The Mississippi River valley shapes the camping landscape around La Crosse, Wisconsin, with options spanning from riverside sites to bluff-top retreats. Pettibone Resort offers camping within a 10-minute walk of downtown La Crosse, while Veterans Memorial Park provides peaceful sites along the La Crosse River with direct access to regional bike trails. The surrounding area features diverse accommodations including state parks like Perrot State Park in Trempealeau and Great River Bluffs across the Minnesota border. County parks such as Goose Island south of La Crosse offer water-adjacent camping, while private campgrounds like Neshonoc Lakeside in West Salem cater to RVers seeking full hookups and resort amenities. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering cabins, yurts, or glamping options.
Camping seasons generally run from mid-April through mid-October, with some state parks remaining open year-round for winter camping enthusiasts. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly for summer weekends and holiday periods. Mosquitoes can be abundant near water, especially in evening hours during summer months. As one camper noted, "Bring the bug spray for the evening because the mosquitoes do come out in force" at riverside locations like Goose Island. Urban-adjacent sites like Pettibone Resort may experience noise from nearby bridges and traffic. Train noise affects some campgrounds along the Mississippi, though many visitors report it becomes background noise after the first night.
Water recreation defines the camping experience in the La Crosse region, with fishing, kayaking, and boating opportunities abundant. The La Crosse River and Mississippi backwaters provide excellent fishing spots, with Veterans Memorial Park offering "great fishing right off the puppy trail near the river." Hiking trails in the surrounding bluffs deliver spectacular views, particularly at Perrot State Park where "Brady's Bluff is a must-see trail that takes you to the top providing an amazing view of the Mississippi." Campers seeking quiet experiences might prefer the more secluded Sidie Hollow Park, described as "a quiet place about 30-40 minutes outside of La Crosse" with "patchy phone coverage" for those looking to disconnect. Bike trail access is notable at several campgrounds, connecting to the Elroy-Sparta Trail and La Crosse River State Trail.
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Round 1 of 5
$24 / night
"Beautiful area with very nice trails. 20-30 mins to Winona, 20 mins to La Crosse. Not a huge site selection, but very nice sites. My wife and I try to go there as much as we can!"
"I enjoy camping away from the hub bub of the family campground and opting for the backpack or cart in sites. Luckily, Great River Bluffs has some of the nicest cart ins I have encountered."
$22 - $34 / night
"This camp South of Lacrosse Wisconsin is a great family or road tripping camp."
"The sites are close together near the entrance. The spread out as you get deeper into the park. Beautiful grounds. Good communication from the camp rangers when we had to switch sites."
$28 - $30 / night
"About a 10 minute walk over the Cass St. bridge and you are in the heart of downtown La Crosse. This campground offers everything."
"Utilities were located in the rear. 20A/30A electric and water. Site was a little unlevel. Neighbors are close. AT&T had 2-3 bars of LTE and Verizon 1 bars of LTE service."
$39 / night
"Located among driftless Wisconsin, Perrot SP is a great place to camp. The highlight of this park are the hiking trails created by the CCC."
"There is a rail line that runs along between the Mississippi and the park edge, campsites are away from this but still can be heard as well as motor boats on the River."
"Vet's Park has direct access to the La Crosse Great River Trail where you can connect onto Elroy/Sparta Trail to the east and it directly to La Crosse Great River Trail to the northwest."
"Family camping on the banks of the La Crosse River with shaded grassy sites, directly on State Bike Trail, and easily accessible from I-90."
"It was spacious and very well kept, with a great view of the lake. Wry easy to back in and get set up, almost level and took very little adjustment to get our spot in order."
"They are pretty open, so you’re close to you neighbors and little shade or privacy. All RVs here, some tents as overflow for kiddos whose parents are staying in the RV."
$20 - $80 / night
"The park has a lot of very well maintained trails. The only thing to know is there is no cell reception because of the valley."
"Water, garbage and recycling (separated) were all close by. There as no cell signal, so we went to town for that. The park has nice trails that are pretty well marked."
$40 - $120 / night
"If you want to meet the barnyard critters, please only look at them from the outside of the fence unless guided and escorted by the owners. "
$15 - $20 / night
"I’ve never had an issue driving up the hill. Great views of the stars. Plenty of deer this last time! It seems very secluded, but I did hear music from nearby one of the nights on my last trip."
LegendThis is a very small campground in the middle of town across from the high school track/football field. It has a handful of grassy sites. River is behind the property. It is located off a fairly busy road. The bike trail and root river (paddling route) is close by. Pretty area.
LegendThis is a small primitive campground that has 1 vault toilet. (no shower) Horses are allowed. Fairly close together sites, but a beautiful area to get into nature or go camping at a reasonable price.
LegendThis area is getting more developed as the Owl Center will be moving here from the current location on Main Street. You do need to walk several hundred feet to the tent sites. Nature center, natural playground, biking trails, root river with paddling opportunities. This area is part of the drift-less region and known for its rolling landscape.
LegendLocated on state forest land there are 2 separate areas right next to each other. The first loop is for smaller vehicles and tents and the larger area should be reserved for larger vehicles with horse trailers. There are hiking and equestrian trails present into the state forest land. There is one vault toilet. No other amenities. Beautiful area!
LegendThis is a tucked away campground off a few miles of gravel near Spring Grove, MN. It has a pool and activities found at many KOAs. There is a beautiful creek going through the property and is a very beautiful area known as the driftless region.
LegendThis campground offers a few sites (on the smaller side) in a private area, but within town limits. There is a frisbee golf course present and it is just downhill from the football field. Spring Grove is a cute town with a strong German ancestry roots.
LegendA handful of rustic type sites in the town. This is directly across from the football field, a nice outdoor basketball court and a park.
LegendThis small campground is at the county fairgrounds in the city of Preston, MN. It has basic sites that are fairly good sized. Located within a few hundred yards of the river and the bike trail. Downtown businesses are walkable.
TravelerDog friendly, quiet and nice showers. The water sites enjoy a beautiful view across the 640 lake. You can pull your boat right up to many of the sandy beach campsites and swim right there too. Great campground for family groups.
La Crosse County sits at the confluence of three rivers—Mississippi, Black, and La Crosse—creating a unique camping environment with elevations ranging from 630 to 1,200 feet above sea level. The region experiences humid continental climate conditions with average summer temperatures of 80-85°F during peak camping season. Water levels at campgrounds near La Crosse, WI fluctuate significantly throughout the year, affecting site availability, especially in flood-prone areas.
Trout fishing access: Beaver Creek Valley State Park Campground offers exceptional cold-water fishing opportunities. "The river that runs through is beautiful, cold, and clear. I didn't have any luck fishing though I could see the trout hanging out in an easily accessible pool at the end of a run," reports Lacey F.
Bluff hiking: Perrot State Park Campground features challenging trails with substantial elevation changes. "This Campground offered beautiful views of the Mississippi river Trempealeau bay, rock formations And most excellent hiking trails," mentions Jill G. The park's varied terrain makes it suitable for different skill levels.
Kayaking backwaters: The Mississippi River backwaters provide extensive paddling opportunities. "Excellent place to kayak and explore the backwaters of the Mississippi. You can put in or take out at the boat landing. See map in photos for 'canoe trail'," notes a visitor to Goose Island.
Stargazing: Several campsites offer minimal light pollution for astronomy enthusiasts. "The sites are spacious and private and the fire rings are massive! We even had a white raven spend a fee days with us which was wild!" reports Hatie P. about Perrot State Park.
Wildlife viewing: Great River Bluffs State Park Campground offers exceptional bird watching. "Bring binoculars; the river valley is a great viewing area for waterfowl, eagles, and hawks," recommends one camper. The elevated position provides vantage points for spotting wildlife.
Urban proximity: Pettibone Resort provides unusual urban access. "About a 10 minute walk over the Cass St. bridge and you are in the heart of downtown La Crosse. This campground offers everything," explains Sara M. This makes it convenient for accessing restaurants and entertainment.
Fall colors: The bluff landscapes transform dramatically in autumn. "Stayed here in the fall. Had a site right next to the bathroom big enough for 2 tents and 2 vehicles. Hikes here offer great views of the river and bluffs and the fall colors are gorgeous!!!" shares Tori K. about Great River Bluffs State Park.
Farm experiences: Some unique camping options include agricultural settings. "In the middle of the country, in a tiny town called Brownsville, you'll find a little slice of awesome in the form of a hobby farm with campsites, a cabin, and oh ya...the remnants of an old brewery!" describes Amy G. about Shady Rest Acres.
Flooding risk: Low-lying campgrounds experience regular flooding. "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," warns Megan S. about Goose Island.
Environmental conditions: Water quality varies across campgrounds. "There were signs posted that the drinking water cannot be boiled, nor can it be given to babies or elderly due to high nitrates," cautions Kayla F. about Perrot State Park.
Noise pollution: Veterans Memorial Park & Campground offers better sound isolation than others. "At no time did we feel like we were invading Patty and Michelle's space, nor did they invade ours. It was extremely comfortable," reports Amy G. In contrast, other campgrounds near highways or railroad tracks can be quite loud.
Cell coverage: Service varies dramatically across campgrounds. "We've camped at Beaver Creek quite a few times. some sites are bigger than others, but they're all grassy and private which is nice. The only thing to know is there is no cell reception because of the valley," notes Kat C.
Playground access: Veterans Memorial Park & Campground offers multiple play areas. "Vet's Park has a lot to offer and is relatively large in size. Vet's Park has baseball fields, playgrounds, a couple of group shelters, volleyball courts, and tons of space for activities," explains a reviewer.
Child-friendly beaches: Several sites offer swimming opportunities tailored for children. "One of the things I like best is the playground is on the beach. My kid really loves that!" shares Sara M. about Goose Island.
Educational opportunities: Seasonal programming provides learning experiences. "The Saturday we were there they had a heritage camp set up to learn about how things were done in the past," mentions Tiffany K. about Perrot State Park.
Water safety considerations: Water depths and currents vary significantly. "Rentals for canoes and kayaks are available. Unfortunately, when I went the current was too strong. We could still rent one but they warned us that if we weren't able to make it through the current, that we wouldn't be able to get our money refunded," notes a visitor to Perrot State Park.
Site conditions: Neshonoc Lakeside offers well-maintained RV facilities. "The sites are all level, have a fire pit and picnic table. They are pretty open, so you're close to you neighbors and little shade or privacy. All RVs here, some tents as overflow for kiddos whose parents are staying in the RV," explains Kim L.
Utility considerations: Many campgrounds offer varied hookup options. "Very clean including the showers and bathroom. View of the Mississippi is amazing!" reports Ken B. about Great River Bluffs State Park. Water pressure and electrical service reliability varies across sites.
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds near La Crosse have limited operating seasons. "It's $19 plus the $7 MN state park fee. There was no camp host on site, but I saw a ranger drive through. We have a MN parks sticker on our window and paid online the day we came in because the office was closed," notes Mary S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there state park camping available near La Crosse, Wisconsin?
Yes, there are excellent state park camping options near La Crosse. Great River Bluffs State Park Campground offers beautiful trails and scenic views just 20-30 minutes from La Crosse. The park features nice campsites in a stunning natural setting, making it popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Another option within driving distance is Merrick State Park Campground, which provides riverside camping opportunities. For those willing to venture a bit further, Beaver Creek Valley State Park Campground near Caledonia offers drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in sites with water and toilet facilities. These state parks provide a natural escape while keeping you within reasonable distance of La Crosse's amenities.
Are there any family-friendly camping options with amenities for kids near La Crosse?
Families camping near La Crosse have several kid-friendly options. Whiskey Creek Family RV Park is a great family-operated campground featuring clean bathrooms with free showers, planned themed weekend activities for all ages, and nature trails. Kids particularly enjoy exploring the trails and fishing opportunities. Money Creek Haven Inc is another excellent choice about 30 minutes from La Crosse, where children love the man-made swimming pool. This campground has been hosting families since the 1980s and remains popular throughout summer months. For military families, Pine View Campground at Fort McCoy offers various activities and is within reasonable distance of La Crosse's baseball and softball events during summer.
Can I find lakeside or waterfront campgrounds around La Crosse, WI?
Yes, there are several waterfront camping options around La Crosse. Neshonoc Lakeside sits on Lake Neshonoc, a local favorite for water activities including boating, fishing, and kayaking. While primarily catering to seasonal and long-term campers, they do offer some tent sites for shorter stays. Boat Landing Campground — Bad Axe Watershed at Sidie Hollow Park is another excellent waterfront option about 30-40 minutes from La Crosse. This clean, well-maintained campground provides a peaceful setting with water access. For campers seeking riverside options, several campgrounds along the Mississippi River offer scenic waterfront views and water recreation opportunities within easy reach of La Crosse.
What are the best campgrounds near La Crosse, WI?
La Crosse offers several highly-rated campgrounds for visitors. Veterans Memorial Park & Campground receives excellent reviews for its peaceful atmosphere, shaded grassy sites, and direct access to the State Bike Trail, including connections to the La Crosse Great River Trail. It's easily accessible from I-90 and situated on the banks of the La Crosse River. Pettibone Resort is another popular option, located just a 10-minute walk over the Cass Street bridge from downtown La Crosse. The RV section is particularly nice, though tent sites have less privacy. Both campgrounds offer convenient access to La Crosse's attractions while providing different camping experiences based on your preferences.
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