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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Elkhart Lake
One night is enough to see the lake and Road America; two if you want to race or hike the Kettle Moraine. A day-trip from Sheboygan or Fond du Lac works.
Elkhart Lake is a small resort town in northeast Wisconsin built around a spring-fed lake and Road America, one of the world's fastest permanent road courses. Most visitors come for a weekend of water sports, racing events or quiet hiking in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The village is walkable and dining is casual; plan one night unless you are attending a race weekend.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, many places closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–200 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Sheboygan County Sheriff (non-emergency) 920-459-3111
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (drip) | $2.50–4.00 |
| Lunch sandwich at a café | $10–15 |
| Dinner entrée at a sit-down restaurant | $18–30 |
| Beer (domestic pint) | $5–7 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 (check) |
| Road America general admission (one day) | $55–85 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GRB · Green Bay–Austin Straubel International Airport
- About 1 h drive south; rental cars available.
- MKE · Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
- About 1 h 15 min drive north; more flight options.
Typical fares
- GRB → Elkhart Lake (taxi / rideshare)
- about $70–90, 1 h
- MKE → Elkhart Lake (taxi / rideshare)
- about $100–130, 1 h 15 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
A car is essential. The village is walkable (about 1 km (0.6 mi) across), but the raceway, forest trails and nearby towns require driving. Parking is free and plentiful.A car is essential. The village is walkable (about 0.6 mi (1 km) across), but the raceway, forest trails and nearby towns require driving. Parking is free and plentiful.
See and do
Known for
- Road America raceway
- Spring-fed Elkhart Lake
- Kettle Moraine State Forest hiking
- Small-town resort atmosphere
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan | Drive south on Highway 67 / I-43, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Sturgeon Bay | Drive north on Highway 57, about 1 h 15 min | About 1 h 30 min |
| Fond du Lac | Drive south on Highway 67 / US-151, about 45 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Village centre (Lake Street / Rhine Street)
- Walk to the lake, restaurants and shops; most inns and B&Bs are here.
- Near Road America (Highway 67)
- Closest to the track; quieter at night, but you need a car for meals.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HelloHELL-oh |
| Thank you | Thank youthank yoo |
| How much is this? | How much is this?how much is this |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom?where is the BATH-room |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card?can I pay by card |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Race weekends (e.g. June's Road America IndyCar event) fill lodging months ahead and double prices.
- The lake has no lifeguard; swim at your own risk.
- Winter: many restaurants and shops close or reduce hours; check ahead.
Very safe. The main risks are summer sun (bring sunscreen and water) and traffic on Highway 67 during race events.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Elkhart Lake yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Road America raceway
- Spring-fed Elkhart Lake
- Kettle Moraine State Forest hiking
- Small-town resort atmosphere
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Village of Elkhart Lake official website: elkhartlakewi.gov/
- Road America official site: www.roadamerica.com/
- Wikivoyage: Elkhart Lake, revision 4010233 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4010233
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Elkhart Lake
Take me to this address, please
Take me to this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Sheboygan County Sheriff (non-emergency)920-459-3111
The nearest US embassy is in Ottawa, Canada; consulates in Chicago. For non-US citizens: check your country's consulate in Chicago or Milwaukee.
English is universal; no language barrier.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/elkhart-lake). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.