Getting to Grafton (and Around Town)

The good news for anyone getting to Grafton is that it sits just north of Milwaukee in Ozaukee County, right off Interstate 43, on the Milwaukee River, so it is a straightforward drive from almost any direction. This guide covers where Grafton is, how to reach it from Milwaukee and the airport, and how to get around once you arrive, with real distances rather than guessed drive times.

Where Grafton is

Grafton is a town in Ozaukee County, in southeastern Wisconsin, on the Milwaukee River. It lies roughly twenty miles north of downtown Milwaukee in a straight line, part of the wider Milwaukee metropolitan area but with its own distinct small-town centre. Cedarburg sits just to the northwest, Port Washington to the northeast on Lake Michigan, and Mequon to the south between Grafton and Milwaukee. The lake itself is a few miles east, which is where you will find Lion's Den Gorge.

From Milwaukee

From Milwaukee, the route is simple: head north on Interstate 43, which runs the whole way, and take one of the Grafton exits. The main ones are Highway 60 (exit 92), which drops you closest to downtown and the river, and Pioneer Road (exit 89) a little to the south. The drive is a short one by metro standards, usually twenty-five to thirty minutes from downtown Milwaukee depending on traffic, since Grafton is one of the first towns you reach heading north out of the city. I-43 also carries the through-traffic for the county, so it is the spine you will use for almost any approach from the south.

From the airport

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport sits on the south side of Milwaukee, roughly thirty miles south of Grafton, or about forty-five minutes by car in normal traffic. The simplest route is north through or around Milwaukee and up Interstate 43 to the Grafton exits. If you are flying in and renting a car, that is the natural plan, since Grafton is not directly served by transit from the airport. General Mitchell is the closest commercial airport; Milwaukee's smaller Timmerman field is nearer but handles general aviation rather than scheduled flights.

Getting around Grafton

Once you are here, Grafton is easy to get around by car, with downtown, the highway shopping and the parks all a short drive apart. Downtown itself is walkable, with the taverns, cafes, shops and the Arts Mill clustered near the river. For getting around under your own power, the paved Ozaukee Interurban Trail runs right through town and connects Grafton with neighbouring communities, so a bike is a real option for both recreation and getting between points in and around town. The trail also strings together most of Grafton's parks, from Lion's Den Gorge to Lime Kiln.

Where to stay when you arrive

Grafton's hotels sit conveniently near the highway, which makes arriving and settling in easy, whether you want a chain hotel in town or a character stay in nearby Cedarburg.

Once you have dropped your bags, the town's everything worth doing once you arrive are all minutes away.