Travel Tips for Dealing with Crowds

With over 600,000 visitors and over 100 programs annually, Kohler-Andrae State Park is one of the most popular parks in Wisconsin. When you visit Kohler-Andrae State Park on weekends, holidays and hot summer days, you can expect long lines entering the park, limited parking availability and crowded trails and picnic areas.

When and where to expect crowds

Visitors to Kohler-Andrae State Park should expect long wait times and busy parking lots on weekends and holidays from May through October. Parking lots often fill before 11 a.m., and access to the park may be temporarily restricted until congestion lessens.

The busiest areas in the park are the north and south beaches (near lot 6), the south picnic areas and the cordwalk trail.

Parking Lots

On weekends and holidays, parking lots in the park are usually packed for much of the day. When parking lots are full, please remember the following:

• Parking is allowed in designated spaces only. Do not park along roadways or on sidewalks.
• Do not block traffic flow by waiting for a parking spot to open. Move on and try again later.
• If camping at the park, consider leaving your vehicle at your campsite.

How to Avoid the Crowds

Avoid visiting on weekends/holidays during summer and fall, and consider coming to Kohler-Andrae State Park during the week (Monday through Thursday). If your visit must be on a weekend, arrive at the park earlier in the morning or late afternoon for the best chance to avoid midday crowds. Late afternoon and evening visits can often be the most enjoyable for viewing the park's features at sunset.

Before your trip, purchase your vehicle admission passes to avoid waiting in line at the entrance station. 12-month vehicle admission passes can be purchased online and are valid at all Wisconsin state parks and forests.

Experience a different part of Kohler-Andrae State Park. There are several outlying parking lots with access to less crowded trails. The Friends Fishing Pond, with the Ancient Shores trail, and the Black River trail lots offer access to other scenic areas of the park.

Consider recreating at a nearby property or one you've never been to. Search for state parks and forests across Wisconsin on our Find A Park webpage to find properties by your favorite activity.