Madison, the state capital of Wisconsin, is situated on a strip of land between lakes Mendota and Monona in the south-central part of the state.
Consistently landing on the top of “the best of lists,” Madison made the #1 spot in 2020 as the best college town by College Gazette, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison is rated as one of America’s top 10 public universities. In 2021 Madison was the top US city for Tech Talent Growth and the fastest-growing city in the state.
There’s all that and more; Madison, also called “Mad City” or “Madtown,” is known for its vibrant and buzzy cultural scene. Music and the arts abound, beer flows, and the restaurant scene flourishes; festivals, fairs, exhibits, and events add to the local color and Madison vibe.
And, located in the heart of downtown, Madison’s State Street (pedestrian only) is anchored on one end by Capitol Square—the Wisconsin State Capitol is simply stunning—and the other by the University of Wisconsin with plenty of shopping and dining in-between.
Madison is a thriving, beautiful city with plenty of outdoor activities; it has the most playgrounds and parks per capita (of any of the 100 largest US cities) and is a Platinum-Level bicycle-friendly city.
Not only is Madison a wonderful place to live or visit, but the state parks located nearby are also equally enticing and offer an excellent opportunity to get out and about and explore Wisconsin.
Let’s look at the state parks near Madison and see what adventures await.
Map of State Parks Near Madison WI
Here is a map of the Wisconsin state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Madison
Here are each of those state parks with their distance from Madison and what is special about each one.
1. Capital Springs State Recreation Area
Distance from Madison: about 4 miles southeast of Madison (straight-line).
Location: Lower Yahara River Trail, Madison, Wisconsin 53708
Capital Springs State Recreation Area is a state park unit of Wisconsin, United States, in development just south of Madison.
See our full Capital Springs State Recreation Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Governor Nelson State Park
Distance from Madison: about 5 miles northwest of Madison (straight-line).
Location: Madison, WI
Governor Nelson State Park is a 422-acre (171 ha) Wisconsin state park located outside of Waunakee, Wisconsin in the town of Westport on the north shore of Lake Mendota.
See our full Governor Nelson State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Kegonsa State Park
Distance from Madison: about 10 miles southeast of Madison (straight-line).
Location: Stoughton, WI
Lake Kegonsa State Park is a state park in Wisconsin, United States, on the northeast shore of Lake Kegonsa.
See our full Kegonsa State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. New Glarus Woods State Park
Distance from Madison: about 22 miles southwest of Madison (straight-line).
Location: New Glarus, WI
New Glarus Woods State Park is a state park in Green County, Wisconsin, United States.
See our full New Glarus Woods State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Blue Mound State Park
Distance from Madison: about 24 miles west of Madison (straight-line).
Location: 4350 Mounds Park Road
Blue Mounds, WI 53517
Blue Mound State Park is a state park in Wisconsin, United States, located atop the largest hill in the southern half of the state, near the village of Blue Mounds.
See our full Blue Mound State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Aztalan State Park
Distance from Madison: about 26 miles east of Madison (straight-line).
Location: N6200 County Rd Q, Jefferson, WI 53549
About 38 minutes east of Madison, you’ll find Aztalan State Park, located near the Crawfish River. While the park with wooded land and open prairie has hiking trails, picnicking, boating, paddling, and fishing opportunities, Aztalan is known as a preeminent archeological site prominently featuring ceremonial mounds, fortifications, and agricultural fields.
Aztalan was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and is known as the site of a prehistoric Mississippian culture settlement that thrived between 1000 to 1300 A.D. The characteristics of these settlements are mounds, enclosures, and rudimentary houses. Segments of the stockades and the two of the mounds have been reconstructed and help us understand what life may have been like here.
Interesting fact – Early settlers in the area named the mounds Aztalan thinking they were related to the Aztecs of Mexico.
Aztalan State Park covers 172 acres in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Established 1952.
See our full Aztalan State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Devil’s Lake State Park
Distance from Madison: about 30 miles northwest of Madison (straight-line).
Location: Exploring Devil’s Lake State Park: Wisconsin’s Outdoor Oasis, WI
Discover the allure of Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin! From hiking trails to wildlife, history and camping options, uncover why it’s a top outdoor oasis.
See our full Devil’s Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Tower Hill State Park
Distance from Madison: about 33 miles west of Madison (straight-line).
Location: Spring Green, WI 53588
Tower Hill State Park is a state park of Wisconsin, United States, which contains the reconstructed Helena Shot Tower.
See our full Tower Hill State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
9. Yellowstone Lake State Park
Distance from Madison: about 37 miles southwest of Madison (straight-line).
Location: Blanchardville, WI
Yellowstone Lake State Park is a state park in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, United States.
See our full Yellowstone Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
10. Mirror Lake State Park
Distance from Madison: about 41 miles northwest of Madison (straight-line).
Location: E10320 Fern Dell Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913
Just an hour NW of Mad City, Mirror Lake rarely sees ripples on its surface. The wooded shoreline and sandstone cliffs that wrap around it offer protection from the wind and make it an unusually calm lake.
Mirror Lake State Park is open year-round and offers camping (all-season), swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, paddling, and abundant opportunities to see wildlife. Mirror Lake is a strictly no-wake zone due to its compact size, and also to protect and preserve the sandstone sides. Kayaks and canoes are available to rent.
Interesting fact – The park is home to the Seth Peterson Cottage, a Frank Loydd Wright design that is available to rent.
Mirror Lake State Park is a 2,179-acre (882 ha) Wisconsin state park in the Wisconsin Dells region.
See our full Mirror Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
