Travel media have consistently voted Wisconsin one of the greatest road-touring states in the country. Much of this comes from natural beauty; a good deal also comes from the fact that many rural roads, originally known as farm-to-market roads, seem to have changed little (other than having pavement) in a century and a half.

Within the regions of this guide you’ll find more than two dozen fantastic roads that cannot be rivaled. Near Milwaukee, the communities with this author’s favorites include Cedarburg (#52), Mequon (#65), Burlington (#42), Lake Geneva (#11 and #29), and Horicon Marsh (#106). Near Madison, this author’s favorites are near Fort Atkinson (#84), Interstate 90/94 (#49), and especially Green County in its basic entirety!

Options for serpentine blue highways are infinite; thankfully, the Department of Transportation has highlighted more than 90 of the state’s best back-roads trips in an effort to preserve the lightly traveled avenues into the real Wisconsin.

A road trip on one of these roads is a phenomenal way to view the countryside and the culture. Every single Rustic Road of the state is guaranteed to offer an amazing palette of colors mid-September–late-October. Pick up the book Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads, which outlines these routes and is available free from tourist centers or by visiting the website of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.