When to visit Wisconsin

The most popular time to visit Wisconsin is during the summer, when people come for outdoor recreation and activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. Many events and festivals occur during this time, as well as during the fall when the leaves turn.

Weather Information
Summers tend to be clear and warm with temperatures averaging 67 degrees.

Crowd Information
Holidays and major events can attract large crowds to Wisconsin. For example, accommodations in small towns like Hayward and Cable sell out during large events such as the American Birkebeiner. Christmas and other holidays are also a very busy time at family-oriented places. Fall and spring have the fewest crowds because kids are in school. Throughout the year, there are fewer crowds midweek than over weekends.

When to Save
In general, summer tends to be the most expensive time to visit, especially on weekends. The rest of the year is cheaper, particularly in spring when good deals are usually offered. No matter what season, the best deals are always for midweek travel. Northern Wisconsin and popular tourist areas such as Dells, Door County, Bayfield, and Northwoods will be pricier and booked solid during August. Major cities such as Milwaukee and Madison tend to be busier when business conventions are in town.

Lakes & Rivers
With more than 15,000 lakes and 33,000 miles of rivers and streams, Wisconsin is a known as much for on-water activities as it is anything else. With plenty of businesses renting all classes of watercraft and offering fishing and sailing charters, you’d be hard pressed not to find a way out on the water.