Welcome to our guide to camping at Astico Park in Dodge County, Wisconsin! Nestled along the beautiful Crawfish River, just a short drive from Madison, this charming campground offers a perfect escape into nature with its scenic views, spacious campsites, and plenty of outdoor activities. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know before pitching your tent or parking your RV—from what the campsites are like to the best things to do both in the park and nearby. We’ll also share our personal experience and honest review of camping here, including some tips to make your stay even better. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, Astico Park has a little something for everyone. So, let’s dive in and start planning your next adventure!
Astico Park Campground Guide
N3620 County Road TT, Columbus, WI
Managed by Dodge County
Astico Park Campground is run by the Dodge County parks department and is located right on the Crawfish River. It’s just outside of the town of Columbus, Wisconsin and under an hour from Madison. If you’re looking for cheap camping near Madison, Astico is a great option.
Campsites
The campsites at Astico Park are divided into 4 areas: River sites, Upper sites, Danville sites, and Point sites.
- The Point Sites, Sites U-BB, are non-electric and can be used for tents or small RVs.
- Danville Sites, #15-23, are electric sites that fit RVS 20-25 feet long.
- Upper Sites, #31-53, are all electric sites. Sites #41-53 are shorter, and sites #31-40 can fit larger sites- the longest is 45 feet.
- River Sites, #1-12, are electric sites, and as the name suggests, they are along the river.
Astico Park also offers group campsites and shelter rentals.
Campground Amenities
Astico Park has a few basic (but nice) campground amenities:
- Potable water
- Dump station
- Free showers
- Artesian wells
- Picnic tables & fire rings in each site
- Recycling
- Firewood for sale
Astico Park Camping Costs
Astico Park charges $28/night for electric campsites and $20/night for non-electric campsites. There is also a $5 non-refundable online reservation fee.
Camping Rules & Policies
Astico Park is open for camping April 15-October 31, there is no winter camping. Check in time is 2pm and checkout is 12pm. Quiet hours are 10pm-6am. No generators are allowed in the park.
If you need to cancel or change your reservation, you’ll need to call the office. If you cancel 7 or more days in advance, you’ll receive a full refund minus the $5 online reservation fee. If you cancel less than 7 days in advance, there is no refund.
Astico Park Campground Drive-Through
Our Experience & Review of Astio Park Campground
We chose to stay at Astico Park because we had a wedding to attend in the town of Rubicon. The wedding venue was kind of in the middle of nowhere, and since we had to be there for a certain date we didn’t have a ton of flexibility. In general, we usually like county parks and were definitely happy with Astico. It was affordable, near Madison so had activities & shopping available, and was clean and well-maintained. The staff there were friendly and it was overall a peaceful stay.
We stayed in site 6, which is one of the riverfront sites. We had a nice view of the Crawfish River, but also the neighboring house across the river which was a little awkward. The sites in the Upper area looked a little bigger. While we were there, portions of the park were just getting re-opened from flooding, so not every site was available.
Cell Service at Astico Park
We use both T-Mobile and Verizon home internet and had good signal with both while at Astico.
Activities at Astico Park
Astico Park is right on the Crawfish River and inside the campground there is a canoe/kayak launch that you can use. During peak season they also offer rentals. It’s also a popular river for fishing and there is lots of bank access.
The park also has several playgrounds and a volleyball court.
There are hiking trails, and if you decide to talk a walk you’ll want to check out the historic truss bridge.
Things to Do Near Astico Park
Gas & Groceries
The nearby town of Columbus has a few options for gas stations:
- Amoco: 501 Park Ave, Columbus, WI 53925
- Kwik Trip: 204 Dix St, Columbus, WI 53925
- BP: 2200 W James St, Columbus, WI 53925
For groceries we went to Pick ‘n’ Save in Columbus: 210 Dix St, Columbus, WI 53925
Towns Near Astico Park
Astico is near several larger towns if you’re looking for more robust shopping options.
Beaver Dam is 18 minutes from Astico, Watertown is 26 minutes from the park, and the state capital Madison is 45 minutes away.
Activities We Did While Camping at Astico Park
Our main reason for camping at Astico was to attend a wedding, but of course we got out and explored a little too.
Our first activity was visiting Swan Park in Beaver Dam to see the historic Vita Springhouse. Swan Park used to be the site of a health spa called Vita Park Resort in the late 1800s that was based around the healing properties of the spring water there.
Another day, we went into to Columbus to see the Farmers and Merchants Union Bank, which was one of architect Louis Sullivan’s jewel box banks. A nice teller at the bank helped us get up to the mezzanine where they also have a small display of artifacts from the history of the bank. After the bank, we went over to Columbus Antique Mall, the largest antique store in Wisconsin.
We got in a quick visit to Horicon Marsh Visitor and Education Center. Parts of Horicon Marsh are opereated by the Wisconsin DNR and other parts by US Fish & Wildlife. We went to the state park side, but there are 2 other visitor centers around the marsh.
While at Astico, we met up with one of my middle school friends who lives in Madison now. We had brunch at Golden Nest in Sun Prairie- which had the fun surprise of a robot waiter!
Twice during our visit we went to the Dodge County Fair– which we definitely recommend! We went for truck & tractor pulls one day and demolition derby the other. The fair itself is great too, with lots of open exhibitor and 4H displays. It would definitely be worth planning a trip around.
Things We Missed Near Astio
- Dodge County Historical Society in Beaver Dam
- Nitschke Mounds County Park in Burnett
- Octagon House Museum in Watertown
