Overview
Wausau is a city in North Central Wisconsin. While the metropolitan area has a population of around 80,000, it has a big city feel and often leads one to believe they are in a larger city. Wausau has many great man-made and natural features, such as Dudley Tower/First Wausau Tower, the tallest commercial building in the state outside of Milwaukee, and Rib Mountain State Park/Granite Peak Ski Area.
4 sights · 3 things to do · 4 places to eat · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Wausau
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
The museum's permanent collection is known for its focus on nature with historic and contemporary paintings, sculptures, and works on paper that focus on birds. The annual Birds in Art exhibition in September and October…
Marathon County Historical Museums
In 1954, Leigh Yawkey Woodson and her daughters donated the home of her late parents, lumberman Cyrus C. Yawkey and Alice Richardson Yawkey, to the Historical Society. The house was built in 1900 in the Classical Revival…
Rib Mountain State Park
Covering over 860 acres, (348 hectares), Rib Mountain State Park boasts a well-maintained network of hiking and nature trails that allows visitors to enjoy many wildflowers and other plants growing throughout the park. C…
Granite Peak Ski Area
74 runs with a 700 foot vertical drop making it one of the largest ski areas in the Midwest. Extensive snow making equipment and lighted runs for night skiing. Base area has a variety of food outlets and bars as well as …
Wausau Woodchucks
Cheer on the minor league baseball team at Athletic Park.
The Wausau Depot
Wausau, no phone. Interior not open to the public. When most people think of Wausau, they probably envision the railroad depot created by Wausau Insurance Companies for a corporate logo. They can't find the depot picture…
Plan your trip
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CWA Central Wisconsin Airport, Mosinee — 13 mi away. Directions
- RHI Rhinelander Oneida County Airport, Rhinelander — 47 mi away. Directions
- MKE General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee — 164 mi away (major hub). Directions
Traveling north and south, Wausau can be reached via I-39/US-51, and traveling east and west, Wausau can be reached by State Highway 29. Wausau can be reached from Minneapolis in about three and a half hours via I-94 and State Highway 29. Milwaukee is about three and a half hours away as well via I-94 and I-39. Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA), 12 miles south of Wausau, provides daily service to and from Detroit (Delta Air Lines), Minneapolis (Delta Air Lines), Chicago O'Hare (American Airlines or United Airlines). Lamers Bus Lines offers a daily trip to/from Milwaukee via the Fox Valley which may be ticketed through Greyhound (or Amtrak if connecting to a rail leg).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $59–$110 a night (typical $90), from 6 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$100, mid-range ~$160, comfortable ~$280.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Marathon County Historical Museums, Wausau Cyclones
- Lunch The Back When Cafe
- Afternoon Wausau Woodchucks, The Wausau Depot
- Dinner WISH
Day 2
- Morning Rib Mountain State Park
- Lunch Treu's Tic Toc Club
- Afternoon Granite Peak Ski Area
- Dinner CHAR Grillhouse
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Several very good restaurants in Wausau like the Back When Cafe. The Pinewood Supper Club in nearby Mosinee offers "northwoods" dining overlooking a wooded lake.
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.
Get in
Traveling north and south, Wausau can be reached via I-39/US-51, and traveling east and west, Wausau can be reached by State Highway 29. Wausau can be reached from Minneapolis in about three and a half hours via I-94 and State Highway 29. Milwaukee is about three and a half hours away as well via I-94 and I-39. Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA), 12 miles south of Wausau, provides daily service to and from Detroit (Delta Air Lines), Minneapolis (Delta Air Lines), Chicago O'Hare (American Airlines or United Airlines). Lamers Bus Lines offers a daily trip to/from Milwaukee via the Fox Valley which may be ticketed through Greyhound (or Amtrak if connecting to a rail leg).
Get around
By bus
Public transportation is limited in the Wausau Area. Metro Ride (formerly WATS or Wausau Area Transit System) operates eight bus routes in the City of Wausau which run at 30-minute intervals; one bus route in the Village of Weston, which runs at 30-minute intervals; and one bus route to Rothschild and Schofield, which operates at 60-minute intervals. Passengers can transfer between routes at the Metro Ride Transit Center, which is located at 555 Jefferson Street in the downtown Wausau, one block from the Wausau Center Mall. Passengers can also transfer between Route C and Route K at Shopko in Rothschild and between Route E and Route I at Aspirus Clinic in Wausau. Buses are clean and uncrowded but the limited schedule makes them somewhat impractical to all but the most dedicated transit user.
By car
Travel by car is very easy in the Wausau area and the preferred method of transportation. Roads are well maintained and marked. Ample, free, at-door parking is available everywhere outside of the downtown area. Downtown, parking is easy to find and very inexpensive. As the city and surrounding area are oriented north/south, for trips from the far north to far south side or vice versa, it is quicker and easier to use the US 51/I 39 expressway which runs along the west edge of the city.
See
See Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
The museum's permanent collection is known for its focus on nature with historic and contemporary paintings, sculptures, and works on paper that focus on birds. The annual Birds in Art exhibition in September and October attracts both international artists and visitors. The gardens dotted with sculpture invite visitors to "outdoor galleries." The museum building itself is impressive. In 1976, John and Alice Woodson Forester transformed their English Cotswold-style residence into a museum to display her mother's collections of Royal Worcester porcelains and Victorian glass baskets. Consult the schedule of events section of the web site for specific exhibition and program information.
See Marathon County Historical Museums
In 1954, Leigh Yawkey Woodson and her daughters donated the home of her late parents, lumberman Cyrus C. Yawkey and Alice Richardson Yawkey, to the Historical Society. The house was built in 1900 in the Classical Revival style and later remodeled in the Prairie School style and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The Yawkey House has been renovated to its original state with an authentically furnished music room, dining room, and parlor which give a taste of gracious living of a bygone era. The formal gardens displaying a colorful array of native wildflowers, perennials, annuals, and herbs and carriage house are open throughout the summer. The home of A.P. Woodson and Leigh Yawkey Woodson, located across the street at 410 McIndoe Street was built in 1914 and designed by Prairie School architect, George W. Maher. The Woodson House contains the Historical Society’s library, archives, administrative offices, artifact storage, and the educational exhibit area.
See Rib Mountain State Park
Covering over 860 acres, (348 hectares), Rib Mountain State Park boasts a well-maintained network of hiking and nature trails that allows visitors to enjoy many wildflowers and other plants growing throughout the park. Campsites, picnic areas, an interpretive center, scenic overlooks, and a 60 foot observation tower near the top of the peak provide a spectacular view of the Wausau Area and surrounding countryside. Featured events include “Concerts in the Clouds” at the amphitheater during the summer and in the winter, ski or snowboard down one of the many runs at Granite Peak Ski Area on the north side of Rib Mountain. Granite Peak is considered one of the Midwest's leading ski resorts. Fees apply. Special hourly sticker available at park entrance from mid-May through August.
See The Wausau Depot
Wausau, no phone. Interior not open to the public. When most people think of Wausau, they probably envision the railroad depot created by Wausau Insurance Companies for a corporate logo. They can't find the depot pictured in the ads because it was drawn by an artist combining one depot building with the view of the city skyline from another depot. The depot featured in the logo still stands at 720 Grant Street. After Wausau Insurance Companies bought the building in 1977, a faithful reproduction was constructed at its corporate headquarters (Bridge Street exit of US Highway 51) for advertising purposes and the Grant Street depot was donated to the Boy Scouts. The Washington Street depot (Washington Street at the Wisconsin River) with the city backdrop depicted in the logo has been restored and used as office space.
Do
Do Granite Peak Ski Area
74 runs with a 700 foot vertical drop making it one of the largest ski areas in the Midwest. Extensive snow making equipment and lighted runs for night skiing. Base area has a variety of food outlets and bars as well as a ski shop, rental area and ski school. Lift tickets start at $52 for one day - 9AM-4PM ($28 for night skiing - 5PM-9PM) for an adult and $99 for two days. Additional days are $36/day. Special internet prices available via the web site include free night skiing and a discount for additional days. Family discounts available. If you can make it work to come here on a Wednesday night, they offer $15 lift tickets with free ski rental (normally $37) from 4-9pm.
For a city of its size, Wausau hosts a large number of festivals and activities. For a current listing of activities, visit Wausau Visitors and Convention Bureau website . One of the largest events annually is Wausau's Artrageous Weekend, usually held the first or second weekend in September (check the Wausau Visitor's and Convention Bureau web site for exact dates). The event has gotten so big that it is held at three venues throughout the city with shuttle bus service between all locations. This event attracts thousands and it will be difficult to obtain lodging in the area that weekend unless one reserves well in advance. There is an extremely strong arts tradition in the Wausau area and the city's old wealth has given very generously to keep the tradition alive and well. The city's Performing Arts Center is in downtown's Grand Theater, a fully restored 1,200-seat house dating from 1927. A recent expansion has created a facility that covers nearly an entire city block and attracts diverse talent. Recent performances included Mozart's Marriage of Figaro by the Bulgarian State Opera and concerts by Mannheim Steamroller and Blues legend B.B. King. See the Wausau Performing Arts Foundation web site for more information.
Learn
Buy
Like most other American cities, Wausau and the surrounding area is dominated by national chain stores. The 3rd Street pedestrian mall downtown has a number of locally owned stores. The stretch north of Scott Street, in particular, has an off-beat resale shop and a few housewares stores that would fit in any major metro area. For high quality crafts from local artisans, try the Center for the Visual Arts downtown at 427 4th St. (corner of Scott St, phone +1 715 842-4545, open Tuesday-Friday 10AM - 5PM and Saturday-Sunday noon - 4PM. Wausau is known for its dairy industry but most locals buy their cheese and other dairy products at the grocery store. Small country cheese factories where one could see cheese being made are quite rare now but the modern Mullins Cheese Factory has a decent sized shop and windows that overlook the production floor. The factory is located about four miles south of the airport. Exit I-39/US-51 at State Highway 34 and go less than a half mile west to County Highway DB. The factory is less than a half mile south just off County Highway DB at 598 Seagull Drive, Mosinee. Phone +1 715 693-3205. Open Monday - Saturday 8AM - 5PM and Sunday 9AM - 5PM.
Eat
Several very good restaurants in Wausau like the Back When Cafe. The Pinewood Supper Club in nearby Mosinee offers "northwoods" dining overlooking a wooded lake.
Eat The Back When Cafe
Serves dishes containing only fresh ingredients that are organic or locally grown. In 2003 a 2nd dining room, an outdoor dining area, and a new kitchen were added. The architecture is an eclectic blend of the old and new with a touch of northwoods flair.
Eat Treu's Tic Toc Club
Nice neighborhood feel. Carry-outs available. Daily lunch specials. Bluegill Perch Haddock Scallops Jumbo Shrimp. Daily 10AM-close, Friday Fish Fry 11AM-9PM. Burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, soup, pizza.
Sleep
Most of the lodging in the Wausau area is similar to what you would find along any Interstate highway but the last ten years have seen an increase in bed and breakfast inns close to downtown as well as one major hotel at its very center. Highest rates tend to be found on weekends during the ski season and during some of the major festivals in summer and autumn. The greatest number of motels can be found at or near the following US-51 exits starting from the south: Business US-51/Rothschild, County Highway NN/North Mountain Road and Stewart Avenue/State Highway 52/Sherman Street. A few options follow.
Stay Jefferson Street Inn
Downtown Wausau. Price includes a continental breakfast buffet in the City Grill restaurant (off the lobby) every morning. Rooms include refrigerator and microwave, honor bar and snack basket. In-room complimentary coffee, ironing board, movies. Suites include fireplace, jacuzzi tub, couch, kitchenette. Indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and fitness room on site. $119-269, corporate, AAA, AARP, and government rates available.
Stay bantr
Newer, northwoods themed, hotel with 140 rooms, some with fireplaces. All rooms have sitting areas as well as bedroom areas separated by half height walls. Restaurant and lounge. The big draw here is the decent sized indoor water park that kids and audlts seem to enjoy. Many restaurants in the area. $129-250 (rates include water park admission).
Stay Stewart Inn Bed and Breakfast
Downtown Wausau. Five rooms in a listed, early 1900s Arts and Crafts style home designed by George W. Maher, an associate for Frank Lloyd Wright. Located in the Andrew Warren Historical District on the north-east edge of downtown. Rooms furnished with period furniture, flat screen TVs, CD/DVD players, wireless internet, Sterns and Foster mattresses, central air conditioning and hot water heat. All private baths with steam spa. Some rooms with fireplace. Converted in 2002.
Additional options can be found at the Visit Wausau website.
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