Take the Long Way
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Road Trips.
Lake roads, forest highways, small towns, shoreline drives and somewhere new around the next bend. Sometimes getting there is the best part of a Wisconsin trip.
Lake roads, forest highways, small towns, shoreline drives and somewhere new around the next bend. Sometimes getting there is the best part of a Wisconsin trip.
Wisconsin was made for road trips. Follow Lake Michigan north, wind through the forests of the Northwoods, cross farm country between small towns or spend an autumn afternoon driving wherever the color looks best.
You can build an entire vacation around the road or simply turn the drive to your destination into part of the trip.
Three very different ways to see the state through the windshield.
Waterfront towns, shoreline scenery, parks, lighthouses and one famous winding road.
Lakes, forests, cabins and small towns across northern Wisconsin.
Take the scenic route when Wisconsin's forests turn red, orange and gold.
Build a route around water, cities, waterfalls, food or simply a good stretch of road.
Follow Wisconsin's western edge through Mississippi River scenery, bluffs and river towns.
Build a shoreline trip around Wisconsin cities, beaches, harbors and lake views.
Head north and string together waterfalls, forests and short hikes.
Combine three of Wisconsin's best-known destinations into one easy multi-stop trip.
Start with a city weekend and finish along the Door Peninsula.
Skip the interstate when possible and build the trip around downtowns you haven't seen before.
Door County is practically designed for wandering by car. Start around Sturgeon Bay, follow the peninsula north and stop whenever a harbor town, park, lighthouse or shoreline view gives you a reason to pull over.
Explore the Door County Route →Wisconsin scenery changes dramatically depending on which direction you point the car.
Follow shorelines, harbor towns and roads where the water keeps appearing beside you.
Head north for tree-lined roads, lakes and long stretches of green.
Let Wisconsin's changing leaves decide where the road takes you.
Build a route around main streets, local restaurants and places you've never stopped before.
Combine northern Wisconsin roads with short hikes and waterfall stops.
Supper clubs, cheese, fish fries and local stops can be the itinerary.
Enough road to feel like an adventure without spending the entire weekend driving.
Curves, scenery and back roads that make the ride itself the destination.
The farther north you go, the more the scenery becomes part of the trip. Connect lake towns, forest roads and cabin country while giving yourself permission to turn down a road simply because it looks interesting.
You don't need a week. Sometimes one really good day on the road is enough.
Pick one scenic area and spend more time stopping than driving.
Enough time to connect several destinations without rushing the entire trip.
Start linking entire regions together and see a much bigger piece of Wisconsin.
When the leaves turn, even familiar roads can feel new. Head toward northern forests, river valleys and lake country, then take whichever road seems to have the best color.
Find Fall Road Trips →Use these destination hubs as building blocks. Pick two, three or four and turn them into your own Wisconsin road trip.
Food, breweries, lakefront and city attractions.
Southern WisconsinLake views, resorts and an easy first stop.
CapitalCapitol Square, lakes, food and downtown.
Central WisconsinRiver scenery, resorts and family attractions.
NortheastFootball tradition, waterfront and city stops.
PeninsulaHarbor towns, parks, lighthouses and shoreline.
Northern WisconsinLakes, forests, cabins and small towns.
Keep GoingFind another town and add it to the route.
Leave enough empty time to stop when something along the road looks interesting.
When time allows, smaller highways and local roads usually make the better story.
Use independent restaurants, cafes, shops and lodging as part of the experience.
Wisconsin conditions can change quickly, especially during winter road trips.
Door County, northern Wisconsin and the Mississippi River corridor all work well for scenic road trips. Another option is connecting destinations such as Milwaukee, Madison and Wisconsin Dells into a multi-stop route.
Popular scenic areas include the Door Peninsula, Wisconsin's Mississippi River corridor, the Northwoods, lake country and routes through northern Wisconsin during fall color season.
Summer offers long days and easy access to outdoor destinations, while fall is especially popular for scenic drives. Spring and winter can also work well depending on the route and weather.
A single day works for a local scenic drive, while two or three days allows several destinations to be combined. Four or five days gives enough time to connect multiple regions without rushing.
Pick a destination, add a few stops and make the drive part of the Wisconsin adventure.