The Road to the Dells: Why the 2026 Buick Enclave Is the Ultimate Family Escape

At a glance: For a family piling into the car for the drive from Gurnee up to the Wisconsin Dells, the 2026 Buick Enclave is one of the most comfortable ways to make the trip. This three-row SUV pairs a quiet, spacious cabin with real cargo room, available hands-free driving technology, and standard driver-assistance features, so the miles feel shorter and everyone arrives ready for the water parks. In short, it is built to turn the road itself into the easy part of the vacation.

A great road trip vehicle has to do three things at once: seat everyone comfortably, swallow all the gear, and stay calm and composed for hours at highway speed. Two-row crossovers force you to choose between passengers and luggage. Minivans handle the people but do not always match the feel families want. The 2026 Buick Enclave sits right in the sweet spot, giving you three full rows plus a purposeful cargo area behind them, so nobody is squeezed and the cooler still fits.

For families in the Gurnee, Waukegan, and Zion area, that matters on the run north on I-94. The Enclave is designed to make the whole drive feel like part of the getaway rather than the price you pay for it. And if you are still weighing destinations, our roundup of weekend getaways from Gurnee pairs five favorite trips, the Dells included, with the right vehicle for each.

Step inside and the Enclave feels less like an errand-runner and more like a lounge on wheels. Buick’s QuietTuning approach works to keep road and wind noise out of the cabin, which means the front seats can hold a conversation and the back rows can watch a movie without shouting over the highway.

The second and third rows are built for real people, not just emergencies. Getting kids buckled into the back is easier than you might expect, and adults can ride in the third row without folding themselves in half. Available heated and ventilated front seats, soft-touch materials, and thoughtful storage cubbies for phones, snacks, and water bottles round out a space that keeps everyone content from the driveway to the resort.

A Dells trip means swimsuits, towels, strollers, a wagon, a couple of coolers, and the inevitable last-minute bag someone forgot the first time. The Enclave is ready for it. With all three rows up you still have usable cargo space behind the back seats, and the second and third rows fold flat when you need to haul more.

That flexibility is the quiet superpower of a proper three-row SUV. Pack light and everyone rides in comfort. Pack heavy and you fold a row to make it fit. Either way you are not playing luggage Tetris in a hotel parking lot at 9 p.m.

The drive to the Dells is a mix of interstate cruising and the occasional stretch of Wisconsin backroad, and the Enclave is tuned for exactly that. Its available all-wheel drive adds sure-footed traction when spring rain or an early-season flurry shows up, and the smooth, composed ride soaks up expansion joints and rough pavement so the toddler in the back stays asleep.

Buick engineered the Enclave to feel effortless at highway speed, with responsive power for merging and passing and a planted, stable feel in the lane. That combination is what turns a three-hour haul into a relaxed cruise instead of a white-knuckle grind.

Long drives live and die by the tech, and the 2026 Enclave comes ready. A large, crisp infotainment display anchors the dash, with wireless smartphone connectivity so navigation and playlists are a tap away. Available wireless charging keeps devices topped off, and available USB ports in the back rows mean the tablets do not die halfway through the season of cartoons.

The Enclave also offers available Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driver-assistance technology for use on compatible mapped highways. On a long, straight interstate stretch, that kind of assistance can take real strain off the driver and make the family navigator feel a lot more relaxed. Availability and coverage depend on the trim and equipment, so confirm the specifics on the vehicle you are considering.

When the whole family is in the car, peace of mind is the feature that matters most. The 2026 Enclave includes a suite of standard and available driver-assistance features designed to help you see more, react sooner, and stay centered in your lane. Think forward collision alerts, lane-keeping help, blind-zone awareness, and rear-camera visibility for those tight resort parking spots.

None of it replaces an attentive driver, and features vary by trim, but together they add a reassuring layer of backup for the exact conditions a road trip throws at you: heavy holiday traffic, unfamiliar exits, and a busy cabin full of distractions.

The best way to know the 2026 Buick Enclave is the right family escape vehicle is to sit in all three rows, load up the cargo area, and take it out on the road. The team at Woody Buick GMC of Gurnee, proudly serving Chicago, Waukegan, and Zion, can walk you through the current Enclave lineup and set up a test drive that fits your schedule. Contact Woody Buick GMC of Gurnee today to reserve your 2026 Buick Enclave test drive before your next trip to the Dells.​

Disclaimer: Safety or driver-assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The driver should remain attentive to traffic, surroundings and road conditions at all times. Read the vehicle Owner’s Manual for important feature limitations and information. Super Cruise: Always pay attention while driving and when using Super Cruise. Do not use a hand-held device. Requires properly equipped vehicle and an active, eligible OnStar Super Cruise plan or trial; works on compatible roads. Terms apply. Feature availability varies by trim and equipment.