Cabin rentals near Elroy, Wisconsin offer access to Wisconsin's famous 400 State Trail, a 22-mile rail-trail through the Baraboo River Valley with an average 2% grade. The area sits at approximately 1,200 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping months. Winter cabin rentals remain available at several campgrounds when temperatures drop to the 20-30°F range from December through February.
What to do
Biking rail trails: The Elroy-Sparta trail runs directly through Tunnel Trail Campground, letting campers access three historic tunnels. "The Elroy Sparta Bike Trail, North America's first rails-to-trails project, runs through the Tunnel Trail Campground. The campground is very nice, especially for tents and smaller campers and caters to bicyclists," notes one visitor.
Kayaking and fishing: Mirror Lake State Park offers calm waters for paddling with sandstone cliff views. "The lake is nice and cold lots of kayaking and canoeing. You can launch at the boat ramp," reports a camper. Another adds, "The lake is great for kayaking. Lots of sandstone cliffs."
Geocaching adventures: Buckhorn State Park provides GPS units for geocaching adventures. "When we arrived and checked in we grabbed one of their pre-loaded GPS units for Geocaching; It's something the park offers for free. They give you a bag, GPS and information book on all the Geocaching sites," explains one visitor who brought their nieces.
What campers like
Private lakefront access: At Buckhorn State Park Campground, walk-in sites provide direct lake access. "We got one of the spots that you needed to hike out to but it wasn't far at all. There were 2 other campsites beside us but they weren't reserved so we were all by ourselves. We had a little slice of beach and it was very beautiful during sunset," describes one camper.
Family-friendly amenities: Wisconsin Dells KOA offers facilities particularly suited for children. A visitor reports, "We stayed at KOA in Wisconsin dells, which was about a mile away from everything. They have a kids playground, and a heated pool with some little attractions attached for the kids. Bathrooms showers were CLEAN!! they also provided movie night on a project underneath a pavilion."
Cabin comfort: The cabins near Elroy at Oakdale KOA provide convenient accommodations with varying levels of amenities. "We upgraded with a patio site that included a nice round patio table with 4 padded chairs, a gas grill, and 2 Adirondack chairs. Very nice for a quick night's stay when you don't want to take everything out," notes one guest.
What you should know
Highway noise considerations: Several campgrounds in the area experience highway noise. At Mirror Lake, "You can definitely hear traffic at almost all times," and another camper advises, "You are so so close to the freeway. I wasn't aware of the freeway noise during the day, but once I went to bed it was all I could hear—so bring better earplugs than I did!"
Bathroom facilities vary: Cabin and campground bathroom access varies widely. Chapparal Campground receives high marks for cleanliness: "This ultra clean campground has amazing shower and bathroom facilities. The owners are kind and respectful, the grounds are very well-kept and bathrooms are cleaned multiple times a day."
Seasonal insect challenges: Summer brings mosquitoes, particularly at Buckhorn State Park. "I may be biased—because I really hate mosquitos and ticks but wow! The ticks here are so tiny they're very easy to miss so look out for those. Also the mosquitos never let up—even in the rain," warns one reviewer.
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation options: Multiple options exist for water activities with children. "The ultra clean campground has a small swimming pool that is clean and not too deep, as well as a giant beach and swimming hole. Campers may use the beach for free, but the inflatables that are on the water cost extra," reports a Chapparal visitor.
Playground access: Arrowhead RV Campground offers extensive recreation options. "Great campground for families with kids and teens. Tons of activities all around the campground. There were outdoor movies, put-put, corn hole, two pools, huge trampoline, volleyball nets, disc golf, and a Christmas in July festival all happening when we were there," shares one family.
Cabin selection for families: When booking cabin accommodations near Elroy with children, consider proximity to bathrooms. A Wisconsin Dells KOA visitor explains, "Our site was level and had everything we needed (fire ring, picnic table, electric), and was across the road from a wonderful bathhouse/restroom. The facilities were very clean, and we appreciated that the showers each had separate entrance doors."
Tips from RVers
Extension cord requirements: At Arrowhead RV Campground, electrical hookups may require additional equipment. "Camping spots are situated with the terrain which can make them interesting to get into. They're gravel and mostly level. Make sure you bring 50 ft of electrical cord and water hose. They do offer to barrow their extension cords," advises one RVer.
Water fill locations: For those with cabin or RV accommodations, note water access points. A Mirror Lake camper explains, "We had electric, picnic table, (you have to fill your camper with water after you enter there's many hoses)." This applies to many campgrounds in the area without full hookups.
Dump station access: When staying in camper cabins or RVs, Tunnel Trail Camp Ground provides sanitary dump facilities. Their cabin rentals allow easy access while maintaining camping atmosphere. "Water and electric hookup on each site! Amazing events every weekend!" notes a regular visitor.
