What is the WACO Guarantee?

It is a full refund of campsite fees to any camper who asks for one and leaves within one hour of check-in. The guarantee covers campsite fees only, is not valid on holidays or holiday weekends, and is offered only by participating WACO member campgrounds, so a camper should confirm participation with the campground directly.

Can firewood be brought freely to a Wisconsin campground?

No. Two quarantines restrict firewood movement for the general public in Wisconsin, one for gypsy moth and one for emerald ash borer. The inspections and certifications that let loggers, timber haulers and sawmills transport hardwood firewood are not available to the general public. WACO publishes a map of the quarantined counties.

Private campground owners in Wisconsin join as members, and businesses that sell into the camping industry join as trade members. Membership questions and listing updates go to the association office at office@wisconsincampgrounds.com or (608) 525-2327.

Associations

Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners

The Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners, known as WACO, is a non-profit federation of privately owned Wisconsin campgrounds. It exists to promote member parks to campers and to hold those parks to a shared standard, and its members run the range from primitive parks to developed camping resorts.

The association's public product is a campground directory. Campers search more than 200 member campgrounds by region, by interest such as family activities, fishing, RV-friendly sites or Wi-Fi, or through a guided finder that narrows the list from a few questions. The directory is also printed and can be ordered from the site.

On the member side, campground owners get a member dashboard, post campsite openings, and attend the WACO Convention and RV shows. Businesses that sell into the industry join as trade members and reach owners through trade member resources and advertising. A newsletter carries camping news, events and industry updates.

Participating members offer the WACO Guarantee, a full refund of campsite fees for a camper who leaves within one hour of check-in. Dues and membership terms are not published; the association office takes those questions by phone or email.

Best for

Wisconsin campground and RV park owners who want consumer-facing directory exposure plus a state industry network, and suppliers who want to reach those owners as trade members.

What they do

Online directory of member Wisconsin campgrounds
Printed camping directory available to order
Campground finder and regional search for campers
WACO Convention for member owners
RV shows
Trade membership for industry suppliers
Advertising opportunities for suppliers
Camping and industry newsletter
WACO Guarantee refund program at participating parks

Details

Attribute	Value
Ownership	Nonprofit

What stands out

Lists more than 200 member campgrounds across six Wisconsin regions.
Directory region counts run from 16 campgrounds in Southeastern Wisconsin to 56 in East Wisconsin Waters.
Members range from primitive parks to camping resorts, and member campgrounds welcome campers of all abilities.

Common questions

What is the WACO Guarantee?: It is a full refund of campsite fees to any camper who asks for one and leaves within one hour of check-in. The guarantee covers campsite fees only, is not valid on holidays or holiday weekends, and is offered only by participating WACO member campgrounds, so a camper should confirm participation with the campground directly.
Can firewood be brought freely to a Wisconsin campground?: No. Two quarantines restrict firewood movement for the general public in Wisconsin, one for gypsy moth and one for emerald ash borer. The inspections and certifications that let loggers, timber haulers and sawmills transport hardwood firewood are not available to the general public. WACO publishes a map of the quarantined counties.
Who can join WACO?: Private campground owners in Wisconsin join as members, and businesses that sell into the camping industry join as trade members. Membership questions and listing updates go to the association office at office@wisconsincampgrounds.com or (608) 525-2327.