Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive

There’s a 115-mile route through the Kettle Moraine marked by little green acorn signs, and following them is one of the best day trips in southern Wisconsin. The drive runs from Whitewater Lake in the south to Elkhart Lake in the north, threading through six counties of glacial hills, small towns, supper clubs, and historic sites. In October, it’s a leaf-peeper’s dream.

This page is a spoke off the main Kettle Moraine guide. It walks the route town by town, south to north, so you can pick your stops.

The southern end near Whitewater Lake is the closest, about 25 to 30 minutes from Lake Geneva, which makes it easy to jump on for a half-day or commit to the full route as a long, scenic loop. The Wisconsin DNR publishes a turn-by-turn driving-directions guide so you don’t lose the acorns.

How the Drive Works

The route is signed with green acorn markers the whole way. Elkhart Lake sits at the north end and Whitewater Lake at the south, with the signed miles running between them through both units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. You can drive it in either direction. Most people running it as a day trip from the Lake Geneva area start at the south end and work north, or drive north first and enjoy the color on the way home. Plan 3 to 4 hours of driving without stops, and a full day with them.

The Drive, Town by Town

Whitewater and Whitewater Lake

The southern gateway. Whitewater is a college town with a walkable downtown, a string of breweries, and lake access right at the trailheads. Start with our Whitewater community guide for the full rundown, then point the car north.

Eagle

Home of Old World Wisconsin, the state’s huge outdoor living-history museum, where costumed interpreters work 60 restored historic buildings across 576 acres. Grab lunch at the on-site Clausing Barn Restaurant, or stop at the Hen House Cafe in town. The Southern Unit headquarters is right here.

Palmyra

A small town with a big German heritage and a serious fish-fry reputation. Squidy’s has been packing them in for decades. The Rushing Waters Trout House serves trout raised on site.

Dousman and Wales

Quiet crossroads towns with a classic Wisconsin supper club, Didi’s Supper Club, for steaks and the full relish-tray treatment. Nearby Genesee Depot has the Union House, serving wild game and fine dining in a building from 1861.

Delafield

The Lake Country hub, and home to the Lapham Peak Unit, where a 45-foot tower marks the highest point in Waukesha County. Downtown has the Delafield Brewhaus and the supper-club classic Kurt’s Steakhouse. Just up the road in Nashotah is the Red Circle Inn, Wisconsin’s oldest supper club, serving since 1848.

Hartland and Hartford

Hartland brings Palmer’s Steakhouse, a Lake Country mainstay. Farther north, Hartford sits beside the Pike Lake Unit, where Powder Hill is the second-highest point in southeastern Wisconsin and the spring-fed lake has a swimming beach. The Little Red Inn supper club is the local dinner pick.

Hubertus and Holy Hill

The basilica of Holy Hill rises on a glacial kame above the forest, and the 178-step tower view is one of the best in the state, especially in fall. Nearby, the lake-view The Copper Dock supper club and Smoke on the Water for smoked meats are both worth a stop.

West Bend and Kewaskum

West Bend is the largest town on the route, with a real downtown and the The Olde Cedar Inn supper club just outside on Highway 144. Kewaskum is the southern gateway to the Northern Unit.

Campbellsport

The northern forest’s main town and home of the Henry Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center, the best place to understand the glacier before you drive into the hills. The Sandpiper Inn supper club near Lake Bernice does broasted chicken, Friday fish fry, and Prime Rib Saturdays.

Dundee

A tiny village with a big personality, known for UFO lore and the climb up Dundee Mountain. The roadside Hamburger Haus is the classic stop for a burger, cheese curds, and ice cream. Long Lake and its beach are just up the road.

Cascade and Greenbush

Cascade is home to SoLu Estate Winery and Distillery, set right on the Kettle Moraine with live music and tastings. Greenbush holds the Wade House, an 1850s stagecoach inn with a working blacksmith shop and a standout carriage museum.

Glenbeulah and Elkhart Lake

The north end finishes in style. Elkhart Lake is a small resort town with a clear spring-fed lake, the world-class Road America racing circuit, and food that rivals much bigger towns. Eat at the scratch-made Lake Street Cafe, get the triple-threat fish fry at Otto’s, or have a pint at Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company.

When To Drive It

Fall is the headline, with peak color from late September through mid-October, when the hardwood hills light up and the towers along the route deliver the best views. Summer is green and easy, good for pairing the drive with a beach stop or a Road America race weekend. Spring brings wildflowers and running springs. Winter turns it into a quiet snow-globe drive, with cross-country skiing at Lapham Peak and the Northern Unit if you want to get out of the car.

Getting to the Drive From Lake Geneva

• South end (Whitewater Lake): 25 to 30 minutes via WI-59 and US-12.
• Eagle and Old World Wisconsin: about 40 minutes.
• Lapham Peak (Delafield): about 45 to 50 minutes.
• North end (Elkhart Lake): about 1 hour 50 minutes.

If you’re driving the whole route, going up in the morning and back in the late-afternoon light makes for a full, satisfying day.

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Scenic Drive