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Best Campgrounds near Galesville, WI

542 Reviews

Galesville, Wisconsin provides access to several riverside campgrounds nestled along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Champions Riverside Resort in Galesville offers tent, RV, and cabin camping with full hookup sites and is open from April through October. Perrot State Park Campground, located near Trempealeau about 10 miles west of Galesville, features camping with scenic bluff views overlooking the Mississippi River. River's Edge Campground on the Black River provides additional options with tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations. Most developed campgrounds in the area include electric hookups, drinking water, showers, and toilet facilities.

The camping season generally runs from April through October, with some facilities like Perrot State Park remaining open year-round. A visitor commented, "This area is beautiful. Awesome bluff views of the Trempealeau and Mississippi rivers and definitely worth the hike up for them." Many campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Perrot State Park requires both camping fees and an additional daily vehicle pass. Water quality can vary, with some locations reporting seasonal water advisories. The region experiences significant mosquito activity during summer months, particularly in sites near water. Road conditions are generally good with most campgrounds accessible via paved roads, though some sites may present leveling challenges for larger RVs.

Hiking trails with Mississippi River views represent a significant attraction for campers in the Galesville area. Several visitors highlight the challenging but rewarding hiking at Perrot State Park, with one reviewer noting that "The hiking trails are very well marked" and another mentioning "The hikes are a great work out and the reward is always a great view of the Mississippi." Water recreation opportunities abound, with boat access at several campgrounds and paddling opportunities on the Mississippi and Black rivers. Campgrounds range from family-oriented resorts with numerous activities to quieter, more natural settings. Sites vary significantly in privacy levels, with some reviewers mentioning spacious sites at Perrot State Park with "nice vegetation between sites" while others note that commercial campgrounds can have more densely arranged accommodations.

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Best Camping Sites Near Galesville, Wisconsin (159)

    1. Perrot State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Trempealeau, WI
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 534-6409

    $39 / night

    "Located among driftless Wisconsin, Perrot SP is a great place to camp. The highlight of this park are the hiking trails created by the CCC."

    "There is a rail line that runs along between the Mississippi and the park edge, campsites are away from this but still can be heard as well as motor boats on the River."

    2. Great River Bluffs State Park Campground

    27 Reviews
    Dakota, MN
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 643-6849

    "I enjoy camping away from the hub bub of the family campground and opting for the backpack or cart in sites. Luckily, Great River Bluffs has some of the nicest cart ins I have encountered."

    "The cart in sites all have a fire pit with a grill, picnic table, and are a short walk from the primitive toilets. There is a water spigot in the parking area."

    3. River's Edge Campground - Black River

    4 Reviews
    Galesville, WI
    4 miles
    Website

    $30 - $40 / night

    "This place is priced around the same as other places you might camp around Wisconsin and I believe is privately owned."

    "There is a bar and restaurant within walking distance. A lot of people camp there, the sites are small we still managed to have a good time. We had four campsites next to each other for our group."

    4. Prairie Island City Campground

    11 Reviews
    Winona, MN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 452-4501

    "This campground is a home away from home. We found this campground through this app, and was very happy with our stay. We had one of the primitive sites on the river front, and it was huge!"

    "Clean bath house and convenient outdoor bathroom buildings around the grounds. The road along the river is narrow making it hard to back your camper into the riverfront sites if you have neighbors."

    5. Champions Riverside Resort

    3 Reviews
    Galesville, WI
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 582-2995

    "We brought their bikes along which was fun to hit the bike trails at midway. We did find out the campground charters a canoe trip so if we had planned better we will do that next time."

    6. Merrick State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Fountain City, WI
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 687-4936

    "This is our first Wisconsin state park camping experience. This place is lovely! Nice and secluded. Our site is spacious. Nice deep fire ring with a grill grate. Really close to the river, as well."

    "We always bring the kayaks, so the water access offered is why we stay.  

    3 Campgrounds:

     - Island sites offer the best-in-park privacy for a campsite, but they are walk in (carts provided for hauling"

    7. Veterans Memorial Park & Campground

    8 Reviews
    Onalaska, WI
    18 miles
    +1 (608) 789-8599

    "Vet's Park has direct access to the La Crosse Great River Trail where you can connect onto Elroy/Sparta Trail to the east and it directly to La Crosse Great River Trail to the northwest."

    "Great location!"

    8. Pettibone Resort

    12 Reviews
    La Crescent, MN
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 782-5858

    $28 - $30 / night

    "About a 10 minute walk over the Cass St. bridge and you are in the heart of downtown La Crosse. This campground offers everything."

    "Utilities were located in the rear. 20A/30A electric and water. Site was a little unlevel. Neighbors are close. 

    AT&T had 2-3 bars of LTE and Verizon 1 bars of LTE service."

    9. Frickson Family Farms LLC

    3 Reviews
    Trempealeau, WI
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 429-0375

    $30 / night

    "Great Harvest Host location super nice family."

    "We pulled in from a long driving day .we were greeted by our host . She was very friendly and explained where the site was . Had a great night sleep . This is a good over night stop ."

    10. Whispering Pines Campground

    1 Review
    Galesville, WI
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 526-4956

    $58 - $83 / night

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Recent Camping Photos near Galesville, WI

178 Photos of 159 Galesville Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Galesville, WI

542 Reviews of 159 Galesville Campgrounds

  • L
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Holden Park Campground

    Fall Ride in Ocotber

    Our group has been camping at the Holden County Park for 4 years now, this will be our 5th year.

     We are so happy that the shower/restrooms are finally done, its a great plus and we feel that more people will camp there now. 

    We love how quiet it is when we return from our daily rides, its like its our own place as there aren't many if any at all other campers there. This year may be different and if it is we won't mind at all, hopefully they don't either as we do stay up late by the fire but aren't wild crazy loud.

  • Cynthia K.
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Oakdale KOA

    Shady trees

    KOA Journey. We didn't feel like tackling Illinois at the end of the day, so we planned a stop here. 

    Check in was pleasant. We were in the back by the bathroom, which was my request. Lots of shady trees. This is a well established campground. As others have noted there is Interstate noise. It's easy on- easy off though.

     There's a Loves nearby.

  • Deb M.
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Blackhawk Park

    Another nice COE campground

    Nice mix of sites at this park, many with electric hookups. There’s also lots of unnumbered sites FCFS sites around the park. Only 1 bathroom/shower building, and lots of vault toilets. The west loop sites (where we camped) were a bit close together, but large and level. Even on a busy Labor Day weekend, the campground was quiet and peaceful. AT&T service was good, and T-Mobile service was very spotty. There’s a dump station and potable water on site. We will definitely be back.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Richard J Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest Isinours Management Unit

    Lovely space

    There are a few spaces with views you can hike in to but I opted for a spot next to my car. And ideal spot for a one nighter. I stopped here after a 12 hour drive got set up and even walked the trails for a few miles before bed.

  • J
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Reicks Lake Park

    Didn’t stay the night

    Based on picture, we planed to stay at this campsite. It is right in the side of the highway, so too much noise and traffic for us. The picture this site provides is actually the other side of highway, over a hill, so you can’t see it from campsite. but there’s a view of marshlands. It’s $20, have showers and toilets. There’s a small playground for kids. We came across people That said they camp there all the time and love it.

  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Castle Mound Campground — Black River State Forest

    Really beautiful state campground

    Beautiful, clean, peaceful, wooded campground. Its mid-week and there's only a few other campers here. Most are super respectful with the exception of one group that has the occasional outburst but they were mostly quiet otherwise. We saw some bunnies, birds and raccoons. Heard squirrels, owls and other birds. Vault toilets throughout the campground and one building with showers and flush toilets near the visitor center with plenty of parking. Water fill and dump station located at the front near the visitor station as well. We got here around 6pm yesterday and no one was at the check in so we used the kiosk to get the park pass. A bit steep for out of state visitors @ $16 but they seem to keep the park in great shape so for once it was worth it. Lots of space and shade in all spots. Many sites with electric and some without. Plenty of spots can accommodate mid-large campers. Its about half and half pull-thru or back-in/pull-in. We have a 26 foot travel trailer and had no issues. Mostly level spots as well. A lot of trees are close to the road and made it slightly challenging to maneuver the road but nothing too crazy...just pay attention if you have a larger camper. We dont make it though wisconsin a lot but we'd definitely come back here again. Easy and quick to get to from 94 and less than a mile from Walmart. Plenty of stores/restaurants nearby. Really the only complaint besides the high entrance fee for out of state is that it is close to the town and you can definitely hear traffic. It's not too bad considering the surrounding woods definitely deaden the noise. Wish we could have stayed longer to explore the park better.

  • Cynthia K.
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Rochester-Marion KOA

    In transition

    The direct road to the KOA was all jacked up due to a large construction project that closed the whole road. We got back on the Interstate & got off on exit 224. Took Co Rd 7 to HWY 52. This is a lot easier than the directions the KOA gave.

     This is a small KOA Journey we stayed in 1 night on our way up North. It's an established campground, but well kept. We stayed on the office side of the road. The other side has newer sites & the pool. Our site was a buddy site, which I dislike. It was close to the bathrooms/showers though, which helps out my mobility challenged husband. I can put up with it for 1 night. 

    The bathrooms were clean. The laundry had 2 dryers out of service.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Zumbro Bottoms State Forest

    State Forest Dispersed Camping

    This area is off a low maintenance dirt road. It is best to come in from the south as sometimes the gate on the river bridge to the north is closed.

    There is a parking spot near a known dispersed camping site with easy vehicle access next to it. There are hiking trails that pass by this site.

  • Kay K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

    Cottontail lane

    We hiked a short distance into our site. We had to pass a grassy area that was always full of bunnies! The site was of good size, dark and quiet. The shower house was close and clean.

Guide to Galesville

Camping near Galesville, Wisconsin, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled weekend, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking Trails: Explore the many trails in the area. At Whitewater State Park, one camper mentioned, "We hiked a trail with lots of steps," which provided a great workout and stunning views.
  • Fishing: The waters around Lake Wissota State Park are perfect for fishing. One visitor said, "Fishing was really great catching several fish for dinner including some really nice size rainbow trout."
  • Canoeing and Kayaking: The Kickapoo River is a popular spot for water activities. A camper at Wildcat Mountain State Park noted, "This was our second visit to this park... canoeing the scenic Kickapoo river."

What campers like:

  • Privacy and Space: Campers appreciate the spacious sites at Perrot State Park Campground. One reviewer said, "The sites are well spaced and well separated by trees."
  • Clean Facilities: Many campers rave about the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A visitor at Frontenac State Park Campground mentioned, "Great showers with DRY AREAS to dress after taking a shower."
  • Wildlife Viewing: Campers enjoy the wildlife in the area. At Beaver Creek Valley State Park, one camper noted, "Good trout fishing here, some sites are primitive, some have electric and water."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell service in many campgrounds. A camper at Whitewater State Park mentioned, "Spotty cell service."
  • Reservations Recommended: Some campgrounds fill up quickly, especially on weekends. A visitor at Lake Wissota State Park said, "There was only one site available when we made the reservation."
  • No Alcohol Allowed: Some parks, like Great River Bluffs State Park, do not allow alcohol. A camper noted, "NO alcohol allowed."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Family-Friendly Amenities: Look for campgrounds with good facilities. A reviewer at Lake Wissota State Park mentioned, "Bathrooms were super clean for a campground."
  • Activities for Kids: Many parks offer trails and water activities. A camper at Wildcat Mountain State Park said, "The trails around have gorgeous views of the driftless area and Kickapoo river."
  • Quiet Campgrounds: Choose less crowded sites for a peaceful experience. A visitor at Beaver Creek Valley State Park mentioned, "Sites are not too close but it was early in the season."

Tips from RVers:

  • Big Rig Friendly: Many campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. A camper at Perrot State Park Campground noted, "Big rig friendly."
  • Electric Hookups Available: Look for sites with electric hookups. A visitor at Lake Wissota State Park mentioned, "Booked an electric site for our camper."
  • Dump Stations: Ensure the campground has a sanitary dump station. A camper at Great River Bluffs State Park appreciated the availability of a dump station.

Camping near Galesville, Wisconsin, has something for everyone, from families to seasoned RVers. Enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need reservations for camping at Galesville Reservoir?

While the Galesville Reservoir specifically doesn't appear in our data, camping in the Galesville area generally requires reservations, especially during peak season. At similar water-adjacent locations like Merrick State Park Campground and Reicks Lake Park, reservations are recommended to secure your spot. Some smaller campgrounds in the region operate on a first-come, first-served basis, but it's always safer to book ahead, particularly for weekend stays during summer months.

What amenities does Champions Riverside Resort in Galesville offer?

Champions Riverside Resort near Galesville offers full-service amenities for campers seeking comfort. The resort features reservable sites with drive-in access, water hookups, toilets, and is big-rig friendly for RV campers. For comparison, other resorts in the region like Oakdale KOA offer full hookups for RVs including electricity, water, and sewer connections. Champions is designed to accommodate families with convenient facilities while providing access to the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of the Galesville area.

What campgrounds are available in Galesville, Wisconsin?

Galesville, Wisconsin and the surrounding area offer several camping options. Champions Riverside Resort is located near Galesville and provides drive-in access with reservable sites. The broader area includes Goose Island south of La Crosse with friendly staff and a camp supply store. Other nearby options include Veterans Memorial Park & Campground and Perrot State Park Campground. These locations offer varying amenities and environments, from riverside settings to more wooded experiences.

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