Luxury camping options flourish within 15 miles of Lake Delton, Wisconsin, an area known for its glacial-formed terrain and sandstone formations dating back 500 million years. The region experiences warm summers with temperatures typically ranging from 70-85°F and moderate rainfall, creating ideal conditions for glamping close to Lake Delton from late May through early October.
What to do
Kayak Mirror Lake: Sandstone Ridge Campground at Mirror Lake State Park offers exceptional paddling opportunities. "The lake is great for kayaking. Lots of sandstone cliffs," notes Julia B., who adds that the "hiking trails were well maintained."
Explore Devils Lake: Nearby Merry Mac's Campground provides access to Devils Lake State Park, a regional highlight. "You're close enough but far enough from the Dells also," explains Denise L., who recommends the "plenty of hiking trails and geocaches" that keep visitors occupied.
Play disc golf: Arrowhead RV Campground offers on-site disc golf for outdoor recreation. A visitor noted the campground has "tons of activities all around" including "disc golf, corn hole, two pools, huge trampoline, volleyball nets" and seasonal events.
Enjoy water activities: Several campgrounds feature water recreation beyond swimming pools. "The kids loved the blow ups in the pond. The pool was nice, but a bit colder than the pond," reports a camper at Fox Hill RV Park, highlighting the variety of water options available.
What campers like
Riverside camping: Holiday Shores Campground offers premium waterfront sites. "We stayed in a waterfront lot and had Beautiful views," shares Brian Y., while another camper describes the contrast between non-waterfront and riverside sites: "Next night was on river... wow what a difference! Site 1 is very private with path leading to water."
Family entertainment: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park organizes themed activities throughout the season. "It was Halloween theme weekend so there was trick or treating, a haunted house, dance party," explains a visitor who particularly enjoyed the "Hey ride" where campers "pile people onto a trailer turned wagon and drive around the park and yell 'HEEEEEYYYYYYYYY' to every person they see!"
Balance of nature and conveniences: Visitors appreciate campsites that offer wooded settings while maintaining proximity to attractions. "We were in the new part of the campground, the site was level and the full hookups were well placed. Plenty of room and a concrete patio & nice picnic table," reported a camper at Wisconsin Dells KOA.
Privacy between sites: Campers value separation between sites. "Private sites with lots of woods. Shower and toilets are clean," notes Stacey N. about Mirror Lake State Park, while another camper explains that "the sites are decent size and spaced for privacy."
What you should know
Highway noise concerns: Some glamping spots close to Lake Delton suffer from traffic noise. A Mirror Lake camper reported: "The highway noise is loud and some military jets kept flying overhead," while another stated more bluntly: "Beautiful facility but the traffic noise was atrocious."
Weather preparedness: The region can experience significant temperature swings and rain. One camper at Mirror Lake shared: "We ended up cutting our trip short because we weren't prepared for the weather and rain (we had a 4 month old and it was our first ever camping trip)."
Wildlife interactions: Local wildlife can be persistent. "The raccoons were brutal. They broke into our crates twice. Smart enough to figure out the clip mechanism," warned a visitor at Mirror Lake State Park.
Seasonal considerations: Campground amenities vary throughout the season. "Pool wasn't open yet this early in season," noted a spring visitor to Fox Hill RV Park, while others mentioned seasonal activities that are only available during peak summer months.
Tips for camping with families
Choose campgrounds with water features: Children especially enjoy water recreation options. "The pond had lots of great inflatables for the kids to climb on, and even the adults enjoyed them," notes a visitor to Baraboo Hills Campground, adding that "the sand was clean with plenty of lounge chairs."
Consider proximity to attractions: Location relative to Wisconsin Dells activities matters when planning with kids. "If you are looking to stay in your camper while enjoying the Wisconsin Dells tourism, this KOA is fine," explains Kim L., who cautions that "the lots are very small, but overall paved and level so you will have a quick set up."
Look for dedicated family activities: Many glamping facilities offer organized entertainment. "Nice pool, awesome aqua pad for the kids and game room. No child will be disappointed here!" reports Kelli D. about Wisconsin Dells KOA.
Check site layout: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain. A visitor to Yogi Bear's Jellystone cautioned: "Our 3 campsites were on a very steep hill with the fire pit on the bottom of the hill... We were very worried that the little kids would fall into the fire."
Tips from RVers
Bring extension cords: Electrical hookup placement varies widely between campgrounds. "Make sure you bring 50 ft of electrical cord and water hose," advises Travis I. at Arrowhead RV Campground, noting that "they do offer to barrow their extension cords."
Site selection matters: For RVers seeking more space, choosing the right campground area is crucial. "The new section will be a lot better next year, but just finished construction and it is still a wide open area. It was dusty and hot because the grass isn't gown in yet, there's still a ton of sand, and no trees," reported a camper at Fox Hill RV Park.
Consider site access: Navigating into sites can be challenging at some campgrounds. "The sites themselves are small. We have an average sized pop up and it took my husband quite a few attempts to back where we wanted/needed it," reported a visitor to Baraboo RV Resort.
Water quality varies: Some campgrounds have mineral-rich water. A visitor to Ho-Chunk RV Resort & Campground advised: "Make sure to use a water filter outside your camper. The water left an orange residue in our dog bowls, sinks and pipes."
