Portage, Wisconsin is a small town with a population of a little over 10,000 though it offers plenty of things for visitors to see and do. Portage has been an official city since 1851, but the land it sits on was discovered by French Canadians as early as 1673. Before that, the land was home to Native American tribes, including the Menominee. For history buffs, Portage is the ideal place to visit because it is now home to over 18 museums, historical markers, and historic sites. To learn more about the history of Portage and the surrounding area, check out the Portage Historical Society Museum at the Portage, which is located inside the former home of local author, Zona Gale. After this author passed away in 1938, her husband donated the home to the city as a memorial to her memory, and it served as the city’s public library until 1995. Today, this house-turned-museum shows exhibits year-round on the city’s famous canals and railroads, and admission to the museum is free. Also nearby is the Fort Winnebago Wisconsin State Historical Marker with the Fort Winnebago Surgeon’s Quarters and the Historic Indian Agency house, both of which may be toured. You can also shop downtown Portage to see the Portage Retail Historic District, a collection of late 19th-century buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places. Buildings that are a part of this collection include the Italianate Graham Drug Company building from 1873 and the Art Deco City Bank of Portage from 1929. The Portage Theatre, built in the Georgian Revival style, is still open and was built in 1927. Some of the top restaurants in Portage include The Ball Room, a restaurant and bar that’s popular for its cheese curds, and Cathay Garden, a Chinese restaurant serving traditional dishes. Another popular locale is Suzy's Steak and Seafood House, which has fish fry specials on Friday evenings and large steaks available every day. You may also enjoy checking out Craig’s Popcorn Corner for a quick snack since this location is popular for its popcorn and homemade ice cream.
Ottawa National Forest is a massive forest of nearly one million acres and is located in northern Wisconsin and on Michigan’s upper peninsula. Visitors to the forest enjoy exploring the 2,100 miles of off-roading and snowshoe hiking trails. Other visitors may come in the winter to ice fish in one of over 500 lakes within the forest. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is another big forest in northern Wisconsin that measures one and a half million acres. Some of the top trails featured in this forest include Argonne Experimental Forest Trail, Assessor's Interpretive Trail, and Anvil Lake Trail. Argonne Experimental Forest Trail is a half-mile hiking trail just outside of the town of Three Lakes. Assessor's Interpretive Trail is a mile-long trail that winds through a hardwood forest, featuring interpretive signs on the local natural history. Anvil Lake Trail is a 6.6-mile loop trail around Anvil Lake that features options for easier or more difficult hiking in some areas. Hiawatha National Forest is found in the upper peninsula of Michigan and features forest areas around Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan. This forest is famous for its many lighthouses, such as the Point Iroquois Light, which also includes a small museum.
Portage Farmers Market - Check out the homegrown produce and homemade crafts for sale at Portage's farmers market every Thursday from May to October.
Canal Days - Every year in early June, visitors can head to downtown Portage to see the Canal Days festival, which features historic building tours and a parade.
Columbia County Fair - This annual fair is hosted by Portage every July and features a tractor pull, a rodeo, a demo derby, and live music.
The Indiana Dunes National Park is located about 221 miles from Portage and features stunning lakefront views on the shore of Lake Michigan. While at this national park, you can swim, boat, and fish in the lake or hit the trails to explore the 50 miles of hiking and biking paths. This park is a short drive from Chicago, where there are plenty of museums to check out, and it also features a pet-friendly campground where you can take your Portage RV rental.
Rocky Arbor State Park is a great place to take your RV rental near Portage, Wisconsin. This state park is made up of nearly 250 acres and is known for being cool in the summer. The campground located on the park’s ground has 89 RV-friendly sites for fifth-wheel campers and travel trailers or pop-ups, 19 of which offer electrical hookups. Mirror Lake State Park is the closest state park to the Wisconsin Dells and features over 2,000 acres of forests and lakes. The campground at this park has over 150 campsites plus access to a public beach, boat ramp, and picnic area. Mirror Lake, found at the park, is famous for its 50-foot-high wooded shoreline cliffs and reflective waters. Lake Kegonsa State Park is a great place to check out when you want to fish in Lake Kegonsa, a 3,200-acre body of water. This park is also home to marshlands, prairies, and forests. The Lake Kegonsa State Park Family Campground, found inside the park, has 96 campsites in the forest area with bathroom facilities, shower facilities, and a dump station. This is another great spot to take your Portage RV rental, and it offers hookups for everything from toy haulers to camper vans.
Stretching for nearly 1,200 miles is the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which is a trail following the edge of where the last glacier in Wisconsin is estimated to be. Left behind by this glacier over 10,000 years ago are today’s lakes, hills, and river flows. The trail itself features over 600 miles of finished and marked paths that are popular with hikers, bikers, and snowshoe climbers. Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa is made up of 206 mounds built by 20 different Native American tribes. These mounds were made to resemble the various animals that were important to the natives, and some burial mounds can be found there too. When you visit this location in the summer, you can take a guided tour to learn more about the history of the area and the past cultures that once lived there. Pullman National Monument is located just outside of Chicago in Illinois and showcases what is left of a unique late 19th-century settlement. This settlement, created by George Pullman, was designed to be a town for manufacturing employees and their families to live although it never gained many residents. Instead, the town became the home of the Pullman Strike, and it was the site where the region’s first labor unions were formed. When you visit this location, be sure to check out the Historic Pullman Employee Housing buildings, where a few employees did live for a short time.
There are plenty of campgrounds in and around Portage that you can enjoy in your own Portage RV rental. For great accommodations, check out the Wisconsin Dells KOA Holiday, which offers pull-through sites, patios, and full hookups. This campground is a short drive from many Wisconsin Dells attractions too. Another popular campground nearby is Fox Hill RV Park and Campground, which features 50 acres of forests that are filled with naturally shaded campsites. This campground also has a heated pool, a dog park, and shuttles to the nearby casino. In Kieler, you’ll find Rustic Barn Campground and RV Park, which has Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, and a camp store plus 58 full-hookup campsites.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Portage, WI, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Portage?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Portage from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Portage?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.