E
Elisa M.
Guide
GuideGoose Island
Beautiful Spot on the River
Quiet, beautiful and good facilities. Showers .25 for 5 minutes. We are here midweek in September so even the occupied sites only have people staying there in the weekends.
Camping near Holmen, WI
157 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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The Mississippi River valley surrounding Holmen, Wisconsin features diverse camping options within the scenic Driftless Area, characterized by dramatic bluffs and river access points. State parks like Perrot State Park in nearby Trempealeau offer year-round camping with hiking trails created by the Civilian Conservation Corps that lead to panoramic Mississippi River views. County parks such as Veterans Memorial Park in West Salem provide more accessible options with direct access to the La Crosse River and connecting bike trails. The region supports everything from primitive tent camping to full-hookup RV sites, with several campgrounds offering boat-in access for paddlers exploring the Mississippi and its backwaters.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter camping available at select state parks. Campers frequently note the presence of railroad tracks and highways near some sites, creating occasional noise disturbances. According to one visitor at Goose Island south of La Crosse, "Bring the bug spray for the evening because the mosquitoes do come out in force." Summer humidity and insects are common challenges, particularly in low-lying areas near water. Many campgrounds require reservations during peak summer weekends, while some county and smaller facilities operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Wisconsin state parks require vehicle admission stickers in addition to camping fees.
River access represents a significant draw for campers in the region, with multiple reviewers highlighting water-based recreation opportunities. Cart-in sites at Great River Bluffs State Park across the Minnesota border receive particularly high ratings for privacy and views. One camper noted, "The surrounding hiking trails feature incredible views of the Mississippi River valley, high upon a bluff." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with campers reporting sightings of sandhill cranes, eagles, and various waterfowl. Amenities vary widely between facilities, from basic vault toilets at primitive sites to full-service campgrounds with showers, camp stores, and recreational facilities. Family-friendly options include Goose Island with its playground and swimming area, while more secluded experiences can be found at Black River State Forest campgrounds.
Best Campgrounds near Holmen (157)
1. Perrot State Park Campground
"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."
from $24 - $110 / night
Check Availability2. Great River Bluffs State Park Campground
"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."
from $24 / night
Check Availability3. Pettibone Resort
"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."
from $28 - $30 / night
Check Availability4. Veterans Memorial Park & Campground
"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!"
5. Neshonoc Lakeside
"It was spacious and very well kept, with a great view of the lake. Wry easy to back in and get set up, almost level and took very little adjustment to get our spot in order."
"We had people offer basketballs for our kids to use while they were away from their site."
6. Goose Island
"This camp South of Lacrosse Wisconsin is a great family or road tripping camp."
"The sites are close together near the entrance. The spread out as you get deeper into the park. Beautiful grounds. Good communication from the camp rangers when we had to switch sites."
from $22 - $34 / night
Check Availability7. River's Edge Campground - Black River
"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."
from $30 - $40 / night
Check Availability8. Blueberry Fields Forever
"I’ve never had an issue driving up the hill. Great views of the stars. Plenty of deer this last time! It seems very secluded, but I did hear music from nearby one of the nights on my last trip."
from $15 - $20 / night
Check Availability9. Champions Riverside Resort
"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."
10. Frickson Family Farms LLC
"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 ."
from $30 / night
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Drive Time
- 14 min from La Crosse, WI
- 1 hr 6 min from Rochester, MN
- 1 hr 16 min from Eau Claire, WI
- 2 hrs 22 min from Wausau, WI
Recent Camping Photos near Holmen, WI
181 Photos of 157 Holmen Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Holmen, WI
579 Reviews of 157 Holmen Campgrounds
Beth S.
TravelerLittle Creek Family Campground
Camping alone , mid September
I really like this campground, I feel safe as a single person camping with my pups here. The owners are super friendly and the price is very reasonable. There are mostly seasonal here which helps cut back the noise and the crowds.
- FFue X.Traveler
Free camping by Rushford
Free camping
I go there every year for hunting. Everyone is friendly and everyone is responsible for cleaning up the place. First come first serve. No reservations.
- BBriana K.
ScoutNeshonoc Lakeside
Beautiful, clean, fun
I was a little skeptical after a negative review about the regular residents, so I watched for that dynamic. We were camping with another family so we had 8 kids between the two of us and I was worried all those kiddos would upset people. Quite the opposite experience from that review and it motivated me to leave this one to help provide a good picture. I have nothing bad to say about our camping experience. We did go a little out of season (September 12) so a lot of the campsites were empty. Most their sites are flat, and clean. The grass was well mowed and maintained. They had activities for the kids (Halloween). People that drove by were friendly and smiling, and waiving. We had people drop off candy for the kids asking parents first. We had people offer basketballs for our kids to use while they were away from their site. Me and my friend were about to haul ice bags and wood up a huge hill on foot and someone stopped their golf cart and emptied it of what they were carrying to give us a ride to our campsite. The kids tootled about on their bikes being kids with no negative experiences. There were a couple of kids on motor scooters whose engines were kind of obnoxious but that’s going to happen more and more at campgrounds, and it wasn’t during quiet hours. We had sites atop the “full Lakeview” and it was honestly surprising how beautiful it was up there. I think it can be difficult to get a view when you’re camping but those sites had it. We knew the full lake view sites were open so we took the cheaper ones across from them, but still saw the same view. There was a great amount of space between the sites we used. The only possible critique I might offer is in that specific row there weren’t many trees for shade, but the weather was cooler so it didn’t affect us, but if we went in the summer it might have been more uncomfortable without that natural shade. The bath houses and showers were great!!! I feel like a good bath house can make or break a campsite and we’ve been to some smaller ones that were quite lacking but this one was great. Very clean, not many bugs, spacious, real doors on the shower stalls. We did not arrive in season to utilize the pool area but it looked great from the other side of the gate ;) - the parks were well maintained and the kids loved them. there was a set of stairs that went from up the hill down to the office that looked a little sketchy but they were closed off for use. If you didn’t have a golf cart or couldn’t ride a bike, the trek from where we stayed to the office might be a challenge. Overall we loved it and would definitely consider going again. The sites were a little pricey but had on site sewer hookup which is fantastic.
- KKelly M.Guide
East Fork Campground
Camp on the Black River
The East Fork part of the campground is a beautiful area along the river. The sites are nicely spaced and there are pit toilets located throughout. The animals came alive at night and we could hear coyote packs howling to each other, owls hunting, and the crickets and frogs are still going. September makes for hot days and pretty cold nights, but there was good tree cover, that still allowed to see the ALL the stars. There was plenty of room for the 2 allowed cars. Site 124 is located at the end of a loop with dumpsters nearby, that were empty and clean. A very nice place to spend a couple nights!
- GGreg I.Traveler
Stoney Creek RV Resort
Can’t tell how close to I-94 you are
Needed last minute RV space near I-94, and this was more than perfect - it is right off I-94, but placement and trees combined remove the traffic noise. It’s perfect for a family, plenty for kids to do
Andy M.
LegendSnyder Park
Nice clean quiet spot for the night.
Clean bathrooms, nice showers but they're a dollar for 6 minutes.
- MMichael A.Traveler
Nelson's Landing RV Park
Sprinklers Spray Campers
FHU campground right on the edge of town. Nice level sites. Sprinklers come on every morning and soak the center area. If you come here don’t take a site in the center or you will get sprayed. Grass and weeds are over grown and mosquitos are bad.
Brandon C.GuideHighway 250 Campground
Hwy 250
Good camper spot right along the river. Clean bathrooms and showers. Hitched a ride to the dam in town and tubes right to our campsite. Direct access to trails that go to town.
Guide to Holmen
Camping near Holmen, Wisconsin offers access to the La Crosse River and Black River watersheds, with elevation changes from 700 feet in river valleys to 1,200 feet on surrounding bluffs. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F during the day, dropping to 55-65°F at night, with higher humidity levels near waterways compared to bluff campsites.
What to do
Kayaking access points: At Veterans Memorial Park & Campground, campers can launch directly into the La Crosse River. "We stayed here for one night in August 2020 en route to black hills. Nice site(number 80), good shade and privacy between sites. Some mosquitos in evening," notes Kathy L.
Bike trail connections: Veterans Memorial Park provides direct access to the La Crosse Great River Trail network. "Very nice campground with many amenities. Playground for kids and a very nice dog park. Right off the river. Will definitely be back!" reports Jarrett G. The campground connects to multiple trail systems, including routes to Sparta.
Heritage activities: Perrot State Park Campground offers historical programming during summer weekends. "The Saturday we were there they had a heritage camp set up to learn about how things were done in the past. This park has good access for a kayak/canoe path," explains Tiffany K.
What campers like
Varied terrain: Great River Bluffs State Park Campground offers both drive-in and cart-in sites with different privacy levels. "Views were stunning, trails and picnic areas were well maintained (w/ clean vault toilets). Campground had nice clean facilities (w/ showers!) and forested campsite added some extra privacy," shares Jenna M.
River access: Waterfront sites at Pettibone Resort allow boaters to beach watercraft right by their campsites. "We booked this on a whim so what's expecting much but found it to be a wonderful getaway. Everything was easy to access and they had all the needed items on site. Propane, camp store, bar, golf cart rentals, canoes, etc," reports Tara M.
Fall colors: The bluff country surrounding Holmen offers exceptional autumn camping. "Stayed here in the fall. Had a site right next to the bathroom big enough for 2 tents and 2 vehicles. Hikes here offer great views of the river and bluffs and the fall colors are gorgeous!!!" writes Tori K. about Great River Bluffs State Park.
What you should know
Wildlife encounters: The Mississippi backwaters host diverse animal species. "Eagles, geese, pelicans, barred owls, ducks, deer, rabbits, raccoon, possum, etc. are abundant," explains Frank G. about his experience at Goose Island.
Noise considerations: Train tracks and highways run near several campgrounds. One camper at Great River Bluffs State Park notes, "Highway noise from the highway running along the river and from I-90 (while not really noticeable during the day) is ridiculously loud at night."
Water quality: Some campgrounds have water quality notices. At Perrot State Park, one camper advises: "There were signs posted that the drinking water cannot be boiled, nor can it be given to babies or elderly due to high nitrates. But we brought our own water anyways."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Neshonoc Lakeside offers two swimming pools for families. "With 2 swimming pools, daily activities, movies, and a full ice cream shop you won't be bored here. The top one is very large and new with a splash pad area. The lower pool is older and smaller, and where grown ups tend to go for a dip," writes Kim L.
Playground locations: Several campsites near Holmen feature play equipment. At Goose Island, one reviewer mentions "several playgrounds for kids to have fun at" and notes that the beach area includes volleyball courts and playgrounds together, making supervision easier.
Evening activities: Many campgrounds program family-friendly evening events. "Bingo, tie dye, outdoor movies, and other relay races kept the kids happy and adults amused. Sunday night a jimmy buffet cover band played," reports a Neshonoc Lakeside camper.
Tips from RVers
Site surfaces: Most RV sites in the area have specific pad compositions. At Pettibone Resort, David B. explains: "The park streets are asphalt with two concrete strips for your tires in the sites. It was a grass site with two concrete strips for my TT tires. There was more than enough parking for my TT and truck and grass on either side."
Seasonal considerations: The Mississippi floodplain affects camping access. "Very friendly, spot on the river. Looks like a lot of regulars-glad to be here in off season. Would come again," notes Kelly at Goose Island, while another camper adds, "We got flooded out the only day we stayed. Got our money back for second night."
Internet connectivity: Service varies throughout the region. At Neshonoc Lakeside, Susan & Kevin W. report: "1-2 bars on AT+T," while David B. at Pettibone Resort provides more detailed information: "AT&T had 2-3 bars of LTE and Verizon 1 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 146 Mbps down, 4.8 Mbps up. Verizon Speedtest: 016 Mbps down, 0.14 Mbps up. Free WiFi."
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities are offered at Whispering Pines Campground in Holmen?
What amenities are offered at Whispering Pines Campground in Holmen?
While specific information about Whispering Pines Campground is limited, similar campgrounds in the region offer standard amenities. For comparison, Oakdale KOA provides full hookups for RVs, allowing for air conditioning use during hot nights, and is conveniently located near I-90. Meanwhile, East Fork Campground - Black River State Forest offers river access and natural surroundings. Typical campground amenities in the area include fire rings with grill grates, picnic tables, potable water access, and bathroom facilities. Campers seeking Whispering Pines should call directly for the most current amenity information.
What campgrounds are available near Holmen, WI?
What campgrounds are available near Holmen, WI?
Several campgrounds are available within a short drive of Holmen, WI. Goose Island is located just south of La Crosse, offering family-friendly camping with friendly staff and a camp supply store. For those seeking a riverside experience, Merrick State Park Campground provides secluded sites with beautiful tall trees and river access. Other nearby options include Veterans Memorial Park & Campground, Neshonoc Lakeside near West Salem, and Champions Riverside Resort near Galesville. Most campgrounds in the area offer a mix of tent and RV sites with varying levels of amenities and hookups.
How much does camping cost in the Holmen, Wisconsin area?
How much does camping cost in the Holmen, Wisconsin area?
Camping costs around Holmen vary by amenities and location. Reicks Lake Park charges $15 per night for a site with a paved camping pad, fire pit, picnic table, coin-operated showers, and restrooms, with electricity available for an additional fee. At Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park, standard fees apply plus Wisconsin state park entrance fees if you're camping there. County parks and state forests typically range from $15-30 per night, while private campgrounds with full hookups and resort-style amenities can cost $35-60+ per night. Most public campgrounds charge extra for electricity and hot showers.
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