Best Campgrounds near New Glarus, WI

Camping near New Glarus, Wisconsin encompasses several wooded state parks and county facilities within the rolling hills of southern Wisconsin. New Glarus Woods State Park serves as the primary local camping destination, offering both drive-in and walk-in sites within its small but accessible grounds. Yellowstone Lake State Park, located about 20 miles west, provides more extensive camping options with lake access. Both parks are part of the Wisconsin State Park system and feature varying levels of amenities for tent and RV campers. The area sits within the scenic Driftless Region, characterized by hills and valleys untouched by glaciers during the last ice age.

Most campgrounds in the New Glarus area operate seasonally, with peak availability from May through October. New Glarus Woods State Park remains open year-round, though camping facilities typically close during winter months. Summer brings humid conditions with temperatures regularly reaching the 80s, while spring and fall offer more moderate temperatures ideal for camping. Road noise can be a consideration at New Glarus Woods, as several campsites are positioned near highways. Vault toilets and basic water access are standard at most sites, with limited or no shower facilities at smaller parks. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer weekends and fall color season.

The camping experience varies significantly between parks in the region. According to reviews, New Glarus Woods offers a more rustic experience with its walk-in sites providing greater privacy despite some road noise. "The walk-in sites have a good amount of space between each site," noted one camper, though they mentioned highway sounds are audible throughout the park. The proximity to New Glarus Brewery and the Sugar River Trail makes this location popular for cyclists and beer enthusiasts. Yellowstone Lake State Park provides more recreational opportunities with fishing, swimming, and hiking trails. For those seeking more amenities, Blue Mound State Park, about 25 miles northwest, features extensive trail systems and observation areas with views stretching to the Wisconsin River Valley.

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Best Camping Sites Near New Glarus, Wisconsin (95)

    1. New Glarus State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    New Glarus, WI
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 527-2335

    $15 - $25 / night

    "The park itself isn't that interesting, but it is worth noting that it is located across the road from New Glarus Brewery. The brewery is an easy walk or bike ride from the walk-in campsites."

    "New Glarus Woods is a small State Park tucked away in the Southern Wisconsin countryside. Drive-in sites come with nice amenities."

    2. Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

    35 Reviews
    Blanchardville, WI
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 523-4427

    "Beautiful wooded campground with easy access to fishing & swimming. Lots of hiking trails and nature programs for all ages."

    " This is a very large state park located halfway between Mineral Point and New Glarus, both nice visiting destinations in their own right."

    3. Blue Mound State Park Campground

    26 Reviews
    Blue Mounds, WI
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 947-2757

    $18 / night

    "Overall, the park has well-maintained hiking and MTB biking trails, extraordinarily clean and well-kept vault toilets, and ample access to drinking water."

    "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."

    4. Crazy Horse Campground

    15 Reviews
    Evansville, WI
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 897-2207

    "Being right in front of the jumping pillow people didn’t walk around. They would cut thru our site."

    "We made this trip mid-May during the Covid social distancing. The camp ground was on point with their preparedness. Check in was simply pull into your site or a brief stop at registration."

    5. Brigham Park

    10 Reviews
    Blue Mounds, WI
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 224-3730

    "It's up on a hill, so there's good views of the driftless area of Wisconsin. Plenty of open walk up camp sites, but it might be more full in the summer."

    ".

    - The dense tree cover and near-constant slight breeze help to both keep this campground cool and the mosquitos at bay.

    - Well-kept vault toilets.

    - Close to a many points of interest."

    6. William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground (Dane County Park)

    17 Reviews
    Madison, WI
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 224-3730

    $18 - $28 / night

    "With the rain and the proliferation of mosquitoes, we were wandering around southern Wisconsin without a plan when we stumbled across this county park. 50 sites, many with electric and very reasonably"

    "No water on sites but spigots located throughout the park. Dump station right at the entrance but there's plenty of room to maneuver around there. Could get congested if busy."

    7. Lake Kegonsa State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Stoughton, WI
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 873-9695

    "Just a quick 2 hour drive from our home in Chicago, with large wooded sites for privacy. Clean bathrooms."

    "We didn’t have much time to explore the campground but we did have a nice walk around the outer loop of sites. This is near the main highway and a nice place to camp."

    8. Sweet Minnihaha Campground

    5 Reviews
    Evansville, WI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 862-3769

    $8 - $35 / night

    "Such a lovely camp ...the sites are fairly close together but you can pick the site you want so you don’t have to be directly next to another tent ...on our visit we saw lots of wildlife from chickens"

    "Easy access to on and off the river for tubing. Id say its more of an adult atmostphere."

    9. Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park

    28 Reviews
    Dodgeville, WI
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 935-2315

    "The sites on the "inside" of the loop are rather close to one another.

    21 has a nice view of the lake, and you can walk back to the fence to look over the bluff 24 is quite private and very large 26,"

    "Had to set our tent up right next to the fire ring, as that was the only spot that wasn’t muddy, so we couldn’t have a decent fire. During the rain the water was ankle deep under the picnic table."

    10. McKeller City Park

    1 Review
    Blanchardville, WI
    11 miles
    Website
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Recent Reviews near New Glarus, WI

717 Reviews of 95 New Glarus Campgrounds


  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Wisconsin Riverside Resort

    THIS PLACE HAS IT ALL!!

    This campground was fabulous! Great pool, restaurant, live music, and Pickle Ball! Well kept facility. It has a security gate, which I really appreciated.

  • Kathy L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Lake Kegonsa State Park Campground

    Pros, cons, and Caution!

    PROS: large private sites with good space between them in a lovely wooded setting. Very nice hiking trails right from campground. Lake & pet swim area.

    CONS: no water, mosquitos. And… major CAUTION for RVs: there is an oak tree near entry with low branches and it took the AC off our friend’s fifth wheel. There is also a low hanging overpass and it took the roofs off TWO fifth wheels while we were staying there. Major damage on roof and internally - the RV had to be totaled and replaced. Terrible signage in park does not indicate height of bridge or warn about the oak tree. Our friends reported that the camp host said the park knows about these hazards but hasn’t taken care of them so she will “remind them” for their task list in November.

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

    New Glarus State Park Campground

    Spring on our site

    There was a spring on our site! We hiked in a bit to a wooded quiet site. The toilets were clean. The playground was great. We spent the day exploring our Swiss heritage in New Glarus.

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

    Tower Hill State Park Campground

    Lightning bugs galore

    We were here during a thunderstorm so didn’t have the best experience. Our hill top site had water flowing through and our screen tent had a branch fall on it. But the sites are adequate for tents and the picnic shelter is lovely. The mosquitoes are ferocious, as expected for July in Wisconsin. We enjoyed chasing lightning bugs. The toilets are as expected for an older park.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    New Glarus State Park Campground

    Great Proximity

    It is a smaller state park camping wise. There is hiking and mountain bike trails available. With direct access to the Sugar River Trail and the town of New Glarus, it is a great location as an overnight stop or home base to explore.

  • Ron D.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Pearl Lake

    Low Class Trailer Trashy Park

    Horrible customer service from the start. We registered online with a 35" 5th wheel for 2 nights. On checking in, we wouldn't fit in the site so the girl at the desk put us in a different site saying she couldn't escort us to our site. This was our first time being there and her excuse was they were short staffed. The street signage was very small and hard to read. Site numbers were said to be on every pedestal but they were not visible from any drive. After only a few minutes of driving around, we were astonished by all the trash and junky trailers on site. Note that if your camper is more than 10 years old, they want to first see a picture of it so as to keep their place classy. Not the case here once you have paid and are here. We call back to the office for assistance finding our site and the girl said she would have to lock the office and was hesitant about doing so but she would come out to hep us find our place. We simply asked for a refund saying we were very disappointed with the situation so far. When she told us they don't give refunds, we asked for a manager to call us back. At this point we left to find another place which we did and were at in about 30 minutes. The manager called us back offering us drinks at the bar, a premium site, tickets for kids in the bounce house, and free water craft but I and the wife were only there for 2 nights. We were not going back to that dump. She said she would have to speak with the owners about a refund but never called us back. Five days later I called several times to speak with the manager again but no call back. She did however text us saying they will not issue a refund saying the girl in the office could not leave the desk because her coworker was using the restroom. Then why did she say she couldn't leave because they were short handed? Long story short, think long and hard before you visit this trashy place. Showers were dark and dingy and smelled. The beach looked more like gravel and not pleasing. Just walking around, I couldn't get away from the awful smell of people smoking and vaping and a strong smell of pot smokers everywhere. Not at all the place we would take our grand kids ever.

  • D
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Lantern DeForest

    nice clean quiet

    My first time at a campsite and new to the rv life. 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 gallons of hot water. We did 3 months at the camp!


Guide to New Glarus

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

What to do:

  • Hiking and Trails: Explore the numerous trails in the area. Campers have noted, "The trails are well kept, clean bathrooms, nice campsites and the best camp hosts ever!" at Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground.
  • Fishing and Boating: Enjoy fishing or boating at Rock Cut State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The biggest problem you are likely to encounter here is exactly which of the 7 campgrounds to stay at."
  • Swimming: Relax at the swimming pond or beach areas. A reviewer at Quartzite Campground — Devils Lake State Park said, "The best beach around, crystal clear, shallow water was perfect for our young kids to play in."

What campers like:

  • Affordable Rates: Many campers appreciate the low costs. One camper at Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground said, "I got a primitive tent site in an area all to myself, with a shower house just down the road, in a beautiful and quiet campground for $10 cash."
  • Clean Facilities: Campers often mention the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A visitor at Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park noted, "Bathrooms and showers seemed clean enough."
  • Scenic Views: The natural beauty of the area is a big draw. A camper at Rock Cut State Park Campground remarked, "There are plenty of scenic photo opportunities especially during the fall season."

What you should know:

  • No Alcohol Policies: Some campgrounds, like Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground, do not allow alcohol. A camper mentioned, "No alcohol was allowed on the grounds but it didn’t seem like it would be enforced unless there was a campsite causing issues."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have stores or extensive facilities. A reviewer at Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground pointed out, "There is only one building with running water and showers."
  • Bug Season: Be prepared for bugs, especially in warmer months. A camper at Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground noted, "Only downfall was the gnats, but managed them most of the time."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and family activities. A visitor at Wisconsin Dells KOA said, "The campground is kid-friendly, with a playground and a pool."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring your own food or check for nearby dining options. A camper at Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park suggested, "If you want to walk to the beach, camp there."
  • Check for Events: Many campgrounds offer planned activities for kids. A reviewer at Wisconsin Dells KOA mentioned, "Nightly and daily planned activities. Again, great for the kiddos."

Tips from RVers:

  • Site Size Matters: Make sure to check the size of the RV sites. A camper at Wisconsin Dells KOA noted, "Tight spots and narrow roads but convenient location."
  • Electric Hookups: Look for campgrounds with electric hookups. A visitor at Rock Cut State Park Campground mentioned, "In addition to restroom and waste disposal, you’ll also have access to running water spigots at each site along with running electric."
  • Check for Dump Stations: Ensure the campground has a sanitary dump station. A reviewer at Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park said, "Water, garbage and recycling are available as well as a dump station."

Camping near New Glarus, Wisconsin, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. With beautiful parks and plenty of activities, it’s a great spot for your next outdoor adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities does New Glarus Woods State Park offer for campers?

New Glarus Woods State Park Campground offers a rustic camping experience with basic amenities. The park features both drive-in and walk-in sites, providing options for different camping preferences. Amenities include water pumps, vault toilets (no showers), and fire rings at each site. The campground provides direct access to hiking and mountain bike trails, as well as connections to the Sugar River Trail. The park has a playground for children and offers wooded sites that provide good privacy between neighbors. While the facilities are simple, the park's location makes it an excellent base for exploring the town of New Glarus and surrounding attractions.

What campgrounds are available in New Glarus, Wisconsin?

The primary camping option in New Glarus is New Glarus Woods State Park Campground, a small state park tucked into the southern Wisconsin countryside. For additional options near New Glarus, consider Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground, which offers wooded sites with access to fishing and swimming. Other nearby options include Sweet Minnihaha Campground and Crazy Horse Campground in Brodhead. The New Glarus area is particularly known for its Swiss heritage, making it a charming destination for campers who want to explore local culture while enjoying the outdoors.

Are there RV camping options near New Glarus?

RV camping options near New Glarus are limited but available. At New Glarus Woods State Park Campground, only a few sites can accommodate campers or RVs, with most being tent-only. For better RV accommodation, consider Wisconsin Riverside Resort in nearby Spring Green. If you're willing to drive a bit further, Crazy Horse Campground near Brodhead offers RV-friendly sites with water and toilets. When using New Glarus Woods, be aware that most sites are not level, which can be challenging for larger vehicles. The campground is primitive with no electrical hookups, so RVers should come prepared for dry camping.