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    Let's be friends!

    Guilty as charged. Guilty as charged.
    Romanticizing my 5 hour flight in a tiny plane.✨ Romanticizing my 5 hour flight in a tiny plane.✨

This flight was actually so smooth. We had great weather, and — more importantly — WiFi.

You could say the flight ~flew~ by.

We spent about 5 hours flying from northeast Wisconsin to Cheyenne, Wyoming, for my uncle’s Air Force Change Of Command.

Would you fly cross country in a tiny plane? ✈️
    Testing his patience one vertical video at a time. Testing his patience one vertical video at a time.🫡
    10 non-negotiable USA national parks to visit this 10 non-negotiable USA national parks to visit this summer!

When I started visiting the national parks, I quickly realized that many national parks are seasonal. While the park entrances and overlooks may be open year-round, there are definitely better and worse times to visit some of them.

For example, if you try going to the mountains in fall through early spring, some of the hiking trails and roads will be closed due to snow.

On the flip side, if you try going to the desert in summer, you’ll be battling that fatal heat.

So, these are 10 of the best US national parks to visit in summer!

Share this with your road trip buddy to drop a subtle hint. 🚗

#usaroadtrip #usatravel #usroadtrip #roadtripusa #nationalparksusa
    He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Not arou He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Not around here partner… Not around here.”
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Best Wisconsin Fall Trips For Fall Foliage Scenic Drives

By: Indigo Sahara, M.A. | Published: July 11, 2022 | Updated: January 5, 2024

It’s no surprise that one of the benefits of traveling to and around Wisconsin is the prevalence of all four seasons — especially fall and its iconic vibrant colors. If you’re looking to take a fall Wisconsin day trip, here is one of the best Wisconsin fall trips and fall foliage scenic drives for the best fall colors in the state.

Best Wisconsin Fall Trips For Fall Foliage Scenic Drives

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If a product is purchased using one of the following links, I may earn a small commission from the brand at no cost to you.

Best Wisconsin Fall Trips For Fall Foliage Scenic Drives

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Prepare For Your Wisconsin Fall Trips
  • 1. Wisconsin Fall Trips: Start At Rib Mountain
  • 2. See The Fall Foliage From Above At Rib Mountain State Park
  • 3. Proceed Northbound On Highway 51
  • 4. Wisconsin Fall Trips: Continue To Manitowish Waters
  • 5. Make This Fall Drive A Day Trip
  • More Fall Wisconsin Adventures
  • Save These Wisconsin Fall Trips & Fall Foliage Scenic Drives For Later

Prepare For Your Wisconsin Fall Trips

Before you embark on your day trip, there is a couple things to prepare.

  1. Pack a lunch or bring money for lunch. We love our insulated picnic backpack for packing day trip food.
  2. Charge your camera gear. (Find all the best budget camera gear for travel here.) You’ll definitely want to snap some photos of these fall colors.
  3. Get inspired by these epic fall photo ideas.
wisconsin fall trips
wisconsin fall road trips

1. Wisconsin Fall Trips: Start At Rib Mountain

You’ll begin these Wisconsin fall trips in the town of Rib Mountain, Wisconsin, just south of the city of Wausau. Known for its infamous ski hill and state park, Rib Mountain is the gold mine of fall foliage, literally.

The key to finding the best fall foliage in Rib Mountain, Wisconsin, is to drive toward wherever you see the most vibrant colors — even if the colors lead you into a neighborhood.

This is exactly what we did, and we indeed ended up in the middle of a neighborhood. However, in between a few of the houses, on a completely empty property, we found some of the brightest yellow leaves we have ever seen.

fall trips in wisconsin
wisconsin bucket list
lake geneva wisconsin

2. See The Fall Foliage From Above At Rib Mountain State Park

Before departing from Rib Mountain, take the ski lift up the hill to see the colors from a bird’s eye view.

You can purchase low‑cost tickets next to the Rib Mountain State Park parking lot. If you have time to spare on your fall foliage scenic drives, the lift may be worth it.

madison wisconsin

3. Proceed Northbound On Highway 51

From Rib Mountain, take Highway 51 and head north.

Although it seems as if the fall colors can’t get any better already, you will soon see a beautiful transition from golden leaves to burnt orange leaves to ripe‑apple red leaves.

madison wi things to do in

4. Wisconsin Fall Trips: Continue To Manitowish Waters

The cabin‑town of Manitowish Waters will fufill all of your youthful camp‑life nostalgia.

Via Highway 51, you’ll eventually drive right into this quaint town.

Without even getting out of your car, you can perfectly picture yourself engulfing in a flannel blanket, indulging in a marshmallow-topped hot chocolate, and gazing at the morning light peeking through the painted trees — not to mention the endless “oo’s” and “ahh’s” you’ll shamelessly murmur at the vibrant colors on the drive up.

door county wisconsin fall

5. Make This Fall Drive A Day Trip

In total, the Wisconsin fall drive listed here only takes about two hours commute total.

If you can, make it a day trip. Take the Rib Mountain ski lift. Leisurely explore hidden parks and forested areas along the way from Rib Mountain to Manitowish Waters.

Escape the chaos of our culture and challenge yourself to just sit, observe, relax and drive!

Have any questions about these Wisconsin fall trip directions? Leave a reply below or send me a message on Instagram!

Best Wisconsin Fall Trips For Fall Foliage Scenic Drives

More Fall Wisconsin Adventures

Fall Photo Ideas Instagram Will Love This Year
6 Top Waterfalls In Northern Wisconsin: Everything You Need To Know
21 Wisconsin Instagram Spots For Stunning Photos (With Map)
Up North Instagram Captions To Make Them Double Tap
Best Budget Camera Gear For Travel Photography

Save These Wisconsin Fall Trips & Fall Foliage Scenic Drives For Later

Share this post for easy access later to these directions for the best Wisconsin fall trips and Wisconsin fall foliage scenic drives.

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By: Indigo Sahara, M.A.

About Indigo Sahara, M.A.

Indigo Sahara, M.A., is the founder and CEO of the Indigo Sahara travel blog. Since earning her master's degree in global leadership, she has traveled to more than 20 countries. Now, her goal is to make travel accessible to all by teaching others how to travel on a budget. She writes world travel guides and travel hacking tips weekly.

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Comments

  1. David Piehl says

    December 10, 2020 at 1:39 am

    Great pictures and good news about Fall colors.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Top 10 Things To Do On Washington Island All Year Round says:
    January 27, 2021 at 12:25 am

    […] If you don’t mind stairs, Mountain Park Lookout Tower will take your Washington Island trip to new heights (pun intended). Visit in early October for peak Wisconsin fall colors. […]

    Reply
  2. Wisconsin Fall Foliage: Where, When & How To See It - Indigo Sahara says:
    July 14, 2022 at 8:41 pm

    […] you’re looking for the best Wisconsin fall road trip or some stateside fall photo ideas, here are answers to all of your Wisconsin fall foliage […]

    Reply

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Guilty as charged. Guilty as charged.
Romanticizing my 5 hour flight in a tiny plane.✨ Romanticizing my 5 hour flight in a tiny plane.✨

This flight was actually so smooth. We had great weather, and — more importantly — WiFi.

You could say the flight ~flew~ by.

We spent about 5 hours flying from northeast Wisconsin to Cheyenne, Wyoming, for my uncle’s Air Force Change Of Command.

Would you fly cross country in a tiny plane? ✈️
Testing his patience one vertical video at a time. Testing his patience one vertical video at a time.🫡
10 non-negotiable USA national parks to visit this 10 non-negotiable USA national parks to visit this summer!

When I started visiting the national parks, I quickly realized that many national parks are seasonal. While the park entrances and overlooks may be open year-round, there are definitely better and worse times to visit some of them.

For example, if you try going to the mountains in fall through early spring, some of the hiking trails and roads will be closed due to snow.

On the flip side, if you try going to the desert in summer, you’ll be battling that fatal heat.

So, these are 10 of the best US national parks to visit in summer!

Share this with your road trip buddy to drop a subtle hint. 🚗

#usaroadtrip #usatravel #usroadtrip #roadtripusa #nationalparksusa
He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Not arou He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Not around here partner… Not around here.”

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