Make Warm Family Memories Beneath the Stars at Lake Kegonsa State Park

As we neared Lake Kegonsa State Park, I rolled down the car windows to breathe in the fresh air. That caught my sons’ attention, and their eyes lifted from the glow of their phones and lit up at the sight of the lake. Our crew of four recently visited the 342-acre park just outside of Madison for a family camping trip to escape daily life and relax while listening to the waves. We couldn’t wait to see why people come from across the state to enjoy camping, kayaking and hiking here. 

We pre-booked a tent site in the 96-site tree-filled campground, which is open from May to October. It offers plenty of privacy with wooded and partially wooded sites, many of which offer electrical hookups. Tents, RVs and pop-ups are all welcome. We quickly set up our tent and then headed toward the boat launch to go get out on the water. 

Our kids have only been paddling a few times before, so we were excited to rent kayaks and take them out for some fun on the water again. As we collected our kayaks, we were happy to see that Lake Kegonsa State Park offers many features for people who use mobility assistance devices like wheelchairs or walkers. From adaptive kayak rentals to an accessible fishing pier, everyone can enjoy a taste of the wild here. 

We spent a couple of hours plying the smooth waters of the lake. My boys had a good time testing each other’s skills by seeing who could paddle the fastest. We all laughed when Dad surprised them by joining in on one of the races and came from behind for the win. 

During our paddle, we noticed a dog joyously splashing at the dog beach. My youngest son suggested that we bring our two furry family members for a return trip. With a few exceptions, dogs are allowed throughout most of Lake Kegonsa State Park so long as they’re on an eight-foot or shorter leash, and they can run free at the dog beach. We know our pups would have had as much fun as we did if we’d brought them along. “Next time,” I promised to my son with a smile. 

After we returned our rented kayaks, we drove to Springers restaurant in nearby Stoughton for dinner. We’d heard their fish fry was incredible, and we were ready to refuel. We sat on the outdoor patio, soaking in the last rays of the sun as it crept down toward the horizon. My husband and I dug into pan-seared walleye while the kids devoured some tasty barbecue. When we returned to the park, we stopped by the fishing pier at the park’s south end and took a moonlit stroll along the Lower Yahara River Trail. It was the perfect way to end our first day of family camping. 

After a night under the stars, we made a simple breakfast at camp, then drove to Stoughton’s Eugster’s Farm Market. Our first stop was the petting farm. None of us could resist bottle feeding the adorable baby goats. We also strolled through the beautiful and fragrant lavender fields. It made a perfect backdrop for an impromptu family photo. We then set to work selecting some fresh vegetables, including onions, jalapeños and bell peppers, to make shish kebabs over the fire back at camp. If you visit during peak sweet-corn season (July through September), make sure to grab a few ears to roast and a few more to take home! We’ll definitely be back for the Eugsters’ Fall Festival — who doesn’t love U-pick apples and a corn maze? 

Our next stop was Cheesers LoKal Market to grab some goodies for the evening. They’re known for their more than 300 varieties of meat, wine and cheese — perfect for charcuterie-board appetizers. We left with some tasty cheddar and an All Local Stoughton box containing locally produced honey, cheese and chocolates. We made sure to pick up some crackers before heading back to our campground to make our delicious meal. 

After returning to our campsite, we put the boys in charge of building a campfire in the fire ring while my husband and I kept watch. We snacked from our charcuterie board as we waited for the coals to heat. It wasn’t long before we were enjoying fire-roasted kebabs and playing yard games into the evening. Once the deep purple sky fully faded to dark black, we used Star Walk, a helpful app, to identify the beautiful constellations above us. My oldest son was proud to point out several new ones he’d memorized since our last camping trip. Beneath that stunning sky, we happily capped off the evening cheersing toasted marshmallow s’mores with peanut butter cups instead of chocolate bars — one of our favorite camping hacks. 

On the last morning of our trip, we decided to let the kids sleep in a bit while we enjoyed a quiet cup of coffee by the lake. Once the boys got up, we worked together to pack up our tent and other camping gear, already reminiscing about the new memories we made on this trip. By the time the car was packed, everyone’s stomachs were rumbling, so we headed toward Wildwood Café to pick up some breakfast burritos — the perfect road-tripping meal — on our way out of town. 

Although sad to leave, we’ll definitely be returning with our bikes in the fall. Pedaling beneath the changing leaves will be amazing, and we already have a number of seasonal events we want to return for too. It is clear that we have more family memories waiting to be made at Lake Kegonsa State Park.