Campgrounds and RV parks near Goodview, MN

The Mississippi River is the main draw. Boat ramps, canoe launches, and marinas dot both banks, and paddlers can follow marked routes through backwater channels at Merrick State Park and Trempealeau Bay near Perrot State Park. Anglers target walleye, bass, crappie, and bluegill from shore, boat, or dock. Hiking is concentrated on the bluffs. Perrot State Park has over 12 miles of trails, including the steep Brady's Bluff climb and the Riverview Trail along the water. The 24-mile Great River State Trail leaves directly from Perrot's campground for cyclists. Other options include birdwatching at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, driving the Great River Road scenic byway, and visits to Winona's museums and downtown just across the river from Goodview.

The main camping season runs mid-April through mid-October, matching the operating window at most private parks in the area. Wisconsin state park campgrounds at Merrick and Perrot stay open year-round, though services such as showers and the dump station are seasonal, and the south campground at Merrick can close during spring flooding until the ground dries. Summer weekends fill quickly. Perrot State Park is often fully booked on peak summer weekends, and waterfront sites at Merrick are limited and go early. Late spring brings wildflowers on the bluff prairies and heavy songbird and waterfowl migration through the refuge. Thunderstorms are frequent from May through August, and mosquitoes can be intense in the river bottoms. Fall delivers comfortable RV weather: crisp nights, warm days, and hardwood color along the bluffs from late September into mid-October. Winter camping is possible at Perrot for self-contained rigs, with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing replacing summer activities.

Sites vary widely. Sleepy Hollow offers pull-throughs with full water, electric, and sewer hookups suited to larger rigs. Merrick State Park's north campground has 25 sites, 22 with electric hookups, plus tent and walk-in sites on the island and 35 non-electric sites in the south campground. Perrot has 102 single-family sites with a mix of electric and non-electric, tent, trailer, and RV-friendly pads accommodating rigs up to about 45 feet. Expect flush toilets, showers, and a dump station in season at both state parks. Merrick sits directly beside an active rail line, so train noise is frequent. Bugs and mosquitoes are common in warm months at both parks. Cell service is generally usable throughout the area. Pets are welcome on leash. Wisconsin restricts moving firewood into its parks, so buy locally.