Camping opportunities around Viroqua, Wisconsin range from rustic tent sites to full-service RV parks throughout the Driftless Area, characterized by deeply carved river valleys and forested ridges rising 350-500 feet above valley floors. The region maintains higher humidity during summer months due to its proximity to the Mississippi River basin. Most campgrounds in the area sit at elevations between 800-1,200 feet, creating distinct microclimates between ridge tops and valley floors.
What to do
Trout fishing access: At Esofea/Rentz Memorial Park, anglers find multiple fishing spots in the Bad Axe River watershed. "Nice campground, beautiful stream runs through it. Mountains, valleys, just gorgeous. Clean bathrooms with hot water," reports one visitor.
Kickapoo River paddling: Put in near Wildcat Mountain State Park for a day on the winding Kickapoo. "We kayaked the Kickapoo river and stayed here for a night... We drove a truck so getting up/down the mountain wasn't a problem, but if you have a low car, the front end is going to get scraped at the bottom of the mountain," notes a camper.
Biking the Root River Trail: From Peterson City RV Park, access the paved trail system. "The campground is right on the trail, so very handy. The park includes a nice playground, horse shoes, a shelter, and HUGE open spaces for your badminton, croquet, or other games," shares a visitor.
What campers like
Panoramic river views: Wyalusing State Park offers elevated camping on bluffs. "We were at site #125 which has fantastic views of the river and surrounding area's, but the wind is stronger at this spot because it's open. The entire campground is situated on top of a bluff so this compounded our wind issue," advises a visitor.
Swim pond with features: Whiskey Creek Family RV Park provides water recreation beyond the typical lake. "They also have a beautiful white sand beach around a 1-acre swim pond. The water was the color of the Caribbean with these huge blow-up toys and slides in the middle. Kids loved it."
Wildlife viewing: The Mississippi backwaters at Goose Island create habitat for numerous species. "Eagles, geese, pelicans, barred owls, ducks, deer, rabbits, raccoon, possum, etc. are abundant. During the week the grounds are super quiet," notes a frequent camper.
What you should know
Seasonal flooding impacts: Goose Island experiences regular water level issues. "This place is a pretty great campground, and 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."
Wind exposure on bluffs: Sites with views often have weather trade-offs. "This campground is also noted for its rip-roaring winds, one camper told us that during the rainy and wind night before, their shelter took off and tumbled down the valley."
Cellular connectivity varies by carrier: Service ranges from good to nonexistent. "AT&T had 2-3 bars of LTE and Verizon 1 bars of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 146 Mbps down, 4.8 Mbps up. Verizon Speedtest: 016 Mbps down, 0.14 Mbps up."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Wildcat Mountain offers multiple recreation options. "There is plenty to do at the park including a cool swimming pond with inflatables, live music most weekends, corn hole tournaments, Friday fish fry, and much more," notes a visitor with a special needs adult son.
Evening activities: Neshonoc Lakeside plans nightly entertainment. "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."
Educational programs: State parks often host ranger-led activities. "The nature program was great for our son who was 2 at the time," reports a family who visited Wyalusing with a toddler.
Tips from RVers
Pad conditions: At Neshonoc Lakeside, expect appropriate surfaces for larger vehicles. "The sites are gravel and level, with a grass yard, fire ring, and picnic table. The fire rings are sunk completely into the ground for some reason."
Access challenges: Narrow approach roads affect RV accessibility. "The driveway leading to the campground is a bit daunting (especially if pulling a camper), but its well worth it!" writes a visitor to Wildcat Mountain.
Hookup positioning: Site layout affects RV setup logistics. "Stayed in pull-through campsite #308 which was shady. It was a grass site with two concrete strips for my TT tires. There was more than enough parking for my TT and truck and grass on either side. Utilities were located in the rear."
