Governor Dodge State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- 297 campsites
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(608) 935-2315
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Governor Dodge State Park is a 5,368-acre park in Iowa County, about 4 miles north of Dodgeville.
Things to do include horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, boating, and swimming. Camping is available: 297 campsites across 5 camping areas, including tent sites, primitive or hike-in sites, group camping, and equestrian camping.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
| Daily | 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round. Governor Dodge State Park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets allowed on a physical leash no longer than 8 feet at all times and under control; loose pets may be seized. Property-specific pet areas/restrictions appear on park pages.
Statewide rule from Wisconsin's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, resident vs nonresident pricing: a vehicle admission pass is required on all motor vehicles stopping in state parks, forests and recreation areas (daily $13 WI / $16 out-of-state; annual $28 / $50; rates effective Aug. 19, 2025). State trails use a per-person trail pass for certain uses. Heritage Hill SP charges a per-person admission instead.
Statewide fee rule from Wisconsin's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Wisconsin park passes
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (Wisconsin plates) — $28. All Wisconsin state parks, forests and recreation areas for 12 months Details
- 12-month vehicle admission pass (out-of-state plates) — $50. Same, nonresident vehicles Details
- 12-month pass, Wisconsin residents 65+ — $13. Resident senior vehicles Details
- 12-month reduced-rate pass (additional household vehicle) — $15.50 resident / $32.50 nonresident. Additional vehicles at the same household address; bought with a full-price pass Details
- Daily vehicle admission pass — $13 resident / $3 resident 65+ / $16 nonresident Details
From the Wisconsin state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Required
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
Camping reservations are required for all sites and can be made for the same day of your arrival or up to 11 months in advance of your planned date of occupancy.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cox Hollow and Twin Valley Campgrounds Governor Dodge has 269 standard campsites in Twin Valley and Cox Hollow campgrounds. Electrical hookups are available at 80 sites. There are showers in the Twin Valley and Cox Hollow restroom buildings. Both campgrounds have trailer dumping stations. Playgrounds are available in both campgrounds.
• Campground maps
• Cox Hollow campground map
• Twin Valley campground map | 269 | Electric (some sites)Showers | — |
| Equestrian Campground The equestrian campground at Governor Dodge State Park has 20 campsites, 18 with electric hook-ups. Each campsite includes a high-line hitching post with cable, and has a picnic table and fire ring. Drinking water, vault toilets, a horse washing station and manure bunkers are provided. Campers can use the shower building located in the Hickory Ridge group camp area. The equestrian campground is open from May 1 through Nov. 15.
The equestrian campground is located in the Hickory Ridge area of Governor Dodge State Park. The campground has easy access to the park's 22 miles of equestrian trails… | 20 | Electric (some sites)Showers | — |
| Group campsites There are 8 campsites that can accommodate groups of 15 to 40 persons per site in the Hickory Ridge Group Camp. Only tents are allowed. Each group site has a tent area, picnic tables, a large fire ring and a set of pit toilets. Drinking water is available at the shower building located near group site B and across from the backpack sites parking lot near group sites E, F, G and H. | 8 | Showers | — |
| Backpack campsites There are six backpack campsites near Hickory Ridge. All sites are about 0.5 miles from the parking lot. Water and pit toilets are near the parking lot. | — | — | |
| Accessible campsites Campsites 16 and 55 in the Cox Hollow campground, and sites 241 and 355 in Twin Valley campground are for campers with disabilities. Both sites have electricity and paved driveways. The toilet buildings in these areas have separate toilet/shower facilities for campers with disabilities. Ask at the office for a key to the facilities.
Group campsite E has a paved path to the campsite and toilet facilities. Also, campsite 765E in the Equestrian Campground is designated for persons with disabilities. | — | Electric (some sites)Showers | — |
Camping details from the park
With over 300 campsites, you'll find a variety of opportunities at Governor Dodge State Park from standard and group sites to an equestrian campground and remote backpack sites.
Cox Hollow and Twin Valley Campgrounds: Governor Dodge has 269 standard campsites in Twin Valley and Cox Hollow campgrounds. Electrical hookups are available at 80 sites. There are showers in the Twin Valley and Cox Hollow restroom buildings. Both campgrounds have trailer dumping stations. Playgrounds are available in both campgrounds.
- Campground maps
- Cox Hollow campground map
- Twin Valley campground map
Equestrian Campground: The equestrian campground at Governor Dodge State Park has 20 campsites, 18 with electric hook-ups. Each campsite includes a high-line hitching post with cable, and has a picnic table and fire ring. Drinking water, vault toilets, a horse washing station and manure bunkers are provided. Campers can use the shower building located in the Hickory Ridge group camp area. The equestrian campground is open from May 1 through Nov. 15.
The equestrian campground is located in the Hickory Ridge area of Governor Dodge State Park. The campground has easy access to the park's 22 miles of equestrian trails - including both the interior horse trail system and the 15-mile Driftless Horse Trail.
- Equestrian campground map
Group campsites: There are 8 campsites that can accommodate groups of 15 to 40 persons per site in the Hickory Ridge Group Camp. Only tents are allowed. Each group site has a tent area, picnic tables, a large fire ring and a set of pit toilets. Drinking water is available at the shower building located near group site B and across from the backpack sites parking lot near group sites E, F, G and H.
Backpack campsites: There are six backpack campsites near Hickory Ridge. All sites are about 0.5 miles from the parking lot. Water and pit toilets are near the parking lot.
Camping facilities and services: Limited supplies are available at the Cox Hollow Beach concession stand from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Other needs are supplied year-round by businesses in Dodgeville, three miles south of the park.
Please help us recycle your waste at the property! Recycling centers and refuse containers are at Cox Hollow beach concession, the two family campgrounds and the Group Camp area.
Winter camping: There are 39 campsites available during winter at Governor Dodge State Park. Ten sites are plowed as staffing allows. Electricity, pit toilets, picnic tables and fire rings are provided. Winter water is available at the park office.
Firewood: Firewood is for sale at the park office.
Don't move firewood!
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BikingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingCampingFishingHikingHorseback ridingHuntingPicnickingSwimming
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Group facilities
Camping
- Tent camping
- Primitive or backcountry camping
- Group camping
- Equestrian camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
Accessibility
- Accessible campsites
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- Accessible campsites
Campsites 16 and 55 in the Cox Hollow campground, and sites 241 and 355 in Twin Valley campground are for campers with disabilities. Both sites have electricity and paved driveways. The toilet buildings in these areas have separate toilet/shower facilities for campers with disabilities. Ask at the office for a key to the facilities.
Group campsite E has a paved path to the campsite and toilet facilities. Also, campsite 765E in the Equestrian Campground is designated for persons with disabilities.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 4175 Hwy 23 N
Dodgeville, WI 53533 - Nearest town
- Dodgeville — about 4 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 43.0184, -90.1395
- Phone
- (608) 935-2315
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Governor Dodge State Park's entrance is about 3 miles north of Highway 18 in Dodgeville. • Get driving directions. By foot or bicycle, you can get to Governor Dodge by way of the Military Ridge State Trail. There's a surfaced access trail from the Military Ridge to the park just east of County Highway Z.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Wisconsin State Park System — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Wisconsin DNR 'Find a Park' directory (server-rendered Drupal view, ?page=0..5), filtered to /topic/parks/ property pages
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Covalleydamnfalls.jpg — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), Archbob
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology