Best Campgrounds near Onalaska, WI

Campgrounds near Onalaska, Wisconsin range from state parks to county-managed recreation areas along the Mississippi River and its backwaters. The region includes established sites like Veterans Memorial Park & Campground in West Salem and Goose Island in Stoddard, both within 15 miles of Onalaska. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering electric hookups, water access, and basic amenities. Perrot State Park Campground in nearby Trempealeau provides camping with scenic bluff views, while Pettibone Resort in La Crosse offers riverside sites with full hookups for RVs.

Access to campgrounds varies seasonally, with many sites operating from mid-April through October. Winter camping options are limited but available at select locations like Perrot State Park. Reservations are recommended during summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill quickly. "This camp South of Lacrosse Wisconsin is a great family or road tripping camp," noted one visitor about Goose Island, which features sites directly on Mississippi River backwaters. Road conditions are generally good with paved access to most developed campgrounds, though some primitive sites may require short walks from parking areas. Cell service is reliable throughout most of the region, with stronger signals near La Crosse and Onalaska proper.

The Mississippi River and its backwaters define the camping experience in this area, with many sites offering direct water access for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Campers frequently mention the scenic bluffs and river views as highlights. "Great hiking trails and overlooks. A favorite pastime is early in the morning and listening to the Cranes calling from their rookery nearby," shared one visitor about Perrot State Park. Train noise affects some riverside campgrounds, particularly Merrick State Park, where several reviews mention passing trains. For more seclusion, the cart-in sites at Great River Bluffs State Park across the Minnesota border provide more privacy while still offering river valley views. Most developed campgrounds in the area feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to drinking water, with many also providing shower facilities during the main camping season.

Best Camping Sites Near Onalaska, Wisconsin (147)

    1. Great River Bluffs State Park Campground

    27 Reviews
    Dakota, MN
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 643-6849

    "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."

    2. Perrot State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Trempealeau, WI
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 534-6409

    $39 / night

    "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."

    3. Pettibone Resort

    12 Reviews
    La Crescent, MN
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 782-5858

    $28 - $30 / night

    "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."

    4. Veterans Memorial Park & Campground

    8 Reviews
    Onalaska, WI
    4 miles
    +1 (608) 789-8599

    "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. Goose Island

    14 Reviews
    La Crosse, WI
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 788-7018

    $22 - $34 / night

    "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."

    6. Neshonoc Lakeside

    9 Reviews
    Bangor, WI
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "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."

    "They are pretty open, so you’re close to you neighbors and little shade or privacy. All RVs here, some tents as overflow for kiddos whose parents are staying in the RV."

    7. Blueberry Fields Forever

    1 Review
    Holmen, WI
    6 miles
    +1 (608) 386-3292

    $15 - $20 / night

    8. River's Edge Campground - Black River

    4 Reviews
    Galesville, WI
    13 miles
    Website

    $30 - $40 / night

    "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."

    9. Bluebird Family Camp

    2 Reviews
    La Crosse, WI
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 781-2267

    10. Frickson Family Farms LLC

    3 Reviews
    Trempealeau, WI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 429-0375

    $30 / night

    "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 ."

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Recent Reviews near Onalaska, WI

526 Reviews of 147 Onalaska Campgrounds


  • Cynthia K.
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Oakdale KOA

    Shady trees

    KOA Journey. We didn't feel like tackling Illinois at the end of the day, so we planned a stop here. 

    Check in was pleasant. We were in the back by the bathroom, which was my request. Lots of shady trees. This is a well established campground. As others have noted there is Interstate noise. It's easy on- easy off though.

     There's a Loves nearby.

  • Deb M.
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Blackhawk Park

    Another nice COE campground

    Nice mix of sites at this park, many with electric hookups. There’s also lots of unnumbered sites FCFS sites around the park. Only 1 bathroom/shower building, and lots of vault toilets. The west loop sites (where we camped) were a bit close together, but large and level. Even on a busy Labor Day weekend, the campground was quiet and peaceful. AT&T service was good, and T-Mobile service was very spotty. There’s a dump station and potable water on site. We will definitely be back.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Richard J Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest Isinours Management Unit

    Lovely space

    There are a few spaces with views you can hike in to but I opted for a spot next to my car. And ideal spot for a one nighter. I stopped here after a 12 hour drive got set up and even walked the trails for a few miles before bed.

  • J
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Reicks Lake Park

    Didn’t stay the night

    Based on picture, we planed to stay at this campsite. It is right in the side of the highway, so too much noise and traffic for us. The picture this site provides is actually the other side of highway, over a hill, so you can’t see it from campsite. but there’s a view of marshlands. It’s $20, have showers and toilets. There’s a small playground for kids. We came across people That said they camp there all the time and love it.

  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Castle Mound Campground — Black River State Forest

    Really beautiful state campground

    Beautiful, clean, peaceful, wooded campground. Its mid-week and there's only a few other campers here. Most are super respectful with the exception of one group that has the occasional outburst but they were mostly quiet otherwise. We saw some bunnies, birds and raccoons. Heard squirrels, owls and other birds. Vault toilets throughout the campground and one building with showers and flush toilets near the visitor center with plenty of parking. Water fill and dump station located at the front near the visitor station as well. We got here around 6pm yesterday and no one was at the check in so we used the kiosk to get the park pass. A bit steep for out of state visitors @ $16 but they seem to keep the park in great shape so for once it was worth it. Lots of space and shade in all spots. Many sites with electric and some without. Plenty of spots can accommodate mid-large campers. Its about half and half pull-thru or back-in/pull-in. We have a 26 foot travel trailer and had no issues. Mostly level spots as well. A lot of trees are close to the road and made it slightly challenging to maneuver the road but nothing too crazy...just pay attention if you have a larger camper. We dont make it though wisconsin a lot but we'd definitely come back here again. Easy and quick to get to from 94 and less than a mile from Walmart. Plenty of stores/restaurants nearby. Really the only complaint besides the high entrance fee for out of state is that it is close to the town and you can definitely hear traffic. It's not too bad considering the surrounding woods definitely deaden the noise. Wish we could have stayed longer to explore the park better.

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

    Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

    Cottontail lane

    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.

  • Derek G.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Oakdale KOA

    KOA Oakdale

    The park rangers are very kind and extremely helpful. This park is very well maintained with bathrooms and showers that were up kept as well as my own home. Very nice place

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Blackhawk Park

    Clean and right on the water

    Nice campground. Book the non-electric site to have a better opportunity of being right on the water.


Guide to Onalaska

Camping in the Onalaska region centers on the Mississippi River floodplain, with elevations ranging from 640 to 1,240 feet in nearby bluff country. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F, ideal for riverside camping from May through September. Campgrounds in this area regularly experience spring flooding, particularly in low-lying areas near the Mississippi River backwaters.

What to do

Paddle backwaters: Goose Island Campground provides excellent access to Mississippi River backwater exploration. "Perfect place to kayak and explore the backwaters of the Mississippi. You can put in or take out at the boat landing," notes one visitor who recommends consulting the canoe trail map available at the campground.

Bike connecting trails: Veterans Memorial Park & Campground connects directly to regional bike infrastructure. "This park has direct access to the La Crosse Great River Trail where you can connect onto Elroy/Sparta Trail to the east and directly to La Crosse Great River Trail to the northwest," explains one reviewer, highlighting its popularity with touring cyclists.

Winter cross-country skiing: Great River Bluffs State Park maintains 9 miles of groomed trails requiring a Minnesota Ski Pass. "Winter would be good. There are 9 miles of groomed X-country ski trails; you need a MN Ski Pass," recommends a visitor who notes the campground operates year-round.

Fish multiple species: River's Edge Campground offers fishing opportunities along the Black River. According to visitors, the area supports "water, fishing, tubing" activities, with multiple access points for anglers seeking river species.

What campers like

Cart-in sites for seclusion: Great River Bluffs State Park offers walk-in camping options with more privacy. "We camped one night here at the cart-in campsites. Sites were nice with fire pits, nearby vault toilets (2 of them and super clean with TP and hand sanitizer), and an easy path to get to and from car," explains one camper who appreciated the setup.

Riverfront camping: Pettibone Resort provides sites directly on the Mississippi. "Here for a soccer tournament this weekend. Have a spot right on the river. Wonderful campground," shares one visitor who enjoyed the proximity to downtown La Crosse.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Perrot State Park Campground offers excellent bird watching. One visitor shared: "We even had a white raven spend a few days with us which was wild!" Another mentioned the "binoculars; the river valley is a great viewing area for waterfowl, eagles, and hawks."

Fall camping for colors: Several campgrounds offer exceptional autumn views. "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!!!" reports one camper at Great River Bluffs.

What you should know

Train noise impacts sleep: Several riverside campgrounds experience railroad disruptions. "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. Added to this were the half dozen trains that ran through the night (horns going off too)," warns a Great River Bluffs camper.

Nitrate water advisories: Some campgrounds have drinking water restrictions. At Perrot State Park, "There were signs posted that the drinking water cannot be boiled, nor can it be given to babies or elderly due to high nitrates," reports one camper who recommends bringing your own water.

Flooding concerns: Low-lying campgrounds experience regular closures. Goose Island "would be even better if it wasn't all under water this summer. Our site on the river was under water, so we got moved to another," explains one visitor, noting this is a common occurrence on the floodplain.

Mosquito preparation essential: Bug protection is necessary, especially in riverside locations. "The bugs and mosquitos were almost unbearable. We fogged the site daily, had thermacells, and coated ourselves in bug spray - still came home completely bit up," cautions a camper at Perrot State Park.

Tips for camping with families

Pool amenities: Neshonoc Lakeside offers multiple swimming options for children. "With 2 swimming pools, daily activities, movies, and a full ice cream shop you won't be bored here. The top pool 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," explains one family.

Playground locations: Veterans Memorial Park provides multiple play areas. One visitor notes: "This park has baseball fields, playgrounds, a couple of group shelters, volleyball courts, and tons of space for activities," making it ideal for active families.

Organized activities: Many campgrounds offer scheduled programming. At Neshonoc Lakeside, "In the evening there was a Glow Parade where the full timers decked out their golf carts and drove around - candy for kids and lots of dancing. Bingo, tie dye, outdoor movies, and other relay races kept the kids happy and adults amused," according to one family visitor.

Beach-playground combinations: Goose Island offers convenient setup for parents. One visitor points out, "one of the things I like best is the playground is on the beach. My kid really loves that!"

Tips from RVers

Site access considerations: Several campgrounds present challenges for larger rigs. At River's Edge, "nightly camping sites are stacked on each other so no privacy" while Blueberry Fields Forever offers more spacious but rustic alternatives with "no water or electric hookups."

Concrete pad availability: Pettibone Resort provides improved RV parking surfaces. "The park streets are asphalt with two concrete strips for your tires in the sites," notes one RVer who found this helpful for stabilizing their travel trailer.

Off-season availability: Frickson Family Farms offers overnight RV parking with basic amenities. "We pulled in from a long driving day. We were greeted by our host. She was very friendly and explained where the site was," reports one RVer who found this farm-based option convenient and peaceful.

Spring flood awareness: Water level monitoring is essential for planning. "This campground is right on a flood plain, and would be even better if it wasn't all under water this summer," warns a Goose Island visitor, suggesting checking ahead during spring melt periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find campgrounds near Onalaska, WI?

Onalaska offers several excellent camping options within a short drive. Goose Island is located just south of La Crosse with friendly staff, a camp supply store, and firewood available for purchase. For those seeking a waterfront experience, Pettibone Resort offers boat-in and drive-in access with reservable sites. Other nearby options include Neshonoc Lakeside near West Salem and Veterans Memorial Park & Campground with trail access. The area also features several state parks within a reasonable drive, including Merrick State Park and Black River State Forest campgrounds.

What amenities are available at Onalaska campgrounds?

Campgrounds near Onalaska offer a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. Oakdale KOA provides full hookups for RVs, which helps mitigate the nearby highway noise, and is conveniently located off I-90. Merrick State Park Campground features electric sites, showers for campers, two boat launches, and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Most area campgrounds offer basic amenities like fire rings with grill grates, picnic tables, and access to restrooms. Some have coin-operated showers (typically $1 for 5 minutes), while others provide additional facilities like camp stores, firewood sales, and proximity to hiking trails or water recreation.

What is the best time of year to go camping in Onalaska?

Late spring through early fall (May to October) offers the best camping experience near Onalaska. Summer provides ideal conditions for water activities, with Reicks Lake Park offering affordable camping ($15/night) with paved pads, fire pits, and electric hookups available. Fall is particularly beautiful at Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park, with gorgeous autumn colors and hiking trails, though water may be shut off in mid-October while bathrooms remain operational. Be aware that some campgrounds become busy on summer weekends, especially those with water access, so reservations are recommended during peak season.