Campgrounds near Belmont in southwestern Wisconsin are situated in the rolling terrain of the Driftless Area, with several established options within a 30-mile radius. Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground and Lake Joy Campground provide the closest developed camping areas to Belmont, while Governor Dodge State Park offers more extensive facilities about 25 miles northeast. The region includes a mix of state park campgrounds, RV parks, and privately operated facilities that accommodate tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and some cabin options. Most campgrounds in the area feature amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to hiking trails with varying levels of privacy between sites.
Camping seasons in southwestern Wisconsin typically run from April through October, with most facilities closing for the winter months. "Throughout the summer of 2020, I camped at a number of Wisconsin state parks in the southern part of the state," noted one visitor, highlighting the popularity of seasonal camping in the region. The area experiences typical Midwestern weather patterns with hot, humid summers and occasional thunderstorms. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Water access varies by location, with several campgrounds situated near lakes or rivers providing opportunities for fishing, boating, and paddling. Cell service is generally reliable near towns but may be spotty in more remote camping areas. Governor Dodge State Park maintains two separate campgrounds with different amenities and settings, allowing campers to choose between more developed or primitive experiences.
Visitors frequently mention the scenic beauty of the Driftless Area as a highlight of camping near Belmont. According to one camper, "Governor Dodge State Park has two very large lakes with nice pan fishing and modest but well-groomed swimming beaches." The Wisconsin River corridor offers additional camping options within driving distance, providing riverside sites and paddling opportunities. Many campgrounds in the region feature shaded sites with at least partial tree cover, offering relief during hot summer days. The proximity to small towns like New Glarus, Mineral Point, and Galena, Illinois allows campers to explore local attractions, historic sites, and dining options as part of their stay. Campers seeking more privacy may prefer the walk-in tent sites available at several state parks, which typically require carrying gear a short distance but offer more seclusion than drive-up camping areas.
"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."
"The hiking is amazing , particularly the Oakgrove trail, plenty to see with beautiful views. There is boating, canoeing, etc."
"With rolling hills of Wisconsin farmland surrounding you, you can't beat the view."
"There’s a cute store and a cute little area with outside games like corn hole and yard checkers. There’s a huge grassy area for walking the dog and several stations set up with poop bags/garbage."
"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,"
"Had to set our tent up right next to the fire ring, as that was the only spot that wasn’t muddy, so we couldn’t have a decent fire. During the rain the water was ankle deep under the picnic table."
"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."
$14 - $26 / night
"Train tracks border the campground and train horns are loud. Has sites with views of the Mississippi."
"Railroad tracks border the campground. Train horns are loud and was awaken at 3 am. It does have a nice view of the Mississippi and you can see the river from many camp sites."
"This campground is tucked into a little area next to a Walmart, Culvers, and Mini golf course. It sits between east Dubuque and Galena. When we stayed they had a dirt bike rally."
"Campground was right next to Walmart, which was convenient, and a short walk down to the high school to get the shuttle into Galena itself."
$8 / night
"There is a trail that works it’s way through the back of the sites. The sites are a bit close together and separation is sometimes sparse. Restrooms are pits and well maintained stocked with TP."
"Very close to fishing! Lots of fun hiking trails. I love that there is minimal cell signal to keep everyone off their phones"
"The campground was higher up on the hill, it took a 5 minutes to hike down to the lake with lots of steep steps. Nice beach area. I spent two nights here with an RV. I had electric hookup."
$15 - $20 / night
TravelerWe 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.
TravelerQuiet Thursday night stay along the water. We saw so much wildlife and really enjoyed the songs of the many species of birds in the area.
ScoutWe stayed here as a large group and had an AWESOME time. It was gorgeous, campsites were spaced out great, and the woods were gorgeous. Nice fire pit, great amount of space, etc. Not super buggy either! It was just awesome. (Fair warning the raccoons are unafraid and WILL steal bags of food lol)
ScoutThis was a nice campground. Sites are a good size and the public restroom/showers are very clean! Downside is there are trains going by with horns all the time.
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!
TravelerMy wife and I tent camped here. We had never been here before.
We stayed at site 77 as the majority of the sites were booked.
77 is sloped, as well as gravel with hard packed earth. Some patches of grass, but for the most part it’s gravel. My wife and I sleep on mattresses, so it was not an issue for us.
If you’re tent camping, I highly recommend looking for a site with a leveled tent pad. We did not inspect any of them, but from a distance the pads look like packed sand or something of that nature.
The pit toilets are very well taken care of. The shower facilities were not open during our visit.
Here is where our problems lied (and this has little to do with the park itself)
there was no end-of-night patrol of any kind. The biggest issue we faced was the amount of noise. All of the sites surrounding us knew each other and partied together. People that partied until 1am, yelling and being loud as hell. Screaming at cars that drove by. quiet hours are listed online starting at 10pm.
We left our campsite to ask the Onsite host for help or to do something about it, but they chose not to come out of their camper. We called every line we could to get someone to come and shut them up, but alas, no park employees or hotlines were available. The wife and I certainly did not want to call the cops since we were surrounded by a group of drunk loud people and that can get out of hand fast.
Park staff came to our site the very next morning and talked to us. They warned all groups around us of the noise level. While this did calm down the partying our next night, it did not stop them from yelling things towards our campsite to try and scare us. Making animal noises and non-sense scare tactics to try and intimidate us.
Trashy and disrespectful, we walk away from our experience with an extremely negative stain.
This has nothing to do with the park itself, just the unfortunate circumstance that we were surrounded by terrible people that do not respect the rules of camping.
ScoutIt’s a nice place to camp if you are fortunate enough to be with others know how to keep there music low or off. The lake is lovely, the camp sites are plentiful and fairly dispersed. I moved once after the music started blaring with Cheap Trick from the ‘70’s and now in the distance I can hear a metal band and a very high quality bass thumping away. Crazy. Tucked away on a bluff looking at a lovely landscape. If this kind of thing doesn’t bother you, you will enjoy this place. If you want quiet, it may be disappointing. Playground for kids, a beach, fishing.
TravelerStaying in the Deerfield (?) loop provided quiet sites, some good wooded walks in the campground, and clean bathrooms. The park itself offers pretty, remote hiking along the bluffs and in the forests. You won't get bored camping here, although Wyalusing is a little too big to be walkable. Summers can be very hot, and swimming at Wyalusing is iffy/nonexistent.
GuideWyalusing State Park is a real gem, if you’re able to get a spot. The campsites along the ridge offer the best views, but do not have electricity. The inner campsites have electricity but no views. Definitely not the most private campground, with many sites being tight up against the campground road.
There are some very nice hiking trails here, as well as a few interesting things like the little “cave” you can check out. We came here in April and had a wonderful time, it was not too muddy and not too cold at night.
Camping spots near Belmont, Wisconsin sit within the unique Driftless Area, a region untouched by glaciers during the last ice age, creating distinctive geological features with steep limestone bluffs and deeply carved river valleys. Elevations in the area range from approximately 800 to 1,200 feet above sea level, with seasonal temperatures fluctuating from summer highs in the mid-80s to winter lows well below freezing. Most campgrounds in the region require advance booking from April through October, especially for weekend stays at more developed sites.
Swimming at Yellowstone Lake: The 455-acre lake offers a sandy beach with designated swimming areas perfect for cooling off during hot summer days. "What really makes this campground is the lake. There's a nice beach for kids and adults to relax at and lots of kayaks on the water," notes Ryan K. of Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground.
Canyon hiking: The Stevens Falls and Canyon Trails provide access to unique geological formations within the Driftless Area. One visitor to Cox Hollow Campground described their experience: "The Stevens Falls and Canyon Trails were the highlight of the trip. First you can explore the old spring house and read the informational signs about the family that used to farm there and other early settlers in the area."
Trout fishing: Spring-fed streams around Apple River Canyon offer excellent fishing opportunities, especially in April when trout stocking occurs. "Great spot for fishing (stocked trout in April, Smallmouth all year). Quick Tip: Bring sandals for wet wading in the creek. Head upstream for a 1/4 mile for really awesome views," advises Brannon M.
Stargazing: Multiple campgrounds in the region offer good night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. At Apple River Canyon, one camper noted, "This site is a dark skies site, so if it's not overcast or full moon there is some good stargazing."
Private walk-in sites: For those seeking more seclusion, several campgrounds offer walk-in tent sites set back from the main camping areas. At Twin Valley Campground, Mary M. commented on site 271: "Just enough of a walk to feel remote but not so far that I couldn't carry all my stuff... The site I picked had lots of great options for hammock hanging!"
Clean facilities: Multiple campers highlight the cleanliness of restrooms and shower facilities as a standout feature. At Rustic Barn Campground, one visitor observed: "Shower house was immaculate with large hard stalled showers/changing room." Another camper at Lake Joy noted the bathrooms were "a bit overwhelmed due to the group size but I'd guess under normal circumstances they're fine."
Panoramic vistas: The elevated terrain around Belmont provides several lookout points with far-reaching views. "There are several observation areas that are maintained well enough to keep the undergrowth from blocking the view of the Wisconsin River Valley nearly 15 miles to the north," reported Josh F. about Blue Mound State Park Campground.
Quality hardwood firewood: Multiple state parks sell firewood directly, with some private sellers nearby. At Blue Mound, "the camp host sold high-quality hard wood for $5/bundle from a trailer on the honor system, so if you run out in the middle of the night, wood was easy to replenish."
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are frequently mentioned as bold and persistent at many area campgrounds. At Governor Dodge State Park, Jen L. warns: "Beware of raccoons at this campground they are BOLD!" Another camper at Blue Mound stated, "The raccoons are a bit gutsier than most," while a visitor at Twin Valley had a more direct experience: "We had one frequently visit our site and get VERY close to us."
Limited level ground: Due to the hilly terrain, finding completely level tent sites can be challenging. At Grant River Recreation Area, campers appreciate that "most sites had view of river" though a visitor to Cox Hollow noted "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."
Train noise: Campgrounds located near the Mississippi River may experience train noise. At Grant River, a camper reported: "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."
Cell service variations: Coverage is inconsistent throughout the region. At Apple River Canyon, a camper noted "T-mobile cell service is spotty at best" while another mentioned "no cell service for T-Mobile so download songs on Spotify accordingly." However, at Blue Mound, "Internet signal at the campgrounds was good. We have Verizon and could stream movies."
Swimming options: The pool at Blue Mound State Park offers family-friendly swimming facilities beyond natural water bodies. "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," reports Debra M.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playgrounds for younger children. At Palace Campground, visitors mention "swings and playground for kids" and note it's "very spacious, grassy and clean."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early mornings and evenings provide the best wildlife spotting chances. At Apple River Canyon, one visitor "saw some deer, a big raccoon, and an eagle; and met a local photographer who showed me pictures he had taken of local fox kits and other cool wildlife."
Secure food storage: Multiple reviewers stress the importance of proper food storage due to wildlife. At Twin Valley, one camper learned this lesson the hard way: "The raccoons here are insanely bold... ended up ripping thru the roof of our tent... For any new campers, DO NOT FEED THE RACCOONS."
Site selection considerations: Many campgrounds in the area have both sunny and shaded sites with varying degrees of privacy. At Rustic Barn Campground RV Park, Carl F. advises: "I wish we would have booked a back in site, because they were wonderfully shaded and appeared easy to back into. (Our last 2 campground back ins were nightmarishly narrow with close trees.)"
Hookup availability: Electric-only sites are common at state parks, while private campgrounds typically offer more full hookup options. As one visitor to Rustic Barn noted, "All sites had gravel driveways and looked level. Decent separation between sites although they are close together, as would be expected in an RV park."
Size limitations: Some campgrounds have restrictions on RV length due to narrow roads or small sites. At Apple River Canyon, one reviewer cautioned: "Though there is a dump station, I would not recommend this park for large campers. Our pop up did fine and we saw a few other tear drop campers, but the roads are pretty narrow for anything more than that."
Leveling challenges: The hilly terrain can create leveling difficulties. Paul C. notes that Governor Dodge is a "Great campground for everything but big 5th wheelers and motorhomes" while another camper at Rustic Barn mentioned "Not all sites had the patio nor were level."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Belmont, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Belmont, WI offers a wide range of camping options, with 104 campgrounds and RV parks near Belmont, WI and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Belmont, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Belmont, WI is Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 36 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Belmont, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Belmont, WI.
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