Campgrounds near Onalaska, Wisconsin range from state parks to county-managed recreation areas along the Mississippi River and its backwaters. The region includes established sites like Veterans Memorial Park & Campground in West Salem and Goose Island in Stoddard, both within 15 miles of Onalaska. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several offering electric hookups, water access, and basic amenities. Perrot State Park Campground in nearby Trempealeau provides camping with scenic bluff views, while Pettibone Resort in La Crosse offers riverside sites with full hookups for RVs.
Access to campgrounds varies seasonally, with many sites operating from mid-April through October. Winter camping options are limited but available at select locations like Perrot State Park. Reservations are recommended during summer weekends and holidays when waterfront sites fill quickly. "This camp South of Lacrosse Wisconsin is a great family or road tripping camp," noted one visitor about Goose Island, which features sites directly on Mississippi River backwaters. Road conditions are generally good with paved access to most developed campgrounds, though some primitive sites may require short walks from parking areas. Cell service is reliable throughout most of the region, with stronger signals near La Crosse and Onalaska proper.
The Mississippi River and its backwaters define the camping experience in this area, with many sites offering direct water access for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Campers frequently mention the scenic bluffs and river views as highlights. "Great hiking trails and overlooks. A favorite pastime is early in the morning and listening to the Cranes calling from their rookery nearby," shared one visitor about Perrot State Park. Train noise affects some riverside campgrounds, particularly Merrick State Park, where several reviews mention passing trains. For more seclusion, the cart-in sites at Great River Bluffs State Park across the Minnesota border provide more privacy while still offering river valley views. Most developed campgrounds in the area feature fire rings, picnic tables, and access to drinking water, with many also providing shower facilities during the main camping season.
$24 / night
"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."
"The cart in sites all have a fire pit with a grill, picnic table, and are a short walk from the primitive toilets. There is a water spigot in the parking area."
$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."
$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."
"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."
"Great location!"
$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."
"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."
$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."
$30 - $40 / night
"This place is priced around the same as other places you might camp around Wisconsin and I believe is privately owned."
"There is a bar and restaurant within walking distance. A lot of people camp there, the sites are small we still managed to have a good time. We had four campsites next to each other for our group."
$30 / night
"Great Harvest Host location super nice family."
"We pulled in from a long driving day .we were greeted by our host . She was very friendly and explained where the site was . Had a great night sleep . This is a good over night stop ."
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.
Camping in the Onalaska region centers on the Mississippi River floodplain, with elevations ranging from 640 to 1,240 feet in nearby bluff country. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F, ideal for riverside camping from May through September. Campgrounds in this area regularly experience spring flooding, particularly in low-lying areas near the Mississippi River backwaters.
Paddle backwaters: Goose Island Campground provides excellent access to Mississippi River backwater exploration. "Perfect place to kayak and explore the backwaters of the Mississippi. You can put in or take out at the boat landing," notes one visitor who recommends consulting the canoe trail map available at the campground.
Bike connecting trails: Veterans Memorial Park & Campground connects directly to regional bike infrastructure. "This park has direct access to the La Crosse Great River Trail where you can connect onto Elroy/Sparta Trail to the east and directly to La Crosse Great River Trail to the northwest," explains one reviewer, highlighting its popularity with touring cyclists.
Winter cross-country skiing: Great River Bluffs State Park maintains 9 miles of groomed trails requiring a Minnesota Ski Pass. "Winter would be good. There are 9 miles of groomed X-country ski trails; you need a MN Ski Pass," recommends a visitor who notes the campground operates year-round.
Fish multiple species: River's Edge Campground offers fishing opportunities along the Black River. According to visitors, the area supports "water, fishing, tubing" activities, with multiple access points for anglers seeking river species.
Cart-in sites for seclusion: Great River Bluffs State Park offers walk-in camping options with more privacy. "We camped one night here at the cart-in campsites. Sites were nice with fire pits, nearby vault toilets (2 of them and super clean with TP and hand sanitizer), and an easy path to get to and from car," explains one camper who appreciated the setup.
Riverfront camping: Pettibone Resort provides sites directly on the Mississippi. "Here for a soccer tournament this weekend. Have a spot right on the river. Wonderful campground," shares one visitor who enjoyed the proximity to downtown La Crosse.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Perrot State Park Campground offers excellent bird watching. One visitor shared: "We even had a white raven spend a few days with us which was wild!" Another mentioned the "binoculars; the river valley is a great viewing area for waterfowl, eagles, and hawks."
Fall camping for colors: Several campgrounds offer exceptional autumn views. "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!!!" reports one camper at Great River Bluffs.
Train noise impacts sleep: Several riverside campgrounds experience railroad disruptions. "Highway noise from the highway running along the river and from I-90 (while not really noticeable during the day) is ridiculously loud at night. Added to this were the half dozen trains that ran through the night (horns going off too)," warns a Great River Bluffs camper.
Nitrate water advisories: Some campgrounds have drinking water restrictions. At Perrot State Park, "There were signs posted that the drinking water cannot be boiled, nor can it be given to babies or elderly due to high nitrates," reports one camper who recommends bringing your own water.
Flooding concerns: Low-lying campgrounds experience regular closures. Goose Island "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," explains one visitor, noting this is a common occurrence on the floodplain.
Mosquito preparation essential: Bug protection is necessary, especially in riverside locations. "The bugs and mosquitos were almost unbearable. We fogged the site daily, had thermacells, and coated ourselves in bug spray - still came home completely bit up," cautions a camper at Perrot State Park.
Pool amenities: Neshonoc Lakeside offers multiple swimming options for children. "With 2 swimming pools, daily activities, movies, and a full ice cream shop you won't be bored here. The top pool is very large and new with a splash pad area. The lower pool is older and smaller, and where grown ups tend to go for a dip," explains one family.
Playground locations: Veterans Memorial Park provides multiple play areas. One visitor notes: "This park has baseball fields, playgrounds, a couple of group shelters, volleyball courts, and tons of space for activities," making it ideal for active families.
Organized activities: Many campgrounds offer scheduled programming. At Neshonoc Lakeside, "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," according to one family visitor.
Beach-playground combinations: Goose Island offers convenient setup for parents. One visitor points out, "one of the things I like best is the playground is on the beach. My kid really loves that!"
Site access considerations: Several campgrounds present challenges for larger rigs. At River's Edge, "nightly camping sites are stacked on each other so no privacy" while Blueberry Fields Forever offers more spacious but rustic alternatives with "no water or electric hookups."
Concrete pad availability: Pettibone Resort provides improved RV parking surfaces. "The park streets are asphalt with two concrete strips for your tires in the sites," notes one RVer who found this helpful for stabilizing their travel trailer.
Off-season availability: Frickson Family Farms offers overnight RV parking with basic amenities. "We pulled in from a long driving day. We were greeted by our host. She was very friendly and explained where the site was," reports one RVer who found this farm-based option convenient and peaceful.
Spring flood awareness: Water level monitoring is essential for planning. "This campground is right on a flood plain, and would be even better if it wasn't all under water this summer," warns a Goose Island visitor, suggesting checking ahead during spring melt periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find campgrounds near Onalaska, WI?
Onalaska offers several excellent camping options within a short drive. Goose Island is located just south of La Crosse with friendly staff, a camp supply store, and firewood available for purchase. For those seeking a waterfront experience, Pettibone Resort offers boat-in and drive-in access with reservable sites. Other nearby options include Neshonoc Lakeside near West Salem and Veterans Memorial Park & Campground with trail access. The area also features several state parks within a reasonable drive, including Merrick State Park and Black River State Forest campgrounds.
What amenities are available at Onalaska campgrounds?
Campgrounds near Onalaska offer a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. Oakdale KOA provides full hookups for RVs, which helps mitigate the nearby highway noise, and is conveniently located off I-90. Merrick State Park Campground features electric sites, showers for campers, two boat launches, and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Most area campgrounds offer basic amenities like fire rings with grill grates, picnic tables, and access to restrooms. Some have coin-operated showers (typically $1 for 5 minutes), while others provide additional facilities like camp stores, firewood sales, and proximity to hiking trails or water recreation.
What is the best time of year to go camping in Onalaska?
Late spring through early fall (May to October) offers the best camping experience near Onalaska. Summer provides ideal conditions for water activities, with Reicks Lake Park offering affordable camping ($15/night) with paved pads, fire pits, and electric hookups available. Fall is particularly beautiful at Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park, with gorgeous autumn colors and hiking trails, though water may be shut off in mid-October while bathrooms remain operational. Be aware that some campgrounds become busy on summer weekends, especially those with water access, so reservations are recommended during peak season.
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