156 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Madison, Wisconsin range from county parks with basic amenities to state parks with more developed facilities. William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground, located about 5 miles from downtown Madison, provides electric hookups for RVs and tent sites in an open, grassy setting. Mendota County Park offers 29 sites on Lake Mendota with 30-amp electric service. The area features a mix of public campgrounds including Token Creek County Park, Lake Kegonsa State Park, and Blue Mound State Park, which offers cabin accommodations in addition to traditional camping. Most established campgrounds in the region maintain designated sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restrooms.
Reservations are highly recommended for campgrounds in the Madison area, particularly during summer weekends and holiday periods. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, with Token Creek County Park only open from May 1 to September 1, while Badgerland Campground runs from mid-April to the end of October. Several campgrounds remain open year-round, though services may be limited during winter months. Most developed sites provide access to drinking water, showers, and toilets, though amenities vary between locations. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area due to proximity to Madison. As one camper noted about Mendota County Park, "Great location on the lake and short drive to downtown Madison. Bring your kayak and fishing poles. 30 amp hookups, no water at the sites."
The proximity to both natural areas and urban amenities represents a distinctive feature of camping near Madison. Lake access is available at several campgrounds, with Mendota County Park and Lake Farm County Park offering water-based recreation opportunities. Campers mention the convenience of being able to bike from Lake Farm County Park to downtown Madison on paved trails. According to one visitor, "There are very wide bike/hiking paths that are paved or stone. The huge lake has boating opportunities and you can rent a boat in McFarland that is a short drive or bike ride." While campsites at most county parks provide little privacy between sites, their locations offer convenience for exploring both natural areas and city attractions. Several reviewers noted that sites tend to be close together with minimal screening vegetation, making these campgrounds better suited for those focused on activities rather than seeking seclusion in nature.
"Good spot for a short stay in the Madison area. Nice area to walk around and close to food. Shower was closed. The one road can get congested when you are waiting for the dump station."
"With the rain and the proliferation of mosquitoes, we were wandering around southern Wisconsin without a plan when we stumbled across this county park. 50 sites, many with electric and very reasonably"
from $18 - $28 / night
Check Availability"Just a quick 2 hour drive from our home in Chicago, with large wooded sites for privacy. Clean bathrooms."
"Pleasant grounds around the campground. Many nice trails. Good birdlife with pewees, least, flycatcher, great crested flycatcher, yellow warbler, redstarts, rose-breasted grosbeaks and others."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Access to the lake, Middleton and Madison is great and the park itself has a few things to do."
"Great location on the lake and short drive to downtown Madison. Bring you kayak and fishing poles. 30 amp hookups no water at the sites."
from $28 / night
Check Availability"Small campground, but you play disc golf and lovely trails! So close to get away from the city."
"Near the highway and airport makes for quick access but it can get noisy. It can also get very quiet and peaceful. Lots of hiking trails and a boardwalk."
"This is a small campground near Madison. Reasonable rates. Large VIP drive through sites. Small swimming area. Catch and release pond. Small office and bar. Clean bathrooms and showers."
"We booked in VIP 1, which is right next to the bath house. We wanted to be close to the showers (coin op). We figured since we’re at a sporting event that might be nice. Very quiet at night."
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Nice trails in the area and good fishing. Convenience to everything you could need in Madison. You can walk or run down a couple of quiet streets and get to a river trail that goes for miles."
from $28 / night
Check Availability"Go to Blue Mounds Grocery on the way in. easy access to hiking, mountain biking, and running trails - including Military Ridge Trail. Camped here with 2 friends during a cross country road trip."
"This is another Wisconsin gym sitting in Southern West Wisconsin."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We love Devil's Lake! It has incredible views and is absolutely breathtaking in the fall. It is also wonderful in the summer to go swimming and hike around. "
"this park has everything. beaches, bluffs, campIng, hikes, and phenomenal views. there is no wake in the lake and dogs are technically supposed to be on a leash."
from $28 - $53 / night
Check Availability"They do not provide garbage service at your site so you must walk to garbage dumpster.
You are allowed to ride personal golf carts.""While the location is great for fast travels into Madison, or getting to great hiking areas."
from $43 - $999 / night
Check Availability"I did a 65 mile round trip by bike from Madison up to camp overnight at Devil's Lake. I stayed at the top of a large hill near the camp store."
"Much to do at Devil's Lake and surrounding area. features multiple campgrounds and multiple areas for swimming. A beach at the North and South of the lake."
from $28 - $53 / night
Check Availability
ScoutMendota was great for the clean showers, bathrooms and complimentary water and dump, given it’s a slight disappointment that the camp sites don’t have these hookups. Access to the lake, Middleton and Madison is great and the park itself has a few things to do.
ScoutThis is a fantastic Campground, especially for RVs and families. Large playground and outdoor games, small indoor rec area. During busy weekends with lots of kids and holidays, they have foam parties for the kids where they fill the basketball court with foam 3 ft High. Most sites are permanent sites, but have probably around 20 other 30 amp sites that can accommodate large RVs. There are only a few tent sites, but if tent is your only option and you still want to stay they will rent you an RV site for the tent. New owners are very friendly, and have adopted the same overwhelmingly hospitable nature as the previous owners. Fantastic people and very helpful. It will accommodate special needs or requests as long as it doesn't bother anybody or go against any insurance policies. I've had a permanent site here in the past, and recently started camping again and came to visit old friends. The new owners were still happy to accommodate semi truck parking for my job. I haul milk locally so I work more than I'm off, but the family can still camp and I can come when I'm done work. It is near the Wisconsin River, so it's fairly sand base although the Grass Grows plenty so you're not tracking sand everywhere. The benefits of this is when it rains heavily the sand absorbs the water rapidly. The only negative is the mosquitoes. Be prepared for mosquitoes with lots of bug spray. This is no fault of the campground, all low wetlands in Wisconsin are the same. The bathrooms are some of the best in any Campground I've seen. They are always clean, modernized, and Air condition. There are showers and bathroom stalls near the park. They try to keep families close to the park if possible for the bathrooms and the park access itself. They are really extremely accommodating for requests if it's in their power at all. The owners live at the campground and are always accessible by a simple phone call if after hours. There's a community vibe, with a community fire pit up front and often people are just hanging out outside of the main office. It embodies our Wisconsin way of life and you will find strangers waving at you every time you pass by. It's just our nature, don't be weirded out by the friendliness. The regular permanent campers are all so friendly and always willing to help a newbie or even someone struggling to figure out a problem or even carry things.
ScoutNothing special but a nice spot if you need somewhere to park your camper and stay. Electric and water hookups, decent showers and bathrooms. Septic on site. We stayed here for an event at the fairgrounds but there were also several others staying here while they were in town for work.
GuideFound this campground by chance after the campground I had planned to stay at was a complete disaster. Luckily, they were able to get me a campsite for two nights where I could regroup do a little laundry and chill out also took a bike ride on the bike path.
GuideOur friends have a permanent camper here so we joined them for the weekend. I’ve never experienced a place like this. It’s not what I would consider camping. It’s basically people’s second trailer park home. The frog pond that was turned into a swimming hole with ridiculous inflatables completely ruined the peaceful atmosphere in that area of the park. If you enjoy being surrounded by people, noise, and teens cruising in golf carts, you’ll love this place. We do have fun when we are with our friends here, but it is definitely not a typical peaceful camp.
GuideBest kept secret in the area. Very low rates (5 dollars a night Sunday through Thursday .
GuideFirst, the staff was very accommodating, and we appreciated it. We made a last minute booking over the phone and requested a late check-in, and they were wonderful about making it happen for us.
Once we arrived, everything seemed to go wrong. It appears there’s been a recent change in ownership. The campground was marked with a different name and we weren’t sure we were in the right place. Then, the sites and the hookup numbers don’t match, so again we weren’t sure we were in the right place. Once we found our spot, the site next to us had spread into our space, so we had to wait to pull in until they moved their stuff out of the way. Even so, the lots were very tight. The women’s bathroom was unkept - hair and bugs in the sink, and no toilet paper. A half-drunk bottle of Fireball was in the men’s room.
We also woke to a cracked windshield. Not necessarily the campground’s fault, but just added to the experience.
It worked for a one night stop-over, but wouldn’t have chosen it for a lengthy stay.
GuideWe stayed here one night and had a great experience! The restroom/bathhouse is super clean, conveniently located, and NEW. A refreshing thing after roughing it. We took a trail down to the trussle bridge that goes across the river. Nice nature view. Fishing was good too, near the bridge at the entrance to the park. My son was there maybe 5 min and hooked a decent sized pike. We brought our two dogs and they enjoyed the quiet of the park and the trails. Only complaint I had was that someone previously had left dog poop at our site, but sometimes people don't clean up after their pets. Our site had electric, only 30 amp hookup but we had a 50 amp adapter and it worked well. We would definitely stay again.
GuideThis is a wonderful campground with many amenities for the whole family. The sites are a good size, plenty of shade. Indoor and outdoor pool, Kiddie pool, mini golf, playgrounds, pond with inflatables, pond to fish(catch and release) paddle boats, row boats, kayaking. gaga pit, shuffleboard. Wonderful store stocked with everything you need and then some. They have a grill if you want to order food. Game room and arcade. Clean bathrooms and showers. Storm shelter under the bathrooms and showers. I can't say enough what a wonderful campground this is!!
Camping opportunities near Madison, Wisconsin include both small county parks and larger state parks within 30-60 minutes of the capital city. The region sits at approximately 850-900 feet above sea level with humid summers often reaching 80°F and winters that can dip below freezing. Wisconsin's glacial history has created a landscape of rolling hills, lakes, and rivers that influence campground settings and recreational activities throughout the Madison area.
Water activities at Lake Kegonsa: Lake Kegonsa State Park Campground offers multiple recreation options. "There is a beach and boat launch to help you enjoy Lake Kegonsa. It was also pet friendly with pet trails and a pet beach of their own," notes one visitor.
Biking from parks to downtown: William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground connects to the Madison trail system. "It's a pretty easy ride until you get right up to the square, then there was a big hill to bike up but overall the trail was very easy," explains a camper who biked to the farmers market.
Explore nearby attractions: Blue Mound State Park Campground serves as a base for regional exploration. "You're also conveniently located near a couple other state parks (Governor Dodge / Tower Hill), right on the Military Ridge State Trail, and attractions (Cave of the Mounds & House on the Rock)," shares one visitor.
Swimming in pool or lake: Multiple cooling options exist in hot summer months. At Blue Mound State Park, "The pool is very nice and very clean. There is a pool section and a splash section. There are chairs and lounges around both and shade awnings. The cost is $3 for an adult and $2 for child."
Hiking varied terrain: Ice Age Campground offers direct trail access. "The Ice Age trail passes right through this camp loop. We followed it out and back after setting up camp. The ranger said the east and west bluff trails are the most popular."
Convenience to Madison: Mendota County Park offers proximity to urban amenities. "Great location on the lake and short drive to downtown Madison. Bring your kayak and fishing poles. 30 amp hookups, no water at the sites," notes a recent camper.
Modern facilities at state parks: Blue Mound State Park maintains quality infrastructure. "The pool is very nice and very clean... The cost is $3 for an adult and $2 for child. Near by is Blue Mounds Caves. We did not go, but there is much on the internet about the caves and they are recommended for even young children."
Clean showers and restrooms: Smaller parks often maintain good facilities. At Babcock County Park, visitors appreciate "Clean restrooms, great showers, clean little campground."
Spacious sites at select locations: Some parks offer room to spread out. At Badgerland Campground, "Our site had a black walnut tree. The walnuts were dropping like little bombs. Attracted small biting flies- ouch. But we did collect tasty walnuts!!"
Cell service reliability: Most campgrounds maintain good connectivity due to urban proximity. At Lake Kegonsa, "Internet signal at the campgrounds was good. We have Verizon and could stream movies. We also have AT&T and could access the net but could not stream."
Reservation timing considerations: Token Creek County Park and other county parks have limited seasons. "The campground is only open from May 1 to September 1," while "Badgerland Campground runs from mid-April to the end of October."
Highway noise impacts: Urban-adjacent locations have sound considerations. At Token Creek, "it is quite noisy, being near an airport and freeway," while one camper at Babcock noted "the road noise is VERY loud all day and night - not peaceful."
Environmental challenges: Insects remain a concern in wooded settings. "It had been raining for three days and I only had what was available. The Fiber Light started easily with the spark that the firebiner threw off and burned for a good bit, allowing the wet wood to catch."
Weather preparedness: Summer storms can develop quickly. At Mendota County Park, "Shortly after we arrived, a loud plane flew overhead, and we were worried this would be a problem, but we didn't hear any more. The bugs (gnats and mosquitoes) were relentless, especially in the grassy areas so bring bug spray!"
Site selection strategy: Not all sites are created equal. At Lake Kegonsa, one camper advised, "Watch the site listing on ReserveAmerica to see how deep the site is. It also has bike in / hike in sites."
Playground access: Lantern DeForest provides multiple family amenities. "They do have a Swimming pool. There is a Playground. They also offer horseshoes and a volleyball court," notes a recent visitor.
Child-friendly swimming options: Multiple parks feature water access. Blue Mound State Park "has a nice playground, hiking trails both short and longer and bike trails. The pool is very nice and very clean. There is a pool section and a splash section."
Site privacy considerations: Find the right balance between access and seclusion. "The sites for RVs have electrical, but no water. The bathrooms are OK, its what you expect from a state park. But the hiking around the park is amazing."
Pet-friendly options: Dogs welcome at most parks with some restrictions. At Lake Kegonsa State Park, "There were signs posted to keep pets on a leash when not in the water but people were not following that rule. Nor were they following the rules on the 'people beach' which posted no pets but yet there they were."
Budget considerations: Campground fees vary widely. One camper at Devils Lake State Park noted "cost at end of September, Sunday night was $76/night PLUS $16 parking fee so $92 for a night at a mediocre campground with no privacy."
Electric hook-up limitations: Campers should plan for power constraints. At Mendota County Park, "Long enough to accommodate the largest RV or additional cars. The power box is located at the very end of the camper pad, but extension cords are available from the camp host."
Dump station access: Most campgrounds provide basic services. Token Creek County Park has "Good 30A electric. Potable water, dump station, and non-potable water at the dump station are convenient. Have a bit of your own hoses to reach."
Site maneuverability challenges: Some parks have tight spaces. At Blue Mound State Park Campground, "For RVs, be sure to select a bigger site than you think you need. Sometimes it's tricky to maneuver your camper so big rigs may want to stay elsewhere. Our 30 ft. travel trailer fit fine, with some skilled driving."
Overhead clearance caution: Watch for low-hanging hazards. At Lake Kegonsa State Park, "Caution for RVs: there is an oak tree near entry with low branches and it took the AC off our friend's fifth wheel. There is also a low hanging overpass and it took the roofs off TWO fifth wheels while we were staying there."
Premium site options: Badgerland Campground provides upgraded spaces. "We booked in VIP 1, which is right next to the bath house. We wanted to be close to the showers (coin op). We figured since we're at a sporting event that might be nice. Very quiet at night."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Madison, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Madison, WI offers a wide range of camping options, with 156 campgrounds and RV parks near Madison, WI and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Madison, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Madison, WI is William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground (Dane County Park) with a 3.8-star rating from 18 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Madison, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Madison, WI.
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