Elkhorn, Wisconsin travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Elkhorn is a city of 10,000 people (2019) in Walworth County, Wisconsin.

1 sights · 1 things to do · 4 places to eat · 2 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Elkhorn

Turtle Valley Wildlife Area

Turtle Valley Wildlife Area is about 1,900 acres of restored cattail marsh, meadowland, and tallgrass prairie just northwest of town, near Turtle Lake. There's a waterfowl refuge in the central part of the reserve, and b…

Alpine Valley Music Theatre

37,000 capacity amphitheater, one of the largest in the United States. Concerts draw crowds from Madison, Milwaukee, Rockford, and Chicago.

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 17°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Apr. (climate data from nearby Milwaukee)

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.
MKE General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee — 38 mi away (major hub). Directions
RFD Chicago Rockford International Airport, Chicago/Rockford — 44 mi away. Directions

Elkhorn is located at the intersection of I-43 and US 12 in central Walworth County. It is immediately accessible from both routes.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Sample 1-day itinerary

Day 1

Morning Turtle Valley Wildlife Area
Lunch Elk Restaurant
Afternoon Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Dinner Moy's Restaurant

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

Map

Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

Understand

First visited in the early 19th century by American settlers, Elkhorn got its name when Colonel Samuel Phoenix spotted a rack of elk antlers in a tree and proclaimed the area as "Elk Horn."

Get in

Elkhorn is located at the intersection of I-43 and US 12 in central Walworth County. It is immediately accessible from both routes.

Get around

The primary mode of transportation in Elkhorn and the surrounding area is car. As Elkhorn is in the central part of the county and used to be a minor rail hub, it is serviced by a number of major routes including I-43 and US 12 with service into the downtown through WI 67 and WI 11, which allow access to almost every part of the community.

See

Bray Road: The location of the siting on the now infamous "Beast of a Bray Road," a cryptid which is variably described as a Bigfoot, Mothman or Werewolf. It has been spotted since its original siting as far east as Burlington and as far west as Delavan. Bray Road is east of the city along WI 11. If visiting, please be respectful of the neighbors and don't trespass on private property.