Governor Nelson State Park
Governor Nelson State Park is a state park in Wisconsin. It was established in 1975. 8 graded lakes are within 15 miles of the park, including Lake Mendota, Lake Wingra, Lake Waubesa.
Governor Nelson State Park State Park spans an unrecorded acreage acres in Wisconsin — a designated recreation destination with the full set of facilities the state park system provides. The park is paired with 8 graded lakes nearby — enough for a multi-lake visit. Average grade among them: D.
For visitors planning around water quality, the nearby-lakes list below is the practical tool: a park is only as good as the lake you intend to use it from, and the LakeGrade for that lake gives you the water-clarity, nutrient, and algal-pressure context you need.
Official Resources
Nearby Graded Lakes (within 15 mi)
Lakes closest to Governor Nelson State Park, weighted by size. Click a lake for its full water quality grade, fish species, and depth.
| Lake | County | Grade | Surface Area | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Mendota | Dane | C | 9,781 acres | 2.6 mi |
| Lake Wingra | Dane | C | 336 acres | 5.7 mi |
| Lake Waubesa | Dane | D | 2,074 acres | 10.5 mi |
| Graber Pond | Dane | F | - | 3.6 mi |
| Tiedman Pond | Dane | F | 9 acres | 4.6 mi |
| Odana Pond | Dane | F | 14 acres | 6.3 mi |
| Lake Monona | Dane | D | - | 6.7 mi |
| Gateway Pond | Dane | F | - | 10.3 mi |
Other Parks in the Area
- Capital Springs State Recreation Area— State Recreation Area, 8.8 mi
- Lake Kegonsa State Park— State Park, 15.1 mi
- Blue Mound State Park— State Park, 22.3 mi
- Devil's Lake State Park— State Park, 23.8 mi
Where to stay near Governor Nelson State Park
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Governor Nelson State Park — find a place to stay close to the park and its nearby lakes.
Top-rated places to stay near Governor Nelson State Park
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.