Overview
Beaver Dam is a city of 17,000 people (2020) in Dodge County of Southwest Wisconsin. The city was named for an old beaver dam located in a stream flowing into Beaver Dam River.
3 sights · 3 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Beaver Dam
Dodge County Historical Society
The Dodge County Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation, advancement and dissemination of the knowledge and history of Dodge County, Wisconsin, and Beaver Dam.
Waterworks Park
This park is on Beaver Dam Lake across from Round Island.
Beaver Dam Family Center Ice Arena
Ice rink to promote hockey skating and winter and summer activities.
Old Hickory Golf Club
Established in 1920 this mature course offers a challenging scenic play.
Beaver Dam Country Club
18-hole golf course with a country club.
Horicon Marsh
Conserved 32,000-acre freshwater cattail marsh & wetland area with an education & visitor center.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 12°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Jul. (climate data from nearby Madison)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MSN Dane County Regional Truax Field, Madison — 34 mi away. Directions
- ATW Appleton International Airport, Appleton — 57 mi away. Directions
- MKE General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee — 59 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Dodge County Historical Society, Waterworks Park, Beaver Dam Family Center Ice Arena
- Lunch Annabelle's Ice Cream Parlor
- Afternoon Old Hickory Golf Club, Beaver Dam Country Club
- Evening Ooga Brewing Company
Day 2
- Morning Horicon Marsh
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Beaver Dam hosted a World War II prisoner of war camp called Camp Beaver Dam in the summer of 1944. The camp held 300 German prisoners in a tent city encampment where the Wayland Academy field house now stands.
See
History
Not only will you find a historical Society that was formed in 1938, for the preservation of articles pertaining to pioneer days and the early history of Beaver Dam, but you will also find an Academy established in 1855. The Academy has seen a Wisconsin congressman, Wisconsin State Representative, Baseball Hall of Fame member, member of the U.S. Track and Field Team at the 1908 Summer Olympics (London), and former General Manager of the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets, graduate from its halls.
Park
Beaver Dam has 21 city parks, which include almost 300 acres of parklands and are home to the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States.
Do
Eat
Eat Annabelle's Ice Cream Parlor
Ice cream store featuring many fun animal items.
Drink
Drink Ooga Brewing Company
Wisconsin brewery.
Nearby
Columbus
City / town · 15 listings · 12 mi away
Horicon Marsh
Park · 13 mi away
Johnson Creek
City / town · 4 listings · 27 mi away
Green Lake
City / town · 7 listings · 27 mi away
Ripon
City / town · 3 listings · 28 mi away
Slinger
City / town · 1 listings · 29 mi away
Fond du Lac
City / town · 14 listings · 29 mi away
Portage
City / town · 3 listings · 32 mi away
My experience
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