Hostels in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is part of the U.S. Midwest and is one of the northernmost states. Known for its cheese and other dairy products, Wisconsin is more focused on agriculture than industrial cities, which in some areas can make it nearly impossible to find a hostel.

The capital of the state of Wisconsin is Madison, which is the only city to find a hostel. Along with being the state capital, it's also a beautiful and youthful college town. You can tour the state capitol building, hang out at one of the five lakes, or enjoy the college town environment near the University of Wisconsin. In true Wisconsin Cheesehead fashion, this university has a dairy right on campus! State Street is the cultural center of the city, located between Capitol Square and the University of Wisconsin. The street limits vehicles on the road, making it extra pedestrian and bicyclist-friendly, and offers a selection of shops. A pedestrian-only street is rare is the U.S., and it's definitely a highlight of Madison.

Wisconsin's largest city is Milwaukee, which is east of Madison. Milwaukee has a number of museums, a zoo, sporting complexes, and the mansion of the founder of Pabst Brewing Company. Unfortunately, there are not currently any hostels open in this city. However, it's about an hour and a half commute from Madison, where you can stay in a hostel, and you can take a Megabus between these two cities.

Wisconsin shares borders with two of the five Great Lakes. Lake Michigan feeds into Green Bay, and the city near this bay is known for their National Football League team, the Green Bay Packers. Sports enthusiasts love visiting the stadium on game days. If you're not a football fan, you should still find out when the game days are so you can plan accordingly. Traffic isn't that big of a problem unless the Packers have a home game that day!

Further north in Wisconsin is forested area. If you're comfortable driving during snowstorms and bring warm clothing, winter is a great time to visit this area because most of the trees are either evergreen or birch, which is especially scenic among a blanket of snow.

In the southern part of the state, Lake Geneva is a popular getaway destination. The historic small-town feel offers local shops and campgrounds surrounding Geneva Lake. While the lake itself is large, some people challenge themselves to make it around the entire lake by using the encircling public walking trail.

You will be impressed at the gem towns scattered throughout the state. Enjoy your time in Minnesota!

Handwritten by local expert for Wisconsin hostels Jessica Lippe