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Best Tent Camping near Blue Mounds, WI

785 Reviews

Near Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, tent campers have access to several established campgrounds within a short drive. Governor Dodge State Park offers backpacking tent sites with positive reviews for privacy and scenic views. New Glarus Woods State Park provides both drive-in and walk-in tent camping options. These tent-focused campgrounds provide variable experiences depending on the specific location chosen.

Most tent sites in the area feature standard amenities including fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary between locations. Governor Dodge State Park's backpack campsites require a hike of approximately half to one mile from parking areas, offering more seclusion for tent campers. New Glarus Woods features wooded sites that provide good shade coverage, though some campers note significant highway noise that can affect the camping experience. Water availability depends on the specific campground, with some offering drinking water access while others require campers to bring their own supply. Vault toilets are standard at most locations, with shower facilities available at select campgrounds such as Governor Dodge State Park.

The tent camping experience near Blue Mounds offers varying levels of seclusion and natural immersion. Sites within Governor Dodge State Park provide access to extensive hiking opportunities and two main lakes for fishing. A recent review noted, "Great backpack base camp with great views, plenty of privacy and an easy hike." Walk-in tent sites at New Glarus Woods State Park are spaced out well within heavily wooded areas, providing a quick escape from urban environments despite some road noise. Hickory Ridge Group Camp features spacious sites with amenities conducive to family tent camping. Campers particularly interested in backcountry tent camping should consider Governor Dodge State Park's walk-in sites, which offer the best balance of accessibility and wilderness immersion in the region.

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Best Tent Sites Near Blue Mounds, Wisconsin (9)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Blue Mounds, WI

12 Photos of 9 Blue Mounds Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Blue Mounds, WI

785 Reviews of 9 Blue Mounds Campgrounds

  • Josh F.
    Sep. 21, 2020

    Blue Mound State Park Campground

    Close to Madison, near Military Ridge Trail, Some sites are Far, Far Away

    I spent two nights in the campground at Blue Mound State Park. Overall, the park has well-maintained hiking and MTB biking trails, extraordinarily clean and well-kept vault toilets, and ample access to drinking water. Both tent and RV/camper sites are on a typical one-way road pattern with a couple of loops there are plenty of sites with and without electricity. At the time I was there, 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. One of the park's highlights are lookout towers with views above the treetops, Unfortunately in 2020 both were closed, presumably because it would be difficult to keep a safe distance from others when on the stairs or while at the top. Pity, it'll be a reason to return. Still, 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. This is where the "Blue Mound" name must come from, the hills at that distance did have a bluish cast to them.

    If you've read any of my other reviews you know what's next, my list of the best campsites. While I've visited several parks now that have "walk in" sites, with cars parked a minute or two from the campsite, about a dozen sites in Blue Mound State Park take "walk in" to a new level. Cars can drive to a barrier across the road, and the sites are a 10-15 minute walk downhill, The park provides ONE medium-sized cart (250 lb weight limit, 20-minute use limit) that I guess would be in high demand during load in and load out. (NOTE TO SELF, camp Thursday through Monday if going here, or arrive EARLY to get a cart). Most of these sites are quite sunny; 105 is nice and shady and private, 106 slightly shaded 109 and 110 are shaded, very close to one another and would be good for a group camp setup 111 is quite shady. There's water and toilets in the walk-in camp ground. You'd want to sip wood for campfires and cooking, the nearest source is a 15-minute walk uphill and back, and then if using the cart, you have to return it for another round trip.

    Back in the family campground where mortals and RVs park, I think the following are the nicest in terms of shade, level, size and privacy.

    42, 45, 47, 51, 64, 66, 69, 71, 73

  • Griffin K.
    Oct. 4, 2020

    Blue Mound State Park Campground

    A+ camping experience

    Tl;dr: shower house is great. Nice campers, rangers and camping vibes. Go to Blue Mounds Grocery on the way in. easy access to hiking, mountain biking, and running trails - including Military Ridge Trail.

    Camped here with 2 friends during a cross country road trip. We had site 5 and were tent camping. When we showed up it was raining and it was unseasonably cold, but other campers in adjacent sites looked like they were having a great time - lots of family groups. This kept our spirits high as we set up camp, made a fire, and made dinner. The site was standard with a big picnic table, tent platform, fire pit, and room for our car. The bathroom and shower house was a really great amenity and there were spots for cars to drive over there if their spots were far. A very nice camp ranger came by to say hi and let us know that campers are expected to quiet down at 9ish and not be cognizant of that. Campers were being respectful of socially distancing and wearing masks for the most part. Seems like there is a great bike/hiking trail network all around. A couple of us are runners also a friend from Madison met us and we ran on the military ridge trail in the morning. There is very easy access to that. Also, insider note, on the way in, go to blue mounds grocery for anything you need (esp firewood). The cash register gave us some great camping advice.

  • Josh F.
    Dec. 29, 2020

    New Glarus State Park Campground

    Small, close to 2 busy roads - there are nicer options in Southern Wis.

    Throughout the summer of 2020, I camped at a number of Wisconsin state parks in the southern part of the state but hadn't gotten to camp at this one yet. While driving through the area I visited the park in December- photos won't show its summertime beauty but my walk through the park identified some ideal spots for camping. 

    The state park is open year-round, camping open May - October. The first thing I visited were the walk-in campsites. There is a loading zone parking lot with limited time parking. Access to the 14 walk-in sites is via a single trail with campsites on either side of the trail. There is a decrepit but functional pit toilet. All the walk-in sites have a picnic table and each is tucked off the trail into the woods.

    The downside to the walk-in sites is their proximity to a major highway. While walking through the campground I could easily hear the road noise. If I were looking to get away from civilization, or at least pretend to be far away from it all, that road noise would be a constant reminder that I wasn't. The further down the walk-in site trail I got, the closer I got to the highway and in fact, car headlights showed right up the trail as I was approaching the last set of campsites.

    When looking at a map and choosing a site, the walk-in campsites on the same side of the trail as the toilet are a little more private and secluded, and back up to expansive woods. The sites on the other side of the trail are nice but they are a little closer to the freeway and don't have as much forest coverage behind the campsites. The furthest walk-in site is at least a 4-minute (slightly downhill) walk from the parking lot. The centrally-located restroom is no more than 2 minutes from any of the walk-in campsites. Sites are between 40 and 1,000 feet from the walk-in loading zone.

    If walking to your campsite isn't your thing there is also a family campground with 17 drive-in (not drive through) sites located along a typical one-way paved road system. Unfortunately, this side of the state park is bordered by a different and only slightly less traveled road than the walk-in sites. Some campsites are sandwiched between the loop road and the main road, are lit by nighttime traffic headlights lights. As the campground road continues toward the group campground it veers away from the main road and offers a bit more privacy. These are the sites I'd select if I were to camp here.

    Of the group campsites, 55 and 56 are in a nicely wooded area with shade. 52 53 and 54 are in an open area with no shade. The family campground is serviced by two pit toilets centrally located to the campsites.

    Due to the very small size of this state park, lack of much to do except one hiking trail through it, and proximity to two main roads, I would not recommend the state park. There are many others in southern Wisconsin that have far more to offer. 

    Seriously, if you're looking for a Wisconsin state park in this neck of the woods, check out Yellowstone Lake or Blue Mound State Park instead. See my review of the latter for specific spots that would be awesome for tent camping.

  • Alex H.
    Sep. 26, 2022

    Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

    No Flat Spots

    Very nice park. Well marked and maintained trails. A large lake with boat launch and beach area. Separate pet area.

    We spent the weekend at site 101, which is a tent site. I wouldn't recommend this site. based on a quick walkaround, it seemed a bit smaller than other sites. That's not really a deal-breaker, but it didn't really have any flat spots to pitch the tent. We ended up pitching it up on the parking area, but it was still a bit slanted and we could feel the tire divot a little through the air mattresses. Aside from that, it was great. The site had a picnic table and fire ring that we used a lot. It was secluded from the surrounding sites.

    We hiked the Windy Ridge trail and the Prairie Loop trail. both were well maintained and enjoyable trails. We also spent some time on the beach.

  • Cristina S.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Blue Mound State Park Campground

    Clean and Modern

    Campsites, trails and facilities were immaculate. Staff was friendly. drive in and hike in sites available. great for families; trails have info markers to educate hikers on geology and flora of area. Drive in campsites had fire rings and picnic tables, vault toilets available.

  • Sarah B.
    Jul. 19, 2024

    Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

    Def do not recommend for summer 2024!

    I wanted so badly to love this campground experience, but just didn't. Site 19 was an easy walk-in that theoretically had nearby vault toilets, parking, and water.

    Each site only had space for one car to park before walking in. Not a huge deal, but annoying as there were 2 of us who drove separate and we had to problem solve. When we got to the site I was shocked to see that what was labeled as a tent site had literally NO flat space to actually set up a tent. Spacious site, but fully sloped.

    Also, what I would have loved to know, is that the vault toilets are closed because they are doing construction to build something new in that space. Construction that starts loudly each day at 7am. Honestly every site from about #35 down was affected by the noise because the construction is happening in the middle of the loop (and actually blocking some of the one-way road as well).

    The park in general was okay. Per the usual, the pet areas were lacking. No beach at all, just grass covered in goose poop and one cut out on the raised shore between tall grasses and foliage where a dog could potentially jump in. Certainly nowhere for a human to enjoy the water with their pups unfortunately.

  • Alex S.
    Jun. 20, 2019

    Red Oak Campgrounds

    Great for car camping!

    This is our favorite campground for when we want to take trips to Devil’s Lake State Park! The campgrounds all vary in size, and many have a good amount of tree cover so you have some privacy from your neighbors. Every campsite has at least one picnic table and fire-pit. You can pull your car right up to the campsite. There is a store where you check in and you can buy fire wood and little odds and ends like bug spray or tent stakes. There is a pool that is really clean along with bathrooms and showers.

  • Debra M.
    Jul. 3, 2021

    Blue Mound State Park Campground

    Great family spot with pool and splash pad

    We visited on July 4th weekend.  This campground is very clean and both shower house and  vault toilets are as well.  Sites are well spaced and each have fire pit/grill and picnic table.  Some are electric and map  shows them as numbered  E sites.  

    This campground has a nice playground, hiking trails both short and longer and bike trails.  It is a bit hilly and there are several mountain bike trails.  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 and adult and $2 for child.  Near by is Blue Mounds Caves.  We did not go, but there is much on the internet about the caves and they are recommended for even young children.   Internet signal at the campgrounds was good.  We have Verizon and could stream movies.  We also have AT &T and could access the net but could not stream.   This is one of the nicer WI campgrounds I have visited.

  • John W.
    Jul. 4, 2020

    Apple River Canyon

    Great first camping experience

    We tent camped at site 37. This site has a nice mix of shade and sun and the back had a water faucet. 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. No showers on site. One loop of the tent sites are able to be reserved and the other loop is first come, first served. There are short trails with some steep climbs, not wide paths so bring bug spray and tick tools! The river that cuts through is small but picturesque. Picnic areas are plentiful near the water. Caught two tiny bass and a trout. No firewood on site, but multiple homes on the drive in had $5 self serve bundles for sale. This site is a dark skies site, so if it’s not overcast or full moon there is some good stargazing. AT&T cell service is mostly nonexistent in camp, but kicks in as you head out, so plan your research ahead of time. Attached are some shots of some sites from the road

Guide to Blue Mounds

Tent camping near Blue Mounds, Wisconsin offers a variety of scenic locations and amenities for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Local attractions to explore

Some prices for tent camping range from $5 to $40

  • Camping at Blackhawk Memorial Park is economical, with site fees around $5 on weekdays and $10 on weekends, making it a budget-friendly option.
  • The cost for reserving a group site at Devils Lake State Park Group Campground is approximately $40 per night, ideal for families or groups looking to enjoy a spacious area together.
  • At Hickory Ridge Group Camp, prices are competitive, providing a great value for those seeking a family-friendly camping experience with ample amenities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Blue Mounds, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Blue Mounds, WI is New Glarus State Park Campground with a 3.7-star rating from 18 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Blue Mounds, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Blue Mounds, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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