Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive
Quick answer: The Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive is a 115-mile back-road route marked with green acorn signs. It runs from Whitewater Lake in Walworth County to Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County through 6 counties. Plan 3 to 4 hours of driving, or a full day with stops.
From Lake Geneva, the south end is about 30 minutes away. Most people drive the southern third (Whitewater Lake to Holy Hill) in a day and save the northern half for a weekend.
The route follows the glacial hills of the Kettle Moraine, linking the state forest units, overlook towers, historic sites and a long list of supper clubs. It’s best in early October, when the hardwoods on every ridge turn at once.
For the forest units themselves, see the Kettle Moraine guide.
Which version of the drive should you do?
Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive stops at a glance
| Stop | From Lake Geneva | Why stop | Eat nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitewater Lake, La Grange | About 30 min | Ice Age Trail, lake, bike trails | Whitewater |
| Palmyra | About 40 min | Bald Bluff, John Muir trails | Squidy’s |
| Eagle | About 40 to 45 min | Old World Wisconsin, Scuppernong trails | Hen House Cafe |
| Delafield, Nashotah | About 50 min to 1 hr | Lapham Peak tower | Red Circle Inn |
| Hubertus, Holy Hill | About 1 hr 15 min | Holy Hill tower, Loew Lake | The Copper Dock |
| Hartford | About 1 hr 15 min | Pike Lake beach, Powder Hill | West Bend |
| Campbellsport, Dundee | About 1 hr 45 min | Ice Age Visitor Center, Dundee Mountain, Parnell Tower | Sandpiper Inn |
| Greenbush | About 2 hr | Wade House | SoLu Estate |
| Elkhart Lake | About 2 hr 15 min | Spring-fed lake, Road America | Lake Street Cafe, Otto’s |
How the drive works
Follow the green acorn signs. The route was surveyed in 1946, approved by the state in 1948 and first paved in 1950, and it still uses the same symbol.
You can drive it in either direction. Turns come often and some signs are missing, so download the DNR’s map and turn-by-turn directions before you lose cell service.
Tip: Stopping in a state forest unit (Southern, Lapham Peak, Pike Lake, Northern) means a vehicle pass: $13 a day for Wisconsin plates, $16 for out-of-state. If you’ll hit 3 or more units in a year, the 12-month pass ($28 or $50) pays off.
Stops south to north
Some of these sit right on the route; others are a 5- to 15-minute detour.
Whitewater Lake and La Grange
Start hereHikingThe route begins in the Southern Unit near Whitewater Lake. Hike a piece of the Ice Age Trail, or ride the John Muir trails on County H north of La Grange.
The college town of Whitewater is a few minutes west for coffee and lunch.
Palmyra
Fish fryViewsA small town on the forest’s west edge. Climb the short Bald Bluff Nature Trail (0.5 miles) to one of the highest points in Jefferson County.
Squidy’s is the local Friday fish fry. Rushing Waters Fisheries (N301 County Rd. H) sells fresh and smoked trout at its farm store Thursday through Sunday.
Eagle and Old World Wisconsin
HistorySeasonalOld World Wisconsin is 600 acres of relocated farmsteads and village buildings, 60 in all, with costumed interpreters. Eat at the Clausing Café in the octagonal Clausing Barn. The 2026 season ended Sept 27; it reopens in May.
Year-round, Hen House Cafe (110 E. Waukesha Rd.) serves breakfast and lunch daily, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Southern Unit headquarters and the Scuppernong trails are just north of town.
Dousman and Genesee Depot
Dinner stopQuiet crossroads country. The Union House (S42W31320 Hwy. 83, Genesee Depot) is the dinner pick, known for steaks and wild game.
Delafield and Lapham Peak
TowerSupper clubThe Lapham Peak tower is 45 feet tall on the highest point in Waukesha County (1,233 feet). It’s the best view on the southern half of the drive.
The Red Circle Inn (N44W33013 Watertown Plank Rd., Nashotah) opened in 1848 and calls itself Wisconsin’s oldest restaurant. In Hartland, Palmer’s Steakhouse (122 E. Capitol Dr.) opens at 4 p.m.
Hubertus and Holy Hill
Best fall viewTowerThe basilica sits on a glacial kame, and its scenic tower (about 178 steps) looks out over miles of color. The tower closes for rain, high wind and some services, and shuts for the season after Oct 31.
The Loew Lake Unit is nearby for a quiet Ice Age Trail hike with no vehicle sticker. Eat at The Copper Dock (1474 E. Friess Lake Dr.).
Hartford and Pike Lake
SwimmingPike Lake is a 522-acre, spring-fed kettle lake with a beach. Powder Hill, a big kame, gives you the view.
West Bend and Kewaskum
DetourWest Bend is the biggest town near the route, a short detour east. The Olde Cedar Inn (5802 State Rd. 144) does casual country dining Wednesday through Sunday. Kewaskum is the southern gateway to the Northern Unit.
Campbellsport, Dundee and the Northern Unit
Parnell TowerFish fryStop at the Henry S. Reuss Ice Age Visitor Center (N2875 Hwy. 67) for the glacier story, then climb Parnell Tower or the 1-mile Summit Trail up Dundee Mountain.
The Sandpiper Inn (W2992 Elmore Dr., on Lake Bernice) is a supper club with an all-you-can-eat Friday fish fry, open Wednesday through Sunday. In Dundee, the seasonal Hamburger Haus stand does burgers and ice cream.
Cascade and Greenbush
HistoryWineryWade House is an 1850s stagecoach inn on 240 acres, with a blacksmith shop, the Herrling Sawmill and the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum. From November to May, only the visitor center and carriage museum open, on Saturdays.
SoLu Estate Winery & Meadery in Cascade pours wine, mead and spirits.
Glenbeulah and Elkhart Lake
Finish hereOvernightThe route ends near Elkhart Lake, a resort village on a clear, spring-fed lake. Road America, the 4-mile road course, is just south of town.
Eat at Lake Street Cafe (21 S. Lake St.) or the Friday fish fry at Otto’s at The Osthoff Resort.
When to drive the Kettle Moraine
Fall (late September to mid-October)
Peak color usually lands in the first 2 weeks of October. Weekends at Holy Hill get busy; go on a weekday or arrive when the tower opens. Climb Parnell, Lapham Peak or Holy Hill for the view from above.
Closer to Lake Geneva, add the Lake Geneva scenic drive or a stop from the orchards and pumpkin patches guide.
Summer (June to August)
Everything’s open, including Old World Wisconsin and Wade House. Pack a swimsuit for Pike Lake, Ottawa Lake or Long Lake, or plan around a Road America race weekend in Elkhart Lake.
Spring (April and May)
Wildflowers, running springs and almost no traffic. Holy Hill’s tower opens May 1 and Old World Wisconsin opens in early May.
Winter (December to March)
Quiet and pretty after a snowfall. Bring skis for Lapham Peak’s lit trails. Holy Hill’s tower, Old World Wisconsin and most of Wade House are closed, and the Parnell Tower lot closes for winter.
Best by category
| Category | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best view | Holy Hill tower | Miles of moraine from a hilltop basilica |
| Best forest view | Parnell Tower | 60 feet up over the Northern Unit |
| Best history stop | Old World Wisconsin | 60 historic buildings on 600 acres |
| Best supper club | Red Circle Inn | Dates to 1848 |
| Best fish fry | Sandpiper Inn | All-you-can-eat on Lake Bernice |
| Best breakfast | Hen House Cafe | Open daily at 6 a.m. in Eagle |
| Best overnight | Elkhart Lake | End of the route, on the water |
Mistakes people make on the drive
Trying to do all 115 miles and get back the same day. From Lake Geneva that’s 7-plus hours of driving before you stop. Do the south half, or stay over.
Relying on the signs alone. Acorn signs go missing. Carry the DNR directions.
Forgetting the vehicle pass. Parking at Lapham Peak, Pike Lake or a forest unit without one costs a $5 surcharge on top of the fee.
Showing up to closed sites. Old World Wisconsin closes after September and Holy Hill’s tower after October.
If you’re moving here
From Geneva Lake, the south end of the drive is close enough for a weeknight loop. Towns near the route, including Whitewater, East Troy and Mukwonago, have rural lots, hobby-farm parcels and homes backing onto wooded hills.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive?
115 miles from Whitewater Lake to Elkhart Lake. Plan 3 to 4 hours of driving without stops, or a full day with stops. Many people split it over 2 days.
Where does the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive start?
The south end is at Whitewater Lake in the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest, in Walworth County. The north end is near Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County. You can drive it in either direction.
How far is the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive from Lake Geneva?
The south end at Whitewater Lake is about 30 minutes from Lake Geneva. Holy Hill is about 1 hour 15 minutes, and Elkhart Lake at the north end is about 2 hours 15 minutes.
When is the best time to drive the Kettle Moraine for fall color?
Late September through mid-October, with the peak usually in the first 2 weeks of October. Weekdays are less crowded, especially at Holy Hill.
How is the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive marked?
With green acorn signs, a symbol designed in the late 1940s. Signs can be missing, so carry the Wisconsin DNR map and turn-by-turn directions.
What towns are on the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive?
Going north: Whitewater Lake and La Grange, Palmyra, Eagle, the Dousman and Delafield area, Hubertus and Holy Hill, the Hartford and Pike Lake area, Kewaskum, Campbellsport, Dundee, Greenbush, Glenbeulah and Elkhart Lake.
Do you need a state park pass to drive the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive?
Not to drive it. You need a vehicle pass only to park in a state forest unit such as the Southern Unit, Lapham Peak, Pike Lake or the Northern Unit. Daily passes are $13 for Wisconsin plates and $16 for out-of-state plates.
Where should you eat on the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive?
Hen House Cafe in Eagle for breakfast, the Red Circle Inn in Nashotah or the Union House in Genesee Depot for dinner, the Sandpiper Inn near Campbellsport for Friday fish fry, and Lake Street Cafe or Otto’s in Elkhart Lake at the north end.
Like the drive enough to live closer?
Kim and Joel Reyenga with eXp Realty cover Geneva Lake and the towns toward the Kettle Moraine, from lakefront condos in Lake Geneva to wooded acreage near Whitewater and East Troy.
Search Geneva Lake properties Equal Housing Opportunity. Reyenga Team, eXp Realty.