RV camping near La Crescent, Minnesota offers direct access to the Driftless Area with its unique unglaciated topography characterized by steep bluffs, narrow valleys, and cold-water streams. Fall campers experience temperature ranges of 35-65°F with colorful autumn foliage from late September through mid-October. Many campgrounds in this region remain accessible until mid-October when seasonal closures begin.
What to do
Trout fishing access: Beaver Creek Valley State Park features a clear, cold stream perfect for beginning trout anglers. "An easy way to trout fish and enjoy the park," notes one visitor, who appreciated the small quiet campground with sites backing up to the creek.
Water activities on Lake Neshonoc: At Neshonoc Lakeside, campers can enjoy various water activities. "Great place to go kayak, decent place to fish, and good access to bike trail. The lake is about 600 acres in size and about 11 feet deep at the deepest point. Lake Sturgeon, Bass, Muskie, Pike, Walleye, and Bluegill can be caught at this location."
Biking the Root River Trail: Peterson City RV Park provides convenient access to the Root River bike trail. "The park and campground are right on the trail, so very handy," reports one visitor. "I was amazed that sewer hookup is included, along with water and electricity, although my sewer hose was not long enough."
What campers like
Natural springs: Beaver Creek Valley State Park offers unique natural water features. "The Big Spring was also a great natural water feature to relax in after a hot hike!" mentions one camper, who enjoyed cooling off after exploring the trails.
Quiet woodland settings: Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground provides wooded isolation for tent campers. "I stayed at site 1. While it is right next to the campground road and a trail, trees block the views from people looking in and there was not that much traffic," shares one visitor who appreciated the privacy.
Wildlife viewing: Goose Island offers abundant animal sightings throughout the seasons. "I loved the sounds of frogs and owls at night, the frequent wildlife sightings, and the crazy amount of turtles," writes one camper who stayed multiple times in 2024. "Eagles, geese, pelicans, barred owls, ducks, deer, rabbits, raccoon, possum, etc. are abundant."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Beaver Creek Valley State Park has no cellular connectivity. "The only thing to know is there is no cell reception because of the valley. This great if you want to get away from it all, but if you're staying a while and need to work, this isn't the place to do it," advises one regular visitor.
Seasonal flooding: Water crossings affect site access at several campgrounds. At Beaver Creek Valley State Park Campground, "In order to get to sites #27 through #37 you have to drive through some water. In September it was only about 8 inches."
Campsite variations: Site sizes and privacy vary significantly across parks. "The sites are the smallest I've ever seen, everyone coming in remarked on how small they are. No privacy, the sites are very close together," notes one camper about Beaver Creek Valley, while another reported the opposite experience: "The sites were spread out enough that it really felt like I was at a dispersed spot at times."
Tips for camping with families
Pool facilities: Whiskey Creek Family RV Park offers excellent swimming options. "They also have a beautiful white sand beach around a 1-acre swim pond. The water was the color of the Caribbean with these huge blow-up toys and slides in the middle. Kids loved it."
Weekend activities: Neshonoc Lakeside provides structured entertainment for children. "With 2 swimming pools, daily activities, movies, and a full ice cream shop you won't be bored here. 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."
Playgrounds and beaches: Goose Island combines water access with play areas. "There are several playgrounds for kids to have fun at. There is also a beach area for swimming and tons of sand volleyball courts," mentions a visitor who appreciated the family-friendly amenities.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Pettibone Resort offers concrete pull-through sites. "The park streets are asphalt with two concrete strips for your tires in the sites. The site included: picnic table on a concrete pad. Utilities were located in the rear. 20A/30A electric and water."
Leveling considerations: Terrain varies between parks, affecting setup time. "Site was a little unlevel. Neighbors are close," notes a Pettibone Resort visitor, while at Neshonoc Lakeside, one camper reported, "The lots were spacious and the property offered a large pool, hot tub, restrooms, showers, laundry room, fishing and canoeing."
Bridge access: RVers should note elevation changes when accessing some parks. "The driveway leading to the campground is a bit daunting (especially if pulling a camper), but it's well worth it," advises one Wildcat Mountain visitor. Similarly, access to Pettibone requires crossing the Mississippi: "About a 10 minute walk over the Cass St. bridge and you are in the heart of downtown La Crosse."
