Whistle Stop Campground: A Secret in Wisconsin

Whistle Stop Campground has a secret that cannot be found at any other Wisconsin campground. This secret will keep you coming back, I mean besides having a variety of sites, fun family activities, and super clean bathrooms. Keep reading to hear more about how unique Whistle Stop really is compared to other campgrounds.

Wisconsin camping is the best kind of camping! Our family loves to camp all around Wisconsin, in state parks and in private campgrounds. Recently we found a campground with a very unique draw that NO other Wisconsin campground has to offer. We were equally happy when we discoved it was a “Camping For The Fun Of It” a group of campgrounds with outstanding service. When I saw this little known secret, while researching, I couldn’t believe I had never heard about it.

Table of Contents

Road Trip Destination

Thank you to Whistle Stop for sponsoring our stay! Of course, we can’t be anything but truthful (some say that is a personality flaw of mine, meh.) All of our thoughts and opinions are our own.

This would be a perfect Wisconsin road-trip if you are from Eastern Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and of course Wisconsin. By the way, what makes a perfect road trip? First, a decent amount of time in the car to relax into listening to music and playing car games. Second, a destination that is exciting and will help to create unique memories with your kids. You know the destinations that your kids ask to go back to again and again. That.

Third, great food that makes you happy and a location that makes you comfortable. Whistle Stop in Marshall met all of our road trip criteria. We headed out on a Thursday afternoon for a two-hour trip. Even though it was a short road-trip, we still had a great ride.

Campground Service

Campers know that the first greeting sets the mood for your entire visit to the campground. And, Sometimes the greeting can be strained as many people are checking in or crazy things are occurring at the campground. The high-school workers who greeted us were more than happy to answer questions, provide directions and were so helpful to us throughout our stay. The general manager was always available if we had questions and was present at all of the special activities throughout the weekend. She was more than happy to help us at any time.

Whistle Stop Camp Store

The Whistle Stop camp store is stocked full of everything a camper could need. Our kids loved the huge selection of candy and glow sticks. My husband loved all the camper and camp supplies. I loved the hard-scooped ice creammmmmmmm. There was pizza to order, slushy machines, nachos, and frozen ice cream treats. As a blogger, I was very happy with the Wifi hotspot in the camp store and stopped by for an hour or two each day. Each day the Wifi worked perfectly!

Whistle Stop Campground Camp Sites and Accommodations

The campground has full hookups (water, electric and sewer), regular water and electric pull-through, back-in, tent pads, group tent camping and three different types of cabins. We were super happy to have full hook-ups during this stay. It is nice to have a huge variety of sites so that when we bring friends everyone can choose what type of accommodations they would like for their family.

The cabins were especially impressive. The larger cabins sleep, 10-12 people! That’s two or three families in one cabin. There is also a nice size side yard for each cabin to have a campfire and cookout. The interior of the cabins is immaculate and super cute.

Campground Amenities

Let’s be honest, parents are looking for fun activities for their kids to do while camping. This campground has a long list of fun things for everyone to do. Overall, our favorite was the beach and inflatables and with huge shades, the beach was perfect even on super hot days. The inflatables provided hours and hours of fun for our boys, and it was the perfect place to meet new campground friends.

The beach is a perfect place to spend the day. With the inflatables in the pond, dunk tank and being close to the store for ice cream and snacks, we spent the whole day at the beach. There were new large shades installed around the beach so everyone can be comfortable all day.

There was also a dunk tank, Space Ball, bike rentals, volleyball, playground, weekend movies, gaga pit, basketball and of course one of my kid’s favorites, large chess game. It was endless fun for both of our boys. And we loved how the campground just naturally encourages making friends while playing with all of these amenities.

Whistle Stop Family Activities

Fun, fun, fun family activities throughout each weekend! Each weekend has well-scheduled family activities. The boys loved decorating their own doughnut on Saturday morning and candy bar bingo was a huge hit. Surprisingly, Our weekend was Easter in July, so fun and unexpected. We made Easter Baskets, hunted for eggs and participated in a blinky parade.

The family fun activities are the great memories that my kids have from many of our camping experiences. They love the Wisconsin State Parks and hold many unique memories from there too. However, We just love the variety of going to private (or in this case city-owned) campgrounds.

Campground Bathrooms and Showers

The bathrooms, sites and main building were always super clean. Clean bathrooms are one of our top criteria for a campground. The main building has a multi-stall bathroom and multi-stall shower room. Both were always clean and tidy. On the other side of the campground is a shower house. The shower house has two large rooms, lined in cedar, with a toilet, sink and large shower. Both bathrooms are air-conditioned and super clean. Spic-n-Span Clean!

Whistle Stop Campground Community

The first thing I felt when coming into the campground is that this is a FAMILY campground! Everything in the camp store screams KIDS and FAMILIES! Of course, there are also all the camping staples for groceries and even some hard to find camper necessities. As campers park they can choose to place campers together when traveling with friends or the regular way so each family has their own privacy.

Kids ride bikes and families go for walks on the large oval roadway. Our family had a great time going for nightly walks and interacting with other families. We made many camping friends on this trip to Whistle Stop. The campground is set up to get to know people and build a strong community of campers.

Whistle Stop’s Secret

Now we will reveal the secret to Whistle Stop Campground! An adorable train connects Little Amerricka Amusement Park to Whistle Stop Campground!! YES! Your family can camp at Whistle Stop, take the train for a day at Little Amerricka Amusement Park and take it back to the campground at the end of the day!

Little Amerricka Amusement Park

Little Amerricka Amusement features twenty-six rides and attractions including the classic 1950’s wooden roller coaster The Meteor. The park is perfect for all ages, there is even a special area for young children. Our boys are 11 and 12, they rode the roller coasters, go-karts, bumper boats, bumper cars, monorail, test pilot, merry go round, Ferris wheel, and Mason’s favorite the Toboggan.

As a family, we played miniature golf and we had such a great time. The course is great, some challenging some easy (just ask Mason he shot three holes-in-one!) There was plenty of shade even going through a train tunnel. It took us about an hour or so to complete the 18 holes.

The concessions building was a welcomed cooling area on a hot day. The food was great and super affordable. If a family prefers not to spend money on food you are welcome to bring in picnics. Either way, you will have a place to eat inside or in the shade.

The train ride from the campground to Little Amerricka was a great ride passing farms, cows, alpacas, flowing creeks and zebras. Yes, you read that correct, zebras. I was going to ask about them when we got off the train but completely forgot.

Things to do in the Area

There are two state parks within an hour of Whistle Stop Campground. Devil’s Lake State Park and Governor Dodge State Park. Go kayaking, swimming, hiking and more.

Take a ride into Sun Prarie to experience lunch or supper at Buck and Honey’s. Such a wonderful restaurant with excellent staff and AMAZING food!

Like Disc Golf? Charles Langer Family Park in Marshall, WI has one of the most challenging disc golf courses in the Madison area.

If fishing is your game, Riley-Deppe County Park in Marshall, WI has a public boat launch for non-gas powered boats and fishing is allowed from shore. Spend the day fishing, kayaking, playing on the equipment and picnicking.

Nearby in Waterloo, is the Trek Bike Company world headquarters. Take a tour of the facilities on Wednesdays at 10 am but call ahead to reserve your spot.

Madison, the state capital of Wisconsin is not far away and is the perfect day trip from Whistle Stop. Tour the capital, take a stroll down State Street, go to the Children’s Museum, a bike ride on the miles and miles of trails in the city, go to UW Madison and sit out on the terrace. So many things to do, just 30 minutes away.