Campgrounds Become Gateways to Wisconsin’s Past

This year, many campers are pairing their outdoor getaways with visits to Wisconsin’s standout historical sites. Travel Wisconsin even highlights 20 must‑see destinations that help tell the state’s story. A few favorites include:

Circus World in Baraboo Spread across 64 acres, this museum brings the golden age of the American circus to life. You’ll find 30 historic structures—including original Ringling Bros. buildings—plus seven National Historic Landmarks and more than 260 beautifully restored circus wagons.

Taliesin in Spring Green Frank Lloyd Wright’s 37,000‑square‑foot home, studio, and school sits on an 800‑acre estate that showcases nearly every decade of his career. Recognized as both a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Taliesin is a pilgrimage spot for architecture lovers.

Old World Wisconsin in Eagle This living history museum invites you to step into the 1840s through the 1910s. With 60 restored buildings, costumed interpreters, working farms, a blacksmith shop, and even an old‑fashioned general store, it’s a hands‑on journey into Wisconsin’s immigrant past.

Finding a place to camp near these attractions is easy. Just head to wisconsincampgrounds.com, type in the city you’re visiting, and you’ll get a list of nearby campgrounds. Search “Baraboo,” for example, and you’ll see options like Dell Pines Campground, Fox Hill RV Resort & Campground, and Skillet Creek Campground. Looking for a spot near Taliesin? Wisconsin Riverside Resort in Spring Green pops right up. Planning a trip to Old World Wisconsin? Circle K Campground in nearby Palmyra is a convenient choice.

“We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for people to find campgrounds in the location of interest to them,” says Lori Severson, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners, which runs the site. “Whether they’re visiting historical sites, recreational attractions, or something else, we want the search to be simple.”

And while many campgrounds are close to history, some actually are history.

Take Hitts Wildwood Resort in Chetek, one of Wisconsin’s oldest campgrounds. It dates back to 1902, when it opened as Wildwood Resort. Today, owners Mike and Jenny Hitt have updated the property while preserving several cabins from the 1950s.

Then there’s Tilleda Falls Campground, a 50‑site park with roots that stretch deep into Wisconsin’s past—and even brush up against the Civil War. Its camp store and bar are housed in a 148‑year‑old building that once operated as the last water‑powered sawmill in the state. The Embarrass River still runs through the property, and according to historical accounts, a bridge once crossed the river between two campsites—ordered by President Abraham Lincoln himself to help transport potatoes to Union troops. The bridge washed away in 1912, but the story remains a beloved piece of local lore.

Owners Paul and Rachel Janda plan to celebrate both the campground’s history and their own 10‑year anniversary of ownership with a “Decades Weekend” from June 26–28. Campers are encouraged to dress in the decade of their choice—an appropriately playful nod to the past.

Whether you’re chasing Wisconsin’s architectural treasures, stepping into the world of the Ringling Brothers, or simply enjoying a cold drink inside a 19th‑century sawmill, the state’s campgrounds offer more than a place to pitch a tent. They’re launching pads into the stories that shaped Wisconsin—and America.

RV Parks to Consider

Dell PInes Campground

E10562 Shady Lane Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913

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