
Highest-rated free things to do in Wisconsin by visitors
Highest-rated free things to do in Wisconsin by visitors
Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.
Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Wisconsin.
From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Wisconsin using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

#30. Edgewood Orchard Galleries
- Rating: 4.8/5 (220 reviews)
- City: Fish Creek
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. Washington Island Stavkirke
- Rating: 4.6/5 (266 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Pewit's Nest Gorge
- Rating: 4.2/5 (185 reviews)
- City: Baraboo
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Outlets at the Dells
- Rating: 4.1/5 (387 reviews)
- City: Baraboo
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. Studio Winery + Geneva Lake Distilling
- Rating: 4.4/5 (222 reviews)
- City: Lake Geneva
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. University of Wisconsin Geology Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (120 reviews)
- City: Madison
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Fawn Creek Winery
- Rating: 4.6/5 (321 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Riverside Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (719 reviews)
- City: La Crosse
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. SC Johnson Headquarters
- Rating: 4.8/5 (351 reviews)
- City: Racine
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#21. Wollersheim Winery & Distillery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (545 reviews)
- City: Prairie du Sac
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Dane County Farmers' Market
- Rating: 4.7/5 (470 reviews)
- City: Madison
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. New Glarus Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (694 reviews)
- City: New Glarus
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Scenic River Walk
- Rating: 4.3/5 (428 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (359 reviews)
- City: La Crosse
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. Miller Brewery Tour
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,110 reviews)
- City: Milwaukee
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Memorial Union Terrace
- Rating: 4.8/5 (725 reviews)
- City: Madison
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Holy Hill
- Rating: 4.7/5 (356 reviews)
- City: Hubertus
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. School House Beach
- Rating: 4.6/5 (456 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Downtown Madison
- Rating: 4.3/5 (889 reviews)
- City: Madison
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Geneva Lake Shore Path
- Rating: 4.7/5 (772 reviews)
- City: Lake Geneva
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
- Rating: 4.6/5 (527 reviews)
- City: Green Bay
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Milwaukee RiverWalk
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,055 reviews)
- City: Milwaukee
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Grandad Bluff
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,098 reviews)
- City: La Crosse
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Henry Vilas Zoo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,704 reviews)
- City: Madison
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. Wisconsin State Capitol
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,743 reviews)
- City: Madison
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Historic Third Ward
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,311 reviews)
- City: Milwaukee
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Basilica of St. Josaphat
- Rating: 4.8/5 (895 reviews)
- City: Milwaukee
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,712 reviews)
- City: Madison
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Milwaukee Public Market
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,150 reviews)
- City: Milwaukee
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Cave Point County Park
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,278 reviews)
- City: Sturgeon Bay
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.