Governor Nelson State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- dnr.wisconsin.gov(608) 831-3005
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Construction Governor Nelson SP Construction Notice 2026Several construction projects will be taking place at Governor Nelson State Park throughout 2026. The trails, beach and pet swim areas are all open… (more)
Several construction projects will be taking place at Governor Nelson State Park throughout 2026. The trails, beach and pet swim areas are all open for use, however, toilet facilities are currently unavailable. For more information, please see: Impact: High.
Posted by the park 2026-08-06. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 422 acres, Governor Nelson State Park lies in Dane County, about 3 miles south of Waunakee.
Things to do include canoeing and kayaking, boating, swimming, biking, and fishing. Its trail network totals roughly 8 miles, according to the park.
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 Nelson 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
- Booking system
- Wisconsin State Park System reservations (Camis 'Going to Camp')
- Phone
- 1-888-947-2757
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
BikingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingFishingHikingPicnickingSwimming
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
✓ 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
Governor Nelson State Park offers an accessible fishing pier and an accessible picnic shelter near the sand beach. Several of the trails are spacious, natural surfaces. The adaptive cross-country sit skis are available as the winter weather permits. Please contact the visitor center for more information.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 5140 Cty Hwy M
Waunakee, WI 53597 - Nearest town
- Waunakee — about 3 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 43.1374, -89.4399
- Phone
- (608) 831-3005
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The entrance to Governor Nelson State Park is on the southeast side of County Highway M, about 2 miles west of State Highway 113 and 4.7 miles east of U.S. Highway 12. • Get directions.
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: Gov. Nelson prairie 2.jpg — Public domain (released by the author), Jhodkiewicz at English Wikipedia
“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