Wisconsin Dells is an enormous Amusement park disguised as a small city. Located about 2 1/2 hours from Milwaukee and an hour from Madison, WI, it has achieved the reputation of a non-stop fun-fest and is open all year round...though the summer is when it really comes out to play.

The city contains areas of interest and fun for all ages so do plan on making this a family outing. It's certainly possible to experience Wisconsin Dells in a day but for a true experience you should plan on spending 2 or more days there.

If your "thing" is waterparks, you've come to the right place. Its home to several waterparks but the one that gets the nod from experienced watersliders is Noah's Ark Waterpark. This is the largest waterpark in the United States. Yup, you heard it right. It's nestled right in the heart of the Dells and on a warm, summer's day, it'll be packed with little kids splashing in the kiddie areas to teens looking to impress their favorite partner to older folks who's bones are brittle but still want to experience high-speed waterslides for a serious thrill ride.

Tons of restaurants are around as well as accommodations and attractions.

How Were the Wisconsin Dells Formed

The Dells was formed during the last ice age approximately 15,000 years ago, although the rock itself is much older, dating from the Cambrian approximately 510-520 million years ago when the area of Wisconsin was at the bottom of a shallow sea. Approximately 19,000 years ago, the Dells was at the extreme eastern margin of the continental glacier. However, the Dells itself was never covered by glacial ice sheets - it was part of the large Driftless Zone that was by-passed by the ice. The melting of the glacier formed Glacial Lake Wisconsin, a lake about the size of Great Salt Lake in Utah and as deep as 150 ft (45 m). The lake was held back by an ice dam of the remaining glacier. The eventual bursting of the ice dam unleashed a catastrophic flood, dropping the lake's depth to 50 ft (15 m) and cutting deep, narrow gorges and unusual rock formations into the sandstone seen today. The Dells was probably formed in a matter of days or weeks.

How to get there

Wisconsin Dells is easy to find on any Internet map program.

From Chicago and Milwaukee: Take I-94 west about 1 hour past Madison.

From Minneapolis and Northern Wisconsin: Take I-94 East.

Here's a map of the area

Some popular attractions

Noah's Ark Family Waterpark (608) 254-6351
Tommy Bartlett Show (608) 254-2525
Circus World Museum - (608) 356-8341 or (866) 693-1500
Dells Boat Tours® (608) 254-8555 or (608) 254-7227
Ho-Chunk Casino and Bingo (800) 746-2486 or (608) 356-6210
Kalahari Indoor Waterpark - (608) 254-5466 or (877) 253-5466
Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park (608) 254-7766 or (608) 254-2490
OK Corral Horseback Riding (608) 254-2811 or (800) 254-2811
Original Wisconsin Ducks® (608) 254-8751
Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf (608) 254-7500 or (608) 254-8336 (group rates)
Ripley's Believe It Or Not!® (608) 253-7556
Riverview Park & Waterworld - (608) 254-2608
Shipwreck Lagoon Adventure Golf - (608) 253-7772 or (608) 254-7766
Sunset & Dinner Cruises (608) 254-8555
Timber Falls Adventure Park (608) 254-8414
Treasure Island Water & Theme Park Resort - (608) 254-7766

Indoor Water Parks in Wisconsin Dells,wi

Kalahari Indoor Waterpark - (608) 254-5466 or (877) 253-5466

Local Accommodations

Wisconsin Dells has dozens of hotels, motels, campgrounds and B&B's. It's worth your time to research them and book ahead. You might consider where you plan to spend most of your time and see what's close by.

Here's a link to a comprehensive list of local accommodations

Campgrounds

wisconson dells camping

American World RV Resort & Hotel
Angel's Hideaway (Camp)
Arrowhead Resort Campground
Baraboo Hills Campground
Bass Lake Campground
Bonanza Campground & RV Park Family
Dell Boo Family Campground
Dells Timber Land Camping Resort At Dells
Fox Hill RV Park & Campground
Holiday Shores Camp-Resort (Camp)
River Bay Campground
Sherwood Forest Camping & RV Park
Summer Breeze Resort
Wanna Bee Campground and RV Resort]
Wisconsin Dells KOA
Yogi Bear's Camp-Resort & Water Playground