Wisconsin Dells Planning & Tips

Getting There and Around
The Dells are about one hour north of Madison, the state capital and a large college town that's home to the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dane County Regional Airport is in Madison; Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport, and O'Hare International Airport in Chicago are larger options a bit further away. Interstate 90/94 passes directly through Wisconsin Dells, with four exits to the area hot spots. Amtrak's "Empire Builder" route between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest also passes through the Dells; there's one located just off of Broadway in the downtown area.

The Art of Smart Timing
The Dells are first and foremost a summer destination, with the majority of outdoor water parks and other local entertainment open seasonally to accommodate warm-weather crowds that swell to the largest numbers from Memorial Day through Labor Day. That said, even in the dead of winter when many attractions and restaurants are closed, there's a good amount for families to do thanks to the abundance of indoor theme parks and resorts. Christmastime, Presidents' Day weekend and Spring Break are especially popular times for families looking for a little pre-summer fun with visits to the indoor water parks. The carefully-controlled temperatures keep things comfortably in the 80's poolside year-round.

Getting Around
You can easily hoof it between the shops, restaurants, amusement parks and other attractions that line Broadway (part of Highway 12), the main downtown strip, and the Wisconsin Dells Parkway. But there are plenty of other sites to explore that require a car to see, as Highway 12 branches out to become Frontage Road. You may also want to make the short drive (about 8 miles) to Baraboo to visit the Circus World Museum. Most attractions have plenty of free outdoor parking; but you may have to pay to park your car in a lot in along Broadway during peak tourist times.

Off The Radar
The Big Sky Twin Drive-In Theatre (16 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy N, 608-254-8025;), just a few minutes' drive from downtown, provides a taste of the old-fashioned, small town atmosphere that still exists in the Dells. Two screens each play first-run double features nightly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Listen to the movies from your car's FM radio, or rent a radio from the concession stand (which also sells goodies like cotton candy, corn dogs and a massive all-beef 'Mamaburger') so you can sit under the stars while you take in the flicks.

Lake Delton Sk8 Park (90 Progressive Drive, Lake Delton; 608-254-2558)
This free public skateboarding park designed by Dreamland, an Orgeon-based skate park design and building company, was completed in 2008 and features a concrete bowl and half-pipe that's quickly become a favorite spot of local skaters. It's open from May through November, weather permitting.

Visitor Bureau
Wisconsin Dells Visitors and Convention Bureau