Wisconsin Dells is a city that is situated just over 1hour away from Madison. The city got its name from the Dells of the Wisconsin River. From its beautiful lakes, scenic hiking trails, wineries, and best of all, its world-class waterparks – there’s a little something for everyone in Wisconsin Dells! This wonderful city in southern Wisconsin attracts millions of visitors each year, thanks to it being “the waterpark capital of the world.” It gets that title by having the largest concentration of waterparks in the world!

In addition, the Wisconsin Dells together with the village of Lake Delton form “the Dells” which is a popular tourist attraction site. The first tourists came here in the 19th century and the site is still worth a visit years later. In the downtown Wisconsin Dells is the H.H. Bennett Museum and Historic Studio while to the north of downtown is the Dells of the Wisconsin River state natural area. Almost the entire city of Wisconsin Dells is an amusement park. The real heart of the adventure is the water park. Time passes by so quickly when you’re having fun here.

Location: Wisconsin, United States
Website: https://citywd.govoffice2.com/
Distance from Madison: 54 miles
Travel Time: 1 hour
Tel: (608)254-2012
TripAdvisor Rating: ‎4/5

Chippewa Falls is one of the best day trips from Madison. Chippewa Falls is a welcoming town, full of adventure. Chippewa Falls was incorporated as a city in 1869 and is located in Northwest Wisconsin on the Chippewa River. The name Chippewa comes from the Ojibwa language; the river is named after the Ojibwa Native Americans. Whether you’re looking for a zoo in the summer or a Christmas Light Village in the winter, Chippewa Falls will not disappoint. With locally brewed beer and a park to amaze, this town is a great day trip from Madison. Visit Chippewa Falls and learn all about its charm and history as you explore the great outdoors.

This city is the birthplace of Seymour Cray who is known worldwide as the father of the supercomputer. The best time to visit Chippewa Falls is during the Christmas holidays. The residents here take their Christmas traditions very seriously. Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, the city is transformed into a wonderland. Magnificent lights are displayed alongside the shining angels in the Christmas Village in Irvine Park.

Location: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Website: https://www.chippewafalls-wi.gov/
Distance from Madison: 100 miles
Travel Time: 2 hours
Tel: 715-835-1141
TripAdvisor Rating: ‎4.5/5

Spring Green is a small village in Wisconsin, only one hour from Madison, the state capital. This small village is home to two of Wisconsin’s famous edifices which are must-sees for every architecture aficionado: Taliesin and House on the Rock. The Taliesin complex is an 800-acre estate that was built as a tribute to Frank Lloyd Wright. The House on the Rock is an awe-inspiring crowded attic that exhibits quirky attractions. Other places that you can visit on a day trip to Spring Green are the American Players Theater where Shakespeare’s plays are shown, the Spring Green General Store, the art galleries, and the emporium.

Although Spring Green is not very big, there are plenty of activities for locals and tourists. When the weather is warm, there are popular outings and activities such as watching a play at an outdoor amphitheater, walking through a nature preserve, and camping at a historical state park. Other options include taking an art and culture program, visiting an opal jewelry shop, dining at a prime rib buffet, or sampling a variety of hot teas at the local tea shop, and so on.

Location: Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States
Website: http://www.vi.springgreen.wi.gov/
Distance from Madison: 34 miles
Travel Time: 40 minutes
Tel: 715-586-3141
TripAdvisor Rating: ‎4.5/5

Baraboo is the largest city in Sauk County and is located on the Baraboo River and is also among the best day trips from Madison. Baraboo attracts many visitors to the Midwest to see the Circus World Museum, as the small town is the hometown of the famous Ringling Brothers. If you love magic, you should visit the Baraboo, especially in summer when there is a daily parade with performances by magicians, clowns, and aerialists. This museum preserves the legacy and history of the Ringling Brothers circus and is the only museum in the world that is exclusively clown-focused. Another must ­see landmark in Baraboo is the AI Ringling Theatre. Nestled in the Baraboo Range is the Devil’s Lake State Park which is only 35 minutes away.

However, the circus isn’t Baraboo’s only claim to fame. Baraboo is also the home of the International Crane Foundation with its fifteen different crane species and the Devil’s Lake State Park surrounded by bluffs 500 feet high, as well as several other museums, restaurants, parks, farms, a winery, and many other things to do.

Location: Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States
Website: https://www.cityofbaraboo.com/
Distance from Madison: 42 miles
Travel Time: 50 minutes
Tel: 608.355.2700
TripAdvisor Rating: ‎4/5

At 9,217 acres, Devil’s Lake State Park is the most sizable state park in Wisconsin, and “sizable” also perfectly describes the range of things you can see and do in this stunningly scenic year-round recreation destination. This park is situated about 35 miles northwest of Madison and is known for its 500-foot-high bluffs and its pink quartzite cliffs along the lake. There is a lot to keep you busy at Devil’s Lake State Park! Devil’s Lake has 2 large, sandy, beaches, large picnic areas with charcoal grills, reservable and non-reservable shelters, and over 29 miles of hiking & mountain bike trails. You can enjoy lakeshore picnic areas, sandy beaches, bird watching, rock climbing, boating, hiking into backcountry solitude, and much more.

One of the primary attractions of the park is Devil’s Lake which is a closed drainage lake located about 2 miles to the south of Baraboo. This rectangle­ shaped lake was created through glaciers and covers an area of 150 hectares. Within the park are the Baraboo Hills which are said to be much older than the lake. The Southern part of the Hills was declared a National Natural Landmark in the year 1974. This park is a popular tourist destination thanks to its scenic beauty and its proximity to the Wisconsin Dells. If you’re looking to spend your day surrounded by nature away from the busy state capital, nothing beats this park.

Location: Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States
Website: https://www.devilslakewisconsin.com/
Distance from Madison: 40 miles
Travel Time: 50 minutes
Tel: +1 608-356-8301

Fee: $13.00-38.00
Hour: 6 AM - 11 PM
TripAdvisor Rating: ‎4/5

The magical Mineral Point is a city in southwest of Wisconsin. This city was settled in 1827 and it became the leading zinc and lead mining center in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of the miners were from Cornwall, Great Britain, and some of their characteristic small dwellings have been preserved and turned into a museum called Pendarvis.

The architectural buildings in Mineral Point date back to the 1840s. Shake Rag Alley is a nonpro school of arts and crafts offering more than 200 courses per year. Brewery Pottery is an art studio and gallery located in the former 1850 limestone brewery. Mineral Point depot built in 1856 is the oldest depot in the state, today a museum. This city is full of charm and whimsy. There are numerous caves and badger holes here that tell about this small town’s history. The charming ambiance of Mineral Point’s buildings makes this town a recommended place for a day trip from Madison.

Location: Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States
Website: https://cityofmineralpoint.com/
Distance from Madison: 50 miles
Travel Time: 50 minutes
Tel: 715-248-2659
TripAdvisor Rating: ‎4.5/5

As one of Wisconsin’s fastest-growing communities, Sun Prairie is the second most populated city in the county after Madison. Sun Prairie perfectly blends all the comforts of home and small-town charm with many of the amenities and attractions of a bigger city. If you prefer a quiet day trip location, then Sun Prairie is the perfect spot for you. About half an hour away from San Prairie are some community parks that are ideal for relaxation and are recommended for picnicking. They include Sheehan, Angel, Woodview, and Wetmore. Madison’s northeastern neighbor can hold its own with diverse restaurants, a bustling downtown, and a wide variety of activities no matter what piques your interest!

Furthermore, Sun Prairie is perhaps best known as the home of “Jimmy the Groundhog,” famous every February 2nd. The city’s Angell Park Speedway plays host to the longest-running weekly midget racing show in the country on its third-mile clay oval. The park is also home to the annual Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival which attracts more than 100,000 corn lovers every August. The city’s Family Aquatic Center sports a 210-foot water slide, numerous fountains, and sand volleyball.

Location: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Website: https://www.cityofsunprairie.com/
Distance from Madison: 13 miles
Travel Time: 20 minutes
Tel: (608) 453-3004
TripAdvisor Rating: ‎4.5/5

The picturesque cluster of stone buildings that make up Pendarvis Historic Site today was originally constructed by Cornish immigrants who immigrated to the area in the early 1800s. They were preserved through the efforts of life and business partners Bob Neal and Edgar Hellum. Bob and Edgar met in 1934 and began to rescue these buildings one at a time from demolition. Assigning Cornish-language names to each, they opened a restaurant to sustain their preservation efforts and lived on the grounds. Their remarkable success – at the height of the Great Depression – launched the 20th-century transformation of Mineral Point into the vibrant hub for arts, preservation, and tourism it is today.

Tucked away in a valley in historic Mineral Point, Pendarvis celebrates the groundbreaking community of the first Wisconsin “badgers.” As you approach this quaint neighborhood, the 19th century will instantly come alive through the quintessential limestone buildings and cozy nooks. Unearth the significant lead and zinc mining history of Wisconsin and develop a true sense of mining life in the young Badger state. Explore the industry that brought miners from Cornwall, England to Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Pendarvis will give visitors a new understanding of what it means to be a Wisconsin badger, and how one amazing couple helped save this piece of Wisconsin’s history.

Location: Mineral Point, Wisconsin, United States
Website: https://pendarvis.wisconsinhistory.org/
Distance from Madison: 51 miles
Travel Time: 55 minutes
Tel: 608-987-2122
Fee: Free
Hour: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
TripAdvisor Rating: ‎4.5/5

Mount Horeb is a village located about 30 minutes to the west of Madison, in Dane County. Mount Horeb may not be as popular as other cities in the United States, but don’t let that fool you. Mount Horeb is a smaller but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do and places you can explore at this hidden destination. Therefore, Mount Horeb is definitely among the best day trips from Madison that you should try.

The early settlers were Norwegian and for this reason, this town bears a Scandinavian heritage. The main street is decorated with life-size trolls that are carved from tree trunks. This “Troll Capital of The World” has numerous antique shops, gift shops, and several specialty shops in the downtown area. Other places that you must visit on your day trip to Mount Horeb are the Cave of the Mounds, the Onyx Ridge, and the Blue Mound State Park. Whether you are looking for a fun day trip from Madison, considering moving to the village, or just looking for fun things to do in the Mount Horeb area.

Location: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Website: https://www.mounthorebwi.info/
Distance from Madison: 23 miles
Travel Time: 30 minutes
Tel: 608-327-4441
TripAdvisor Rating: ‎4/5

New Glarus is a quaint little village in Green County, Wisconsin. It is located at the intersection of Wisconsin Highways 39 and 69. While it’s not necessarily a top travel destination, it’s still worth visiting for its uniqueness and small-town charm. This community was founded in 1845 and was incorporated in 1901. The place is best known for its Swiss heritage. Among the first settlers here were the immigrants from Switzerland in the mid-1800s.

New Glarus is the perfect getaway from Madison. Everything in this village fully embraces the Swiss heritage including its culture, history, and food. This Swiss village is home to “Spotted Cow”, one of Wisconsin’s most famous crafted brews. If you love beer then new Glarus should be at the top of your list for best day trips from Madison. Other highlights of the trip to New Glarus include the Swiss historical Village which is an open-air museum.

Location: Green County, Wisconsin, United States

Website: https://newglarusvillage.com/

Distance from Madison: 27 miles

Travel Time: 40 minutes

Tel: (608) 527-2510

TripAdvisor Rating: ‎4.5/5