Overview
Neillsville is a small town of about 3000 in rural central Wisconsin. It lies on the Black River in farm country, at the southern edge of the Northern Highlands, overlooking the flat bottom-lands that once were Glacial Lake Wisconsin. If you like quaint and quiet, it can be a nice place to spend a weekend.
3 sights · 3 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Neillsville
The Highground
Is a veteran's memorial on a ridge two miles west of Neillsville. It has a visitors' center, sculptures, walking trails, beautiful views, and special tributes to Viet Nam vets, Korea vets, and Native Americans. 715-743-4…
1897 Jail Museum
Is a castle-like building in Neillsville which housed both the prisoners' cells and a rather elegant residence for the jailer's family. Today it is a museum, displaying items from local history. Open Sundays 1-4 PM, Memo…
Reed School
Is a one-room schoolhouse on the ridge east of Neillsville which has been restored and is operated as a museum by the Wisconsin Historical Society. In 2013 it will be open Saturdays and Sundays 10-4 May 4 to October 27. …
Historic Walking Tour
Take a leisurely stroll along Hewett Street, up Fourth, down Fifth, and up Grand, taking in the old houses and storefronts.
Listeman Arboretum
Offers walking trails beneath huge trees on the hill above the Black River.
Wilderness Pursuits
N). Guided trail rides on horseback through the Clark County Forest.
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.
- CWA Central Wisconsin Airport, Mosinee — 48 mi away. Directions
- EAU Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, Eau Claire — 48 mi away. Directions
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 131 mi away (major hub). Directions
Neillsville is on highway 10, three hours east of Minneapolis and four hours northwest of Milwaukee.
Full “Get in” guide ↓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 The Highground, Reed School
- Lunch Wildcat Inn
- Afternoon Listeman Arboretum
Day 2
- Morning 1897 Jail Museum, Historic Walking Tour
- Afternoon Wilderness Pursuits
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
Understand
Logging began on the Black River in the mid-1800s. Neillsville had early sawmills, and other businesses grew up around them. Fortunes were made, big houses and stores were built, and the town grew. As the trees ran out, dairy farming took over in the surrounding country and the businesses in town shifted to serve the farmers.
Fortunately, things were prosperous enough in later years to keep the heart of town alive, but not prosperous enough to fund tearing down and rebuilding, as happened in some other places. So today the old part of Neillsville has almost a Tom-Sawyer feel on a warm summer afternoon.
Get in
Neillsville is on highway 10, three hours east of Minneapolis and four hours northwest of Milwaukee.
See
See 1897 Jail Museum
Is a castle-like building in Neillsville which housed both the prisoners' cells and a rather elegant residence for the jailer's family. Today it is a museum, displaying items from local history. Open Sundays 1-4 PM, Memorial Day to Labor Day, or by appointment. 715-743-6444.
Do
- Drive out into the countryside. Follow highway 10 east along Pleasant Ridge, looking at the big old Italianate farmhouses and enjoying the views. At the second curve, fourteen miles out, you'll pass a cluster of Amish farms, with an unusual barn cleaning system on the west side of the road. Then follow Fremont Road back west back to Neillsville. On a summer day other than Sunday you may see Amish farmers working with horses, and maybe even an old hayloader!
Buy
Shop Neillsville Farmers' Market
Buy local produce in season and Amish baking. And admire the horses and buggies parked nearby.
Eat
Eat Wildcat Inn
WB. Good restaurant/steakhouse, with mounted animal heads all around. $5-$20.
Sleep
Stay Tufts Mansion B&B
Did you ever want to sleep in a museum? Here you can. James will give you a tour of the sprawling home which was built in 1879, showing you the parlor, the woodwork, the maid's bedroom, and so forth. Then he might take down the velvet rope on one of the bedrooms and let you spend the night! The place is an odd combination of hotel, casual museum, and music venue. And you may enjoy the pecan praline French toast for breakfast.
Nearby
Marshfield
City / town · 6 listings · 22 mi away
Black River Falls
City / town · 2 listings · 22 mi away
Augusta
City / town · 1 listings · 27 mi away
Osseo
City / town · 1 listings · 31 mi away
Mauston
City / town · 13 listings · 39 mi away
Rudolph
City / town · 39 mi away
Wisconsin Rapids
City / town · 4 listings · 40 mi away
Tomah
City / town · 8 listings · 40 mi away
My experience
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