Is Buckhorn State Park first-come first-served or reservation?

Buckhorn State Park accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Buckhorn State Park before I book?

Yes! Buckhorn State Park has 14 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

Are there showers at Buckhorn State Park?

Yes, Buckhorn State Park has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Is there cell service at Buckhorn State Park?

Cell phone service at Buckhorn State Park is generally available. Cell service is available. Coverage may vary by carrier and exact location within the campground.

How many campsites does Buckhorn State Park have?

Buckhorn State Park has 60 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Buckhorn State Park?

Pets are not allowed at Buckhorn State Park. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Buckhorn State Park?

Buckhorn State Park offers: Showers. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Buckhorn State Park?

Popular activities at Buckhorn State Park include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Buckhorn State Park

4.68

104 reviews

Buckhorn State Park

Top 20% in WISummer

Family FriendlySummer Destination

Featured in:Swimming Camping Wisconsin#2 Group Camping Wisconsin#3 Family-Friendly Campgrounds Wisconsin +7 more

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

896 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

60 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

Showers

Book on Wisconsin DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

896 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

60 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Has Service

Pets

Check Policy

Showers

Book on Wisconsin DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Buckhorn State Park

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No paid fee categories listed.

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Provider

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Campground Map

Buckhorn State Park

43.9469, -90.0042

Nearby supplies

Park store adjacent to campground entrance reported to sell necessities (ice, wood, beer) according to visitor reports.

Weather at Buckhorn State Park

Best Time to Camp at Buckhorn State Park

Summer offers warm, shallow lake water with daytime highs in the mid-70s to low-80s °F and long daylight hours for swimming, paddling, and fishing. Beach-front walk-in sites and calm coves see peak use on summer weekends. Mosquitoes and horse flies are persistent, so bring strong insect repellent and a shade canopy. Fall brings cooler temperatures, fewer bugs, and lighter crowds, though the water becomes less inviting.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.5 / 5

Top 20% in WI

Warm shallow water, long daylight, busy beach and peak paddling/fishing season; reviews praise summer visits.

Planning Tips

About Buckhorn State Park

Buckhorn State Park sits in central Wisconsin's glacially carved landscape, offering 60 tent sites amid mixed forest, wetlands, and sand dunes. The 300-foot sandy beach and calm lake waters draw families in summer for swimming and paddling. Some walk-in sites provide direct beach access.

Campground includes lakeside walk-in campsites and larger, level sites suitable for family camping; a range of site experiences from secluded walk-ins to roomy sites is reported.

Weather and SeasonsSummer offers warm, shallow lake water with daytime highs in the mid-70s to low-80s °F and long daylight hours for swimming, paddling, and fishing. Beach-front walk-in sites and calm coves see peak use on summer weekends. Mosquitoes and horse flies are persistent, so bring strong insect repellent and a shade canopy. Fall brings cooler temperatures, fewer bugs, and lighter crowds, though the water becomes less inviting.

Natural Features and SceneryAncient glaciers shaped this park's sandy terrain, leaving wind-swept dunes that contrast sharply with the surrounding wetlands and prairie openings. Mixed forest provides shade across much of the property. The main feature is a 300-foot sandy beach along shallow lake water that warms quickly in summer. Wildlife inhabits the shoreline and wetland edges. The landscape shifts from dense forest to open prairie within a short walk, all at an elevation of 896 feet.

Geological RegionGlacially formed landscape with sandy dunes, wetlands, prairies and mixed forest (sand-swept dunes from glacial erosion noted).

Scenic ViewsWooded lakefront views, sandy beaches and open prairie/dune areas; many sites overlook or are within short walk of lake shoreline.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsGoingToCamp (https://wisconsin.goingtocamp.com)

Total Campsites60 campsites

Best CampsitesWalk-in sites along the lakefront, including site 21, offer private beach access, shallow warm water for kids, and better breeze to reduce mosquitoes. Reviewers note large, level sites with good spacing throughout the campground.

Need help booking Buckhorn State Park?

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GoingToCamp Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Campground reports note on-site shower facilities (with mixed cleanliness reports), generally large, well-spaced sites and lakeside walk-in sites with beach access. Phone service is reported as available; campers are advised to lock up food because raccoons are common.

Showers

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Buckhorn State Park offers lake-based recreation, hiking and abundant wildlife-viewing opportunities, plus sandy beaches and family-friendly water access.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsHeavy mosquitoes and biting horse flies in warm months; raccoons active at night (secure food/gear recommended). Typical water hazards for lakes apply but no specific hazards beyond insects and nocturnal wildlife are listed in the provided sources.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

Rate Buckhorn State Park

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From Booking Sources

4.7

104 reviews

Top-Rated

Buckhorn State Park is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviews are largely positive, praising clean sites and bathrooms, peaceful setting and friendly staff/hosts; some reviewers note issues with cleanliness in specific amenities and minor site maintenance.

Review Summaries

Based on 104 reviews

What Campers Love

Reviewers frequently mention clean sites and bathrooms, peaceful/quiet atmosphere, helpful staff/hosts, proximity to a store and on-site dining (in reviewers' reports), and good value.

Based on 104 reviews

Common Concerns

Heavy mosquitoes and biting flies; dirty showers with poor maintenance, cold water, clogged drains, and hair; inconsiderate campers leaving messes.[1]

Based on 104 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring bug spray and protection for mosquitoes/horse flies at certain times of year; reviewers also mentioned using provided carts for walk-in sites and bringing quarters for coin-operated showers...

Based on 104 reviews

Camper Quotes

"Overall good place to stay!"; "Very nice place to park your camper"; "Bathrooms are incredibly clean and well maintained."; "My only negative would be cigarette butts everywhere on the ground."

Based on 104 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Families with young kids who want genuine beach access: the walk-in lakeside sites put you steps from shallow, warm water good for wading. Bring a cart for gear and quarters for the coin showers.

Skip if

Mosquitoes and horse flies are brutal in warm months, and the showers get mixed marks for cleanliness and hot water. Campers sensitive to either will find the summer peak frustrating.

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Frequently Visited

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Roche-A-Cri State Park sits in central Wisconsin, centered on a 300-foot sandstone bluff that breaks abruptly from the flatlands. The campground has 40 sites for tents and RVs, vault toilets, and a dump station. The main draw is the ~303-step climb to the summit overlook and petroglyphs carved into the rock.

Mill Bluff State Park

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Mill Bluff State Park sits on a former glacial lakebed near Camp Douglas, where Cambrian sandstone bluffs rise above 22 campsites. The small, wooded campground offers vault toilets, fire rings, and electric hookups at some sites, plus a spring-fed swimming pond. Expect regular noise from I-90/94, freight trains, and occasional military aircraft from nearby Volk Field.

Elroy-Sparta State Trail

Wisconsin State Parks, Wisconsin

This 13-site walk-in campground sits directly on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, a 32-mile rail-trail famous for its three railroad tunnels. Sites are wooded and primitive, with picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and hand-pump water. Parking is across Highway 71; you'll haul gear uphill about 0.1–0.2 miles to reach the sites.

Rocky Arbor State Park

Wisconsin State Parks, Wisconsin

Rocky Arbor State Park sits just outside Wisconsin Dells, offering 91 wooded campsites where sandstone cliffs rise above a short loop trail. The park delivers well-maintained sites with electric hookups, flush toilets, and showers, though interstate noise affects the back loops. Most sites stay shaded and private under a thick canopy.

Campgrounds

Wisconsin State Parks, Wisconsin

Buckhorn State Park

B+

Camper Report Card

How campers graded it

Rated higher than 83% of graded campgrounds

Graded on what 42 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. A means campers loved it, not that it beat other campgrounds. No star ratings.

Strengths

Grade A.Staff & hosts
Grade A-.Cleanliness
Grade A-.Facilities

Watch-outs

Grade C-.Getting there
Grade B+.Bugs & weather
Grade A.Rules & policies

Every grade - tap to see what campers said

Grades are absolute - from what campers wrote, on a fixed scale. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.

See how Wisconsin grades overall