📍 United States

WISCONSIN WONDERS: GREAT LAKES SHORES TO DRIFTLESS DREAMS

Sea caves glowing amber at sunset, cherry blossoms dusting peninsula villages, sandstone canyons hiding secret waterfalls. Wisconsin surprises.

≈ 23
Days
1855
Km
19
Stops
📖 11 min read 🔄 Last updated: 2026-01-17

Paddle through Apostle Islands' sea caves, sandstone arches set on Lake Superior, then drive to Door County between orchards and lighthouses. Stop at Spring Green to discover Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, before wandering through Wisconsin Dells and their canyons. End at New Glarus, where Swiss heritage is savored at the counter.

Your day-by-day itinerary

1
Day

Superior

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10 photos
Day 1
🔍

Discover

1
Pattison State Park - Big Manitou Falls observation deck
2
Little Manitou Falls viewing
3
Interfalls Lake beach
🎯

Activities

→
Hiking around Pattison State Park
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 154 km
Travel time: 1h56
2
Day

Copper Falls

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6 photos
Day 2
🔍

Discover

1
Copper Falls State Park - Doughboy's Nature Trail
2
Three waterfalls viewing
3
Bad River gorge exploration
4
Civilian Conservation Corps historic buildings
🎯

Activities

→
Hiking park trails
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 66.6 km
Travel time: 1h07
3
Day

Bayfield

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10 photos
Day 3
🔍

Discover

1
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore visitor center
2
Sea caves exploration
3
Historic lighthouses viewing
🎯

Activities

→
Kayaking adventure or yacht cruise
4
Day

Bayfield

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10 photos
Day 4
🔍

Discover

1
Bayfield historic lumber town exploration
2
Lake Superior vistas
3
Orchard visits
🎯

Activities

→
Big Top Chautauqua live music venue
→
Hiking trails along peninsula
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 203.3 km
Travel time: 2h32
5
Day

Eagle River

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8 photos
Day 5
🔍

Discover

1
Eagle River Chain of Lakes exploration
2
28 connected lakes touring
🎯

Activities

→
Boating, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding
→
Bass, panfish and musky fishing with guide
→
Hiking and bicycling
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 240.3 km
Travel time: 3h
6
Day

Ellison Bay

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4 photos
Day 6
🔍

Discover

1
Newport State Park wilderness trails
2
Lake Michigan shoreline exploration
3
Dark Sky Park night sky observation
🎯

Activities

→
Backpacking to remote campsites
→
Kayaking to campsites
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 19.1 km
Travel time: 38min
7
Day

Ephraim

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5 photos
Day 7
🔍

Discover

1
Ephraim village whitewashed buildings
2
Eagle Harbor sunset viewing
3
Norwegian Moravian Church heritage sites
🎯

Activities

→
Village strolls and photography
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 8.3 km
Travel time: 17min
8
Day

Fish Creek

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8 photos
Day 8
🔍

Discover

1
Peninsula State Park - Eagle Bluff canopy walk
2
Eagle Bluff Light tour
3
Strawberry Islands views
4
White Cedar Nature Center
🎯

Activities

→
Hiking and biking trails
→
Golf at park courses
→
Kayaking tours
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 22.3 km
Travel time: 45min
9
Day

Jacksonville

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3 photos
Day 9
🔍

Discover

1
Cave Point County Park dolomite cliffs
2
Blowholes and wave watching
3
Whitefish Dunes State Park beaches
4
Lake Michigan dunes - largest on western shore
🎯

Activities

→
Swimming and cliff jumping
→
Specialty shops browsing
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 29.3 km
Travel time: 59min
10
Day

Sturgeon Bay

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9 photos
Day 10
🔍

Discover

1
Door County coastal communities exploration
2
Museums, theaters and galleries - 80+ venues
3
Vineyards visits
4
Lighthouse tours - 10 lighthouses
🎯

Activities

→
300 miles of shoreline exploration
→
Ozaukee Interurban Trail biking
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 231.1 km
Travel time: 2h53
11
Day

Cedarburg

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5 photos
Day 11
🔍

Discover

1
Historic downtown - 200+ historic buildings
2
Old woolen mill sites
3
Museums and galleries visits
4
Wineries, craft breweries and distillery tours
🎯

Activities

→
Lazy strolls along Cedar Creek
→
Public beach swimming
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 112.3 km
Travel time: 1h52
12
Day

Lake Geneva

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4 photos
Day 12
🔍

Discover

1
Black Point Estate tour - Conrad Seipp's Queen Anne mansion
2
Riviera Ballroom from 1932
3
21-mile lakeshore trail stroll
4
Local museum - glamorous history
🎯

Activities

→
Lake cruises
→
Family attractions
→
Kayaking on Wisconsin Highway 28
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 125.9 km
Travel time: 2h06
13
Day

Horicon

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9 photos
Day 13
🔍

Discover

1
Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
2
State Wildlife Area
3
Three visitor centers exploration
4
Boardwalk for egret viewing
+1 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Canada geese migration birdwatching
→
Rose garden with observation tower
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 97.9 km
Travel time: 1h38
14
Day

Madison

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10 photos
Day 14
🔍

Discover

1
Olbrich Botanical Gardens - Bolz Conservatory
2
750 tropical plants from 550+ species
3
Corpse flower viewing
4
16 acres of outdoor gardens
+2 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Meadow garden stroll
→
Geology education and cave science
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 46.8 km
Travel time: 1h34
15
Day

Blue Mounds

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10 photos
Day 15
🔍

Discover

1
Cave of the Mounds underground tour
2
Flowstones, helictites, soda straws viewing
3
488-million-year-old limestone cavern
4
Karst Trail above cave
🎯

Activities

→
Swiss-style festivals attendance
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 35.8 km
Travel time: 1h12
16
Day

New Glarus

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8 photos
Day 16
🔍

Discover

1
New Glarus village Swiss-style chalets
2
Village-style historical museum
3
New Glarus Brewing Company tour
4
Vineyard visit
🎯

Activities

→
24-mile Sugar River State Trail adventure
→
Yodeling and Jass cultural experiences
→
Organic Architecture philosophy tour
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 69.5 km
Travel time: 1h10
17
Day

Spring Green

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8 photos
Day 17
🔍

Discover

1
Taliesin - Frank Lloyd Wright residence
2
Romeo and Juliet Windmill (1896)
3
Hillside Home School (1903)
4
Midway Barn (1949)
+1 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Challenging hiking trails
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 187.3 km
Travel time: 2h20
18
Day

Trempealeau

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4 photos
Day 18
🔍

Discover

1
Perrot State Park bluffs - 500+ feet high
2
Mississippi River vistas
3
Trempealeau Mountain viewing
4
Trempealeau River confluence
🎯

Activities

→
Summer paddling in Trempealeau Bay
→
Indoor and outdoor water parks
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 182.7 km
Travel time: 2h17
19
Day

Wisconsin Dells

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8 photos
Day 19
🔍

Discover

1
Five-mile sandstone gorge boat tour
2
Witches Gulch boardwalk
3
Sinuous cliffs viewing
4
Zoos and museums
🎯

Activities

→
Riverwalk for scenery snapshots
→
Rock climbing on quartzite bluffs
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 22.8 km
Travel time: 46min
20
Day

Baraboo

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4 photos
Day 20
🔍

Discover

1
Devil's Lake State Park revisit - East Bluff trails
2
Swimming and picnicking
🎯

Activities

→
Escalade sur les falaises de quartzite

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🛡️ Travel advice - United States

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❓ Frequently asked questions

What weather should you expect?

Spring (April-May): Perfect weather across most regions (15-25°C) with blooming landscapes, moderate crowds, and excellent conditions for national parks and cities. Ideal for diverse activities nationwide.

Autumn (September-October): Excellent temperatures with spectacular fall foliage, harvest festivals, and comfortable weather. Perfect for outdoor activities, cultural events, fewer crowds than summer.

Summer (June-August): Peak season with warmest weather but highest crowds and prices. Excellent for northern regions, challenging in southwestern deserts, perfect for beaches and national parks.

Winter (December-February): Variable conditions from tropical Florida to snowy Colorado. Perfect for skiing, southern destinations, indoor attractions, lowest prices outside holiday periods.

How many days should I plan?

We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 18 and 28 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.

What to discover in United States?

Continental diversity with iconic landmarks, cultural melting pot, and endless possibilities. Experience natural wonders, vibrant cities, and authentic American dreams from coast to coast. The country offers incredible diversity with modern amenities and cultural richness. United States provides life-changing experiences with natural beauty and cultural authenticity.