Dells of the Wisconsin River
The Dells of the Wisconsin River, also called the Wisconsin Dells (from Old English "dæl", modern English "dale"), meaning "valley", is a 5-mile (8-km) gorge on the Wisconsin River in south-central Wisconsin, United States.
A canyon & gorge inside Lyndon
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 8°, with about 41" of snow a year. When to go ↓
You can stay in Lyndon
Dells of the Wisconsin River is inside Lyndon, which has 12 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Milwaukee
Milwaukee is about 100 miles southeast (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 69–82°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Lyndon. Green months are the mild ones.
Dells of the Wisconsin River
The Dells of the Wisconsin River, also called the Wisconsin Dells (from Old English "dæl", modern English "dale"), meaning "valley", is a 5-mile (8-km) gorge on the Wisconsin River in south-central Wisconsin, United States. It is noted for its scenery, in particular for its Cambrian sandstone rock formations and tributary canyons. The formations are divided into the "Upper Dells" and the "Lower Dells" by the Kilbourn Dam.
The cliffs, some over 100 feet (30 m) tall, and side canyons are closed to the public to protect sensitive ecological features. Viewing the rock formations by water is a tourist attraction in the area. The nearby city of Wisconsin Dells is the center of summer tourist activity, much of it in the form of the theme parks unrelated to the river features.
- Type
- Canyon & gorge
- Wikipedia readers
- 20K a year
Where to stay near Dells of the Wisconsin River
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Lyndon (12) and Lake Delton (81).
- 1Noah's Ark Water Park
- 2Ice Age Trail
- 3Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park
- 4Devil's Lake
- 5Mid-Continent Railway Museum
- 6Circus World Museum
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Dells of the Wisconsin River | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyndon | in town | — | 12 1 hotel · 1 motel · 2 lodges & cabins · 8 campgrounds | 1,493 | $222K |
| Lake Delton | 4 mi south | 5 min | 81 61 hotels · 8 motels · 8 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 3,451 | $178K |
| Wisconsin Dells | 1 mi southeast | — | 60 33 hotels · 17 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 4 lodges & cabins · 5 campgrounds | 3,149 | $207K |
| Delton | 5 mi south | 10 min | 11 3 hotels · 5 campgrounds · 3 RV parks | 2,441 | $273K |
| Dell Prairie | 4 mi northeast | 5 min | 6 1 hotel · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds | 1,731 | $268K |
| Baraboo | 13 mi south | 20 min | 11 1 hotel · 2 motels · 1 lodge or cabins · 7 campgrounds | 1,778 | $350K |
| Baraboo | 12 mi south | 20 min | 9 1 hotel · 2 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 13,224 | $222K |
| Jackson 52% vacation homes | 12 mi northeast | 20 min | 8 3 lodges & cabins · 5 campgrounds | 1,183 | $203K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Dells of the Wisconsin River
Other well-known places within 45 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
44 mi Stadium & arenaCamp Randall Stadium13 mi Theme parkNoah's Ark Water Park
215 mi Park & preserveIce Age Trail
32 mi Theme parkMt. Olympus Water & Theme Park
416 mi State parkDevil's Lake State Park513 mi MuseumMid-Continent Railway Museum
612 mi MuseumCircus World Museum
44 mi Stadium & arenaKohl CenterPhoto credits
Camp Randall Stadium: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Ice Age Trail: MDuchek, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park: User Royalbroil on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Devil's Lake State Park: CrispAir at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 · Circus World Museum: Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2 · Kohl Center: Pbrown111 at English Wikipedia, Public domain
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Visiting Dells of the Wisconsin River
Is Dells of the Wisconsin River in Lyndon?
Yes. It’s inside Lyndon, WI.
When is the best time to visit Dells of the Wisconsin River?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 69–82°.
How far is Dells of the Wisconsin River from Milwaukee?
About 100 miles southeast of Milwaukee, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Dells of the Wisconsin River?
Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN), about 41 miles away. The nearest big hub is General Mitchell (MKE), about 107 miles.
Where should I stay near Dells of the Wisconsin River?
Lake Delton (4 mi, 81 places to stay), Wisconsin Dells (1 mi, 60 places to stay) and Lyndon (in town, 12 places to stay).
Tips from people in Lyndon
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Lyndon’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.