Great River Bluffs State Park Campground
Nice place
Nice campground sites are smaller & you will need to level. Nice clean flush toilets & showers. Can hear the highway below. Road in is gravel & narrow not for big rigs.
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Neshonoc Lakeside in West Salem and Bluebird Family Camp in La Crosse anchor the luxury outdoor stays available in Wisconsin's Driftless Region, offering unique glamping accommodations throughout the seasons. These destinations feature furnished yurts and well-appointed canvas structures where traditional camping meets modern comfort. "This is a huge campground. It feels like a true old-school campground not an rv resort or even an RV park. The kind of campground you loved as a kid," wrote one guest about Neshonoc Lakeside. Each glamping site includes essential amenities like electricity, comfortable sleeping areas, and fire rings, while many feature additional luxuries such as private decks overlooking Lake Neshonoc. Sites are nestled among mature trees providing natural privacy, though proximity to neighbors varies by location.
The Mississippi River bluffs create a dramatic backdrop for outdoor adventures from these glamping resorts, with hiking trails, fishing spots, and water recreation just steps from luxury accommodations. A visitor noted, "Lake Neshonoc is great! The lake is about 600 acres in size and about 11 feet deep at the deepest point." Seasonal activities enhance the glamping experience, with summer offering swimming in Neshonoc's two pools and splash pad, while fall brings spectacular foliage viewing opportunities. Winter accommodations remain available at select locations, with Pine View Campground at Fort McCoy maintaining year-round glamping options. The area connects to extensive trail systems including the La Crosse River Trail, allowing glampers to explore beyond their comfortable retreats. Most locations require reservations, with peak season running April through October when glamping tents and yurts book quickly.
"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."
"Beautiful area with very nice trails. 20-30 mins to Winona, 20 mins to La Crosse. Not a huge site selection, but very nice sites. My wife and I try to go there as much as we can!"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 / night
"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."
"Water, fishing, tubing, bar, pavilion, kid and animal friendly, showers, toilets, fire pits, water/electric sites, easy booking."
"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
"Clean bathrooms with hot water. Shed with dry wood for purchase. Electricity, potable water connections, sewer."
"Esofea campground has a shelter, several ponds and streams, and some nice hiking trails. The camping options range from full hookups to tent camping."
from $20 - $40 / night
"NOTE; Google maps makes it look like the campground and landing are near each other. They are not."
"Walk-In Sites If you are looking for privacy, cart-in site 119 is quite a ways off the trail and far from the parking lot, but it's a bit small."
Available this weekend
from $19 - $110 / night
"Drinking water had already been turned off for the season, but the bathroom still had running water and flush toilets in mid-October. Easy access to hiking trails."
"Site 53 was close to the showers and water spigot and it was a big enough spot for 2 tents while being private. It was a 10-20 minute walk to anywhere else."
Available this weekend
from $25 - $250 / night
"Near-by La Crosse has baseball and softball teams from the Northwoods collegiate summer league."
"Situated within short distance of the Mississippi surrounded by trails and kayak friendly rivers."
"Nice grassy sites next to a cool creek. Electric but no water hook up. There is an RV fill up and a dump. Stayed in site #34 which has shade all afternoon. Also very level."
"There are around 20/30 or so site. You can put a tent or small camper on any and be pleased. Nothing to do but connect with nature or take long country drives."
"Located on the Root River. Cliff View has very clean bath houses. Lots of sites to choose from. 50 amp service, sewer hook up and of course water. If your close enough to the office wifi available."
"Situated right along the Root River next to the bike trail. They offer kayak, canoe and tube rentals and shuttles. They also have bike rentals. This facility is clean and very well kept."
from $30 - $46 / night
Nice campground sites are smaller & you will need to level. Nice clean flush toilets & showers. Can hear the highway below. Road in is gravel & narrow not for big rigs.
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.
Stayed hear on a very hot 90+degree day during a road trip, easy to reach from I90/94. Midweek, we were the only overnight guests. -Occasional loud noise from the road and train tracks. -At first was wary of paying for no showers and pit toilets for the price, but pit toilets were actually clean with no odor. -Spring fed swimming pond was good for a dip once you found a cool spot, but there are spots that felt like a hot tub. Beach is very nice sand, and there’s a playground for the kids. -Definitely check out the short hike up to Mill Bluff if you can tolerate steep rocky stairs, the view is beautiful. -Tried to check out the other trail near Camel Bluff but it was too overgrown to continue. -Electrical box is in the middle of the campsite near the picnic table, so power cables will need to be at least 30 feet long to comfortably reach your rig. -National Parks Pass is accepted for vehicle admission (separate from camping fee in WI) as this is part of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve! -Sites 20/21 are great for proximity to swimming pond and toilets
It's hard to find using my car GPS. It doesn't work well here. But it's a very good place.
Traveling along the road from Ontario to Wildcat gave a little Appalachia feel. The park is situated above the Kickapoo River valley and is a great base for trout fishing.
If you are in the driftless region looking for camping, this is the spot.
Dog friendly, quiet and nice showers. The water sites enjoy a beautiful view across the 640 lake. You can pull your boat right up to many of the sandy beach campsites and swim right there too. Great campground for family groups.
This campground is on the opposite side of the road as the park office… but on the same side as the beach. Nice new shower building and nice roads. Some sites are a bit on the smaller side, but there are some drive through sites as well. There are also group sites and cabins.
I arrived late in the day and the office was closed but they have all the instructions and QR codes for an online reservation and check in. Very clean including the showers and bathroom. View of the Mississippi is amazing!
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.
Wisconsin's Driftless Region near La Crosse features dramatic limestone bluffs carved by ancient rivers that escaped glaciation during the last ice age. The area's elevation varies significantly, with valleys 400-600 feet deep creating diverse microclimates ideal for camping. Fall temperatures range from 30-70°F while summer stays between 60-85°F with higher humidity levels near the Mississippi River.
Hiking overlooking the Mississippi: Great River Bluffs State Park offers spectacular valley views from King's Bluff Overlook. "The park isn't much to look at and there's only a few look-out point onto the Mississippi but its a nice little campground," notes one camper. The full hike to the overlook is about 2.5 miles roundtrip from the parking area or 5.5 miles from the campground.
Kayaking the Root River: Eagle Cliff Campground provides direct river access with rental equipment. "The Root River goes right alongside most of the campsites which creates a really peaceful space," explains one visitor. The campground offers canoe, kayak and tube rentals with shuttle service to starting points.
Winter activities: Unlike many seasonal options, Pine View Campground at Fort McCoy maintains winter operations for cold-weather glamping near La Crosse. "You name it, they have it," reports a visitor, noting various rental options remain available during colder months. The campground connects to regional trail systems for winter recreation.
Quiet glamping experience: Wildcat Mountain State Park offers secluded sites away from urban noise. "The campsites are wooded, far enough apart, well maintained, and bathrooms were clean," reports one reviewer. Sites feature fire pits with cooking grates and access to hiking trails with valley views.
Driftless Region scenery: Camping in the bluff country provides unique geological features not found elsewhere in the Midwest. "The bluffs are stunning. It's Minnesota's little Switzerland," notes a Great River Bluffs visitor. The unglaciated landscape creates dramatic elevation changes unusual for this region.
Shower facilities: Whitewater State Park maintains clean bathroom facilities even during winter season. "It was clean. Nice bathrooms and easy access," reports a visitor who found the park during a cross-country trip. During winter months, water remains available at the visitor center even when campground water is shut off.
Noise considerations: Despite natural settings, some campgrounds experience noise disruption. "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," warns a Great River Bluffs visitor who also noted train horns and aircraft noise from nearby La Crosse airport.
Site selection strategy: River's Edge Campground has varying site layouts with different privacy levels. "Nightly camping sites are stacked on each other so no privacy," reports one camper who heard "drunk neighbors all weekend." Consider requesting sites farther from common areas for quieter experiences.
Seasonal water access: Water systems at campgrounds throughout the region typically shut down from mid-October through April. "Water is not on in the campground, but there is a spigot right across the road at the visitor center that is on," notes a winter visitor to Whitewater State Park.
Swimming options: Pools provide alternatives to river swimming in several locations. "With 2 swimming pools, daily activities, movies, and a full ice cream shop you won't be bored here," writes a Neshonoc Lakeside visitor. Some campgrounds also feature splash pads specifically designed for younger children.
Activity planning: Esofea/Rentz Memorial Park offers fishing ponds ideal for children. "Nice campground, beautiful stream runs through it. Mountains, valleys, just gorgeous," reports a visitor. The park maintains several small ponds stocked with trout, perfect for beginner anglers.
Wildlife viewing: Bring binoculars for spotting birds along river corridors. "The river valley is a great viewing area for waterfowl, eagles, and hawks," recommends a visitor to Great River Bluffs. Morning and evening hours offer best wildlife viewing opportunities.
Leveling requirements: Most campgrounds in the region have varied terrain. "All sites had a picnic table and fire pit. They are pretty open, so you're close to your neighbors and little shade or privacy," notes a Neshonoc Lakeside visitor. Many RV sites require leveling blocks or jacks due to the natural contours.
Reservation timing: Peak season fills quickly, especially for sites with full hookups. "Go straight to our site and setup and they will check on us later," reports a Pine View Campground visitor, highlighting the streamlined check-in process. Most campgrounds require reservations from April through October.
Hookup availability: Sidie Hollow County Main Campground offers partial connections. "Electric but no water hook up. There is an RV fill up and a dump," explains a visitor. This arrangement is common throughout the region, so arriving with full fresh water tanks is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near La Crosse, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near La Crosse, WI is Great River Bluffs State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 29 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 28 glamping camping locations near La Crosse, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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