Follow The Sugar River Along This Scenic Drive Through Wisconsin
By Ben Jones|Published July 07, 2022
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
Some of of the prettiest drives in Wisconsin can be found in the southern part fo the state. Roads wind through rolling dairy country that’s studded with iconic red barns and the occasional cheese factory, where a meandering river traverses the gorgeous countryside. It’s called the Sugar River, and it will lead you to some pleasant small towns that are all worth exploring. Here’s a Wisconsin road trip that will take you down the rough of the Sugar River.
The drive covers about 35 miles and could be completed in about an hour, although you’ll want to allow plenty of time to explore the charming towns along the way. Here’s a Google Map of the route.
The first stop on this drive is the little hamlet of Paoli. The town is just 12 miles from Madison but it feels like another world – it’s a small town but there’s a collection of shops and stores to explore, as well as a charming pub.
The next stop on this tour is the Village of Belleville. The town has a lot of lively events and it's popular with bikers – a state trail passes right through town. The Sugar River also passes through Belleville and it provides a beautiful backdrop to the community.
This historic farming town is a good place to launch an adventure in cheese country – there are a number of cheese factories in this area. Remember to bring a cooler along so you can bring some home!
The tour ends in this little town that has a number of attractions, including a covered bridge, a go-kart track, and an aviation museum. Take time to see the sights but don’t forget to enjoy one last look at the Sugar River!
If you want to continue driving south, Monroe is another worthy destination – it has a cheese store with a very unusual sandwich. You can smell it from a mile away!
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