Wisconsin’s Driftless Area
Glacier-free hills and valleys, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, trolls, oddities and Mississippi bluffs.
- Distance
- approx. 259 km (161 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 52 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- States
- WI
- Best time to go
- May–June and September
- Tolls and vignettes
- None expected
- Updated
- April 24, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 259 km (161 mi) with 8 stops, from Madison to Grandad Bluff. About 2 h 52 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May–June and September. No toll roads expected for a car.
More road trips in Wisconsin
Photos along the route
Route description
The Driftless Area escaped the glaciers of the last ice age, leaving steep hills, deep valleys and cold trout streams instead of flat farmland. From Madison, US-18/151 leads to Mount Horeb, the “Troll Capital of the World”, with carved trolls along its main street.
Continue west to the House on the Rock, a bizarre home and museum built into a rock pinnacle, then north to Spring Green, where Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin sits on a hill above the Wisconsin River; tours sell out on summer weekends.
Follow US-14 northwest through Richland Center, Wright’s birthplace, and take State Road 131 up the Kickapoo Valley to Wildcat Mountain State Park, with a valley overlook and canoe trips on the winding river. The roads through the ridges are curvy but fine for RVs.
Continue to Viroqua, a farming town with a strong organic food scene, and on to La Crosse on the Mississippi, where Grandad Bluff gives a wide view over the river and three states. Early October brings fall color, and apple orchards around Gays Mills are in season.
Which stops are on Wisconsin’s Driftless Area?
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Madison
WI - 234 km
Mount Horeb
WI - 340 km
House on the Rock
OdditiesSpring Green, WIA house built on a rock chimney, with an Infinity Room over the valley and the world's largest indoor carousel. It takes hours and gets stranger as you go.
- 49 km
Taliesin
HistorySpring Green, WIFrank Lloyd Wright’s home, studio and school on 800 hilly acres; tours start from the visitor center on County C.
- 589 km
Wildcat Mountain State Park
ViewsOntario, WIAn overlook of the winding Kickapoo River valley; canoe outfitters in Ontario rent boats for the gentle river below.
- 636 km
Viroqua
WI - 747 km
La Crosse
WI - 84 km
Grandad Bluff
ViewsLa Crosse, WIA 600-foot bluff with views over La Crosse, the Mississippi and into Minnesota and Iowa. A good spot at dusk as city lights come on.
How do you drive Wisconsin’s Driftless Area in 3 days?
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Madison → Taliesin · 52 mi · 0 h 55 minOn the way: Mount Horeb, House on the Rock.Overnight nearby, for example: Cedar Hills Campground (17 mi); Blackhawk Lake Recreation Area Camping (14 mi).
- Day 2: Taliesin → Wildcat Mountain State Park · 55 mi · 0 h 59 min
- Day 3: Wildcat Mountain State Park → Grandad Bluff · 54 mi · 0 h 58 minOn the way: Viroqua, La Crosse.Overnight nearby, for example: WILDCAT PARK (10 mi); Reno Horse Camp (15 mi).
When is the best time for Wisconsin’s Driftless Area?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August. Cold, short days in November–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
More routes for the best months
Practical guides for this route
Photo by Malivez on UnsplashDriving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel
Photo by Aleksandr Dalakian on UnsplashFuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers
Photo by Tracy Zhang on UnsplashUS national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms
Themes
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FAQs
How long is Wisconsin’s Driftless Area?
3-day road trip of about 259 km (161 mi) with 8 stops, from Madison to Grandad Bluff. About 2 h 52 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Wisconsin’s Driftless Area?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 52 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Wisconsin’s Driftless Area start and end?
It starts in Madison and ends in Grandad Bluff.
Which states does Wisconsin’s Driftless Area pass through?
Wisconsin.
Where can you camp along Wisconsin’s Driftless Area?
OpenStreetMap lists 30 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Mendota County Park Campground, Cedar Hills Campground and Lake Farm County Park Campground.
