153 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options around Sauk City, Wisconsin range from developed campgrounds to dispersed sites along the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. Devil's Lake State Park, approximately 10 miles northwest, offers three established campgrounds with varying levels of amenities. The area features primitive riverfront camping, clothing-optional facilities at Cedar Hills Campground, and family-friendly destinations like Merry Mac's Campground with yurts and cabin rentals. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, while the riverway provides free sandbar camping accessible primarily by boat.
Seasonal considerations significantly affect camping experiences in the region. Most developed campgrounds operate from April through mid-October, with Devil's Lake State Park's facilities remaining popular throughout the summer months. Campers planning visits to the Lower Wisconsin Riverway should monitor water levels, especially after heavy rainfall when sandbars may be limited. Reservations are recommended for developed sites during peak summer weekends and holidays. The Lower Wisconsin Riverway offers rare public dispersed camping opportunities with minimal facilities. As one reviewer noted, "Sandbar camping is free the entire way from the Sauk City Dam all the way to the Mississippi River, but make sure to keep an eye on water levels for the area you will be on, and also the weather."
Water access represents a defining feature of camping near Sauk City, with the Wisconsin River creating opportunities for paddling and fishing. Devil's Lake State Park provides swimming beaches, hiking trails, and rock climbing opportunities that complement its camping facilities. Several visitors highlighted the solitude available on the river, with one camper stating, "If chilling and canoeing is what you want with little to no other human contact, the Lower Wisconsin River is the place." Cedar Hills Campground, situated on a bluff, offers panoramic views and adult-only, clothing-optional camping. Family-oriented Merry Mac's Campground features a swimming pond with inflatables, activities for children, and proximity to Devil's Lake. Campgrounds in the area generally maintain clean facilities with varying levels of amenities from primitive to full-service with electric hookups, showers, and drinking water.
"There is something for everyone at Devils Lake State Park."
"The new warden situation is interesting. Things have gotten a lot more strict in some areas (ex."
from $26 - $51 / night
Check Availability"Much to do at Devil's Lake and surrounding area. features multiple campgrounds and multiple areas for swimming. A beach at the North and South of the lake."
"It is up and away from the rest of the park a bit and typically almost every site has full shade. This is important in the summer months."
from $26 - $51 / night
Check Availability"Views like these are hard to beat in Wisconsin, or anywhere really. The cliffs on the side of the lake are phenomenal."
"Aside from some of the windy paths, this place is really nice and peaceful to stay. You can go to Devils Lake and kayak or canoe and swim. Overall a beautiful place in Wisconsin!"
from $26 - $51 / night
Check Availability"Cedar hill Wisconsin is a clothing optional campground so I enjoy it very much. The entire campground is located at the top of a 1000 ft.high bluff."
"River right behind our campsite. Some sites were a bit small but we managed to reserve one big enough for a trailer and a tent. Somewhat closed in with a lot of vegetation. Kids loved the river!"
"Overall, the park has well-maintained hiking and MTB biking trails, extraordinarily clean and well-kept vault toilets, and ample access to drinking water."
"This is another Wisconsin gym sitting in Southern West Wisconsin."
from $18 - $50 / night
Check Availability"This campground is nestled in 70 acres surrounded by the Baraboo, Wisconsin hills, Skillet Creek Campground offers a serene setting. "
"Right next to Devils Lake and close to Baraboo events"
from $43 - $136 / night
Check Availability"This is a review for the group camp sites: The group sites are well spaced out from each other and offer pit toilets and full bathroom facilities with sinks, toilets and showers within walking distance"
"Great location! I was in the upper ice age campground at site 416 and really enjoyed it. The sites are fairly close together, but in May the foliage is dense enough to block out most of the noise."
from $90 - $130 / night
Check Availability"Spend another amazing weekend on the Lower Wisconsin Riverway!"
"If chilling and canoeing is what you want with little to no other human contact the lower Wisconsin river is the place. Eagles everywhere. Great fishing."
"It’s located right by Devils lake. Firewood for sale, great wifi, clean bathhouses/rooms"
"Lake full of all kinds of floats the kids can climb and jump on. Clean pool to cool off in. Sand volleyball, ga ga ball, huge park. Has so many different accomadtions to choose from!"
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Like other reviewers have stated, be prepared to be close to others. We didn’t mind at all and found everyone to be super nice."
"Nice little campground right on Lake Mendota. 29 sites available with electric, but bring an extension cords!! Some sites electric is close by, others not so much!"
from $28 / night
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ScoutThis 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. 👎
TravelerSmaller 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.
TravelerCampground 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.
ScoutCampground 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!!
TravelerThe 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.
GuideGreat place to stay had everything and price right.
ScoutLOTS of acorns and walnuts dropping on the camper all day and night
TravelerStay here for a long weekend. The weather finally cooled down. Great hiking and beautiful views. There’s a lake for swimming and boating without motors. Very hilly area. We stayed at a double site and met relatives.
Traveler⭐ 1/5— Not a Family-Friendly Experience We have traveled by motorhome for many years and stayed at numerous KOA campgrounds. For many years ! Sadly, this is the first negative review we have ever written. Milton KOA is beautiful and clean, although the sites are somewhat crowded. Most staff members were polite and helpful. Unfortunately, the conduct of one employee was completely unacceptable. Our group included six families with children ages 3–18. This employee used profanity, including the“F-word,” toward the children and behaved in a verbally abusive and threatening manner. When one mother calmly tried to address the situation, the employee moved toward her aggressively, causing her to fear she might be struck, and shouted,“I’m sick and tired of this.” At approximately 9:45 p.m., the 18-year-olds in our group were ordered back to their campsite, even though they were simply walking around and were not being loud or disruptive. Adults were allowed to drink in the pool area, while our children were treated with hostility and disrespect just for being there. No food no drinks.No child or parent should experience profanity, intimidation, or threatening behavior from a campground employee. The campground may be enjoyable for adults traveling without children. However, based on what our six families experienced, we cannot recommend Milton KOA to families with children. We are submitting a formal complaint to KOA Corporate and requesting a thorough investigation. Also, wasp infestation beware if you have allergies .
Camping options around Sauk City extend beyond its immediate vicinity, with diverse sites situated between 200 and 1,000 feet above sea level throughout the Driftless Area. The region's unique topography creates microclimates with cooler temperatures on north-facing slopes and warmer camping conditions on south-facing areas. Fall camping brings cooler nights with temperatures often dropping below 50°F after mid-September.
Hiking with challenges: The East Bluff trail at Devils Lake State Park offers strenuous climbs with rewarding views. "We headed out early on Monday and did an 8 mile loop right from our campsite. We saw beautiful overlooks and only encountered 1 person on the trail," notes Art S., emphasizing the benefit of weekday visits.
Paddle the river system: Plan multi-day paddling trips on the Wisconsin River with strategic stops. "We did 15 miles this trip - put in at Lone Rock (Otter Creek) Friday and canoed about 6 miles until we found a nice high sandbar near Gotham Jack Pines Burren State Natural Area," shares Siobhan R. about her Lower Wisconsin Riverway adventure.
Fire tower viewing: At Blue Mound State Park Campground, climb observation towers for panoramic vistas. "Climb up into the firetower if you get a chance too!" recommends Grace M. The park stands at 1,719 feet, making it the highest point in southern Wisconsin.
Wide site selection: Northern Lights Campground provides varied site options for different preferences. "Depending on a camper's needs, there were many more level and even open, grassy sites that simultaneously offered less privacy. The staff was very helpful; I'd recommend calling to ask advice regarding the 'atmosphere' at the various loops," suggests Celina M.
Clean facilities: Washrooms and shower buildings receive regular maintenance at Skillet Creek Campground. "Bathrooms are very clean. Hot showers are free, although they only have an on and off, no temperature control," mentions Melissa K. The campground also maintains "a fishing pond that allows fishing without a license. Catch and release only."
Adult-only options: Cedar Hills Campground provides an adults-only, clothing-optional environment with enhanced privacy. "Cedar Hills is 45yrs old on 90 acers adult only gated clothing optional campground. With Park Models furnished for rent," explains James. The campground sits "up on top of Blackhawk mountain" with "full service, fireworks at nite all summer."
Seasonal water levels: River camping requires monitoring water conditions. "Make sure to keep an eye on water levels for the area you will be on, and also the weather," advises Siobhan R. High water levels can limit sandbar availability, while low levels might strand canoeists.
Campground density: Peak season brings crowds to popular sites. "This is a busy park as it has lots to offer in the way of outdoor activities. We tent camped for two nights and three days," notes Jessica H. about Ice Age Campground, adding "The sites had plenty of trees for shade, but were close together."
Cost considerations: Prices vary significantly between public and private options. "Cost at end of september, sunday night was $76/night PLUS $16 parking fee so $92 for a night at a mediocre campground with no privacy," reports Rachel A. about one campground, highlighting the importance of researching total costs before booking.
Child-friendly water activities: Merry Mac's Campground offers specialized water play structures. "They have a huge pond with inflatables. It's located right by Devils lake," notes Michael D., while David H. adds there are "plenty of fun things to climb on and slide down" in their "clean swimming pond."
Nature education opportunities: Plan wildlife spotting activities around the campsites. "We came across lots of fun nature (toads, snakes, bunnies!). The trails are well maintained and a nice woodland area," shares Katie G. about trails at Mirror Lake State Park.
Space for group activities: Some campgrounds offer ample room for family gatherings. "Our site was large enough for my teardrop camper and a screen room and still have plenty more room," explains Art S., noting how group sites often accommodate multiple families comfortably.
Site leveling challenges: Prepare for terrain variations throughout the region. "It was a little difficult to find a level spot for our 10X10 tent, and all options were directly under the trees," shares Celina M., while Jennifer K. notes some campgrounds have "sites are pretty level sandy fine gravel. We are in site 37 and didn't need to level at all."
Bridge and access considerations: Some campgrounds have narrow entry points. "The bridge just past the gate though can be a little unnerving to drive over, as it is a very narrow concrete slab over a creek (no railings)," warns Kari L. about a campground access point that larger rigs might find challenging.
Hookup locations: Check site layouts before booking. "The hook ups are on the wrong side so we had to back in sideways to make it work," explains Kelly W., highlighting how poorly planned hookup placement can complicate setup, especially for larger RVs with multiple slide-outs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available near Sauk City, WI?
The Sauk City area offers several excellent camping options. The Lower Wisconsin Riverway provides beautiful sandbars for dispersed camping along the river, perfect for paddlers doing multi-day trips. For traditional campgrounds, Wisconsin Riverside Resort offers sites close to town. Within a short drive, you'll find state parks like Devil's Lake, New Glarus Woods, and Governor Dodge, plus county parks including Mendota County Park and William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground. The Wisconsin Dells area, about 30 minutes north, offers additional options like Rocky Arbor State Park and commercial campgrounds.
Are there tent camping options in Sauk City, Wisconsin?
Tent campers have several great options near Sauk City. The most unique experience is sandbar camping along the Lower Wisconsin Riverway, where you can paddle to secluded spots and camp directly on sandbars. For those seeking established campgrounds, New Glarus State Park Campground offers walk-in tent sites that provide more seclusion than drive-in sites. Within a reasonable drive, you'll also find tent camping at Devil's Lake State Park, Governor Dodge State Park, and several county parks that welcome tent campers with basic amenities like picnic tables, fire pits, and access to restrooms.
How much does camping cost in the Sauk City area?
Camping costs around Sauk City vary by amenities and location. The most affordable option is the Lower Wisconsin Riverway, where sandbar camping is free (you'll just need canoe/kayak rental if you don't have your own). For established campgrounds, William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground offers reasonable rates around $18-25 per night (with senior discounts available). Wisconsin state parks like New Glarus and Devil's Lake typically charge $15-30 per night plus a required vehicle admission sticker ($8-13 daily or $28-38 annually for Wisconsin residents). Private campgrounds like Fox Hill RV Park have higher rates, typically $30-50+ depending on hookups and amenities.
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