Madison RV Rentals with 2052 Stellar Reviews (2024)

Best National Parks Near Madison, WI

Indiana Dunes National Park is the closest national park to Madison, at 184 miles away. This park, within driving distance of cities like Chicago and South Bend, features miles of beaches on Lake Michigan. This park is also home to over 50 miles of hiking trails that are part of 14 different trail systems. Along the trails, you may see mature maple, beech, basswood, and oak trees or spot animals such as white-tailed deer and squirrels.Found 358 miles from Madison is Gateway Arch National Park, which features Missouri’s famous white arch near the Mississippi River. This arch has been called the gateway to the west, and it marks the place where the Lewis and Clark expedition began. The 630-foot-tall arch offers tram rides to the public for a fee. At the park, you will also find many underground museum exhibits, and you can explore the Old St. Louis Courthouse.Michigan’s sole national park, Isle Royale National Park, is a unique park located on an island on Lake Superior, about 372 miles from Madison. Visitors can only access the park via boat. On the island, you can spot animals ranging from moose and red foxes to beavers and gray wolves.

Popular State Parks Near Madison, WI

Found in central Wisconsin is Lake Kegonsa State Park, about 15 miles from downtown Madison. This park features a 3,200-acre lake that is part of the Yahara Chain of Lakes, which was formed by glaciers over 12,000 years ago. This park itself is 342 acres in size, and it’s known for its scenic foliage in the fall. There is also a campground at the park that has 96 campsites in a forested area.Founded in 1934, New Glarus Woods State Park is about 31 miles from Madison. This location has grown over the years from a 34-acre forest to a modern 435-acre park. Today, it features rolling hills, forests, and prairies full of elk, deer, and even bears. Visitors enjoy hiking and biking the Sugar River Trail, which is 24 miles long and open in the winter for snowshoeing.Blue Mound State Park is home to Wisconsin’s Blue Mound, a 1,719-foot-high point. This 1,153-acre park is located 32 miles from Madison. Activities at the park vary by season. During winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular on the trails. In summer, swimming in the park’s heated pool is common. There is also a campground at the park that has 77 campsites for RVs.

Must-see Monuments and Landmarks Near Madison, WI

Wisconsin’s Ice Age National Scenic Trail is over 1,200 miles long and was built to follow the edge of the last known glacier in Wisconsin. This glacier is dated to 10,000 years ago, and it helped shape the state’s lakes, hills, and rivers. Many sections of the trail wind past some Wisconsin state parks. A trailhead can be found 55 miles east of Madison.Iowa’s Effigy Mounds National Monument is 106 miles from Madison. It is home to 206 cultural mounds built by ancient Native American tribes. Many of the mounds resemble animals of the area, such as bears, deer, turtles, panthers, and birds. While at the monument, be sure to stop by the visitor’s center to see exhibits about the origins and significance of the mounds. You can also take a ranger-led tour of the park trails.Pullman National Monument is a national site found on the outskirts of Chicago, about 162 miles from the heart of Madison. This unique site commemorates a town created for employees of George Pullman in the late 1800s. This town was also the place of the historic Pullman Strike. Visitors can learn about the strike and the history of the town by touring the preserved buildings.

RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks & Campgrounds

Blackhawk Camping Resort in Milton, Wisconsin is about 34 miles southeast of Madison. This campground features a 100-acre forest, and it has 490 RV-friendly campsites and full hookups. The property borders a lake that is open for fishing year-round.The Milton KOA is another great campground, with 232 full-hookup campsites and amenities such as disc golf, laundry facilities, a playground, and a camp store. There are also bike and golf cart rentals on-site. This campground is located 30 miles from downtown Madison.Sherwood Forest RV Park is a campground in Wisconsin Dells that features multiple playgrounds, a splash pad, and a heated swimming pool for guests. Full hookups are available for RV campers, and pets are allowed when they are kept on a leash. You can find this campground about 55 miles north of Madison.