Camping spots near Alma, Wisconsin range across Mississippi bluff country in southeastern Wisconsin and neighboring Minnesota. The region sits in the driftless area, characterized by steep limestone bluffs that rise 500-600 feet above the river valley. Fall temperatures average 45-65°F, making September and October excellent months for camping without excessive humidity and mosquitoes that often plague summer campers.
What to do
Hiking in bluff country: Whitewater State Park offers excellent trails with varying difficulty. "I hiked up Chimney Rock and then looped back to tackle part of the Dakota trail! The hiking paths were well taken care of. There were plenty of places to stop and rest if you need to," notes Sarah C. The park is known for minimal mosquitoes due to cold, moving water.
River activities: Near Merrick State Park Campground, kayaking is popular on the Mississippi backwaters. "We stayed in one of the lower walk in sites. It had a wonderful view and easy water access... it was easy to carry my kayak into the water and paddle across the channel to the kayak/canoe trail that we could see from the campsite," shares Seth J.
Wildlife viewing: Bird watching is excellent at Reicks Lake Park where viewing platforms are available. "Rieck's Lake is located 3 miles northwest of Alma, Wisconsin... This park offers viewing platforms and is a great place to view many types of birds," according to a reviewer.
What campers like
Affordable forest camping: Kruger Campground offers budget-friendly sites at only $14-17 per night. "Very affordable, a lot of space between sites so you feel like you have some privacy. A beautiful hiking trail," says one camper. The campground also features walking trails and fishing access.
Private tent sites: Frontenac State Park's outer loop sites provide good separation between campers. "The inner ring sites are fairly close together and don't offer a ton of privacy from site to site... If I was to stay here again, site 42 and 44 would probably be the ones I'd try for in terms of views and privacy," recommends Mandee L. Sites 40-49 feature views of Lake Pepin through the trees.
Clean facilities: Modern bathrooms are available at some campgrounds. "The men's bathroom and showers are GREAT! There is also very nice large full handicap bathrooms. The SHOWER WATER IS VERY HOT so be careful!" warns a visitor about Frontenac State Park.
What you should know
Train noise: Railroad tracks run along the Mississippi, creating noise at most campgrounds. "I grew up in a train town, so I loved hearing the trains in the distance, but if you were up at North camp, it would indeed be really loud," explains Beth D. about Merrick State Park.
Seasonal flooding: Mississippi River camping is subject to high water levels. "The river was high when we visited, and some of the river-facing sites were flooded out," reports Patrick M. When planning spring camping, check water conditions first.
Bug management: Mosquitoes can be intense near water. "Being so close to the river, the bugs were awful. I did love that it was quiet even peak season and there were plenty of spots open so it felt like a nice getaway," explains Shelby N.
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly nature programs: Whitewater State Park offers educational activities. "We had so much fun playing on the river and exploring the park! Everything is right there and the river is so pretty! Despite the rain we had a great time! Because of the rain we went to the eagle center near Wisconsin. A must see if your looking for something indoors!" advises Kate H.
Easy access areas: For families wanting minimal hiking, certain areas provide immediate recreation. "We stayed here over Memorial weekend and had a blast--there were so many fun things to do! We hiked, took trout fishing lesson, sat at the beach and had relaxing evenings by the fire," shares a visitor.
Safe water sites: Some campgrounds offer gentler water access for children. "Whitewater State Park has a nice swimming beach," notes Leda T., who also mentions this park has "very few mosquitoes" due to constantly moving water—a benefit for families.
Tips from RVers
Level sites: Nelson's Landing RV Park offers well-maintained spaces. "Easy pull-through and back-in sites. We easily backed in to our site. There was a large open grassy area behind us that our two dogs enjoyed. Brand new fire rings/pits," reports Jill K. The campground includes private shower rooms with full locking doors.
Utility hookups: Some parks offer full hookups. "There are approximately 90 sites laid out in typical RV park fashion with the sites close together and no physical privacy between sites... Sites tend to be very long and could accommodate even large-size Class A rigs," explains Lee D.
Winter accessibility: For off-season camping, some sites remain open with limited services. "We visited in winter (February) and while there was snow on the ground, the spaces were kept plowed with easy access to the electric boxes... Plenty of space for the car and the teardrop in space #202, but all spaces that were plowed had plenty of room to pull in."
