7 Wisconsin Turkey Trots to Travel to on Thanksgiving Day

Get your friends and family together and lace up your running shoes! Turkey trots are an annual memory making tradition either held on or before Thanksgiving Day. Thousands of families and friends bundle up (and dress up!) to run or walk before their holiday celebrations.

Wisconsin Turkey Trots typically include a 10k, 5k, or 2-Mile walk or run, and some even include a dog run so that your furry friend can join in the fun. Turkey trots often raise money for local charities including the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club and local food pantries, making them a fun way to support the community.

Run, walk and trot in the races together – and make it an annual tradition to share with your favorite people. Sign up ahead of time to ensure your spot, get early registration prices, and receive all bonus goodies including a slice of pumpkin pie, event shirt and bandana for your furry friend, depending on the event.

Manitowoc, Wisconsin (Eastern Wisconsin)

Manitowoc, known as Wisconsin’s “Maritime Capital,” is on the Eastern edge of Wisconsin. Spend an afternoon exploring beautiful Lake Michigan and cross that off your bucket list! Start your Thanksgiving visit at the Lakeshore Holiday Parade on November 23rd, where kids can get in the holiday spirit by meeting Santa, and you can end your weekend visit by getting holiday photos with Alpacas on November 26th. (Yes, Alpacas!)

For a one-of-a-kind stay in a historic home, check into the Toll House Bed and Breakfast built by Polish immigrants in 1900. If you bring your furry friend to trot with you, the Econo Lodge is also downtown and allows pets.

Driving distance to Manitowoc

From Green Bay - 45 minutes
From Madison - 2 hours 15 minutes
From Milwaukee - 1 hour 15 minutes
From Chicago - 2 hours 50 minutes
From Minneapolis - 4 hours 50 minutes

Kenosha, WI (South East Wisconsin)

Also located on Lake Michigan, Kenosha is just north of the Illinois border. Spend your Thanksgiving turkey-trotting and then spend Black Friday in one of Kenosha’s many museums — including the Dinosaur Discovery Museum. After seeing some real life dinosaur fossils, debrief next door at Kaiser's of Kenosha Pizza and share your favorite part of the museum. On November 25th there is a community holiday tradition — the City of Kenosha Christmas Tree Lighting. Join with others celebrating the holiday season by surrounding a big Christmas tree illuminated by twelve hundred colored bulbs.

If you’re a coffee drinker, then this is the perfect place for you. Stay in the quirky 3-bedroom “tourist apartment” above a cafe at the Coffee Pot Inn. There’s also an onsite cafe at the nearby Stella Hotel & Ballroom, a historic brick building with 80 guest rooms that boasts a full supper club-themed restaurant. And for a Lake Michigan view, the Harborside Wyndham Garden has you covered.

Driving distance to Kenosha

From Green Bay - 2 hours 30 minutes
From Madison - 2 hours
From Milwaukee - 50 minutes
From Chicago - 1 hour 30 minutes
From Minneapolis – 5 hours and 40 minutes

Appleton, Wisconsin (East-Central Wisconsin)

Appleton is full of fun activities for friends and families of all ages who spend Thanksgiving in the area.

Explore The History Museum at the Castle on Black Friday for a magical look at the life of Appleton’s own Harry Houdini. Then after learning about the local history, visit the Bubolz Nature Preserve for some more fresh air and scenic Wisconsin beauty.

Relax after the race at the CopperLeaf Boutique Hotel & Spa with a massage treatment to feel refreshed before returning home. Or, find a home-away-from-home at the Roost Bed & Breakfast with whirlpools in each suite. For some Victorian charm, warm up by the fireplace at the Franklin Street Inn Bed & Breakfast in Appleton’s downtown historic district and share a home-cooked breakfast with your group before the big trot.

Driving distance to Appleton

From Green Bay - 40 minutes
From Madison - 1 hour 50 minutes
From Milwaukee - 1 hour 40 minutes
From Chicago - 3 hours
From Minneapolis - 4 hours 20 minutes

Oshkosh, Wisconsin (East-Central Wisconsin)

Oshkosh, located in East Central Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Winnebago, offers world class museums and great dining options for a traditional Thanksgiving meal at Fin ‘N Feather Showboats. Be sure to stop by Carmel Crisp Corner and try some of the best pumpkin pie in Oshkosh for your Thanksgiving dinner. Stick around all weekend to cheer on the local NBA affiliated basketball team: The Wisconsin Herd. Catch a game on Saturday, November 26th at 7 pm. They play more than two dozen home games from November to March at the Menominee Nation Arena.

Finish the day relaxing at the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel, where you can have your Thanksgiving dinner made for you at the hotel’s restaurant the Ground Round on River’s Edge while overlooking the Fox River with your loved ones.

Driving distance to Oshkosh

From Green Bay - 50 minutes
From Madison - 1 hour 30 minutes
From Milwaukee - 1 hour 20 minutes
From Chicago - 3 hours
From Minneapolis - 4 hours 20 minutes

Stevens Point, Wisconsin (Central Wisconsin)

Stevens Point is a riverside city in Central Wisconsin that blends industry, academia, historic sites and natural beauty. If you’re looking to spend time outside on Black Friday, be sure to visit Stevens Point Sculpture Park to spot one-of-a-kind pieces made by local artists. Grab some waffles to-go from The Wooden Chair and enjoy a leisurely picnic with your loved ones among the towering pines and unique art installations. The park is open sunrise to sunset year-round, so you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the holiday with friends and family.

For a cozy stay, book a room at the small town boutique hotel The Inn at SentryWorld where you can stroll along part of a 27-mile recreational trail before warming up together by the outdoor stone fire pits. Larger groups can bring the entire family to the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites for a comfy stay with an indoor pool and where pets can come along for an extra fee.

Driving distance to Stevens Point

From Green Bay - 1 hour 40 min
From Madison - 1 hour 45 min
From Milwaukee - 2 hours 20 min
From Chicago - 4 hours
From Minneapolis - 3 hours 10 min

Eau Claire, Wisconsin (North-West Wisconsin)

Eau Claire, located in western Wisconsin, is the perfect place to gather your loved ones to spend Thanksgiving. Explore the breathtaking landscapes from Mount Simon Park, which stands as one of Eau Claire's highest points, offering stunning views of the picturesque Wisconsin scenery. Following your adventure, indulge in a cozy cup of coffee or hot chocolate from Eau Claire Downtown Coffee. Then, take a leisurely stroll through downtown, immersing yourself in the Eau Claire Sculpture Tour. As one of the nation's largest sculpture tours, it features an impressive collection of over 150 sculptures, providing a taste of the local art scene.

For a stylish stay, check into the popular Oxbow Hotel that boasts unique furniture made from local trees and a record player in every room. Or, get away from the city and make it a family nature retreat at the Hideaway Resort on Lake Wissota where you can spend the holiday weekend resting after the trot with a campfire under the stars.

Driving distance to Eau Claire

From Green Bay - 3 hours
From Madison - 2 hours 45 minutes
From Milwaukee - 3 hours 30 minutes
From Chicago - 5 hours
From Minneapolis - 1 hour 35 minutes

Minocqua, Wisconsin (Northern Wisconsin)

Minocqua, located in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, is the perfect city if you and your crew are looking to discover fantastic scenery on a road trip across the state. With over 3,200 bodies of water, this area of the state is unlike anywhere else. When you are done with your Thanksgiving celebrations and are looking to spend time outside on Black Friday, the Hiawatha - Bearskin Trails offer gorgeous views and are low-difficulty trails with long, flat stretches, accessible for groups with limited mobility members.

Keep the fun going at The Waters of Minocqua, a hotel that features the largest waterpark in the Northwoods and is pet-friendly.

Driving distance to Minocqua

Green Bay - 2 hours 30 minutes
Madison - 3 hours 30 minutes
Milwaukee - 4 hours
Chicago - 5 hours 30 minutes
Minneapolis - 4 hours

Want more? We’ve included a full list of all registered Wisconsin turkey trots and other fun runs across the state.

Create new unforgettable Wisconsin Turkey Trot memories this year by traveling to trot - and share your photos on social media with our online travel community! Tag @travelwi and use hashtag #TravelWI in your posts.

Tagged: Family Getaways