3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Governor Dodge State Park Equestrian Campground offers dedicated horse camping facilities with direct access to extensive bridle trails. The campground features sites specifically designed for equestrians, with ample space for horse trailers and tents or RVs. Trails throughout the 5,000-acre park connect riders to scenic overlooks, wooded valleys, and two lakes. The equestrian campground maintains clean facilities with access to showers and toilets. Campsites include picnic tables and fire rings, with drinking water available throughout the area. Riders particularly appreciate the well-maintained trails that accommodate horses of all experience levels.
The park's extensive trail system provides varied terrain for day-long rides through prairies, forests, and along waterways. Twin Valley and Cox Hollow campgrounds within Governor Dodge State Park offer additional camping options, though only the equestrian campground allows horses overnight. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer weekends and fall color season when the campground frequently reaches capacity. The park requires valid Coggins tests for all horses, and riders must stay on designated bridle paths. Yellowstone Lake State Park, located approximately 30 miles south, offers another option for horse enthusiasts with trails that wind through diverse landscapes and connect to larger regional trail systems. The equestrian campground remains open from April through November, with peak riding conditions in early summer and fall.
"Behind the office was a large pond with a sand beach, lots of blow up pool toys, a bar, and volleyball, plus there are trikes and bikes available after you play mini-golf."
"For anyone planning a visit, I recommend checking out the driving directions—they’re super helpful to avoid any hiccups on your way there. Happy camping!"
"As this place didn’t have much for reviews I wasn’t sure what to think but it’s a great location with good service."
"In 2024 just before Memorial Day, I needed to leave the campground I was in and started calling around for openings at private campgrounds."
"It’s located right by Devils lake. Firewood for sale, great wifi, clean bathhouses/rooms"
"Lake full of all kinds of floats the kids can climb and jump on. Clean pool to cool off in. Sand volleyball, ga ga ball, huge park. Has so many different accomadtions to choose from!"
from $35 / night
"Good hiking around the lake and mostly dog friendly. Nice play ground with horse she pits."
"Just a quick 2 hour drive from our home in Chicago, with large wooded sites for privacy. Clean bathrooms."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $26 - $50 / night
"Two good lakes for kayaking/canoeing/fishing/swimming. Lots of good hiking trails and they are working on a big improvement to the equestrian campground."
"The sites on the "inside" of the loop are rather close to one another. 21 has a nice view of the lake, and you can walk back to the fence to look over the bluff 24 is quite private and very large 26,"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $21 - $39 / night
"Tons of forest with cross country, equestrian, and hiking trails. One of the best lakes in Wisconsin for fishing along with a nice beach, and pet area. There is a free gun range."
"It has a large lake with three boat launches, a main one with a motor ramp, a canoe launch near the marshy end, and a fishing pier."
Available this weekend
from $19 - $110 / night
"Lakes, trails, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, fishing. Hidden gem of Wisconsin. The campsites are pretty private, nestled in trees. Some shaded, some have sun and shade."
"Great park in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin. Not far from the house on the rock and Taliesin. Great open hiking trail. Well laid out sites with lots of space."
Available this weekend
from $21 - $39 / night
from $65 / night
"Most of the time, the pay envelopes are outside and you have to duck into your car, fill it out, and dart back into the dark to the drop box."
"The campsites are tucked away and private. There are bathrooms and a small playground. The lake is gorgeous and clean. The only downfall is the lake is spring-fed so it’s a bit cold for swimming."
"Has trails, disc golf, and rock river for kayaking."
"Their is also a great hiking trail if you like that."
ScoutThis campground charges both a site reservation fee ($33 for a primitive mosquito infested tent site) AND an additional day use fee on top of that - a $16 fee on top of that! $49????? For a no hook up single tent site???? Of course the fees aren’t actually published anywhere so you have to reserve it to actually know what you’ll be paying. It’s nothing special so these fees aren’t actually warranted for this place. 👎
TravelerCampground is nice spacious and we’re well divided. The drive from the entrance of Governor Dodge to cox hollow was a good 2-3 miles but was very scenic.
TravelerVery nice grounds with gorgeous tree covered sites, electric hookup on most of them. They have toilet facilities on each end of the grounds. They have shower facilities with potable water fill station next to the showers and water fountains in several locations. For those with kids they have a very nice playground area.
TravelerNot a place for camping. We booked 2 nights site red 12. Streets were very narrow getting to site. The site was literally a dirt island. We had to drive over a curb. The site was so small. There were campers everywhere. We ended up leaving right away and booked a different campground
ScoutFirst of all I have never paid so much for a state campground. By the time they were done tacking on fees it $72 a night, $15 extra for being out of state. There is only one dump station for over 320 sites. There was no water available in the campground, they were all torn up. Fortunately, the weather was fairly cool so we didn't need to run our air. Every time we tried to run more than 2 things at a time it tripped the 30 amp breaker. Very dissapointed for the price paid.
GuideWe stayed at site 116 for 1 night. The site had privacy trees all around and a long driveway. It's a pretty hilly site, so be prepared to level out in a camper. It was a busy weekend and the beach was packed, for the end of May. There is a place to get ice cream too! The bathhouses are newer and everything is clean. Would recommend if you enjoy a busy and beautiful state park.
RangerI camped here in late spring and the park wasn’t too busy. Allot of elevation in the park and great lookout spots. Some gated up caves on the north end of the bluff. Great sunsets and sunrises!
ScoutI love Smokey Hollow Campground! The scenery is stunning, and the friendly staff really make a difference. For anyone planning a visit, I recommend checking out the driving directions—they’re super helpful to avoid any hiccups on your way there. Happy camping!
TravelerIn 2024 just before Memorial Day, I needed to leave the campground I was in and started calling around for openings at private campgrounds. I was getting worried that it was not possible for me to find a site. I remembered ( light bulb moment) that Sleepy Dragon Campground may have openings. I called and was shocked to hear they still had openings for that weekend. Drove to the campground and set my sights on a pull through site. I enjoyed it so much decided to stay permanently. My original site was 120, then moved to 114, it’s a corner site. Has shade and sun at different times of the day. Large to medium camp sites, grassy, concreted if that’s what you like, plus electric and water at each site. Sewer at selected sites. Personally I came here as a child, back in the later 60’s to early 70’s. Changed owners a couple of times, now it is veteran owned, upgrades are being completed as time allows.
Governor Dodge State Park offers a network of equestrian trails that connect to scenic viewpoints through 5,000 acres of Wisconsin's driftless area. The terrain features rock formations, prairie openings, and wooded valleys with over 25 miles of dedicated bridle paths. Equestrian camping facilities remain open from April through November, with peak trail conditions occurring in early summer and autumn months.
Swimming and fishing at two lakes: Cox Hollow and Twin Valley campgrounds at Governor Dodge State Park provide access to two lakes with sandy beaches. "Great state park for a family camping vacation, tons of stuff to do. Lakes, trails, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, fishing," notes a camper. Both lakes permit non-motorized watercraft and maintain designated swimming areas.
Explore waterfall trails: The Lost Canyon and Stephens Falls trails offer some of the most scenic hiking in the region. "Lost Canyon was BEAUTIFUL and had so many interesting geographical features. The trails behind the hike-in campsites also lead to some cliffs with some really amazing views," shares one visitor to Twin Valley Campground.
Miniature golf and disc golf: Harnischfeger County Park maintains a 9-hole mini golf course that costs $1 per person. "The campground has alot of great amenities. Theirs a mini gulf course that we had alot of fun with. Their is also a great hiking trail if you like that," reports a camper who visited the park.
Private, wooded campsites: The equestrian campgrounds near Arlington, Wisconsin offer secluded sites with natural screening. At Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground, one camper noted, "We camped in a 'walk in' spot about 200 feet from where you can park the car. It is very secluded and tree cover allows you to be hidden from all others."
Accessibility to water recreation: Many campgrounds feature direct lake access for paddling and fishing. "The lake is gorgeous and clean. The only downfall is the lake is spring-fed so it's a bit cold for swimming," writes a visitor to White Mound County Campground.
Well-maintained facilities: Campers consistently mention the quality of bathrooms and showers. "Clean facilities, friendly staff, and great trails. No bugs!" notes a recent visitor to Lake Kegonsa State Park Campground. Most state park campgrounds provide shower facilities with hot water and clean restrooms.
Raccoon encounters: Several campgrounds report bold wildlife, particularly raccoons. "Beware of raccoons at this campground they are BOLD!" warns a camper at Governor Dodge State Park. Another visitor cautions, "The raccoons here and insanely bold, we had one frequently visit our site and get VERY close to us and in the evening ended up ripping thru the roof of our tent." Store food securely and never feed wildlife.
Reservation requirements: Wisconsin state parks require advance booking for equestrian campsites, especially during peak season. "Peak season reservations are a definite (weeks to months in advance for weekends)," advises a camper.
Water and electric availability: Services vary significantly between campgrounds. At Merry Mac's Campground, "They have a huge pond with inflatables. It's located right by Devils lake. Firewood for sale, great wifi, clean bathhouses/rooms," notes a visitor. Check site-specific amenities when booking.
Activity planning: Family-friendly campgrounds offer structured programs and dedicated play areas. "Super fun campground with so much to do! Lots of games for all up by lodge. DJ dance party on the deck at night. Lake full of all kinds of floats the kids can climb and jump on," writes a visitor to Merry Mac's Campground.
Site selection: Choose sites near restrooms for convenience with children. "I spent 1 night on the way to SD. My site was right next to camp hosts, and very near showers which were clean and lots of hot water," notes a camper at Lake Kegonsa State Park.
Weather preparation: Wisconsin weather can change rapidly, even during summer months. "We got quite a bit of rain on Saturday, but none of the sites had issues with flooding like we experienced in the spring at site 269," shares a camper at Governor Dodge State Park.
Low clearance warnings: Some parks have height restrictions or obstacles. A Lake Kegonsa visitor warns, "Major 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."
Leveling challenges: Many campsites in the driftless region require leveling blocks. "Not all 'driveways' are level which, unfortunately, we discovered in site 33. We slept with our heads lower than our feet in our camper van," notes a visitor to Governor Dodge State Park.
Site size considerations: Twin Valley Campground at Governor Dodge State Park Equestrian Campground offers varying site configurations. "Lower being better for larger RVs while upper has more shaded, cozier sites better for smaller rigs and tents," advises an RV camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Arlington, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Arlington, WI is Smokey Hollow Campground with a 3.4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Arlington, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 equestrian camping locations near Arlington, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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