Top Free Dispersed Camping near Sun Prairie, WI

Want to go dispersed camping near Sun Prairie? Dispersed camping is an excellent way to get away from it all and to disconnect. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the trees or wide open spaces, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect dispersed campsite.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Sun Prairie, WI (1)


Recent Dispersed Reviews In Sun Prairie

4 Reviews of 1 Sun Prairie Campgrounds


  • Camper-submitted photo from Lower Wisconsin Riverway
    April 5, 2024

    Lower Wisconsin Riverway

    Canoe paddle and sandbar camping

    Paddle trip in early June 2023. From Prairie du Sac to Spring Green, about 21 miles? Went mid week, saw one Boy Scout troop but generally nobody else.

    Campsite was beautiful with a fire pit and some left over wood from the previous group. BUT, even though you couldn’t see the road you could hear it. It’s a truck route so at 6:30am it was busy with trucks and noisy which definitely took away from the vibe of dispersed camping.

    Water levels were good. Weather was beautiful.

    Only camped one night. We rented the canoe and they ran the shuttle for us, which was very easy to arrange. Would do this again!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lower Wisconsin Riverway
    February 3, 2024

    Lower Wisconsin Riverway

    River Canoeing Camping

    So much fun. Bring dry wood! Don’t forget your meat ( obviously we did)! I Great time regardless. Canoe and then camping on the river. There was a storm, it was a rough summer (2023) many storms. So much fun.

    Highly recommend.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lower Wisconsin Riverway
    February 21, 2021

    Lower Wisconsin Riverway

    My favorite place to camp

    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.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Lower Wisconsin Riverway
    July 21, 2020

    Lower Wisconsin Riverway

    Ranger Review- COAST headlamp on the Wisconsin River

    Spend another amazing weekend on the Lower Wisconsin Riverway! 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. We spend Saturday just hanging out and fishing, then paddled out 9 miles on Sunday to the Muscoda boat launch, where Wi River Outings gave us a shuttle back to our truck. Water was very high this trip- not many sandbars out there, but also not as many people. Fishing wasn’t too great either due to the high water, but we did get a bunch of catfish. Beautiful scenery, very few houses until we got closer to Muscoda. The Riverway goes 92 miles from the Sauk City Dam all the way to the Mississippi River and sandbar camping is free the entire way! Make sure to keep an eye on water levels for the area you will be on, and also the weather. (Shout out to the Midland weather radio that I’ve reviewed for the Dryt before that alerted us to the severe weather when it blew up out of nowhere!) I use the Wisconsin Canoe Company’s website for a lot of information for planning trips. They have detailed maps and guides for the entire Riverway. Remember that no glass is allowed on the river because the fine is pretty steep and no one wants to step barefoot on broken glass! You need to pack in everything you need, including water. The river is very sandy and eats through water filters quick. This is wilderness camping, yet close to town if you need supplies or assistance. Some firewood can be scrounged from the islands, or you can get some from many roadside stands or an outfitter. It was pretty hot this trip so we didn’t do a big fire, just a little one in the stick stove for some ambiance. The nice thing about being right on the river is being able to take a dip in the cool water any time it was too hot! Be careful of drop offs, especially on the downstream side of islands and make sure kids and people that aren’t strong swimmers always have a life jacket on when wading- the currents can get very strong. There are many loaner life jackets at many of the landings as part of a DNR program. Also be sure to bring lots of sunscreen and something to make some shade- it’s very sunny out there! As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I occasionally get gear to review. This trip I had the FL1R headlamp from Coast. Right out of the box I was surprised by how light it was- about 1 oz! I’m not too worried about weight on the canoe, but the small size meant I could shove it in my bag with no worries and not taking up a ton of space. The 200 lumen light really lit up a huge area. I wish I could have gotten better pictures, but it doesn’t really show up as good as it looked in real life. The battery lasted the entire weekend with no problem. Before the trip I tested it out at home and it lasted at continuous high power for over 3 hours. The red light feature was my favorite. It allowed me to do all kinds of tasks while keeping the bugs away. I also appreciated that it came with a hat clip if I preferred to use that instead of the included band. The splash resistance was also a must for on the water or in bad weather. Overall a very good headlamp and I would definitely order from Coast again.



Guide to Sun Prairie

Camping near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking and Trails: Explore the scenic trails at Rock Cut State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "There are plenty of scenic photo opportunities especially during the fall season." If you're up for a challenge, check out the trails at Devils Lake State Park, where another visitor said, "Some of the best if not the best hiking in Wisconsin."
  • Fishing and Boating: Enjoy fishing at Mauthe Lake Campground. A reviewer noted, "Great fishing and day-camping experiences too." You can also rent boats at Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground, which has a large lake with multiple boat launches.
  • Swimming: Relax at the swimming pond at Rock Cut State Park Campground. One happy camper shared, "They have sites with electric and sites just for tents. Tons of trails, fishing, and even a swimming pond."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A visitor at Cox Hollow Campground mentioned, "Bathrooms and showers seemed clean enough."
  • Privacy: Many sites offer good privacy. A reviewer at Blue Mound State Park Campground said, "The sites are very well isolated and shaded."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds like Wisconsin Dells KOA have playgrounds and planned activities for kids. One parent noted, "Nightly and daily planned activities. Again, great for the kiddos."

What you should know

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially during peak times. A camper at Cox Hollow Campground shared, "The vibe here wasn’t for us. Various sites had music playing loud enough for us to hear."
  • Site Conditions: Be aware that some sites may not be ideal for tent camping. A visitor at Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "What was labeled as a tent site had literally NO flat space to actually set up a tent."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may have limited amenities. A reviewer at Quartzite Campground noted, "Only gave it four stars because the bathrooms weren’t open and we had to go off-site to get water."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and activities for kids, like Wisconsin Dells KOA. One camper said, "The campground is kid-friendly, with a playground and a pool."
  • Plan for Noise: If your family prefers quiet, consider visiting during off-peak times. A camper at Cox Hollow Campground mentioned, "It can get busy, especially during the summer holidays."
  • Pack for Activities: Bring along gear for fishing, hiking, and swimming. A visitor at Rock Cut State Park Campground noted, "They have tons of trails, fishing, and even a swimming pond."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure to check the size of the sites before booking. A reviewer at Wisconsin Dells KOA said, "Tight spots and narrow roads but convenient location."
  • Look for Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds offer electric hookups, which can be a big plus. A camper at Mauthe Lake Campground mentioned, "The full electric sites here are pretty small and tightly packed."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Be aware of where the nearest dump stations are located. A visitor at Cox Hollow Campground noted, "Water, garbage, and recycling are available as well as a dump station."

Camping around Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, has something for everyone, whether you're in a tent or an RV. Enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Sun Prairie, WI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Sun Prairie, WI is Lower Wisconsin Riverway with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.