Camping near Cassville, Wisconsin centers around the unique driftless area landscape with elevations rising 500 feet above the Mississippi River. The region's camping season typically runs April through October, with July temperatures averaging 81°F and winter lows dipping to 8°F in January. Seasonal flooding frequently affects lower elevation sites, particularly in spring.
What to do
River tubing: Grant River recreation access is available near several campgrounds. "Grant River nearby to go tubing on hot summer days," mentions a camper who stayed at Nelson Dewey State Park Campground.
Observatory visits: Wyalusing State Park features an astronomical observatory on site. "There is an astronomical observatory on site," notes a visitor to Pikes Peak State Park Campground, which is just across the river from Wyalusing.
Disc golf: Available at county parks in the region. "Many activities including disc golf, three hiking trails, volleyball, two playgrounds," writes a camper who stayed at New Wine Park in November.
Geological exploration: The area features caves and unique rock formations. "The sand caves are cool, lots of unique hiking features," reports a visitor to Wyalusing State Park who camped there in 2018.
What campers like
Wheelchair-accessible trails: Some parks offer accessible pathways. "There is a very nice smooth wood walk way for one of the trails making it easy for all ages," notes a camper at Pikes Peak State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the area maintain high standards. "This is by far the cleanest campground I have stayed at. The facilities were well kept including the vault toilet houses," writes a 2024 visitor to Nelson Dewey State Park.
Off-season solitude: County parks offer quiet camping outside peak months. "We were the ONLY ones in the campground at this time of year!" shares a November tent camper at New Wine Park Dubuque County Park.
Wildlife watching: River corridors support diverse wildlife. "There was a pair of bald eagles in a nest down by the river - bring binoculars!" recommends a camper who stayed at Nelson Dewey's walk-in site C.
What you should know
Train noise: Railway tracks affect multiple campgrounds. "A railroad mainline ran along the campground. Our site was about 100 ft from rail and campground was where train would blow their whistle. Until midnight, trains went by about every 1/2 hour," reports a camper at Grant River Recreation Area.
Site levelness varies: Many campsites require equipment for leveling. "Our site 26 seemed to be the most unlevel, which was our only negative. We had to use all our blocks to get us as level as possible," notes a 2023 visitor to Rustic Barn Campground.
Flooding risks: Lower elevation sites face seasonal closures. "High water prevented us from exploring it much," shares a camper at Pikes Peak State Park, referring to Mississippi River access points.
Wind exposure: Bluff-top sites experience stronger winds. "This campground is also noted for its rip-roaring winds, one camper told us that during the rainy and wind night before, their shelter took off and tumbled down the valley," writes a visitor describing Wisconsin Ridge campground at Wyalusing.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds offer play areas. "The nature program was great for our son who was 2 at the time," shares a visitor who stayed at Wyalusing State Park Campground in 2018.
Homestead Campground selection: For families seeking more privacy. "We stayed at the Homestead Campground, which consists of four loops named after cardinal directions. This campground's sites are mostly among trees, and have a fair amount of privacy between sites," explains a camper who visited Wyalusing.
Cart availability: Some parks provide equipment for walk-in sites. "The park provided cart to use to haul all your stuff to the walk to sites. There is 1 designated parking spot per walk to site as well," notes a visitor to Nelson Dewey State Park's walk-in area.
Safety considerations: Be aware of natural hazards with children. "Just keep in mind that it's on a bluff so there are some steep drop-off points that children could take a pretty nasty fall from," cautions a 2024 visitor to Wyalusing State Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: RV sites with full connections are available. "58 sites with various amenities. Some are long pull-throughs, some are back-in, some have 30 amp with or without a patio, and some have 50-amp electric with or without a patio," explains a visitor to Rustic Barn Campground RV Park.
Site dimensions: Some campgrounds can accommodate larger rigs. "Nice wide pull throughs. Very friendly and helpful. Good place for overnight or extended stay," notes an RVer who stayed at Rustic Barn.
Off-peak savings: County parks offer lower rates. "Very nice campground at reasonable price. Water/Elec was $18 dollars night. We stayed just after Labor Day and we were one of 6 trailers in the entire park," shares a visitor to New Wine Park.
Reservation timing: Wisconsin state parks fill quickly, especially for premium sites. "While Site C is incredibly difficult to reserve (best dates I could find were a Mon-Wed in October which I booked in APRIL), it's worth the views and the privacy," advises a Nelson Dewey camper.
