135 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Highland, Wisconsin provides access to several established campgrounds and recreation areas within the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin. Blackhawk Lake Recreational Area offers tent, RV, and cabin camping directly in Highland, while Governor Dodge State Park, located about 15 miles east in Dodgeville, features multiple campgrounds including Cox Hollow and Twin Valley. The terrain consists primarily of rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and river valleys typical of the unglaciated Driftless region, with both wooded sites and open areas available throughout the campgrounds.
Reservations are strongly recommended at most established campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends and holidays when sites fill quickly. Campgrounds in the area typically operate from April through October or November, with limited winter camping options. Governor Dodge State Park maintains year-round accessibility but with reduced services during winter months. As one visitor noted, "Governor Dodge has two very large lakes with nice pan fishing and modest but well-groomed swimming beaches." Terrain can be challenging in parts of the region, with steep approaches to some camping areas. Cell service is generally reliable near established campgrounds but may be spotty in more remote locations.
Campers report high satisfaction with waterfront sites and scenic overlooks available at several campgrounds. Blackhawk Lake Recreation Area provides direct lake access with options for fishing and boating. The Wisconsin River corridor north of Highland offers additional camping experiences, particularly at Wisconsin Riverside Resort which one camper described as "a great family campground right on the lower Wisconsin River" with "a decent sized pool that is clean and well-maintained." Most campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities including drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables, with varying levels of electrical hookups and shower facilities. Proximity to nearby attractions like House on the Rock, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, and the small towns of Spring Green and Mineral Point adds to the appeal of camping in this region.
"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."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Most sites are permanent sites, but have probably around 20 other 30 amp sites that can accommodate large RVs."
"Luckily, they were able to get me a campsite for two nights where I could regroup do a little laundry and chill out also took a bike ride on the bike path."
"Lots of access to pit toilets and water fountains from primary camping sites!"
"Great hike threw out the state park. 2 main lakes with great fishing is a plus. Lots to do for the whole family"
from $25 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $18 - $110 / night
Check Availability"Overall, the park has well-maintained hiking and MTB biking trails, extraordinarily clean and well-kept vault toilets, and ample access to drinking water."
"This is another Wisconsin gym sitting in Southern West Wisconsin."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"There is also a man-made lake with a beach for swimming and bigger kids to enjoy the large inflatable slides and swim platforms."
"I’m a tent camper so tucked in the back was great. It’s a bit of a normal RV easy camping almost glamping with the amenities around."
from $32 - $170 / night
Check Availability"A small shallow lake, very quiet small campground. No big town around but nice country."
from $50 - $90 / night
Check Availability
ScoutMendota was great for the clean showers, bathrooms and complimentary water and dump, given it’s a slight disappointment that the camp sites don’t have these hookups. Access to the lake, Middleton and Madison is great and the park itself has a few things to do.
GuideA nice Little campground close to Elizabeth Illinois. The bathrooms are well capped, but the showers require quarters!
ScoutThis is a fantastic Campground, especially for RVs and families. Large playground and outdoor games, small indoor rec area. During busy weekends with lots of kids and holidays, they have foam parties for the kids where they fill the basketball court with foam 3 ft High. Most sites are permanent sites, but have probably around 20 other 30 amp sites that can accommodate large RVs. There are only a few tent sites, but if tent is your only option and you still want to stay they will rent you an RV site for the tent. New owners are very friendly, and have adopted the same overwhelmingly hospitable nature as the previous owners. Fantastic people and very helpful. It will accommodate special needs or requests as long as it doesn't bother anybody or go against any insurance policies. I've had a permanent site here in the past, and recently started camping again and came to visit old friends. The new owners were still happy to accommodate semi truck parking for my job. I haul milk locally so I work more than I'm off, but the family can still camp and I can come when I'm done work. It is near the Wisconsin River, so it's fairly sand base although the Grass Grows plenty so you're not tracking sand everywhere. The benefits of this is when it rains heavily the sand absorbs the water rapidly. The only negative is the mosquitoes. Be prepared for mosquitoes with lots of bug spray. This is no fault of the campground, all low wetlands in Wisconsin are the same. The bathrooms are some of the best in any Campground I've seen. They are always clean, modernized, and Air condition. There are showers and bathroom stalls near the park. They try to keep families close to the park if possible for the bathrooms and the park access itself. They are really extremely accommodating for requests if it's in their power at all. The owners live at the campground and are always accessible by a simple phone call if after hours. There's a community vibe, with a community fire pit up front and often people are just hanging out outside of the main office. It embodies our Wisconsin way of life and you will find strangers waving at you every time you pass by. It's just our nature, don't be weirded out by the friendliness. The regular permanent campers are all so friendly and always willing to help a newbie or even someone struggling to figure out a problem or even carry things.
ScoutJust stopped for one night. Very friendly and helpful camp staff. Nice trees, electrical and sewer.
GuideFound this campground by chance after the campground I had planned to stay at was a complete disaster. Luckily, they were able to get me a campsite for two nights where I could regroup do a little laundry and chill out also took a bike ride on the bike path.
GuideNice campground with hookups. But the shower only had the push button and the water was so hot it was scalding!
GuideBest kept secret in the area. Very low rates (5 dollars a night Sunday through Thursday .
GuideFirst, the staff was very accommodating, and we appreciated it. We made a last minute booking over the phone and requested a late check-in, and they were wonderful about making it happen for us.
Once we arrived, everything seemed to go wrong. It appears there’s been a recent change in ownership. The campground was marked with a different name and we weren’t sure we were in the right place. Then, the sites and the hookup numbers don’t match, so again we weren’t sure we were in the right place. Once we found our spot, the site next to us had spread into our space, so we had to wait to pull in until they moved their stuff out of the way. Even so, the lots were very tight. The women’s bathroom was unkept - hair and bugs in the sink, and no toilet paper. A half-drunk bottle of Fireball was in the men’s room.
We also woke to a cracked windshield. Not necessarily the campground’s fault, but just added to the experience.
It worked for a one night stop-over, but wouldn’t have chosen it for a lengthy stay.
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.
The Driftless Area near Highland, Wisconsin averages 34 inches of precipitation annually with distinctive limestone formations and valleys carved by pre-glacial erosion. Camping sites near Highland, Wisconsin typically have challenging terrain with some sites situated along steep approaches that require careful navigation. The region's unglaciated landscape creates unique camping environments with elevations ranging from 900-1,200 feet.
Hiking trails and waterfalls: At Governor Dodge State Park, the Lost Canyon and Stephens Falls trails offer memorable experiences. "Stevens Falls and Canyon Trails were the highlight of the trip... Once you continue down to the falls they have another informational plaque about the falls with old pictures... The falls themselves are amazing," reports one visitor who explored despite rainy conditions.
Water activities and beaches: The park features two lakes perfect for kayaking and swimming. "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," notes a camper. For river recreation, the Wisconsin River provides tubing opportunities from Spring Green.
Mountain biking: Blue Mound State Park maintains dedicated mountain biking trails throughout its hilly terrain. "There are a lot of trails for hiking and mountain biking. A swimming pool and picnic area," explains one visitor who appreciated the variety of activity options available to campers.
Backpacking sites: Governor Dodge State Park Backpack Campsites offer more seclusion than standard campsites. "Great backpack base camp! Great views, plenty of privacy and an easy hike. We stayed at 806," reports one backpacker who enjoyed the balance between accessibility and seclusion.
Hammock-friendly camping: Many sites feature mature trees perfect for hammock camping. One camper at Governor Dodge noted, "We stayed at a hike in site in May and had great hanging options for our hammocks, excellent privacy in the hike-in sites, and beautiful options for hiking, fishing, and photography."
Family amenities: Wisconsin Riverside Resort offers extensive facilities for family enjoyment. "There is a decent sized pool that is clean and well-maintained with a smaller kiddie pool with a slide. There is also a man-made lake with a beach for swimming and bigger kids to enjoy the large inflatable slides and swim platforms," writes one camper who appreciated the range of activities available.
Raccoon activity: Multiple campgrounds report bold wildlife interactions. At Twin Valley Campground, campers warn: "The raccoons here are 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... Very frustrating night."
Shower facilities: Availability and quality vary between campgrounds. "Bathrooms/showers were warm and clean, and the vault toilets were not bad although there were a few spiders," notes one camper. Some campgrounds require payment for showers, so bring quarters.
Seasonal considerations: Most camping facilities operate April through November. "Stayed at the Twin Valley campground. Beautiful. Some nice Fall colors... While other Wisconsin state parks have shut off most water & closed their shower houses, this park kept these amenities available this late in October; that was a nice surprise."
Swimming options: Blue Mound State Park Campground offers unique water facilities. "This campground has a very clean pool and splash section. There are chairs and lounges around both and shade awnings. The cost is $3 for an adult and $2 for child," explains a visitor who appreciated the well-maintained facilities.
Playground amenities: Several campgrounds feature play equipment. "Perfect for a family get away - showers, flush toilets, lots of hiking (but trails aren't very challenging), swimming area and boat launch, playground. Basically a little bit of everything that makes it family friendly," notes one parent.
Group sites: For larger family gatherings, specialized areas work best. "Stayed here last year with a group of friends! Had 2 different group sites and both were awesome! A lot of space and not close to other group sites so it was nice to not have to worry about surrounding people!"
Site selection: At Blackhawk Lake Recreational Area, elevation affects access to amenities. "The campground was higher up on the hill, it took 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," explains one RVer who appreciated the facilities despite the climb.
Electrical hookups: Many campgrounds offer electrical service but require advance planning. "I recommend going in the Fall to see some great Fall colors!" advises one camper who found autumn visits particularly rewarding due to smaller crowds and spectacular scenery.
Leveling challenges: The region's hilly terrain can complicate RV setup. "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," warns an RV camper who encountered positioning difficulties at Governor Dodge State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Highland, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Highland, WI offers a wide range of camping options, with 135 campgrounds and RV parks near Highland, WI and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Highland, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Highland, WI is Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park with a 4.2-star rating from 27 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Highland, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Highland, WI.
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