Elkhart Lake is like a Wisconsin-themed Disneyland. This 900-person town somehow manages to offer 4-star resorts, fine dining, golf, hiking, race car driving, watersports, wine bars, barbeque and the best fried cheese curds in the world.
This tremendously underrated tourism destination beckons you to enjoy equal amounts of cheese and speed.
But where should you stay? What should you do? Where can you find the world’s best cheddar cheese, and right down the street, test drive a Lamborghini?
From salt rooms to wine vending machines, scenic trails to exotic car boutiques, let’s explore 8 Unmissable Stops in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
The Osthoff Resort
What’s the best place to stay in Elkhart Lake? I can easily recommend The Osthoff Resort – a luxurious 240-room resort situated on the shores of Elkhart Lake. Shaped like a big horseshoe, the Osthoff features its own private lake right next to the bigger lake, as well as every amenity you could possibly ask for: numerous dining options, a robust gym, event spaces, even cooking classes and a complimentary kids’ arcade.
One of its primary draws, however, hides in the basement of the western wing. You’ll definitely want to dedicate a good 2+ hours to Aspira Spa, where you can enjoy a lavender bath, couples’ massage, and a lengthy detox session in the salt room.
Despite attracting countless race car drivers and A-list celebrities, rooms at The Osthoff are surprisingly affordable.
Road America
With your accommodations in place, it’s time to plan a half-day trip to the iconic racetrack Road America.
Believe it or not, there was a time when the U.S. government saw local towns organizing high-speed races on public roads, and its only reaction was “Hey, what a neat idea.” But after a few tragic incidents, the feds banned the practice in 1952 – meaning the legendary County P Circuit that cut right through downtown Elkhart Lake was no more.
Disappointed but determined, highway engineer and racing enthusiast Clif Tufte rallied investors and built Road America right next door. Today, the 4-mile track hosts over 400 events a year, from the Grand Prix finals to classic Cadillac parades.
As a visitor, you can tour the grounds, watch the day’s events or hop on the track yourself. Road America offers track days, karting, racing lessons, ride-alongs and more, and there’s even a lesser-known off-road course where you can ruin your jeans.
Naturally, Road America isn’t the only automotive-themed attraction around Elkhart Lake. As a next stop, consider a short visit to Throttlestop.
Throttlestop
Now that you’ve got a hankering for speed, let’s go shopping (or, at the very least, window shopping) at nearby Throttlestop. On paper, Throttlestop functions as a consignment dealer for high-end exotic cars and motorcycles. But once you’re inside enjoying a free self-guided tour, it starts to feel like so much more: man cave, museum, candy shop.
During our visit we found a Morgan Three-Wheeler, Ford GT, Shelby Cobra, DeTomaso Pantera, and this: a gullwing SLS AMG for a modest asking price of $330,000.
While there wasn’t much I could afford on a travel writer’s budget, I nevertheless enjoyed every second browsing their wares. Even if you only nurse a passing interest in cars, getting this close to half-million-dollar icons is a treat.
The Garage BBQ Pit and Saloon
Just down the road from Throttlestop, The Garage BBQ Pit and Saloon offers heart-stopping and positively delicious Americana fare.
The baked wings – which reportedly take the pit master 24 hours to prepare – were the best I’ve had in my life. Full stop. The glistening cornbread tastes like cake, the sides are large enough to feed a small family and the BBQ itself ranks among the best I’ve had.
So if you’re looking for an unpretentious destination to enjoy wings and beer at Elkhart Lake, it’s a no-brainer.
Vintage Wine Shop and Fine Foods
Located in the walkable heart of downtown Elkhart Lake, Vintage Wine Shop and Fine Foods offers a tasting experience like nothing I’ve ever seen.
Specifically, you get your wine from a chilled vending machine. Just tap your preloaded card, choose a size and your perfectly preserved wine comes pouring out.
More than just a novelty, these vino vending machines felt like an immensely practical idea for groups. No longer do you and your travel mate(s) have to book a lengthy wine tasting and endure 3-4 wines you don’t like. At Vintage, you can each load up your own prepaid card, pick your own wines, and buy a bottle if anything strikes your fancy.
You get a full tasting experience for way less time and money. Win.
Off the Rail Cafe
As the name implies, Off the Rail is found right next to the train tracks that bisect Elkhart Lake’s charming downtown. Inside you’ll find a cozy breakfast cafe with kind, enthusiastic staff and stellar breakfast sandwiches.
Several Elkhart Lake natives suggested that I try the Conductor, a plain bagel slathered in cream cheese and Nutella. Worried that such a decadent treat would put me right back to sleep, I instead opted for a protein rich McRail, which was utterly delightful.
Ice Age Trail
It’s virtually impossible to enjoy Wisconsin without eating 3,000 calories per day. Studies show that even a quick glance at a fried cheese curd costs 15 calories.
Thankfully, the stunning Ice Age Trail snakes its way through the entire state – inviting you to take a scenic hike and work off a bit of that Nutella bagel.
Even on a relatively crummy day weather-wise, we were able to enjoy one of the trail’s amazing natural features: a crater-like “kettlebowl” formed by melting glacier ice.
The nearest trailhead to Elkhart Lake is the LaBudde Creek Segment just seven minutes northwest of downtown. Here, you’ll find a nice, 3-mile hike featuring open vistas, beautiful tree canopies and a wooden boardwalk over a wildlife-rich swamp.
But now it’s time for the coup de grâce – before departing Wisconsin, you must visit the very source of Wisconsin’s pride and joy: a cheese factory.
Henning Cheese
Family-run since 1914, Henning Cheese has won countless national and global awards for the quality of its authentic Wisconsin cheese. Perhaps most notably, its legendary Aged Cheddar took home 1st place at the 2024 World Championship Cheese Contest. You’ll find some darn good cheese here.
The factory – located 20 minutes north of Elkhart Lake – offers more than just cheese samples. There’s a small museum, a viewing area to observe the cheese-making process, and if you’re lucky and call ahead, you might even get a guided tour from a member of the Henning family.
I was also shocked at how cheap cheese can be when you buy it straight from the source. Henning sells blocks of its award-winning cheese for as little as $0.50, meaning you can load a suitcase full of souvenir cheese for less than the cost of a T-shirt. I took home some Aged Cheddar, Dragon’s Breath, Maple Bourbon, Pumpkin Spice and Mozzarella – and I wish I’d gotten more.
Despite the sheer variety of things to do (and consume) around Elkhart Lake, at no point did my visit feel touristy, kitsch or inauthentic. Elkhart Lake isn’t trying to be cool. It just is. When you have the world’s best cheese, fastest cars and stunning Midwest scenery, the cool kids naturally show up on their own, as should you.
Just remember to bring a Lactaid.
Visit here for more on Elkhart Lake.
For more stories in my “Unmissable Stops” series, check out one of these:
- Brunch, Bentleys and Pickleball – 7 Unmissable Stops on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale
- Buddy Holly and BBQ: 7 essential stops on your Lubbock, Texas visit
– Chris Butsch, Contributor