Three hours from Chicago, a world away.
Leave after work Friday, wake up on five quiet acres. Hickory Hill is a private log lodge about three hours from Chicago and 8 minutes from downtown Wisconsin Dells.
Why it works.
An easy drive
About three hours from Chicago, mostly interstate. Free parking at the lodge.
Real quiet
Five private acres on a wooded hilltop. No neighbors, no traffic, dark skies.
Hot tub and fire pit
The two things you'll use every night, both private.
Saturday on the river or in the state parks, Sunday supper club before the drive home. Drive times from downtown Dells:
- 2 minDells Boat Tours: Upper DellsTwo-hour cruise past sandstone cliffs, with stops at Witches Gulch and Stand Rock.Book ahead for July weekends
- 25 minDevil's Lake State Park500-foot quartzite bluffs, two beaches and 29 miles of trails. Wisconsin's busiest state park.Summer weekend lots often fill before 9 a.m.
- 40 minWollersheim Winery & DistilleryHistoric hillside winery and distillery with tastings, tours and limestone cellars.
- 12 minIshnala Supper ClubClassic supper club in the pines above Mirror Lake, open since the 1950s.Open May–October; 2026 season ends Oct 25
Quick answers.
How far is it from Chicago?
About three hours by car, depending on traffic.
How far from downtown Wisconsin Dells?
About 8 minutes.
Can I work from the lodge?
Yes. There's Starlink WiFi and a dedicated workspace.
What folks are saying.
Our guide to the Dells, sorted by season.
Supper clubs, river tours, state parks and ski hills, plus a heads-up when weekends open. Occasional emails from the lodge.
Save your spot by the fire.
Light the fire, open the hot tub and watch the stars come out over the field. When you're ready for the Dells, it's 8 minutes down the road.