Waukesha
Waukesha is a city of 62,000 people (2021) in Southeast Wisconsin. It is about 20 miles west of downtown Milwaukee.
Understand
Visitor information
- 🌍 Waukesha Pewaukee Convention and Visitor Bureau, N14 W23755 Stone Ridge Dr, Ste 225, ☏ +1 262-542-0330, info@visitwaukesha.org. M-F 8AM-4PM.
Get in
By car
Interstate 94 is the main east-west route through Waukesha. It connects the city with Madison and other points west, as well as with Milwaukee and Chicago to the east and southeast. The closest major airport is Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport, which is about 30 minutes east of the city. Also available is Chicago O'Hare International Airport, about 2 hours southeast.
By bicycle
- 🌍 New Berlin Trail (New Berlin Recreational Trail). Bicycle trails that connects to trails in Milwaukee near the Milwaukee County Zoo. Free.
- 🌍 Glacial Drumlin State Trail, 810 W College Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186. Bicycle trail to Cottage Grove in the Greater Madison Area. $6 daily for bicycling and inline skating, free for walking.
By plane
- 🌍 Waukesha County Airport (UES IATA). General aviation airport.
Get around
By car
Waukesha is easily navigable by car. Non-locals may be confused by the high number of five-way intersections, but the old-one way streets are a thing of the past, which makes navigating the city much easier than it once was.
By bus
Waukesha Metro Transit also provides bus service to the city, with the transfer point located at the terminal downtown. Limited bus connections are available to Milwaukee County Transit System for service to Milwaukee County and the surrounding areas. MCTS and Waukesha Metro use an integrated fare payment system; if paying with the app or card, transfers between or within both are free.
- 🌍 Downtown Transit Center, 212E E Saint Paul Ave. Main bus transfer point with indoor waiting area and public restrooms.
See
- 🌍 Chicago and North Western Depot. A historic former rail depot with a few railcars remaining.
- 🌍 Carroll University. Wisconsin's first four-year university, established in 1846. Home of the Pioneers sports teams.
- 🌍 Waukesha County Historical Society Museum.
Do
Waukesha is the county seat of Waukesha County. The Lake Country area in the northwestern portion of the county offers outdoor activities such a swimming, golfing, camping, fishing, boating, etc. There is also plenty of shopping, dining, and nightlife around much of the county, and in the city of Waukesha.
- 🌍 Sky Zone Milwaukee. - located in Waukesha
Buy
Eat
- 🌍 Rochester Deli, 143 W Broadway, ☏ +1 262 522-9611. M–Th Sa 10AM–3PM, F 10AM–7:30PM, Su Closed. Selection of sandwiches, salads and wraps. Dine in, carryout and delivery (with a large minimum). $10-20.
Drink
Sleep
Budget
- Baymont Inn & Suites Waukesha, 2111 E Moreland Blvd, ☏ +1 262 547 7770. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.
- Comfort Inn Waukesha, 2510 Plaza Ct, ☏ +1 262 786 6015. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.
- Price Pointe Inn, 532 Bluemound Rd, ☏ +1 262 524 7996.
Mid-range
- The Clarke Hotel, 314 W. Main St, ☏ +1 262 549 3800, info@theclarkehotel.com.
- Extended Stay America Suites Waukesha, 2520 Plaza Ct, ☏ +1 262 798 0217.
Splurge
- Milwaukee Marriott West, W231N1600 Corporate Ct, ☏ +1 262 574 0888. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon.
Connect
- 🌍 Waukesha Public Library, 321 Wisconsin Ave, ☏ +1 262-524-3680. M-Th 9AM-8:30PM, F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9M-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Open Wi-Fi and public access computers.
Go next
| Routes through Waukesha |
| Madison ← Delafield ← | W  E |
→ Pewaukee → Milwaukee |
| Prairie du Chien ← Madison ← | W  E |
→ Brookfield → Milwaukee |
| Edgerton ← Eagle ← | W  E |
→ Brookfield/New Berlin → Milwaukee |