Best Campgrounds near Adams, WI

Camping in the Adams, Wisconsin area encompasses a range of options from state parks to private campgrounds, with several facilities located within a 30-minute drive. Buckhorn State Park Campground offers tent, RV, and cabin camping with lakeside sites, while Roche A Cri State Park Campground provides electric hookups and accommodations for tents and RVs. Castle Rock County Park and Petenwell Park feature year-round camping with full hookup options. The region includes both primitive sites in wooded settings and developed campgrounds with modern amenities, making it suitable for various camping preferences and equipment needs.

Most campgrounds in the Adams area operate seasonally, with peak availability from late spring through early fall, though several remain open year-round. Wisconsin state parks require vehicle admission stickers in addition to camping fees, which typically range from $15-30 per night depending on residency status and amenities. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for summer weekends and holidays when campgrounds fill quickly. Cell phone reception varies throughout the region but remains generally reliable at developed campgrounds. A visitor commented, "Considering the proximity to Wisconsin Dells and all the hotels, outlet malls and distractions this little piece of nature was calm, cool and relaxing."

Campers consistently mention the natural beauty and recreational opportunities as highlights of the Adams area. The Wisconsin River and Castle Rock Lake provide popular waterfront camping experiences with opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming. Several campgrounds feature hiking trails, with Roche A Cri State Park offering a 303-step stairway to a scenic overlook. A review noted, "This park is absolutely beautiful. It has great trails, a viewing tower that will leave you breathless, prehistoric petroglyphs on a natural monolith, plenty of wildlife viewing." Highway noise affects some campgrounds, particularly those near Interstate 90/94, though sites deeper in wooded areas tend to be quieter. Family-friendly amenities like playgrounds, swimming beaches, and organized activities are common at the larger developed campgrounds in the region.

Best Camping Sites Near Adams, Wisconsin (176)

    1. Buckhorn State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Necedah, WI
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 565-2789

    "If you’re looking for a campsite that transports you away from the usual Midwest fare, this is the place to be! The site we stayed at was beyond perfect."

    "Gorgeous campground in the middle of no where Wisconsin! Perfect place to camp if you like to climb at Necedah! There are a few lake entrances and at one of them we saw a couple large gorgeous cranes!"

    2. Roche A Cri State Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Friendship, WI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 339-6881

    "There is a tall tower to climb to a splendid overview of Friendship-Adams, many playgrounds, a paved path, hiking trails through the woods, streams, and fascinating hieroglyphs which put Roch-a-Cri in"

    "Chill and relaxing camp ground in Roche A’ Cri Wisconsin State park. Sites surrounded by old growth pines and adjacent to park’s name sake, Roche A’ Cri mound."

    3. Petenwell Park

    11 Reviews
    Necedah, WI
    13 miles
    +1 (608) 564-7513

    "I have been going to this campground for years, walking around, going to the beaches, launching the family pontoon and fishing in Lake Petenwell. Everyone is always so friendly upon arrival."

    "Love camping right on the edge of the lake."

    4. Castle Rock County Park

    3 Reviews
    Adams, WI
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 339-7713

    "Far drive to any nearby stores but a lot of bars and restaurants nearby. Carlson’s is the best! Had fun at the beach and down the road you can go tubing on the river nearby."

    "We had site A11, and just loved the location. The A loop is overlooking the lake and close to the beach."

    5. Wisconsin Dells KOA

    23 Reviews
    Wisconsin Dells, WI
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 254-4177

    "My family and I stayed at this Wisconsin Dells KOA location for two nights (site 61) as the first stop on a 3+ week trip, and it fully met our expectations"

    "We stayed at KOA in Wisconsin dells, which was about a mile away from everything.  We called to RSVP. Which was a breeze."

    6. Pineland Camping Park

    5 Reviews
    Friendship, WI
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 564-7818

    "Good place for 4 wheeling, plenty of trails. Home made pizza and Bloody Mary's"

    7. Buckhorn State Park Campground

    3 Reviews
    Necedah, WI
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 565-2789

    "Some of the walk in campsites are a far walk from the parking. So, if you simply want car camping, make sure you pick an appropriate site!"

    "Enjoyed the beach and the trails.

    Lots of poison ivy so stay in the center of the trails and be aware."

    8. Wilderness Park (Juneau County)

    6 Reviews
    Necedah, WI
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 565-7285

    $17 - $23 / night

    "A great campground with out of this world lake views. Most sites come with amazing lake views. Great for watching the sun rise up over the lake. Great swimming, fishing and playing."

    "Some sites with electric can be found with lake access.  Plenty of space between sites.  Very quiet campground with a play area, beaches and other nice features. "

    9. Rocky Arbor State Park Campground

    15 Reviews
    Wisconsin Dells, WI
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 254-8001

    "Nice quiet campground, close to many parks in Wisconsin Dells but far enough away from all the traffic and noise. Stayed one overnight driving through."

    "Many of the sites are separated from others by some space and numerous trees, tucked back away in the pine forest."

    10. Arrowhead RV Campground

    10 Reviews
    Wisconsin Dells, WI
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Tons of activities all around the campground."

    "It is a short drive to the attractions of Wisconsin Dells and several state parks. Rustic feeling to the campground. There is a nature trail within the campground."

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Recent Reviews near Adams, WI

714 Reviews of 176 Adams Campgrounds


  • rThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Quartzite Campground — Devils Lake State Park

    way overpriced and not worth it

    cost at end of september, sunday night was $76/night PLUS $16 parking fee so $92 for a night at a mediocre campground with no privacy. i rarely write negative reviews, but ive been camping for a while now, and never experienced this high of a cost for just a regular campground.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Kennedy County Park

    Great price for a little campground

    Not the most elaborate campground or the best I stayed at, but the price was right for what you get. The sites are large. You could add a tent or RV to any of them, but some are tighter to get into than others because of the road and how it turns.

    There's a little playground and lots of open space. Each site has a fire pit, but I don't believe there's firewood available for purchase. There are some vault toilets here.

    Cost is only $15 cash and it's first come first serve. No reservations.

    I believe that they raised the rate on April 1st. It's now $15, but in this day and age of price gouging that's actually a bargain for a campsite. It's primitive, but it's nicely kept.

    A little train noise from the distance, but if you like the sound of a train horn, it's very soothing.

  • Operation_Fun ..
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Camp Shin-Go-Beek

    A lovely place to relax - Lower Bluff

    This campsite was great! Incredibly peaceful with a ton of beautiful birds singing throughout the day, relatively private (even with fellow campers in the area), and a short walk to the private beach at the lake. It’s a semi-primitive with pit toilets and a potable water spigot. Ian was a great host and even checked on us to offer shelter in the admin building before a storm rolled through. We loved this spot so much, we went back the following summer, and it was just as relaxing. Being able to swim and float in the lake is an added bonus.

  • Cynthia K.
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Oakdale KOA

    Shady trees

    KOA Journey. We didn't feel like tackling Illinois at the end of the day, so we planned a stop here. 

    Check in was pleasant. We were in the back by the bathroom, which was my request. Lots of shady trees. This is a well established campground. As others have noted there is Interstate noise. It's easy on- easy off though.

     There's a Loves nearby.

  • Julia B.
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Buckhorn State Park Campground

    West shore sites

    We usually stay at the east shore sites but tried the west shore this time. The shore was not as level as the east side sites but still sandy and shallow for swimming. We could hear the bar blaring music across the lake until 10 or 11pm . There are more trees now than the website pictures show so there is some privacy between sites. Mosquitos were the worst i have ever experienced. The second we got out of the car they were all over us. We used the heaviest deet possible nonstop.

  • Julia B.
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Sandstone Ridge Campground — Mirror Lake State Park

    Beautiful lake

    The lake is great for kayaking. Lots of sandstone cliffs. We only did 2 hiking trails but they were well maintained. The site was good. The 202 area has a parking lot for 4 sites and a very short walk to the sites. Fire pit and picnic table were in good shape. The highway noise is loud and some military jets kept flying overhead. The raccoons were brutal. They broke into our crates twice. Smart enough to figure out the clip mechanism. Overall good site but a little noisy.

  • Kay K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

    Cottontail lane

    We hiked a short distance into our site. We had to pass a grassy area that was always full of bunnies! The site was of good size, dark and quiet. The shower house was close and clean.

  • Abby T.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Pride of America Camping Resort

    Local Favorite

    We just purchased our fifth wheel last month, and a week after we took our first trip to POA. During that weekend, we booked our next trip for a full week. We loved the sites in the back (800s), amenities and the staff. We definitely plan to be back often!


Guide to Adams

Camping opportunities around Adams, Wisconsin extend across more than 40,000 acres of public lands, including marshes, forests, and flowages with elevations ranging from 880 to 1,040 feet above sea level. The area's camping season typically runs from mid-April through October, with fishing often allowed year-round. Fall weather brings cooler temperatures in the 50s-60s°F during the day, creating ideal camping conditions.

What to do

Hiking at unusual rock formations: Roche A Cri State Park Campground offers distinctive geological features including a 300-foot rock outcropping. A visitor noted, "The 303 stairs to the top lookout is a workout and worth the trip for the view. We hiked almost 5.5 miles through this beautiful state park."

Geocaching adventures: Buckhorn State Park Campground provides free GPS units for geocaching. "When we arrived and checked in we grabbed one of their pre-loaded GPS units for Geocaching; It's something the park offers for free. They give you a bag, GPS and information book on all the Geocaching sites," shared one camper.

Winter camping options: Unlike many seasonal campgrounds, Castle Rock County Park remains open year-round for camping. The park offers numerous winter activities including ice fishing, snowshoeing, and winter photography opportunities along the frozen lakeshores.

What campers like

Private beaches: Many sites at Petenwell Park feature direct lake access. "We stayed at sites right on the lake and they were hands down the most beautiful sites I've personally ever camped at! We didn't need to leave our site," reported one visitor.

Quiet camping near attractions: Rocky Arbor State Park Campground offers a peaceful alternative to busy tourist areas while remaining accessible. A camper observed, "Most of the sites are separated from others by some space and numerous trees, tucked back away in the pine forest. The secluded nature gives it the feel of a National Park with beautiful stretches of pine and rocky ledges."

Diverse fishing opportunities: Fishing in the region includes multiple species across various waterways. At Buckhorn State Park, one angler reported, "The fishing is fantastic with Striped, Largemouth, and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Musky, and all kinds of panfish."

What you should know

Highway noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience road noise. At Rocky Arbor, "The closer you get to the interstate the louder it gets and one of the loops backs right up to the interstate. So be aware if you are booking the loop it will be a constant hum."

Insect preparedness: Mosquitoes and ticks can be intense during summer months. A Buckhorn State Park visitor warned, "I may be biased- because I really hate mosquitos and ticks but wow! The ticks here are so tiny they're very easy to miss so look out for those. Also the mosquitos never let up- even in the rain."

Limited amenities: Many campgrounds have minimal services nearby. For Wilderness Park, a visitor advised, "You can buy wood and some supplies but be sure bring what you need as it is a drive into town to get whatever you may have forgotten."

Tips for camping with families

Free fishing equipment: Buckhorn State Park provides complimentary fishing gear for children. "The park also offers free poles and tackle. We ventured into the campground area for fresh water," mentioned one family camper.

Entertainment options: Some campgrounds include family-oriented activities on-site. A visitor to Pineland Camping Park noted, "A lot of the activities are designed for 12 and younger. The campground is extremely clean and well kept."

Beach access for kids: Castle Rock County Park features family-friendly swimming areas. "There's a big beach area roped off, and a swim platform for the big kids. There's a boat launch, and Buckhorn State park is just 15 min away if you need more trails," shared a family camper.

Tips from RVers

Electrical connection challenges: Some sites have awkwardly placed hookups. At Arrowhead RV Campground, campers advise: "Make sure you bring 50 ft of electrical cord and water hose. They do offer to barrow their extension cords."

Site selection for larger RVs: Rocky Arbor has limitations for bigger rigs. "Most of the campground is ideal for tent campground and smaller RVs," explained one reviewer, noting the steep, curving narrow roads to access sites.

Winter camping preparedness: For RVers using the year-round parks, bring additional insulation for water lines and prepare for limited winter services. Many campgrounds shut down water access points, requiring self-contained camping during freezing months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Adams, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, Adams, WI offers a wide range of camping options, with 176 campgrounds and RV parks near Adams, WI and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Adams, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Adams, WI is Buckhorn State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 28 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Adams, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Adams, WI.