Kevin K.
Traveler
TravelerSky High Camping Resort
It’s a great place to stay they have lots of activities for the kids, it helps that they are year around and their prices aren’t bad.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Madison, WI
12 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground and Mendota County Park welcome leashed dogs at all campsites, providing access to hiking trails and waterfront areas. Both county-operated facilities offer electric hookups, picnic tables and fire rings at their pet-friendly sites. The campgrounds maintain clean bathrooms with showers where campers and their dogs can rinse off after outdoor activities. Lake Farm's campground connects to paved bike paths that are ideal for walking dogs, while Mendota Park sites include 30-amp hookups that accommodate everything from large RVs to small tents. Sites are notably close together with minimal privacy between neighbors, though the atmosphere remains quiet and peaceful for pets and their owners.
The Capital City Trail system accessible from Lake Farm Park offers miles of paved surfaces for walking dogs while exploring the Madison area. Dogs must remain leashed throughout both parks, including on all trails and in camping areas. Mendota County Park provides direct lake access with areas where dogs can cool off during summer months. Small dog parks located near the campgrounds give pets space to run off-leash before returning to camp. The sites at both locations are level and well-maintained, though weekend reservations fill quickly during summer months. Morning and evening walks with pets along Lake Mendota offer views of water birds and wildlife. Both parks enforce quiet hours that help ensure barking dogs don't disturb neighboring campsites.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Madison (133)
1. William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground (Dane County Park)
"If you haven’t reserved a site, there are several sites for walk-ins but you have to be present to sign/obtain them."
"There are very wide bike/hiking paths that are paved or stone. The huge lake has boating opportunities and you can rent a boat in McFarland that is a short drive or bike ride. "
Check Availabilityfrom $18 - $28 / night
2. Mendota County Park
"The beauty of this campground was to Madison venues. We stayed here twice recently and took Uber rides too and from Camp Randall. It’s a very clean and friendly campground ground."
"Access to the lake, Middleton and Madison is great and the park itself has a few things to do."
Check Availabilityfrom $28 / night
3. Lake Kegonsa State Park Campground
"Just a quick 2 hour drive from our home in Chicago, with large wooded sites for privacy. Clean bathrooms."
"Pleasant grounds around the campground. Many nice trails. Good birdlife with pewees, least, flycatcher, great crested flycatcher, yellow warbler, redstarts, rose-breasted grosbeaks and others."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $26 - $50 / night
4. Token Creek County Park
"Small campground, but you play disc golf and lovely trails! So close to get away from the city."
"Near the highway and airport makes for quick access but it can get noisy. It can also get very quiet and peaceful. Lots of hiking trails and a boardwalk."
5. Badgerland Campground
"Very family and pet friendly with activities, lake and bar. Really enjoyed our overnight stay on a cross-country trip - highly recommend!"
"This is a small campground near Madison. Reasonable rates. Large VIP drive through sites. Small swimming area. Catch and release pond. Small office and bar. Clean bathrooms and showers."
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $60 / night
6. Babcock County Park (Dane County Parks)
"Nice trails in the area and good fishing. Convenience to everything you could need in Madison. You can walk or run down a couple of quiet streets and get to a river trail that goes for miles."
Check Availabilityfrom $28 / night
7. Blue Mound State Park Campground
"Go to Blue Mounds Grocery on the way in. easy access to hiking, mountain biking, and running trails - including Military Ridge Trail. Camped here with 2 friends during a cross country road trip."
"This is another Wisconsin gym sitting in Southern West Wisconsin."
Check Availabilityfrom $19 - $50 / night
8. Quartzite Campground — Devils Lake State Park
"We love Devil's Lake! It has incredible views and is absolutely breathtaking in the fall. It is also wonderful in the summer to go swimming and hike around. "
"this park has everything. beaches, bluffs, campIng, hikes, and phenomenal views. there is no wake in the lake and dogs are technically supposed to be on a leash."
Check Availabilityfrom $26 - $51 / night
9. Lantern DeForest
"They do not provide garbage service at your site so you must walk to garbage dumpster.
You are allowed to ride personal golf carts.""This campground is nice and so are the employees grass gets cut every week, the pool is clean, so is the dog park, my husband likes going to the camp bathroom for a hot shower because our rv only has 10"
Check Availabilityfrom $43 - $999 / night
10. Ice Age Campground — Devils Lake State Park
"I did a 65 mile round trip by bike from Madison up to camp overnight at Devil's Lake. I stayed at the top of a large hill near the camp store."
"Quiet, pet friendly spot with nice bathrooms and plenty of tree lined spots for some privacy. Great spot to spend a weekend."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $26 - $51 / night
Drive Time
- 34 min from Janesville, WI
- 1 hr 5 min from Rockford, IL
- 1 hr 7 min from Milwaukee, WI
- 1 hr 10 min from Fond du Lac, WI
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Madison, WI
126 Photos of 133 Madison Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground (Dane County Park)
Lake Kegonsa State Park Campground
Badgerland CampgroundS
Lower Wisconsin RiverwayA
Blue Mound State Park Campground
New Glarus State Park Campground
Sleepy Dragon CampgroundP
Milton-Madison SE KOA
Devils Lake State Park Group Campground — Devils Lake State Park
Sky High Camping ResortM
Sweet Minnihaha Campground
Astico County Park
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Madison, WI
1005 Reviews of 133 Madison Campgrounds
- KKevin D.
ScoutLake Kegonsa State Park Campground
This campground charges both a site reservation fee ($33 for a primitive mosquito infested tent site) AND an additional day use fee on top of that - a $16 fee on top of that! $49????? For a no hook up single tent site???? Of course the fees aren’t actually published anywhere so you have to reserve it to actually know what you’ll be paying. It’s nothing special so these fees aren’t actually warranted for this place. 👎
Zach G.TravelerNew Glarus State Park Campground
Smaller campground with decent sized campsites with picnic table and fire ring pit. Although my site and quite a bit of unleveled ground which made for limit options to pitch a tent. Pretty good cell service with T- mobile.
- Zach G.Traveler
Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park
Great campground nice drive.
Campground is nice spacious and we’re well divided. The drive from the entrance of Governor Dodge to cox hollow was a good 2-3 miles but was very scenic.
- Maria W.Scout
New Glarus State Park Campground
Rustic but nice trails and close to town
Campground is small with only 18 car camping sites. Vault toilets, no showers. No electricity or dump station. Group camping sites and walk-in or bike-sites also available. I don't mind vault toilets but they were very low to the ground without any grab bar. I found it odd that this campground has many sites for cyclists using the sugar river bike trail and there isn't any showers. Being close to town is nice. There is a paved path that takes you right into New Glarus and past the New Glarus Brewery. After a day of cycling or hiking, one really needs a shower before heading into town!!
Cheryl S.TravelerMendota County Park
Quiet urban park campground
The beauty of this campground was to Madison venues. We stayed here twice recently and took Uber rides too and from Camp Randall. It’s a very clean and friendly campground ground. Very nice pavilion for events. I loved the walking path and benches along the lake.
- mmark F.
GuideDevils Lake State Park Group Campground — Devils Lake State Park
Don’t pet the fluffy cows
Great place to stay had everything and price right.
Sherry K.ScoutPearl Lake
Late night party central
The park is beautiful. The water is beautiful. They say it's a gated community, but it's open to the public 9 to 5 daily. At twenty five dollars per person. And then on friday and saturday night, the locals that park here for the summer start their party central including karaoke at the camper next door, and several others. I've never had a camcround with that loud of parties. And it's a weekend event. I like hearing and seeing people having fun but when the manager extends the curfew for the parties she's at (they kind of party hop), it starts to affect the enjoyment of the park. If we had to stay, we'd stay in the S## sites in the back, where you don't hear so much of the partying. And then during the day, the rules began. Kind of like the soup nazi.
- ppeggy R.Scout
Brigham Park
Fall camping
LOTS of acorns and walnuts dropping on the camper all day and night
Guide to Madison
Madison's camping options extend throughout Dane County with elevations ranging from 849 feet at Lake Mendota to 1,716 feet at Blue Mound State Park. The region experiences humid continental climate with summer temperatures averaging 78-83°F, making it ideal for camping from May through September. Seasonal flooding can affect some camping areas near the Wisconsin River and its tributaries during spring.
What to do
Swimming in non-motorized lakes: Devil's Lake State Park offers excellent swimming beaches where "the lake is really nice. They don't allow motor boats and have rentals for canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards" according to Melissa K., who visited the Ice Age Campground.
Hiking varied terrain: Blue Mound State Park trails accommodate different skill levels with "very nice state park. Only stayed in group campsite but was conveniently located with lots of room, picnic tables, fire pit" as Barbara P. found at Blue Mound State Park Campground.
Geocaching adventures: Lake Kegonsa State Park offers geocaching opportunities though Lisa S. warns "there are several geocaches in the park, which adds a little fun, but they are in the woods, and the mosquitos are oblivious to the bug spray!"
Wildlife observation: Morning walks along Lake Mendota provide opportunities to spot waterfowl and small mammals. Karen B. noted the "clean little campground" at Babcock County Park offers access to wildlife viewing areas.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Token Creek County Park maintains well-kept restrooms and showers, with Catherine C. noting "bathroom was nice, two stalls, two showers and one sink" at this county park.
Proximity to Madison: Campers appreciate easy access to Madison attractions. Tony E. found Badgerland Campground offers "wonderful campground within 10 minutes of major freeway access" with "cleanest restroom/showers I can ever recall at a campground."
Spacious campsites: Lee D. found that at Mendota County Park, "all sites were level and generous in size. Camper pads were somewhat gravel but not well-defined. Long enough to accommodate the largest RV or additional cars."
Water recreation options: Devil's Lake State Park provides non-motorized water activities. Sarah noted, "The waterfront is pretty, though weedy as this is the west side of the lake" at Mendota County Park.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: During peak season, most parks require advance booking. Art S. advises for Devil's Lake State Park: "Devil's Lake State Park has 3 public campgrounds to handle over 3 million visitors a year. This means it's packed. I made reservations to be sure and get a spot."
Weather challenges: Storms can develop quickly in summer. Lisa S. experienced this at Lake Kegonsa State Park: "It did storm hard while we were there and the shore store had everyone in the store for the storm. The storm came in really fast too."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience traffic or train noise. Stephen C. noted at Badgerland Campground: "It's a really nice location, well laid out, well-maintained, with very generous spaces."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Madison, WI?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Madison, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Madison, WI is William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground (Dane County Park) with a 3.8-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find
dog-friendly camping near
Madison, WI?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Madison, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 133 dog-friendly camping locations near Madison, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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