Campgrounds near Osceola, Wisconsin offer a wide range of terrain for camping, from riverside spots to wooded retreats. The St. Croix River Valley features glacial-formed landscapes with hardwood forests and river bluffs at elevations ranging from 675 to 800 feet above sea level. Winter camping is available at several locations, though winter temperatures regularly drop below 10°F in December through February.
What to do
Paddle the St. Croix River: Interstate State Park provides excellent river access for kayakers and canoeists. "We had some challenge getting past the island with such low waters, but we persevered. If you launch from the River Bottoms Picnic Area boat launch, you can avoid those challenges," notes one visitor about Interstate Park on the Wisconsin side.
Explore glacial potholes: Both the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of Interstate State Park feature unique geological formations. "The draw here is the world's largest glacial potholes. When the river ran 200' higher than it does today, tornados of water eroded smooth round, massive holes in the rock. Some are so big that they still to this day have no idea how deep they go," reports a camper at Minnesota Interstate State Park.
Stargaze at designated areas: Wild River State Park offers dedicated star viewing spots. "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance," comments a visitor who appreciated the clear night skies.
What campers like
Private, wooded campsites: Wild River State Park offers secluded camping experiences. "The campground was very nice. The sites are private, couldn't see any neighbors as there are a lot of trees. The park rangers were very helpful and informative," shares a reviewer who appreciated the sense of seclusion at Wild River State Park.
Riverside camping: Many campsites allow direct river access. "When we first arrived to Interstate State Park our very first thought was 'that this is awful'. We hoped that our campsite that we had reserved was not as equals to those on the lower end of the northside, very open space more field like then camp ground to us. And then we came upon our site. With a waterfall on the back side and saint croix river on the other. I could not asked for a better site," explains a visitor.
Winter camping opportunities: Some parks offer winter camping experiences. "We planned on attending their candlelight ski and decided to camp. The campground was fully reserved but was empty, the low was 10 so people must have bowed out. The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent," reports a winter visitor to Wild River State Park who enjoyed both snowshoeing and skiing.
What you should know
Campsite privacy varies significantly: At William O'Brien State Park, site selection matters. "Compared to Wild River State Park, the sites at Savannah are pretty cramped with inconsistent vegetation between sites. I wouldn't want to stay here when the loop is fully reserved. On a Sunday evening with only one other site reserved, it felt like I had the place to myself," explains a camper at William O'Brien State Park.
Seasonal flooding impacts: River levels can drastically change access. "We stayed at William O'Brien in the middle of February with two college roommates. As you can imagine, this meant snow was everywhere in the heart of winter in Minnesota. We decided to take a night trek through the park. The moon was very bright that night so visibility was excellent."
Highway noise affects some sites: Traffic sounds reach certain campsites. "Site 11 is on the overpass side so there was vehicle noise or varying volume the whole time. Site 11 is partially shaded and that allowed us enough sun to top off the Jackery when needed," notes a visitor to Interstate Park Wisconsin.
Tips for camping with families
Kayaking with kids: Wildwood RV Park offers family-friendly water activities. "The kayaking/canoeing was an amazing adventure that everyone should try. It was even great for kids 3 and 6," shares a visitor to Wildwood RV Park & Campground.
Swimming options: Lake Elmo Park Reserve offers unique swimming facilities. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," explains a visitor to Lake Elmo County Park Reserve.
Park programs: Some campgrounds offer organized activities for children. "On Saturday nights they have a campgound program for the kids and families to watch. Very organized and clean facilities. Reasonably priced," notes a Lake Elmo visitor about the weekend entertainment options.
Tips from RVers
Best sites for RVs: At Willow River State Park, site selection matters. "We stayed at Site 133 and found it to be fairly spacious. One downside was that there's a trail running just behind the site, and several campers cut through our area to access it, which disrupted the sense of privacy," shares a camper at Willow River State Park.
Electric hookup information: Some sites have limited electrical capacity. "The electricity was not for a 30 amp hook up. It's 50 amp or use an adapter. We used the adapter and blew a circuit breaker when we used the A/C and the microwave at the same time," warns a visitor to Big Rock Creek.
Leveling requirements: Site terrain varies across camping sites near Osceola. "We stayed at #65: smallish but adequate, sloped down on (South) passenger side on backing in—needed leveling blocks for our squaredrop. Tentpad was small but workable," notes a camper at Interstate Park Wisconsin regarding the site conditions.
