Are you looking for a budget-friendly trip to Wisconsin Dells? We went on an overnight trip and spent only $121 on lodging and two different indoor waterparks for a family of four! What a fantastic price for a great weekend of fun! Breakfast was included with our hotel, the AmericInn. Pack a picnic for dinner and ensure everyone has snacks before entering the waterparks to help with food costs. This was a winter trip for us, but you could do something similar in the summer. Many hotels include complimentary waterpark passes to Noah’s Ark during the summer.
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Cost Breakdown for a Budget Friendly Trip To Wisconsin Dells
| Mount Olympus day passes bought during their Black Friday Deals | $5 per pass x 4 |
| AmericInn Wyndham in Wisconsin Dells | 8k in Capital One Points ($80 cash value) |
| Chula Vista Day passes for two days | $21 for four guests of AmericInn |
| Total with Credit Care Points | $41 cash and 8k in credit card reward points |
| Total Price if Paid in Cash | $121 |
Credit Card Reward Travel
I don’t think a full description about using points to travel is the intent of this article, but if you aren’t using travel rewards, you may be missing out. I use the Capital One Venture Travel Card for most of our daily spending, which helps accumulate points for free hotel nights. Check out The Points Guy for more information on using points to get free travel or Nerd Wallet for information on top travel credit cards and their current reward offerings.
Thoughts on Our Weekend Activities
Chula Vista is an underrated gem in Wisconsin Dells. It is not as big as Wilderness, Kalahari, or the Great Wolf Lodge, but Chula Vista has great variety and is often less busy! It has toddler-friendly play areas, a lazy river with waves, mat slides, a toilet bowl slide, a roller coaster slide, and a splash and play structure. Here is my comparison of the top 5 indoor waterparks in Wisconsin Dells.
Mount Olympus is the smallest indoor waterpark at Wisconsin Dells. It is also the cheapest. I don’t recommend a multiple-day trip there, but a cheap day pass is a great way to spend a few hours. Their main attraction, Medusa, is a rotating raft slide. You won’t find anything like it elsewhere! The rest of the park is enough to entertain for a bit. When your family gets bored, head out; the tickets were cheap! Don’t forget that day users have to bring their own towels. We love Nomadix beach towels because they are quick drying and have a low pack volume.
Staying at AmericInn instead of resorts has some pros and cons. Leaving the resort to go to a hotel can be less than ideal, especially if you have toddlers or a big group. Even when you stay at the resorts though, you often have to walk a long way back to your room. Staying at AmericInn meant we had to decide when to leave as a family and didn’t plan to return. Once we got to AmericInn, we got much closer parking than we would have at a resort, and there was a nearly empty pool right next to the lobby. The AmericInn has a warm pool with basketball hoops, a kids’ splash area with a frog slide, and a hot tub. Plus, staying at the AmericInn meant continental breakfast. This is always a time and money saver for our family.
More Budget Friendly Activities in Wisconsin Dells
We love hiking and exploring outside, even in the winter. If that sounds like it is right for your family, there are a lot of fun options. The closest two state parks are Rocky Arbor and Mirror Lake. Rocky Arbor is small and beautiful, with a one-mile hike and has examples of the Dells for which the city was named. Mirror Lake also has Dells, lakeside views, and many more hiking options. I recommend Echo Rock Trail or Pulpit Rock Trail for shorter, beautiful hikes in the winter. Parfrey’s Glen is a bit farther and a fun short hike. Finally, Devil’s Lake State Park is only 30 minutes south. It is the state’s most popular state park due to its large beach area and a challenging hike up to Devil’s Door and Balanced Rock with fantastic views.
There is a free playground in downtown Wisconsin Dells called Bowman Park and a smaller playground next to a public beach at Newport Park.
Both the Lost Temple and Top Secret Attraction usually cost only $5 to enter, and if you have appropriate expectations, it can be a fun way to spend 10-15 minutes.
Goody Goody Gum Drop Candy Store can be fun if you stick to a budget. I recommend the location by Timbavati, as sometimes you can see the lemurs or llamas at the zoo from the candy shop window.
If you are going to buy other activities, consider buying ahead of time at Wisconsin Dells Passport to Savings. It offers discounts. The more attractions you buy, the bigger the discount, up to 35% off each.
Other Information on Wisconsin Dells
We visit the Dells a lot, here is a more comprehensive review with recommendations for all our favorite Dells Activities. Here are suggestions for what to pack on a trip to the Dells. I almost always include a waterpark when I go to Wisconsin Dells, so here is my comparison of the top 5 indoor resorts. For coffee I love Bella Goose. Other favorite restaurants include Denny’s Diner (not the chain), Moosejaw Pizza, Buffalo Phils, and the Brat House. Here are my other restaurant recommendations.
For boat tours, our family loves the excitement of the Duck Tours as the boats drive from the road right into the water. As an adult, I like the Upper Dells tour to see Witch’s Gulch and Standing Rock; my kids had fun too. Try one of the jet boat tours for those looking to get wet. Consider checking out Vertical Illusions for rock climbing, ice climbing, zip lining, and kayaking. The Aquavia Lumina light show at Wilderness, open to the public, is a fun after dark adventure. For animal lovers, Timbavati has some fantastic winter, and summer, opportunities. For a unique summer waterpark experience, check out Land of Natura.
In Conclusion
While it is easy to spend a lot of money in Wisconsin Dells, if you are careful and know where to look, you can have a great trip for an affordable budget friendly price! What other tips and tricks do you have for saving money on your trip to Wisconsin Dells?