There are some truly awesome antique shops here in Wisconsin. Combine a shopping trip with a fall leaf-peeping tour and you've got a perfect Wisconsin weekend. We've compiled a short itinerary that can be completed in just a couple of days and will take you to some of the very best places in the Dairy State.
You can check out the interactive map and adjust as needed here.
Google Maps only allows for 10 stops, so a few of the mentioned places aren't explicitly on the map. For example, there are two stops in the Appleton area and three in the Madison area, but we've only put one stop in each city on the map to keep it a bit easier to read.
Please note, Picks of the Past has permanently closed.
This place is upstairs from the Olde Newry Gift Store along Hwy 27. From vintage kitchenware to 8-track tapes, you'll find everything you can ever imagine here.
Located at S 519 B State Highway 27, Cashton 54619.
More than 100 consignors share space in this huge spot for finding the best antiques. They've got so much extra-old stuff, they have what they call the "primitive room." Located at 117 S Main St, Westby, WI 54667.
The Fox Valley is home to a few amazing shops and this antique mall is a great way to start checking them out. At least 80 different vendors promise a wide selection of items.
These folks are all about reusing non-renewable items and ensuring antique and unique architectural items get a long life. Located at 537 N Main St., Oshkosh 54901.
If you're taking this trip between May and October, this is where you'd probably want to plan a detour to Princeton, home of the state's biggest flea market. It's not far out of your way on this itinerary and of course they'll make more than just antiques - but it would be a worthwhile detour on this little trip.
You're nearing the end of the trip, but make sure you have your stamina for the biggest antique mall in Wisconsin. More than 220 vendors in nearly 80,000 square feet mean you can shop to your heart's content.
Madison's oldest antique mall, these folks have long-established contacts in the area to gather some of the most interesting and unique pieces. Located at 4748 Cottage Grove Rd.,
Please note, Three Orange Doors has permanently closed.
End your trip at this awesome, quirky little shop that's a delightful mix of antiques and local artisan products.
Located at 2789 Fitchrona Rd, Madison, WI 53719.
Do you think you'll be taking this antique shopping trip? Are there any other can't-miss stops near this route? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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 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!
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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.
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, but you’ll also 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 on your Wisconsin bucket list!
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
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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. If you are looking for weekend road trips in Wisconsin, this is one of our favorites.
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
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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 any time 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!
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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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!
Route: Lake Geneva > Cambridge > Madison > Wisconsin Dells > Tomah > Sparta > La Crosse > Chippewa Falls > Hayward
Distance: 468 miles
Trip Time: 8.75 hours driving time
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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.
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
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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. Who says quick road trips in Wisconsin can't be a ton of family fun?
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.
Route: Lake Nebagamon > Hayward > Phillips > Mercer > Woodruff > Rhinelander > Athens > Marshfield > Neillsville > Black River Falls
Distance: 385 miles
Trip Time: 7.5 hours driving time
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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 road trips in Wisconsin? What are some of your road trip suggestions? We'd love to hear about them!
There are a lot of places to enjoy a scenic drive in Wisconsin, but some of the best can be found in Marinette County. Less crowded than some other Badger State destinations, the county’s backroads are gorgeous and will take you through wild forests, past scenic parks and wild waterfalls. Marinette County is located in the far northeastern region of Wisconsin, bordering Michigan's Upper Peninsula, an area known for its lush forests, numerous rivers and lakes. It adds up to a picture-perfect setting for enjoying fall beauty. The Marinette County Fall Color Driving Tour is a self-guided collection of routes that will lead you to some of these remarkable scenes. Here’s why this county has some of the best drives in Wisconsin.
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Marinette County’s roads will take you into the beauty of the Northwoods.
A $5 day pass is required per vehicle, for entry into the county parks. Day passes are available for purchase at any County park entrance, or they can be purchased online and printed in advance.
I’ve spent some time on these routes and can’t recommend them enough! See the current Marinette County Fall Color Driving Tour routes on the county’s website. If you want to enjoy a whole weekend in the county, make your plans on Booking.com. And here’s where to find more Wisconsin fun.
