Just south of Wisconsin Dells, Mirror Lake State Park (dnr.wi.gov) features over a hundred campsites that can accommodate both tents and RVs; most sites are wooded, making it a good choice for midsummer campers. On the shores of a long, narrow lake, the park’s visitors can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, fishing and swimming. Devil’s Lake State Park, south of Mirror Lake and 17 miles from Wisconsin Dells, is Wisconsin’s most popular state park -- over 2 million annual visitors come to hike the park’s 29 miles of trails or to go swimming, diving or boating in its large glacial lake. Devil’s Lake boasts five campgrounds with over 350 campsites.
Though prices are higher to camp at private campgrounds than at state parks, they generally have more amenities and allow campers to stay closer to the city. Sherwood Forest Camping & RV Park (sherwoodforestcamping.com) is minutes from downtown and offers a pool, Wi-Fi, game room and playgrounds. The Wisconsin Dells KOA (wisdellskoa.com/info.htm), also close to downtown, hosts nightly movies and weekly campfires, and features a swimming pool, Wi-Fi, and volleyball and basketball courts. Eagle Flats Campground & RV Park (eagleflatscampground.com) and Stand Rock Campground (standrock.com) are also nearby.
Combining the comforts of home with the beauty of nature, cabins are an option for those who want to enjoy the woods without the tent. Visitors to Cedar Lodge (cedarlodgedells.com) can enjoy the natural setting of the Wisconsin River while staying in luxurious log cabins with hot tubs and fireplaces. On the shores of nearby Lake Delton, Island Pointe Resort (islandpointeresort.com) has lakeside cabins in varying levels of luxury, while the cabins at Fox Hill RV Park & Campground (foxhillrvpark.com) appeal to those who want a more rustic experience.
During Wisconsin Dells’ summer peak season, advanced reservations are recommended -- especially on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends, when campgrounds can be fully booked months ahead of time. Though many of the man-made attractions in Wisconsin Dells close between Labor Day and Memorial Day, campers who are drawn to the area for its natural beauty can find fewer crowds and pleasant weather in early autumn -- try to catch peak fall color in early to mid-October -- as well as late spring.
