Burlington Community Guide
Quick answer: Burlington is a small city of about 11,000 where the Fox and White rivers meet, about 20 miles northeast of Lake Geneva and 30 miles southwest of Milwaukee.
Eat at B.J. Wentker’s (1908 building) or The Waterfront on Browns Lake, paddle the Fox River from downtown, swim at Fischer Park, and catch the Jamboree on Memorial Day weekend. Homes range from older downtown houses to lake homes on Browns Lake.
Burlington is the closest real city to the Lake Geneva area on the Milwaukee side. It has a full downtown on Pine Street and Chestnut Street, its own lakes, 2 rivers and a state trail, with everyday shopping on Milwaukee Avenue.
It’s also home to the Burlington Liars’ Club, born in 1929 when 2 reporters invented a lying contest for a slow news week. Readers mailed in lies, and the contest ran for decades.
Burlington at a glance
| Population | 10,951 (2025 Census estimate) |
|---|---|
| County | Racine and Walworth |
| To Geneva Lake | About 20 miles, 30 minutes to downtown Lake Geneva |
| To downtown Chicago | About 80 miles, 1.5 hours |
| To Milwaukee | About 30 miles, 40 minutes |
| Lake and river access | Browns Lake (Fischer Park beach and launch), Echo Lake, Fox River and White River launches |
| School district | Burlington Area School District |
| City website | burlington-wi.gov |
What should you do first?
Where to eat
The 2 anchors are B.J. Wentker’s and The Waterfront. After that, Pine Street has a run of pubs, pizza and burger spots within a few blocks of each other.
B.J. Wentker’s
Fish fryHistoric buildingGerman immigrant Bernard J. Wentker bought the property in 1894 and built the current building in 1908. The mahogany bar came from the Chicago World’s Fair, one of 3 Brunswick made. During Prohibition it ran as an ice cream parlor.
Friday fish fry comes with homemade coleslaw, rye and potato pancakes. Saturday is surf and turf.
The Waterfront on Browns Lake
Supper clubLake viewA lakeside supper club open year-round, with a patio over Browns Lake and boat access. Friday is fish fry, Saturday is prime rib, and fried chicken runs most other nights.
Tip: No reservations in summer. Come early on Fridays.
Downtown pubs and casual dining
Brew & Ole’s Gastropub
Gastropub plates and a deep beer list.
Lucky Star Pub & Eatery
Downtown pub with a full kitchen.
Archives Bar and Grill
Bar and grill on Pine Street.
The Main Event
Burgers and a full bar.
Lucky Mojo’s
Downtown bar and eatery.
Bubba’s Brickyard
Burgers, cheese fries and Long Islands.
Pizza, Italian and Mexican
Napoli Restaurant & Pizzeria
Red-sauce Italian and pizza.
Zumpano’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
Italian classics and pizza.
Los Compadres
Sit-down Mexican with an event room.
Super Tacos Moy
Small taco counter.
Breakfast, burgers, BBQ and ice cream
Pine Street Café
Breakfast and lunch counter.
Sheila Mae’s Town Fryer
Diner known for oversized cinnamon rolls and the farmer’s omelet.
Fred’s World’s Best Burgers
Pine Street burger stand.
Flippy’s Fast Food
Burgers and Italian beef.
Smokin Blue BBQ
Brisket and ribs just outside downtown.
Hansen’s Ice Cream Parlor
Old-school parlor downtown.
Adrian’s Frozen Custard
Seasonal custard stand.
Coffee: The Coffee House at Chestnut & Pine (492 N. Pine St.) does espresso and breakfast, with the Liars’ Club Bar attached. Infinity Coffee & Beyond (133 E. Chestnut St., Tue to Sat 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) bakes in-house and serves scratch lunches.
Breweries, bars and lounges
The Runaway Micropub & Nanobrewery
BreweryOktoberfestA small downtown taproom brewing its own beer. It hosts Burlington’s Oktoberfest beer and food festival each September.
More places for a drink
The Plush Horse (532 N. Pine St.) is a bourbon and martini lounge. The Liars’ Club Bar (492 N. Pine St.) is named for the town’s famous contest. Shooters Tavern (120 N. Browns Lake Dr.) has golf simulators. Waterford Stillhouse (228 E. Main St., Waterford) is a distillery about 15 minutes north.
For the Geneva Lake side, see the bars, breweries and wineries guide.
Parks, rivers and beaches
Paddle the Fox and White rivers
KayakCanoeThe Fox River Water Trail runs about 11 miles through the Burlington area with several non-motorized launches. Walworth County’s White River Park has a dedicated canoe and kayak launch and nearly 2 miles of river frontage.
Fischer Park on Browns Lake
BeachBoat launchA 53-acre park with a swimming beach, picnic areas and a boat launch (fees April to October). No dogs, alcohol or glass.
Echo Veterans Memorial Park
PlaygroundEventsThe city’s main gathering spot, on Echo Lake by the dam, with a big playground, picnic areas and river views. It hosts a lake and dam community day in early summer.
Trails
The White River State Trail runs 19 miles on a former rail line from Elkhorn to Dover, with a short gap in Burlington (state trail pass required for biking). The Seven Waters bike route loops about 17 miles around the area’s lakes.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
About 4,500 acres on land once slated to be a jet fighter base. Camping, a swim beach, a nature center, hiking and the only ATV and off-road motorcycle trails in southeast Wisconsin.
Things to do
Burlington History Museum and Pioneer Log Cabin
HistoryFreeRun by the Burlington Historical Society, founded in 1928 and the first in Racine County. The Pioneer Log Cabin sits in Wehmhoff Square, and the Whitman School House opens by appointment.
Spinning Top & Yo-Yo Museum
Check scheduleOver 2,000 tops, yo-yos and gyroscopes. Museum tours are temporarily paused, but classes continue and the toy shop opens by appointment. The related Logic Puzzle Museum has 60 hands-on brainteasers on its own schedule.
Theater and local lore
The Haylofters community theater has staged shows since 1932 at the Malt House Theater. The Liars’ Club still names a winner every year. Burlington also goes by “Chocolate City USA” for its Nestlé chocolate plant.
Events by season
Spring and early summer
The Burlington Jamboree fills the festival grounds (681 Maryland Ave.) Memorial Day weekend with carnival rides and live music. A June barbecue and music festival follows at the same grounds, and Echo Park hosts its lake and dam community day in late June. The downtown farmers market on Jefferson Street runs weekly in season.
Summer
Paddling season on the Fox and White rivers, the beach at Fischer Park, and the patio at The Waterfront. Geneva Lake is 30 minutes away; see the summer activities guide.
Fall
Oktoberfest at The Runaway in September. The White River State Trail and the area’s Rustic Roads are at their best in October. See the orchards and pumpkin patches guide.
Winter
Ice fishing on Browns Lake, cross-country skiing at Bong, and skiing at Alpine Valley about 25 minutes west. See the Alpine Valley guide.
Schools
Burlington is served by the Burlington Area School District, with about 3,300 students. Its schools are Burlington High School, Karcher Middle School, Dyer, Waller and Winkler elementary schools, Cooper Montessori and the Wisconsin Connect charter school. Gateway Technical College has a Burlington campus. Confirm the district for any address outside city limits.
Commute and getting here
| Destination | Distance | Time | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | About 30 miles | 40 min | Hwy 36 northeast |
| Downtown Lake Geneva | About 20 miles | 30 min | Hwy 36 and Hwy 120 |
| Racine | About 25 miles | 35 min | Hwy 11 east |
| Kenosha | About 25 miles | 35 min | Hwy 142 east |
| Downtown Chicago | About 80 miles | 1.5 hours | Hwy 11 or 142 to I-94 |
Housing types
Burlington homes generally cost less than comparable property around Geneva Lake, and you get more yard for the money.
Older homes near downtown
Late-1800s and early-1900s houses on grid streets a few blocks from Pine Street, Echo Lake and the downtown historic district.
Lake and river homes
Lakefront and lake-access homes on Browns Lake and Bohners Lake, and riverfront lots along the Fox River.
Newer subdivisions
Newer construction on the edges of the city, close to the Milwaukee Avenue shopping area.
Acreage
Rural parcels and hobby farms in the surrounding towns of Burlington, Spring Prairie and Lyons.
Comparing towns? See the Elkhorn, East Troy and Lake Geneva guides.
Best by category
| Category | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best dinner | B.J. Wentker’s | 1908 building, World’s Fair bar, fish fry |
| Best on the water | The Waterfront | Patio and boat access on Browns Lake |
| Best beer | The Runaway | Brewed in-house, downtown |
| Best coffee | The Coffee House at Chestnut & Pine | Espresso, breakfast and the Liars’ Club Bar |
| Best swim | Fischer Park | Lifeguarded beach on Browns Lake |
| Best paddle | Fox River Water Trail | Launches right downtown |
| Best festival | Burlington Jamboree | Memorial Day weekend carnival and music |
Frequently asked questions
What is Burlington, WI known for?
The Burlington Liars’ Club (started in 1929), its Nestlé chocolate plant and “Chocolate City USA” nickname, a downtown at the meeting of the Fox and White rivers, B.J. Wentker’s in a 1908 building, and the Haylofters community theater, active since 1932.
How far is Burlington, WI from Chicago?
About 80 miles, roughly 1.5 hours to downtown Chicago by way of Hwy 11 or Hwy 142 to I-94. Milwaukee is about 30 miles and 40 minutes away.
How far is Burlington from Lake Geneva?
About 20 miles, roughly 30 minutes to downtown Lake Geneva by way of Hwy 36 and Hwy 120.
Where should you eat in Burlington, WI?
B.J. Wentker’s for a historic dinner and Friday fish fry, The Waterfront on Browns Lake for a lakeside supper club, Brew & Ole’s for a gastropub, Napoli or Zumpano’s for Italian, and Sheila Mae’s Town Fryer for breakfast.
Can you kayak in Burlington, WI?
Yes. The Fox River Water Trail runs about 11 miles through the area, with launches at Wehmhoff Jucker Park, Riverside Park and Bushnell Park. White River Park has a canoe and kayak launch and nearly 2 miles of river frontage.
Is there a beach in Burlington, WI?
Yes. Fischer Park on Browns Lake has a swimming beach with lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3, free for under 6 and 62 and older.
What school district is Burlington, WI in?
The Burlington Area School District, which runs Burlington High School, Karcher Middle School, Dyer, Waller and Winkler elementary schools, Cooper Montessori and a charter school.
When is the Burlington Jamboree?
Memorial Day weekend, at the festival grounds at 681 Maryland Ave., with carnival rides and live music.
What kinds of homes are in Burlington, WI?
Older homes near downtown, lake homes on Browns Lake and Bohners Lake, riverfront lots on the Fox River, newer subdivisions on the edges of the city, and rural acreage in the surrounding towns.
Thinking about Burlington?
Kim and Joel Reyenga with eXp Realty cover Burlington and the lakes around it, from older homes a few blocks from Pine Street to lake homes on Browns Lake and acreage toward Lyons.
Search Burlington properties Equal Housing Opportunity. Reyenga Team, eXp Realty.