Glamping near New Albin sits in the unique Driftless Area, characterized by steep ridges and deep valleys that escaped glacial flattening during the last ice age. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F during the day with considerably cooler evenings due to the region's varied elevation. Most luxury camping sites in this area maintain seasonal operations, closing between mid-October and mid-April when temperatures consistently drop below freezing.
What to do
Trout fishing access: At Westfork Sports Club & Campground, visitors can fish directly on the banks of the Kickapoo River. According to one camper, "A beautiful location in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin. Near hiking, biking, fishing attractions."
Hiking varied terrain: Wildcat Mountain State Park offers trails with significant elevation changes. A visitor noted, "Hiking trails were pretty close and we had quite the exercise going up/down the mountain." Another mentioned the "Ice Cave trail was a neat, quick walk. The trails around have gorgeous views of the driftless area and Kickapoo river."
Mountain biking: The region offers extensive trail networks accessible from several glamping locations. Eagle Cliff Campground provides direct access to paved trails, with one reviewer mentioning it's "situated right along the Root River next to the bike trail. They offer kayak, canoe and tube rentals and shuttles. They also have bike rentals."
What campers like
Private creek-side settings: Red Barn Resort and Campground receives praise for its water features, with one camper noting, "The sites are very spacious and easy getting into for RVs/campers. Price is very reasonably priced. The creek adds to the wonderful scenery."
Cleanliness of facilities: Many luxury camping options maintain high standards. A visitor to Great River Bluffs State Park appreciated that "Campground had nice clean facilities (w/ showers!) and forested campsite added some extra privacy."
Panoramic valley views: The elevated locations throughout the region provide exceptional vistas. A camper at Westfork Sports Club & Campground described waking up to "such views - hard to beat!" adding that the site had "Huge open sites. Not a lot of trees for privacy but the sites are huge so it's all good!"
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Most glamping sites operate between April and October. Esofea/Rentz Memorial Park exemplifies this pattern, with a reviewer noting, "The campground is open for camping between April 15th and October 15th each year."
Reservation requirements: Popular glamping sites fill quickly during peak times. At Esofea/Rentz Memorial Park, "Reservations are not always necessary but if you are planning on camping on holiday weekends or wanting electric sites book in advanced."
Nighttime noise considerations: Some locations have unexpected noise issues despite their rural setting. As one Great River Bluffs State Park visitor explained, "Highway noise from the highway running along the river and from I-90 (while not really noticeable during the day) is ridiculously loud at night...Added to this were the half dozen trains that ran through the night (horns going off too)."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Bluebird Family Camp features a swimming pond that children particularly enjoy. One visitor shared, "My kids really liked the pond and playground. They spent most of the weekend getting tadpoles from the water then letting them go again."
Playground access: Several glamping facilities maintain play areas for younger visitors. A Bluebird Family Camp visitor noted the campground "has a playground with a busted slide. Basketball and volleyball courts, a man made swimming pond fed by a creek, and lots of trails."
Evening activities: Family-oriented glamping sites often provide structured entertainment. Neshonoc Lakeside campers enjoy "daily activities, movies, and a full ice cream shop" according to one reviewer who added, "In the evening there was a Glow Parade where the full timers decked out their golf carts and drove around- candy for kids and lots of dancing."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many premium glamping locations prioritize level pads. A visitor to Neshonoc Lakeside noted their site was "spacious and very well kept, with a great view of the lake. Very easy to back in and get set up, almost level and took very little adjustment to get our spot in order."
Hookup availability: Waukon City Park offers surprising amenities for its price point. One camper shared, "Free firewood, free wifi, water and electric at each campsite. Found a nice shady site for tent camping."
Parking access: Some glamping locations require extra consideration for larger vehicles. A Wildcat Mountain State Park visitor cautioned, "We drove a truck so getting up/down the mountain wasn't a problem, but if you have a low car, the front end is going to get scraped at the bottom of the mountain."
