Riding the Original Wisconsin Dells Ducks: Is It Worth It?

If you’ve ever driven through Wisconsin Dells, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve seen the Ducks.

I’ve been to the Dells plenty of times, but this time we decided to finally climb aboard one of the Original Wisconsin Dells Ducks and see what the experience is actually like.

And I’ll tell you right now, this was way more than just driving around in an old military vehicle.

The Ducks are amphibious vehicles, which basically means one minute you’re driving through the woods and the next minute you’re floating down the river.

That alone makes this one of the more unique things you can do in Wisconsin Dells.

So What Exactly Is a Wisconsin Dells Duck?

Before getting into the ride, the vehicles themselves are pretty dang cool.

The Ducks were originally amphibious military landing craft designed to travel on both land and water. They’ve since become one of the attractions most associated with Wisconsin Dells.

You climb into what basically feels like part bus, part truck, and part boat.

And then you head out.

That’s where it gets interesting.

Driving Through the Woods

I expected the water portion to be the big attraction, but I actually really enjoyed the drive through the wooded areas.

You leave the busy Wisconsin Dells tourist area behind pretty quickly and suddenly you’re surrounded by trees.

There are some tight little roads through the property, and because you’re sitting up inside this giant military vehicle, the whole thing feels a little different than your normal sightseeing tour.

The driver is also your tour guide, so you’re getting stories and information about the area while you make your way through it.

It feels much more like an experience than just transportation from one spot to another

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Watch Our Full Wisconsin Dells Ducks Ride

https://youtu.be/OIEFXnNaE4w?si=Q8GZMX7q9GqvVcW4

There’s really only so much I can show you with pictures. In the full video, you can ride along with us through the woods, into the water, past the rock formations, and back onto land again. So if you’re wondering what the Wisconsin Dells Ducks experience actually feels like before spending the money, watch the full ride above.

And Then the Duck Drives Straight Into the Water

This is obviously the part everybody waits for. You’re driving along on land and then suddenly the road ends at the water. And you just keep going.

There’s something really weird about sitting in a giant vehicle with wheels and watching it drive directly into the water. Your brain knows it’s supposed to happen. But there’s still that little moment where you’re thinking, “Okay...we’re really doing this.”

Once you hit the water, the whole ride completely changes.

Seeing the Dells From the Water

This ended up being one of my favorite parts of the experience.

Wisconsin Dells is known for its sandstone rock formations, but seeing them from the water gives you a completely different perspective.

Once you’re out there, it doesn’t really feel like you’re in the middle of one of Wisconsin’s busiest tourist towns anymore.

You’ve got water, trees, and these giant rock formations surrounding you.

That contrast is probably what surprised me the most. You can go from water parks, restaurants, and attractions everywhere to scenery like this in a matter of minutes.

The Scenery Might Be the Best Part

There are parts of the route where the rock walls come up alongside you and everything gets a little tighter.

This is where I started paying less attention to the fact that we were riding in a Duck and more attention to where we actually were.

The Dells really does have some beautiful natural areas that can get overlooked because everybody associates the city with water parks.

And yes, I love the water parks too.

But this is a completely different side of Wisconsin Dells.

If you’re planning a bigger trip to the area, check out more of our Wisconsin Dells Adventures while you’re putting your itinerary together.

Then You’re Back on Land Again

And this is what makes the whole Duck thing so much fun. You don’t get out.

You don’t transfer to another vehicle.

The same thing that just floated you across the water drives right back onto land.

That still feels ridiculous when you actually stop and think about it.

One minute: boat. Next minute: truck.

And off through the woods you go again.

We Even Had a Little Wildlife Surprise

Toward the end of our ride, we had one of those random moments you can’t really plan.

A deer was hanging out right alongside the trail.

Those little unexpected moments are always some of my favorite things when we travel.

It wasn’t some huge scheduled attraction.

It was just part of the experience that happened while we were there.

Is the Original Wisconsin Dells Ducks Tour Worth It?

For me? Yeah. I’d do it. Especially if you’re visiting Wisconsin Dells for the first time.

There are plenty of attractions in the Dells that are all about thrills, rides, and flashing lights. This is different.

You still get something unique and entertaining, but you also get to see some of the scenery that made people start traveling to Wisconsin Dells in the first place. And the fact that you’re seeing it from an amphibious military-style vehicle makes the whole thing that much cooler.

If you want to check current ticket prices, hours, and tour information before your visit, head over to the Original Wisconsin Ducks Website

Looking for More Things to Do in Wisconsin Dells?

Wisconsin Dells has a ridiculous amount of stuff to do, and we’re slowly working our way through as much of it as possible.

Because around here, we’re always trying to answer the important question:

Where to go. What to do. And of course...what to eat.