15 Best State Parks in Wisconsin You Should Visit This Year

A guide to the best parks in Wisconsin including the best Wisconsin State Park Campings

Wisconsin is known as the Cheese State or Dairy State, but it has more to offer than just Dairy production. Bordered by Lakes Michigan and Superior, Wisconsin is home to many desirable travel locations, from big cities to state and national parks in Wisconsin.

It offers a range of sights and attractions for thrill-seekers, nature lovers, and families. Here, I share with you the best State Parks in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin State Park Systems have nearly 156,000 acres of land available for visitors to enjoy. Nature provides beautiful backdrops all the year round with recreation areas, trails, more than 15,000 inland lakes, 43,000 miles of rivers, and 659 miles of Great Lakes shoreline for travelers’ enjoyment. 

The best Wisconsin state parks are perfect for hiking, mountain biking, all-terrain vehicle riding, backpacking, camping, fishing, boating, kayaking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.

You can also simply enjoy the natural landscape with your family. 

This post contains affiliate links. if you buy via them, I’ll earn a small commission which helps me to keep this blog running. I received services for free for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Useful Travel Information for Wisconsin

✎ Plan the ultimate Wisconsin road trip (no backtracking!) with the Perfect Wisconsin Road Trip itinerary – Get it here

✈ Book cheap flights to Wisconsin with Skyscanner or Kayak

✔ Book tours in Wisconsin with Viator

➳ Book holiday and vacation rentals in Wisconsin with VRBO

❖ Rent a car with at the best rates with DiscoverCars

☘ Get the best discounted outdoor gear (outlet) at REI.com

$ Get Wisconsin hiking guides and maps at REI.com

✎ Never leave without travel insurance. I get mine at SafetyWing. It is easy to set up, cheap, and reliable.

How many State Parks are there in Wisconsin?

There are 66 state parks in Wisconsin.

The State Parks in Wisconsin cover more than 60,570 acres and each is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks, and Recreation.

Where to book Wisconsin State Parks Cabins?

Please note that Wisconsin state parks camping fees are additional and range from $15 to $35, plus a $7.75 reservation fee.  

Booking.com – Astonishingly, Booking.com offers much more than hotel rooms. I found them to have a vast offer of State Park cabins in Wisconsin. They even have a large selection of Wisconsin State Park campsites. – Check prices and read reviews

Airbnb – If you are looking for Wisconsin State park cabins with a personal touch, I recommend booking at Airbnb. On top, their park cabins are often very affordable. They have a vast choice! Check prices and read reviews.

VRBO – In my opinion, VRBO has the largest offer when it comes to Wisconsin State Park cabins. Whether you’re looking for lakefront cabins or beachside, it’s very likely that you can find your cabin at VRBO. – Check prices and read reviews

1. Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin

• Accommodation Options: The Ringling House Bed & Breakfast has the best reviews in town and the Inn at Wawanissee comes with a hot tub! Cabin lovers, this area is heaven for you! Check out this quirky Log Cabin or stay in this gorgeous contemporary home on a quiet wooded lot.

Devil’s Lake State Park Wisconsin is one of the largest and most visited state parks offering gorgeous scenery in every season, and the opportunity to enjoy that with your favorite outdoor activity.

It is located in south-central Wisconsin, about 3 miles south of Baraboo. It is well connected with road and one can reach this State Park by car following the brown and white Devil’s Lake State Park signs at turns. 

Climbing the huge boulders that make up the East Bluff trail offers the views of the lake. The surrounding valleys are absolutely breathtaking and the most amazing activity to do.

With downtown Lincoln City a few minutes away, one can glide quietly by canoe or kayak on the lake. With three campgrounds, Devil’s Lake Wisconsin camping has 423 sites that can accommodate a family of 6.  

Book Devils Lake Wisconsin camping

2. High Cliff State Park, Wisconsin

• Accommodation Options: Honestly, the best way to enjoy the beauty of this area is by renting a cabin or a cottage. This house offers gorgeous views on the lake and this luxury home comes with a spacious garden and stunning views.

This park overlooks the largest inland lake, Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin and is situated on limestone cliffs (once a sacred to Native Americans) and is well connected by the road.

The park’s most popular destination is the magnificent 12-foot statue of Winnebago Indian Chief Red Bird standing on a huge granite rock overlooking the lake.  

The park also has a marina, historic sites, a campground, picnic areas, a beach, an observation tower, shelters, and play areas. Many facilities include a specially designed cabin, accessible for people with disabilities.

High Cliff State Park Wisconsin has 112 regular campsites with firewood available at the park wood yard. The park also has four picnic areas with tables, grills, water, and restrooms.   

Book here waterfront cabins in High Cliff State Park

3. Copper Falls State Park, Wisconsin

• Accommodation Options: The best way to enjoy the beauty here is by renting a cabin or a cottage. On VRBO, I found this scenic waterfront Log Home and this cabin rental comes with its own dock.

The deep gorges, ancient lava flows, and spectacular waterfalls make Copper Falls State Park Wisconsin one of the most scenic parks. On top, it’s considered one of the best Wisconsin state parks with waterfalls.

Located about two miles northeast of Mellen in Ashland County, one can reach it by taking State Highway 13 to the north side of Mellen and turn (northeast) on State Highway 169. Go about 1.8 miles and the park’s entrance will be on your left. 

This state park offers hiking, picnicking, fishing, and swimming as well as other activities, but one of the main highlights is the North Country National Scenic Trail.

The park has 54 regular campsites with a group camping area big enough for 40 people, offering an overnight stay and for people with disabilities, a rustic bin.

Copper Falls is in the heart of the prime fishing area, offering all kinds of sport fishing within easy traveling distance. It’s thus perfect to bring your inflatable fishing kayak, read more about them here.

That’s why it is one of the most popular state parks of Wisconsin since it is home to some of the best waterfalls in Northern Wisconsin.

Book Waterfront Cabins in Copper Falls State Park

4. Mirror Lake State Park, Wisconsin

• Best Thing to do: Visit the Ringling Brother Mansion
• Accommodation Options: The Fairfield Inn is always a great choice and I love the backyard of Hilton Garden Inn. For Airbnb fans, check out this cute Deluxe Cottage in Christmas Mountain.

Just a few miles from Wisconsin Dells, Mirror Lake State Park Wisconsin is a great place to spend some quality time with family in the summers. It is conveniently located just off Interstate 90-94, exit I-90-94 to U.S. Highway 12, south of Wisconsin Dells.

The lake is surrounded by beautiful sandstone bluffs that go up to 50 feet offering excellent fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and bird watching opportunities.

One can also enjoy wooded campsites, picnic areas, a boat landing, and miles of biking, hiking, and cross-country ski trails, making it an ideal spot for a weekend vacation idea in Wisconsin.

It’s considered one of the best things to do in Wisconsin Dells.

This Wisconsin Dells state park features 147 campsites and various other types of lodging, camping, and great fishing. It also offers adaptive equipment available for people with mobility impairment.

Book an AirBnB at Mirror Lake

5. Rocky Arbor State Park, Wisconsin Dells

• Best Thing to do: Visit the Ringling Brother Mansion
• Accommodation Options: The Fairfield Inn is always a great choice and I love the backyard of Hilton Garden Inn. For Airbnb fans, check out this cute Deluxe Cottage in Christmas Mountain.

Rocky Arbor State Park is one of the best state parks near Wisconsin Dells. It offers an escape from the water parks to enjoy the outdoors. This seasonal park is open for camping from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.

During the off-season, hikers and picnickers are still welcome to use the park.

The park is well connected to the road, from Interstate Highway 90/94, take the U.S. Highway 12/16 and exit on the north side of Wisconsin Dells. Go east on Highway 12/16 about 0.8 miles. The park entrance will be on your right.

This park and recreation retreat offers pine trees and sandstone bluffs for a cool escape for the picnicker, camping family or hiker. Hike through the park to get a glimpse of pine trees, sandstone bluffs, and animals of all sorts.

Don’t forget to bring your Wisconsin hiking guidebook in order to explore the best trails. – Check rates here

Wooded campsites are another great feature of this park and offer a 1-mile self-guided nature trail. Walk quietly and you may see deer, squirrels, bats, raccoons, and chipmunks. The campground has showers, flush toilets, and electricity.

Book Yogi Bear Camp Wisconsin

6. Amnicon Falls State Park, Wisconsin

• Accommodation Options: The best way to enjoy the beauty here is by renting a cabin. You’ll love this Lakefront Superior Cottage w/Deck & Boat Dock or this beautifully decorated Home near Spirit

Located about 15 miles east of the Superior city limits in Douglas County, you can reach Amnicon Falls State Park through US Highway 2/53 to the southeast out of Superior.

The park offers 36 nicely spaced wooded campsites and attractive hiking and walking trails. The covered Horton Bridge is the best spot to take photographs.

The park also features a series of delightful waterfalls and rapids along the Amnicon River. You can view them from a covered footbridge or trails along the river.

The park offers a place to picnic, camp, walk in the woods, and you can also learn about the Douglas Fault, the geological formation that created the falls. No wonder, that the area was a film location for some of the best movies set in Wisconsin.

Amnicon Falls State Park is more orientated towards tent camping and has vault toilets and water, but no electricity, showers, or dump station. That’s why it is considered one of the best Wisconsin state parks for camping.

Read: The Best Hotels in Northern Wisconsin

7. Wyalusing State Park, Wisconsin

• Accommodation Options: The Waterfront Hotel is such a gorgeous hideaway. If you love cabin getaways, have a look at this gorgeous cabin retreat near Wyalusing State Park or this secluded log home. For Airbnb fans, you’ll enjoy this Bunk House in Prairie du Chien.

Located on a high bluff overlooking the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, a land of sculpted limestone can be found amid a swath of preserved hardwood forest, the Wyalusing State Park.

You can easily reach the park from US Highway 18 and State Highway 35.

Wyalusing state park Wisconsin is one of the oldest parks and a world heritage site, featuring Indian burial mounds, canoe trial, and bird watching.

This park is a place to go for fishing, boating, cycling, picnicking, and enjoying nature. There are interpretive center and four historical markers within the park.

The park has two campgrounds with 109 campsites that can accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. There are 33 campsites with electricity. 

Book Wyalusing cabins and read reviews

8. Kettle Moraine State Park, Wisconsin

• Accommodation Options: The Hidden Serenity B&B is a great hideaway. But a cabin getaway is the best way to enjoy the natural beauty here. You’ll love the McJugger’s Loft close to trails and the lake. The Lillibridge Lake Home is just steps from the water on quaint Tittle Lake, nestled in the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Kettle Moraine State Park Wisconsin is divided into two units: North and South.

The Northern Unit is located 45 minutes north of Milwaukee in the Sheboygan County, while the Southern unit is 61 miles east of Madison and 37 miles southwest of Milwaukee in Washington County. Considered one of the best day trips from Milwaukee, the chief feature of the reserve is the Kettle Mountain, a highly glaciated area. 

Visitors here can explore and enjoy almost 30,000 acres of rolling hills, lakes, forests, and grasslands in the Northern unit, while the Southern unit offers a recreational area of 22,000 acres.

Visitors can camp in one of the three family Wisconsin state park campgrounds here. The area is also home to some of the most romantic cabins in Wisconsin.

Summer provides picturesque horseback riding, camping, bicycling, hiking, and fishing.

Fall in love with the colors as you meander through winding roads during the autumn season in Wisconsin. Winter provides excellent opportunities for skiing, snowmobiling, and tubing.  

Read more: Best Lakes in Wisconsin 

9. Newport State Park, Wisconsin

• Accommodation Options: The Open Heart Lodge has the best reviews in town and the Country House Resort comes with a spacious garden. For Airbnb fans, this cozy renovated home is located close to the town center.

Newport State Park is located near the tip of the Door County Peninsula off State Highway 42. Situated northeast of Ellison Bay, the state park in Door County Wisconsin is the only formally designated Wilderness Park.

It has 2,373 acres and 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, offering quiet alternatives to bustling Door County. Here you can read more about things to do in Door County.

Newport State Park Wisconsin is very popular for hiking as it has 30 miles of trails tracing the Lake Michigan shoreline. No wonder that it’s considered one of the best hiking trails in Wisconsin.

It also has beautiful waterfront locations with plenty of opportunities for kayaking, and where you can spend an entire day paddling through the waves.

Newport has 16 backpack campsites, 13 of which are reserved and also offers winter backpack camping.  

Don’t forget to bring your Wisconsin hiking guidebook in order to explore the best trails in the area. – Check rates & reviews here

10. Big Bay State Park, Wisconsin

• Best Thing to do: Rent a kayak – or bring your own inflatable one
• Accommodation Options: The Pinehurst Inn Bed & Breakfast is perfect for those who want to splurge a bit and the Old Rittenhouse Inn is a fabulous mid-range option. For Airbnb and cabin lovers, this Madeline Island Cabin is located right on the lakeshore on Madeline Island.

Located on Madeline Island, the largest of 22 Apostle Islands, the Big Bay State Park Wisconsin has rugged wooded cliffs with dramatic views of Lake Superior, offering great weekend or week-long retreats for families. 

The park offers a family campground, including walk-in campsites, hiking and nature trails, and 1.5 miles of sand beach awaits visitors. The park also offers a picnic area with tables, grills, water, and toilets. 

The Big Bay State Park is famous for its autumn foliage and is thus a great fall activity in Wisconsin and definitely one of the best things to do in Northern Wisconsin.

If you are looking for more things to do near Apostle Islands, here you can read my full itinerary.

11. Peninsula State Park, Wisconsin

• Accommodation Options: The Homestead Suites comes with outdoor and indoor pools, a spa bath and the White Gull Inn is a great option for adult-only stays. If you prefer an Airbnb, you’ll love the cute Creekside Cottage or this homey Cottage. 

Established in 1909, Peninsula State Park Wisconsin is a 3,776-acre state treasure on the Door County peninsula. You can reach this park through State Highway 57 north towards Sturgeon Bay.

High bluffs and sandy beaches, a 1860s lighthouse, a challenging 18-hole golf course, and professional summer theater performances make Peninsula State Park extremely popular.

Hiking or bicycling is the best way to explore the trails that wind through the quiet interior of the park. Staying at a wood cabin is one of the best ways to enjoy its beauty.

The recreational opportunities are numerous such as hiking, biking, boating, golfing, and swimming during the spring, summer, and fall. It’s thus a lovely place to vacation in Wisconsin.

Check the best AirBnbs at Peninsula State Park

12. Interstate State Park, Wisconsin

• Accommodation Options: The Holiday Inn Express & Suites St. Croix Valley is the best address in town. There are great Airbnb options such as this The Artists Loft or this cozy Copper Room apartment.

Interstate State Park is Wisconsin’s oldest state park and known for Dalles of the St. Croix gorge and gorgeous views of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Located on the state’s western border, the park shares its name with the bordering State Park of Minnesota.

Interstate Park is in St. Croix Falls, on Wisconsin Highway 35, just 1/2 mile south of U.S. Highway 8. 

The Interstate State Park Wisconsin has an excellent swimming beach and Beach House at scenic Lake O’ the Dalles, and has several picnic areas with tables, grills, as well as open shelters.

The park also has two campgrounds with a total of 85 family campsites, and a primitive group camp that can accommodate up to 60 people.

13. Rock Island State Park

• Accommodation Options: The Open Heart Lodge has the best reviews in town and the Country House Resort comes with a spacious garden. For Airbnb fans, this cozy renovated home is located close to the town center.

Located on Rock Island in Lake Michigan off the tip of the Door Peninsula, one can reach this state park by two ferry rides.

Take Wisconsin Highway 42 to its end at Northport, the tip of the Door County Peninsula and then take the Washington Island Ferry to Washington Island.

Cars and bikes are not allowed, offering an experience unlike any other state park in Wisconsin. It’s a fabulous idea when looking for weekend trips in Wisconsin.

The park has 10 miles of hiking trails, including a one-mile interpretive trail, a naturalist program, and 5,000 feet of beach.

Rock Island State Park Wisconsin has 40 campsites with pit toilets, and picnic tables and fire rings are provided. There is also drinking water near the dock and the boathouse.

Check Rock Island cabins and campsites

14. Blue Mound State Park

• Accommodation Options: The Grandstay Hotel and Suites comes with BBQ facilities, a spa, and a wellness center. For Airbnb fans, this retreat home comes with a cozy fire pit and large yard, I also love the dreamy scenery of this hillside farm house.

Located on the highest point in southern Wisconsin at 1,719 feet of elevation, the park offers spectacular views along with unique geological features.

It is just north of the Village of Blue Mounds, about 25 miles west of Madison via US Highway 18/151.

Blue Mound State Park Wisconsin is the only state park with a swimming pool equipped with a lift for persons with disabilities. 

The park is also popular for hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking (both double and single track) and for finding peace and solitude from the noisy city.

The campground is open throughout the year and contains 77 wooded sites and a rustic accessible cabin for disabled people. Each site has picnic tables, free rings, toilets and water fountains.  

15. Point Beach State Forest, Wisconsin

• Accommodation Options: In Two Rivers, the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites has fabulous reviews! For cabin lovers, this cozy house is located in Point Beach State Forest and comes with a large yard. This fully renovated cabin retreat is located close to Two Rivers and boasts a waterfront location.

It is a 2,903 acre Wisconsin state forest located near two rivers, Wisconsin in Manitowoc County. It is located along 6 miles of the Lake Michigan coast.

To reach the Point Beach State Park Wisconsin, take County Highway O north about 4 miles. The entrance road will be on your right.

With dunes, a lighthouse, a state park camping, and hiking, biking, skiing, nature, and snowmobile trails, it is an adventure’s paradise. 

The Point Beach offers family campground consisting of 127 sites, 70 of them with electricity.

All these sites are within walking distance of Lake Michigan, where you can enjoy more than five-plus of undeveloped shoreline. Book campsites and lakefront cabins here.

Wisconsin State Parks Map

FAQ about Wisconsin State Parks

Read more about Wisconsin

• 25 Best Lakes In Wisconsin: Why We Love Them!
• 20 Best Hiking Trails In Wisconsin
• Where To Stay In Milwaukee, Wisconsin In 2020: The Ultimate Guide
• 15 Great Wisconsin Vacation Ideas
• Best Day Trips From Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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