroad and the trip aboard a steam train lasts about 40 minutes, following a section of track along the Dells of the Wisconsin River. It's one of the most scenic train rides in Wisconsin and is one of many great day trips in Wisconsin.
Head to the website for the Riverside and Great Northern Railway for the most up-to-date information about visiting here.
4. Mid-Continent Railway Museum, North Freedom
Facebook.com/MidContinentRailwayMuseum

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Mid-Continent Railway Museum, E8948 Museum Rd, North Freedom, WI 53951, USA
Facebook.com/MidContinentRailwayMuseum
This 55-minute train ride on restored century-old steel coaches is everything you could imagine. It travels along an old section of track that once belonged to the Chicago & North Western Railway. They offer several themed train rides in Wisconsin throughout the year, including a snow train, a fall foliage train, a pumpkin train, Santa express train, and a stars and stripes train. No matter the season, a visit here is one of the best day trips in Wisconsin.
Find out more about the Mid-Continent Railway Museum.
5. Lumberjack Steam Train and Camp 5 Museum, Laona
Facebook.com/lumberjacksteamtrain
Lumberjack Steam Train & Camp 5 Museum, 5068 US-8, Laona, WI 54541, USA
Facebook.com/lumberjacksteamtrain
Here, not only do you get to ride an awesome steam train, but the ride takes you to a recreated logging village where there are tons of things to see and learn. Plan for at least two hours to do it all. The season runs from June to September and may be one of the best day trips in Wisconsin that you can take.
Get more information on the Lumberjack Steam Train & Take 5 Museum.
6. Amtrak Empire Builder
Flickr/Michael Hicks
Milwaukee Airport-Trains, 5601 S 6th St, Milwaukee, WI 53221, USA
Flickr/Loco Steve
This Amtrak route runs from Chicago out to Seattle and has six stops in Wisconsin, including Columbus, La Crosse, Milwaukee, Portage, Tomah, and Wisconsin Dells. Board in Milwaukee and see the whole state before de-boarding in LaCrosse. If you take the train into Minnesota, you get to ride tracks right along the Mississippi River and experience stunning views. It is a very lovely Wisconsin day trip.
Get more information about riding the Amtrak Empire Builder.
7. National Railroad Museum, Green Bay
Facebook.com/National-Railroad-Museum
National Railroad Museum, 2285 S Broadway, Ashwaubenon, WI 54304, USA
Facebook.com/National-Railroad-Museum
There's more railroad history than you could ever imagine and a country's worth of railroad history right at our fingertips here in Green Bay. Museum admission includes a 25-minute train ride through the museum's stock. Trains run from May to October with a special Polar Express train in the winter. For one of the best day trips in Wisconsin, a visit to this museum is a must.
Read further on about train rides available at the National Railroad Museum.

So, if you’ve been searching high and low for Wisconsin day trips, consider a ride aboard a train. What are your favorite day trips near me in Wisconsin? Tell us in the comments!

Prefer being in your own transportation to take in the scenery? Check out these scenic drives in Wisconsin.

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Day Trips Near Me In Wisconsin

Melissa M. | July 10, 2021

What are some of the best day trips in Wisconsin?

If you’re in the mood for a good day trip in Wisconsin, you’re in luck! The state of Wisconsin has plenty of options!

  • One of the best trips is to Kenosha and Racine, two towns situated along the coast of Lake Michigan. With lighthouses, a zoo, beaches, and more, there’s plenty to keep you busy for a day in these two towns.
  • Along the shores of Lake Superior, you can find the town of Bayfield where you can kayak through mesmerizing sea caves and visit the shops and restaurants around this colorful town. 

 

Are there any train-themed restaurants in Wisconsin?

Trains always provide a sense of nostalgia whether you take a train ride, visit a train museum, or dine at train-themed restaurants in Wisconsin:

  • If you’re looking for a place to go out to eat with the family, head to La Estacion, a Mexican restaurant housed inside the former Waukesha Train Depot. Here, you can have your meal inside a vintage train car for a wonderful dining experience. I love the idea of having a meal on a train without actually having to get on the train.
  • At PC Junction in Baileys Harbor, your meal is actually delivered by train - a model train, that is, just as long as you're sitting at the counter. But whether or not you sit at the counter at this train-themed restaurant, there’s plenty of train memorabilia for you to look at and enjoy.

 

What are the most beautiful places in Wisconsin?

There are so many beautiful places in Wisconsin just waiting for you to visit. Make plans to visit gorgeous locations like Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Horicon Marsh, and Copper Falls State Park.

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