4 Wisconsin factory tours worth the drive

An overview of the factory where Bontrager hand builds wheels in Whitewater, WI USA.

By Christina Lorey

March 27, 2025

DID YOU KNOW? 97% of warm-weather travel is done by car, and more than 200 million Americans will hit the road this summer. The average distance? Just about three hours! However, 18% of families will drive 500 miles or more.

Before you hit the road, we promise these Wisconsin stops are worth your while.

Here are four behind-the-scenes factory tours you’ll only find in our state:

Arena Cheese

It may be a stereotype, but no Wisconsin factory tour list is complete without cheese, and no cheesemaker does it better than Arena Cheese. Just a short drive from Madison, you can watch the artisan cheesemakers at work up-close and personal and sample some of their work. Arena’s specialty is Colby-Jack. Click here to learn more.

Stevens Point Brewery

With a reservation and just $7, you can tour the third-oldest continually-operating brewery in the country, Stevens Point Brewery. The hour-long visit includes four, 7 oz. samples and a souvenir pint glass! Click here to reserve your spot.

Trek Bikes

Did you know the first Trek bike was built in a Waterloo barn? 50 years later, the two-wheeler giant is still based in the same city, just a much larger building. You can get a firsthand look at the history behind the bikes and how they’re made during Trek’s free factory tours, which are offered every Wednesday. Just make sure to call ahead! Click here to learn more.

Wisconsin Wagon Company

And if you really want to go back in time, head to southern Wisconsin for a tour of the Wisconsin Wagon Company’s Janesville factory. You’ll see how the company’s most popular product, the Coaster Wagon, has been made since 1915. Tours last roughly an hour and are just $5/person. But you’ll need at least 15 people in your group. Smaller groups can still tour the showroom. Learn more here.

MORE: Wisconsin’s Best Cheese Tours (and YES, There are Samples!)

Author

Christina Lorey

Christina Lorey is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and former UpNorthNews newsletter editor. She previously worked as a producer, reporter, and TV anchor for stations in Madison and Moline. When she’s not writing or asking questions, Christina volunteers with Girls on the Run, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and several mental health organizations.

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CATEGORIES: THINGS TO DO

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