Dane district, Wisconsin, United States

Places to visit near De Forest

De Forest is a town in Dane district, Wisconsin, United States, home to about 8,936 people. Within 50 km by road there are 194 places to visit — 75 parks, 18 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 18 wildlife, forests & gardens and 25 churches. The must-see places are Governor Nelson State Park (18 km), Lake Mendota (20 km) and Bird Effigy Mound (20 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open De Forest on the map

De Forest at a glance

Location
Dane district, Wisconsin, United States
Population
about 8,936
Coordinates
43.2478° N, 89.3437° W
Places within 50 km
194 (48 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for parks and churches

Top places to visit near De Forest

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from De Forest: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near De Forest, by type

Parks near De Forest

81 parks within 100 km of De Forest. The closest is Fireman's Park (1 km); the best-known is Governor Nelson State Park (18 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Lakes, dams & reservoirs near De Forest

41 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of De Forest. The closest is Lake Windsor Park (5 km); the best-known is Lake Mendota (20 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near De Forest

36 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of De Forest. The closest is Empire Prairies State Natural Area- Westport Drumlin Unit (10 km); the best-known is Olbrich Botanical Gardens (22 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Churches near De Forest

31 churches within 100 km of De Forest. The closest is Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church (2 km). Best time: year-round.

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Forts & heritage near De Forest

30 forts & heritage within 100 km of De Forest. The closest is Halvorson Mound Group (14 km); the best-known is Bird Effigy Mound (20 km). Best time: october to february.

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Beaches & coast near De Forest

11 beaches & coast within 100 km of De Forest. The closest is Warner Park Beach (17 km). Best time: october to march.

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A one-day trip from De Forest

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 78 km on the road.

  1. Start in De Forest
  2. 1 km Fireman's Park · park, Dane
  3. 20 km Bird Effigy Mound · heritage site, Dane
  4. 6 km Lake Mendota · lake, Dane
  5. 3 km Governor Nelson State Park · park, Dane
  6. 27 km Goeres Park · park, Columbia
  7. 21 km Back to De Forest

Plan a longer trip from De Forest — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near De Forest

No traveller has reported from around De Forest yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach De Forest

    All places near De Forest by distance

    Within 15 km of De Forest

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near De Forest by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Parks7581Fireman's Park (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs1841Lake Windsor Park (5 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1836Empire Prairies State Natural Area- Westport Drumlin Unit (10 km)
    Churches2531Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church (2 km)
    Forts & heritage2730Halvorson Mound Group (14 km)
    Beaches & coast1111Warner Park Beach (17 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints510Maple Bluff (19 km)
    Museums67Madison Children's Museum (24 km)
    Other attractions56Governor's Mansion (19 km)
    Temples11Temple Beth El (28 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves11Governors Island (18 km)
    Buddhist sites11Holy Wisdom Monastery (21 km)
    Caves11Black Hawk's Cave (25 km)
    Waterfalls01Honey Creek State Natural Area (67 km)

    De Forest: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near De Forest?

    Governor Nelson State Park (park, about 18 km), Lake Mendota (lake, about 20 km), Bird Effigy Mound (heritage site, about 20 km), Goeres Park (park, about 21 km), Fireman's Park (park, about 1 km), Olbrich Botanical Gardens (garden, about 22 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of De Forest?

    194 places on Spotwander: 75 parks, 18 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 18 wildlife, forests & gardens, 25 churches, 27 forts & heritage.

    Which is the nearest park to De Forest?

    Fireman's Park, about 1 km by road; Token Creek County Park (10 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to De Forest?

    Lake Windsor Park, about 5 km by road; Brazee Lake (18 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to De Forest?

    Empire Prairies State Natural Area- Westport Drumlin Unit, about 10 km by road; Angell Park Speedway (17 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from De Forest?

    Start in De Forest, visit Fireman's Park, then Bird Effigy Mound, then Lake Mendota, then Governor Nelson State Park, then Goeres Park, and drive back — about 78 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near De Forest?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; year-round for parks and churches.

    Towns near De Forest

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; De Forest’s location and population from GeoNames. Data sources & credits.