RV Camping and Sightseeing in Wisconsin

[Two_Hands]

We are planning our first visit to Wisconsin in late August early September, 2016. We like to stay in state parks with full or partial hookups, but have been known to dry camp. We love sightseeing, day hiking, and eating out. We really like quaint little towns and I really enjoy fishing for trout, bass, and pan fish.

I did a search on here and got nothing. I have subscribed to, and am receiving, on-line tourist newsletters. What I would ask for is information from those who live and rv in Wisconsin as well as those who have enjoyed past visits there. Where should we go, what should we see, where should we camp? I know we will be too early for the fall colors, but grandchildren's birthdays cannot be missed. Thanks in advance.

[Tom_Diane]

Five years ago, the wife and I loaded p the truck and 5er and headed up to Eagle River WI for the Cranberry Festival! We decided to check it out but the other Festivals that were closer were either done or didn't fit her vacation schedule!
Went 450 miles north of central Iowa and had the best week ever!
It was the end of Sept and we found the best food off the highways but you had to look for the little signs that showed the eating place!
The free tour of the bogs and then the winery as well as the other wineries we hit while there and lots of crafts! Wish I could remember the name of the CG we stayed at! Beautiful place. I have the name of it in a folder, but it was approx. 20 miles west of Eagle river!
I'm trying to talk her into asking for a week of vacation so we can load up and go with out telling the kids! They are all grown so we go on a whim when we want!

[EgorKC]

We spent a week in Door county this August and had a great time. The Trolley tours are well worth it. We stayed at Egg Harbor RV and were happy with it. Lots of restaurants and shops in the various towns.

[Us_out_West]

Loved Door County when we were there last year.

Ellison Bay, Door County and more...

[longdrive]

Agree with Door County mention from above. Called The Cap Cod of the Midwest.

[Two_Hands]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I really appreciate it.

[howlin4you]

Lived and camped in Wisconsin all my life almost exclusively at state parks. I don’t have much to add since you've gotten some great responses so far. Based on your likes (sightseeing, quaint towns, eating out, bass fishing) I’d highly recommend Peninsula SP in Door County. The area is full of charming little towns, great restaurants, shopping, and scenery. Like someone else said, more stuff then you’ll have time to see and do. The waters of Green Bay (go Packers!) are becoming known as a great bass and walleye destination.

http://www.lake-link.com/Wisconsin-Fishing-Reports/report.cfm/43458/Green-Bay-Lower-Bay-Brown-County/

Consider doing a wine tour, ghost tour, or a guided pub crawl through the door county trolley company. They’re a ton of fun even if you don’t care for wine and don’t believe in ghosts like me. Do a search and you’ll find a ton of resources online. Also, I’ll add my name to the list of people you can feel free to PM if you have any questions while planning your trip. I'm very familiar with the big three SP’s; Wyalusing, Devils Lake, and Peninsula. By the end of the year we’ll have been at all three along with Richard Bong and Buckhorn (Buckhorn is newer and has some of the nicest sites I’ve ever camped in by the way).

[kknowlton]

All of the state parks mentioned are good ones. Reservations may be needed for the most popular, or the ones with fewer sites that will accommodate your RV. We camped for many years in Wisconsin and love their state parks. True, hookups are electric only, and many sites have no hookups at all, but living there we got used to it, since that's all there was. 🙂

I would add Point Beach to the above-mentioned parks; it was one of our favorites. The same caveats apply for this park as for the others.
Wyalusing is our favorite, and Wisconsin Ridge CG is the one in that park you want to aim for. Your best bet, if you can dry-camp, is one of the sites right along the ridge; they have no hookups, but most are large enough you'll fit, and the view right from your site is nothing short of spectacular - and unique!

Areas of Wisconsin to visit: Door County (Wisconsin's "thumb" - you can look WEST to Michigan from some of it); Wisconsin Dells (Mirror Lake is a nice SP for that area) - VERY touristy but the boat & "Duck" rides are worth it; the southwest "Driftless" area, which the last glaciers skipped; Lake Michigan (Kohler-Andrae SP and Point Beach SF are great for that); and along the Mississippi. We were never able to get "up north" so can't recommend anything from personal experience. While in Wisconsin, if you have the time, you can also explore the northeast corner and the U(pper) P(eninsula) of Michigan - and some nice SPs up there as well.

House on the Rock is totally unique and a do-not-miss. If you're into architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin is worth seeing. The International Crane Foundation is a wonderful way to learn about those amazing birds. All of these can be day trips from a base camp at Devils Lake or in the Dells area. If you enjoy history, camp at Kettle Moraine South and visit Old World Wisconsin - a delightful day seeing how Wisconsin's early settlers lived (original homes, barns, etc. from around the state were moved there & reassembled, with living-history volunteers giving presentations in them.) Lake Geneva is very nice but we were not impressed with its SP (Bigfoot?) and prefer to camp at Richard Bong SRA (nice campsites - if you're going to go there, PM me for campsite # recommendations; that was our "local" CG for many years.)

[cheteckie]

Interstate Park on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border is great for hiking.

Ther are many, many bike trails in the state. Lake Wissota State Park near Chippewa Falls is near the Old Abe trail.

Bay field, on the shore of Lake Superior is another great place to visit. There is a state park on Madeline Island (one of the Apostle Islands).

[RinconVTR]

None of our State parks have hook ups, but they all have 30amp power. You fill your water tank as you enter, dump the tanks as you leave.

My favorites vary, and they happen to be all over the State. So one is bound to work out.

My top favorites in order are Peninsula (very well known Door County area), Devils Lake (very well known Wisconsin Dells area, close enough to Spring Green, House on the Rock and Cave of the mounds). And then Willow River, and Wyalusing along the Mississippi. Wyalusing being right on it/looking over it.

Then not in order; High Cliff, Kettle Moraine South, Pike Lake, and Kohler-Andrea.

Search those top two parks and areas I list, you will find more to do than you have time for. They are probably the two most touristic towns along with Lake Geneva area, excluding Downtown Milwaukee.

If Milwaukee is of interest and depending on your timeline, you'd have to get more specific about what would interest you in order to recommended anything.

[Tjuice]

Minocqua has a lot of lakes and fishing, and a quaint little downtown.
I haven't camped there yet, but have visited many times.
If that is too far north, look up Lake Geneva. Great lake and small town. I've been there in thesummer and it was crowded, but everyone's likely gone home now...

Also, if you've never been to The House on the Rock in Spring Green, i highly recommend spending a day there if you are passing by to your final destination. Again, i haven't camped there, but have visited. Do not spoil it by browsing their website in detail! It is much more fun going in not knowing what to expect!

I just started rv'ing last year and haven't camped in WI yet. But living in IL all my life means many previous vacations were in WI. And I have a relative in Minocqua.