There’s a certain charm in hearing the soft rumble of a streetcar while walking through downtown Kenosha. For a moment, it feels like you’ve stepped into another time. That’s part of what makes the Kenosha Streetcar such a memorable part of visiting the city. These electric trolleys, painted in vintage color schemes and lovingly restored, still roll along a 1.7-mile loop through the heart of the city.
We hopped on board one warm September afternoon after grabbing coffee downtown. You can ride for as little as $1 (exact change needed), but the all-day pass is the best deal, it lets you hop on and off as much as you’d like. Our kids loved watching the driver operate the controls, and honestly, so did we. It’s not every day you get to ride in a 1950s-era PCC streetcar.
The loop is run by Kenosha Area Transit and connects several of the city’s highlights in a tidy, scenic route. You can start right near the Metra Station if you’re coming up from Chicago. From there, the streetcar cruises past HarborPark, the Kenosha Public Museum, Civil War Museum, and stretches of green space along the lake. If you’re visiting for the first time, it’s an easy way to get the lay of the land without tiring your feet.
These aren’t replicas. Most of the cars were originally built in 1951 for Toronto’s streetcar system, and they’ve been restored with great attention to detail. Each one is painted in a different historic livery, with nods to cities like Chicago, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and even San Francisco. It makes spotting which car is coming next part of the fun.
Service runs year-round with a few seasonal changes. In the winter months, you’ll mostly find the streetcars running on weekends, while spring through fall brings daily service. Cars usually arrive every 15 minutes or so, and each one has a lift onboard for riders using wheelchairs or strollers.
While the streetcar serves a practical purpose, linking downtown to the lakefront and back again, it’s more than just transportation. It’s a piece of living history and a very photogenic one at that. We ended up riding the full loop twice. Once just for the ride, and again to get off near the museums and wander the HarborPark Sculpture Walk.
Whether you’re visiting Kenosha with kids, friends, or on a solo day trip, the streetcar adds a little spark of joy to the experience. It slows you down in a good way and makes you appreciate how thoughtful city planning and a love of history can come together in something simple, like a ride on rails.
For dedicated streetcar enthusiasts check out the Kenosha Streetcar Society, a local nonprofit, works to preserve and share the city’s streetcar history. If you are a train enthusiast, check out East Troy Railroad Museum’s Harvest Fest to ride historical train cars this fall!
WeWisconsin Tip:
Grab the $3.50 all-day pass and use the streetcar like a hop-on, hop-off tour. Start your day at the museums, stop for lunch downtown, and finish with a lakeside walk — all without moving your car. It’s one of the best $3.50 adventures in the state.
