We long thought of Wisconsin as a drive-thru state. However, after living here for more than a decade, we now know Wisconsin is a drive-to state. As in, there are so many amazing places to drive to in Wisconsin. This makes Wisconsin a great place for a road trip. As budget travel lovers, we have spent so much time exploring the amazing Wisconsin road trips and wanted to share them with all of you. Keep reading for all of our favorite ways to spend a weekend in Wisconsin.
Driftless Region – The Wisconsin River Road
Time: 1-2 days | Best For: Adults
This Wisconsin road trip may be one of the most unexpected road trips in Wisconsin. The road winds through sleepy rolling hills. Yet along the route, you’ll pass one of the biggest wineries in Wisconsin, Wollersheims, the strange House On the Rock and a Frank Lloyd Wright creation, Taliesin. This is a charming road trip that is really close to the Wisconsin Dells so it makes a great side trip if you are spending time in the Dells.
Hayward
Time: 1 day | Best For: Families
The town of Hayward is a summer destination for families throughout Wisconsin. However, in addition to the touristy downtown area there are some great hiking and kayaking areas near Hayward which makes a great day trip for families looking to escape to nature.
Chippewa Valley
Time: 1 day | Best For: Adults
The Chippewa Valley road trip runs throughout Western Wisconsin. Along the way, you can explore an underground cave, several breweries, an amazing state park and more. This is a great road trip to take if you are on a leisurely visit to the Twin Cities and want to take the scenic route. Explore the downtown areas of Eau Claire and Hudson along this road trip for a taste of Western Wisconsin – try the beer and cheese curds too!
Iron County Waterfalls
Time: 1 day | Best For: Active Folks
The waterfalls of Iron county are an amazing day trip if you like trekking through the woods in search of a good waterfall. The loop circles some of the best waterfalls in northern Wisconsin, including Copper Falls, our favorite! This trip is best in the spring when the waterfalls are at their most powerful. We also think this is a great road trip that takes you into the really rural areas of Wisconsin to explore the beauty of the northwoods.
Lake Michigan Shoreline
Time: 2 day | Best For: Families
Spend a weekend exploring the Lake Michigan shoreline. Starting in Algoma, you can exploring one of our favorite wineries, von Stiehl. Continue on to Sheboygan, our favorite beach town in Wisconsin. You can even extend this vacation on to Milwaukee to explore the brews by the beach in Wisconsin’s largest city.
Door County
Time: 1 day | Best For: Everyone!
The scenic loop that circles Door County is one of the most popular Wisconsin road trips. It is a beautiful drive through forests, along lakeshore and beautiful bluffs. On the island of Door County, you’ll find heaps of lighthouses, state parks, wineries, boutique shops and more. Door County is the most popular Wisconsin vacation destination for good reason! It is the Wisconsin road trip that we recommend to anyone and everyone.
St Croix River Road
Time: 1 day | Best For: Active Folks
The St Croix River marks the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. It’s a great area to explore with lots of hiking trails for the active folks and breweries and wineries for the less actives times of day. In addition to the town of Hudson, the town of Osceola has a great waterfall smack in the middle of town that is one of our favorite hidden gems.
Great River Road
Time: 1-2 days | Best For: Couples
The Great River Road is a National Scenic Byway that runs the length of the Mississippi River. And Wisconsin has an amazing section with awesome hiking trails, beautiful scenic overlooks and fun winding roads to drive along. The road is peppered with small towns which are full of amazing antique shops, bakeries and more. Oh and don’t forget the Great River Wine Trail, a collaborative group of wineries along this road that highlight the northern grown grape varietals to visitors.
Lake Superior Byway
Time: 1 day | Best for: Couples & Families
This road trip is another great option for a romantic wilderness getaway or an active adventure for families. The road trip explores the shores of Lake Superior. But the real stunner of this road trip is the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the sea caves of Lake Superior. These caves are best explored via the water on a kayak or boat tour, which are plentiful in the summer. However, seeing them from the shore is great too. Additionally, a trip out to Madeline Island is amazing! This northern island has one of the best “beach bars” in the United States, Tom’s Burned Down Cafe. Don’t forget to extend your road trip all the way to Superior (the town) to visit Pattison State Park to see the largest waterfall in the state.
We hope these Wisconsin road trip suggestions have inspired you to visit some far flung corners of the state. We love exploring Wisconsin and we know you will too. For all of our Wisconsin travel guides, check out our page here or some of our road trips below. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below and we’ll be happy to get back to you.
