Campgrounds and RV parks near Somerset, WI

Tubing on the Apple River is the anchor activity. The Apple River is a 77.5-mile tributary of the St. Croix, outfitters in and around Somerset provide rentals and shuttle transportation, and the trip typically breaks into a relaxed family-floating stretch followed by a livelier rapids section with a walkway alongside for those who prefer to skip the whitewater. At Willow River State Park, Willow Falls is the star attraction, viewable from multiple overlooks. Paddlers can run river rapids or cruise Little Falls Lake, and the park carries miles of hiking trails plus fishing spots and a swimming beach. The nearby St. Croix River adds boating, swimming, and scenic drives, and historic downtown Hudson is close for restaurants and supplies.

Summer is the peak season by a wide margin. Tubing outfitters and riverside resort campgrounds ramp up around Memorial Day and stay busy through Labor Day, with July and August drawing the largest crowds. Weekend sites at Apple River properties fill weeks ahead, and holiday weekends require the longest lead times. Late spring and early fall are quieter and cooler. Willow River State Park has one of the highest occupancy rates in the Wisconsin State Park System, and a three-night minimum applies on holiday weekends with a two-night minimum for advance reservations between May 15 and October 31. Fall color along the Willow River Gorge and the St. Croix bluffs typically peaks in early to mid October. Winters are cold and snowy, and most private resort campgrounds close for the season. Limited winter camping is available in the 200 loop at Willow River on a first-come, first-served basis, though water systems and flush toilets are shut off in the off-season.

The Apple River corridor near Somerset is social and family-oriented in daytime, with a livelier young-adult scene on peak summer weekends. Riverfront private campgrounds tend to offer pools, tubing shuttles, and on-site food, and sites can run close together. Expect noise, music, and shuttle activity through the afternoon and evening. Willow River State Park is a different pace. The 300 campground has 70 sites with flush toilets and showers, and the 100 campground has 50 sites that can accommodate everything from tents to the largest RVs in a more open setting with few mature trees. Cell service is generally reliable in the area, terrain around the state park is rugged with steep bluffs near the gorge, and mosquitoes are active from late spring through summer.