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5 Lakeside Camping Destinations in Southern Wisconsin
Lakeshore living in Southern Wisconsin is just a short drive away. There are numerous outstanding parks in our area that provide camping families with that quiet getaway without the expense and hassle of dealing with AirBNB or hotels.
(Pictured above is Lake Kegonsa State Park)
Ever wanted to get away from it all and fall asleep to the sound of waves breaking on the beach? No need to drive hours to the Northwoods lakeside camping is just around the corner right here in Southern Wisconsin. These five campground sites in Southern Wisconsin offer the best in lake living..
Electrical hookups, bathroom and shower facilities, drinking water, some sites even equipped with WiFi our region is blessed with great state and county parks offering a wide variety of home comforts for you and your family on vacation.
A number of these parks are diverse in the offerings for outdoor activities, such as basketball and volleyball courts, hiking and biking trails, scenic overlooks, horseshoe, and numerous places to fish.
With new variants of the COVID-19 virus always lurking around the corner campgrounds are an attractive alternative to the unverifiable world of online, lodging reservation systems. With camping you can eliminate questions like:: Did the rental host really clean everything thoroughly in the cabin I want to rent? Should I bring my own towels or sheets?
There are certainly more than 5 scenic campgrounds in the Southern Wisconsin region, but the parks listed below offer the best in lakeside living.
THE LAKESIDE CAMPGROUNDS
LAKE KEGONSA
Towns Nearby: McFarland, Stoughton
Lake Kegonsa State Park
2405 Door Creek Road. Stoughton, WI 53589.
Lake Kegonsa State Park's campground contains 96 sites in total. 68 of those are reservable and 29 have electrical hookups
Camp Sites 1-9 and 87-93 are partially wooded. The rest of the sites are heavily wooded. Each site ably accommodates tents, pop-ups, trailers and recreational vehicles (RVs). Only one wheeled camping unit per site is permitted. per campsite. Additionally, there are two electric campsites in the park for campers with disabilities.
According to the Wisconsin DNR, drinking water is available at several locations throughout the campground. Flush toilets and showers are at the entrance to the campground and may be closed in early May and late October, depending on weather conditions. Three vault toilets are located throughout the campground.
The sanitary dump station is available in the park for dumping waste and filling tanks with potable water. The dump station is open during the camping season and is between the family camp and the group camp on the main park road. The dump station may be closed in early May and late October depending on weather conditions.
Group Camp
The group camp has six sites that can accommodate as many as 20 campers per site. Two vault toilets and two water fountains are in the camp. Group Site B has a picnic shelter on the site. A common area with a sand volleyball court and horseshoe pit as well as a ball field are nearby. Parking is limited to six cars at each site, but an overflow parking area is available near the beach. The group campsites are for tents only; no RVs, trailers or pop-ups are allowed.
For a detailed perspective of the campgrounds view the park's campround map
For Availability, pricing and directions;
Phone: 608-873-9695
Towns Neaby: Madison, McFarland
William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park
4330 Libby Road Madison, WI 53711
In June 2019, Lake Farm County Park was renamed by county board resolution to William G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park in honor of William (Bill) G. Lunney. Bill served in County government for fifty years, including 30 years as chair of the Dane County Park Commission.
The 328-acre park is a unit of the Capital Springs Recreation Area and has a campground, three shelter facilities, play equipment, barrier-free boat launch (with a fish cleaning facility), group camping area, wildlife pond, observation tower, hiking and cross-country ski trails.
The campground portion of the park has 54 reservable sites (two fully accessible), including 39 electrical hook ups for RVs (50 amp), bathroom and shower facilities, wi-fi, and a sanitary dump station.
OTHER PARK FEATURES
Two paved bicycle/pedestrian trails go through the park including:
Capital City State Trail
Capital City State Trail (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)
Lower Yahara River Trail
Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail (paved)
Boat Launch (permit required)
Canoe/Kayak Launch
Cross-country Skiing (groomed trail)
Fishing
Hiking Trail
Historic Site
Horseshoes
Parking
Parking
Picnic Area
Play Area
Recreation Field
Restrooms (flush)
Restrooms (vault/pit)
Scenic Overlook
Scenic Overlook
Shelter (electric)
Showers (for campground)
Volleyball Court
For a detailed perspective of the campgrounds view the park's campround map
For Availability, pricing and directions;
Phone:
608-224-3604
Babcock County Park
4601 Burma Road Mc Farland, WI 53558
Babcock County Park was aptly named after Wisconsin dairy scientist, Stephen Babcock, who was known internationally for discovering the method for determining the percentage of butterfat found in milk.
Located on the eastern shore of Lake Waubesa at the outflow of the Yahara River Babcock County Park is close to the Village of McFarland on U.S. Highway 51. All of the campground's 25 sites come with with electricity, access to a bathroom and shower, and a sanitary dump station. Additionally, the park's boat launch offers a fish cleaning facility and accessible fishing pier.
OTHER PARK FEATURES
Accessible Facilities
Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail (paved)
Canoe/Kayak Launch
Fishing
Horseshoes
Parking
Parking
Picnic Area
Play Area
For a detailed perspective of the grounds view the park's map
For Availability, pricing and directions;
Phone:
(608) 224-3730
OTTAWA LAKE
Towns Neaby: Whitewater
Ottawa Lake Park
S59 W36630 County Rd ZZ, Dousman, WI 53118
Ottawa Lake campground is the only year-round campground in the Southern Unit. It offers 100 sites, including 65 electrical sites, two shower buildings, flush toilets and a winter vault toilet building. Accessible sites are available as well as a reservable, accessible cabin designed especially for people with disabilities. A sanitary dump and recycling/garbage station are provided for the registered campers.
View a complete map of Ottawa Lake Park here.
For Availability, pricing and directions;
Phone: Information: 262-594-6220 Toll Free: 888-947-2757
WHITEWATER LAKE
Towns Neaby: Whitewater
Whitewater Lake Campground
W7908 Kettle Moraine Dr - Whitewater, WI 53119
Whitewater Lake park's campground offers 63 beautiful, no frills campsites. Pit toilets but no shower facilities. Showers are available at Horserider's campground or Pinewoods or Ottawa Lake campgrounds, about 15-20 miles to the north. A sanitary dump and recycling/garbage station are provided for campers. Campground is open Memorial Day until Columbus Day weekend.
For Availability, pricing and directions;
Phone: (262)594-6200
