Overview
Prairie du Chien is a city in the Southern Wisconsin River Valley of Southwest Wisconsin, near the junction of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers.
1 sights · 1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Prairie du Chien
Villa Louis
An estate that belonged to a fur tycoon and Wisconsin's first millionaire, passed down to his son after which it is named.
Bear Foot Bay Indoor Water Park
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 11°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Jul. (climate data from nearby Dubuque)
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.
- DBQ Dubuque Regional Airport, Dubuque — 53 mi away. Directions
- LSE La Crosse Regional Airport, La Crosse — 56 mi away. Directions
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 160 mi away (major hub). Directions
Prairie du Chien is situated at the intersection of US Highway 18 and Wisconsin highways 27 and 35, making it easily accessible by car.
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 Bear Foot Bay Indoor Water Park
- Afternoon Villa Louis
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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
Another place discovered by Marquette and Joliet in 1673 during their quest to find a way to the Mississippi, where they met Fox Indians living there with a chief whose name meant "dog" or "chien" in French, this town passed through French, British, and American possession over the course of time. It was also the site of Fort Crawford where the Fox and Sauk nations ceded much of their land in a treaty.
Get in
Prairie du Chien is situated at the intersection of US Highway 18 and Wisconsin highways 27 and 35, making it easily accessible by car.
See
- Wyalusing State Park, 13081 State Park Ln, Bagley. State park built upon bluffs overlooking the Mississippi, with hiking trails and burial mound monuments.
Do
Do Bear Foot Bay Indoor Water Park
Sleep
- Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Prairie du Chien, 1833 S Marquette Rd. Indoor pool and hot tub.
Nearby
Effigy Mounds National Monument
Park · 1 listings · 3 mi away
Marquette
City / town · 2 listings · 3 mi away
Decorah
City / town · 5 listings · 32 mi away
Soldiers Grove
City / town · 1 listings · 32 mi away
Spillville
City / town · 1 listings · 37 mi away
Spring Grove
City / town · 10 listings · 40 mi away
Richland Center
City / town · 7 listings · 47 mi away
Dubuque
City / town · 62 listings · 49 mi away
My experience
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