Celebrating the Rustic Roads Found Only in the Badger State

If you’ve ever driven down a quiet backroad and thought, this feels special — chances are, you were on one of Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads. The Rustic Roads program was created in 1973 with the goal of giving hikers, bikers, and car drivers a chance to travel leisurely through the scenic countryside. The first road to receive the unique designation happened in 1975. And today, the Rustic Roads program is still found only in the Badger State!

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Listen to this “Slice of Wisconsin” about Rustic Roads here:

You can now find more than 120 designated Rustic Roads, winding through 62 counties, and stretching beyond 760 miles statewide. Every road is marked by a familiar brown-and-yellow sign. It’s considered a quiet promise that what lies ahead will be something special.

Rustic Roads remind us that not every trip is about getting somewhere fast. In fact, the best part of this journey may be the road itself.

The first Rustic Road was designated in Taylor County, 50 years ago this month. Our longest Rustic Road, R-32, is a 37-mile jour​ney through Marinette County and includes several parks along with the Peshtigo River State Forest.

You can find a map of all the roads here.

These roads have become a beloved part of Wisconsin’s landscape, offering views that roll past farmland, dip through forests, and climb some rugged terrain. And with speed limits topping out at 45 miles per hour — sometimes even slower — Rustic Roads remind us that not every trip is about getting somewhere fast.

In fact, the best part of this journey may be the road itself.