Camping in the Amery, Wisconsin area encompasses a range of options from state parks to municipal facilities along waterways. North Park RV Campground in Amery provides electric hookups, water access, and amenities like showers and toilets, while Apple River County Park Campground offers more primitive tent camping with 15 simple sites, 5 with electricity. The region extends to nearby options including Interstate State Park along the St. Croix River, Wild River State Park, and Lily Springs Regenerative Farm, which offers both tent and cabin accommodations in a unique agricultural setting.
Many campgrounds in the area are seasonal, with most operating from May through October. Access to sites at Apple River County Park requires driving on maintained forest roads, while campgrounds like Interstate and Wild River State Parks feature more developed infrastructure. Summer weekends typically see high demand, especially for waterfront sites. Cell service can be spotty in rural areas, particularly at campgrounds farther from town centers. According to one visitor, "The camping is currently closed for the season, and will have repairs and needed upgrades. It would be worth checking in spring 2021 to review the improvements!"
Riverside camping provides the most popular experiences in the region, with the St. Croix and Apple Rivers offering scenic paddling opportunities. Several campgrounds include direct river access, which campers highlight as a major benefit. A reviewer noted that at D N Campground, "The Apple River is really beautiful, and if we had brought our kayaks we could have plopped them right in the river from our campsites and had an amazing paddle on this pristine tributary of the St Croix." Mixed-use campgrounds serving both tent and RV campers are common throughout the region, with most providing at least basic amenities like vault toilets and water access. Developed campgrounds such as North Park feature more robust facilities including showers, sanitary dumps, and electric hookups, making them suitable for family camping trips.
$24 - $50 / night
"This is a state park on the Wisconsin side of the St Croix River, which is mirrored by a comparable but smaller state park in Minnesota on the wrst side of the river, both being part of the wild and scenic"
"Interstate State Park is situated along the St Croix River just outside the small town of Taylor Falls, MN."
$25 - $90 / night
"Easy walking trails surround the park which is nice and convenient. Close proximity to Stillwater which made for a nice day trip. Camp sites were very clean and easy to access."
"Our site was a non-electric site on the outside ring, with just a thin slip of woods and a hiking trail between us and the St. Croix river."
"There is a newly filled lake after the reconstruction of the dam. This is a non motorized lake for paddling, swimming and fishing."
"Fun to play in the water, go behind the waterfall and a good hike up 200 steps to view the falls from above!"
$23 - $90 / night
"Stayed for two nights at a drive-in double site here and found it ideal for autumn camping."
"We stayed in campsite 29 in the drive in campsite over Labor Day weekend."
"Looks like the beach and playground is in or close to the camper loop but I didn't make it over there in the time I had here! Would definitely return if it's on my trip route in the future!!"
"We enjoyed sitting around the fire and floating out in the middle of the lake! The rope swing is a great place to watch while your out floating!"
"Just far enough off road to be fairly quiet. In city park. Tennis. Frisbee golf. Skateboard park. BB hoops. Toilets. Showers. Boat launch. Swimming. Easy walk to downtown."
$15 - $28 / night
"I had read somewhere that sites 65 and 67 had direct access to the river--true! But the path does come off the camp road and it really does serve the entire campground, so anyone can use it. "
"Beautiful sites but be careful when booking as some sites are very close to others. North campground is about 1/2 mile from downtown Taylor Falls via a bridge. So a quick walk to town is possible."
$44 - $75 / night
"These primitive sites are down a small dirt road away from the main RV camping area and are nicely wooded, but you can still see neighboring sites."
"The kids tried the bike trail that they could access right from the campground.
Plenty of space to social distance. We never felt uncomfortable and everything was really clean!"
"We had a last minute idea to go camping on Labor Day weekend, hopefully omewhere near St Croix Falls so we could visit Interstate State Park and explore the surrounding area. "
"In June 2024 we had a one day primitive spot on sperry lane you can drive over a tight steel bridge “crossing a small creek."
$70 / night
"Both the White Pine Meadow and the Lakeside Serenity sites are amazing and large. We wound up staying at the Lakeside site, which has a nice view of Mud Lake and one of the herds of goats."
TravelerWe stayed here with a group of hot tent campers in early January. The site is large and had a couple of fire pits. Includes a few picnic tables, and a pit toilet. It's a beautiful open area not far from the parking lot with a gorgeous view of the St. Croix River.
ScoutThe sites are VERY close to each other.
TravelerWe visited Avatan Nudist Campground last July with our two kids (ages 8 and 11) for what was supposed to be a wholesome, body-positive family getaway. The website and brochures paint a perfect picture: serene woods, a sparkling pool, family activities, and a "welcoming community" vibe. And on the surface? Yeah, the grounds are stunning—pristine trails, a well-maintained pool. The facilities are clean, the staff (mostly) polite, and the natural setting is genuinely relaxing. If you're just looking for a quiet spot to shed your clothes and unwind in nature, it checks those boxes.
But dig a little deeper, and Avatan reveals itself as something else entirely—a place that's quietly optimized for adult fun, with kids as an inconvenient footnote they have to tolerate to keep the "family" label. From the moment we arrived, it was clear the real energy was elsewhere. Evenings around the fire pits and at the "Squirrel's" (code for the bar area) had this unmistakable swinger-party undercurrent. Lots of lingering glances, couples disappearing into the woods or private cabins, and a vibe that felt more like a discreet resort for the lifestyle crowd than a spot for building sandcastles with the little ones. Our kids picked up on it fast—whispers about "grown-up games" and awkward questions we had to deflect. The camp "tolerates" families, sure, but it's obvious the core membership would prefer a child-free zone. Activities for kids are minimal: a basic playground and the occasional nature hike, while the adults get themed nights, "sensual yoga," and late-night mixers that go until dawn.
What really soured the experience was the toxic underbelly of the community itself. This place is a powder keg of power struggles, with a small cadre of long-time board members and "elders" locked in a perpetual cold war. Gossip flows like the creek itself—endless whispers about who's sleeping with whom, who's "stealing" prime cabin spots, or who's cozying up to the President for favors. We overheard more drama in one week than in a season of reality TV. Cliques form fast: the "party crew" vs. the "purists," the swingers vs. the swingers-who-pretend-they're-not. As newcomers (and parents, no less), we felt like outsiders crashing a private club. Smiles were surface-level; the second you stepped away, the backstabbing started.
And then there's the elephant in the (clothing-optional) room: the camp's ugly history with sexual predators. We didn't know it going in, but after a few days, the stories trickled out from sympathetic members—multiple incidents over the years involving members who turned out to be registered offenders or worse, preying on the vulnerable in this "trust-based" environment. The rules around anonymity are ironclad: no photos, no last names, "what happens at Avatan stays at Avatan." It's sold as protecting privacy in a nudist space, which sounds noble until you realize it shields the creeps. Anyone who dares speak up—whether it's a parent noticing a sketchy guy lingering too long near the kids' area or a survivor sharing a red flag—is immediately branded a "troublemaker," "paranoid," or "anti-community." We've heard of families getting shamed in group meetings, then quietly asked to leave for "disrupting the harmony." Evictions happen fast if you rock the boat, all in the name of keeping the peace and the paying members happy.
Look, we're no prudes. Nudism can be liberating, and we've been to other resorts where it felt truly inclusive and safe. But Avatan? It's a divided house built on denial. The adult-party atmosphere thrives because the kids are an afterthought, and the predator problem festers because calling it out gets you exiled. If you're a child-free couple into the full swinger scene, this might be your paradise—plenty of like-minded folks and zero judgment. But if you're a family hoping for that advertised "safe, empowering space"? Steer clear. Your kids deserve better than being tolerated in a place where silence is golden and the wrong questions get you blacklisted. We won't be back, and I hope this review saves someone else the regret.
RangerSo, I think you know what you are signing up for here when you stay camp at the backpacking site at Afton, but let me fill in some of the blanks. #1 yes, the hill climb is as big of an effort as other people have said. You will feel like you earned your dinner. I may have found a hack for this, but more in that later. #2 the site are mostly private. I stayed on site #12. I could see (and they could have seen me) site #9, but thankfully no one was there. That would have been a bummer to have other looking into my site. There is even a semi-worn path between 12 and 9. They would make a good combo if you have a group. Other than that, totally secluded. As far space at #12, you could build as big of a tent structure there as you would need, easily room for a massive 16’x24’ palace (if you would dare to carry it) or anything smaller. An Eagle Scout project built hammock posts at this site, so it is ideal for that set up. #3 the campground amenities are very nice. The solar powered water works great year round, the two pits toilets (if you can even call them that) are very new and nice. And the coolest campground feature is the cut your own firewood station. I went a little overboard since it was so nice and had a way bigger fire than I needed. Bring your own saw and you will love it too. #4 After walking around the park, I discovered a possible hack. There is an unmarked entrance to the park on the north side. Instead of walking all my gear back to the parking lot, I walked the .5 miles to the service entrance, dropped my pack, and then walked the 1.8 miles back to the parking lot. I tend to carry too much. The flat short walk to drop my gear was worth it. Then I drop around the park and picked up my stuff. Probably not MN DNR endorsed way to do it, but I was proud of my discovery. All in, this is a unique and wonderful camping experience. Highly recommend.
TravelerClean and well-kept, this is a very small park with mowed lawn but no separation between the campsites, and close to a highway. Quiet at night. We stayed there off-season, and had it mostly to ourselves. It's convenient for an overnight stay while hiking the Ice Age Trail road connection nearby.
RangerI was looking for a secluded backpack in site where I could have a peaceful 48 hours of prayer and solitude, and this site was perfect! I also wanted one that wasn't too far remote, since I hadn't been on a proper backpacking trip since the pandemic hit. And as a solo female camper, I wanted a reserved site so that there would be a record of my location for safety reasons. I'm so glad I chose the Deer Creek site, and will almost definitely stay here again at some point!
This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot. There is easy access to river water to boil or filter from the canoe landing.
This site was incredibly spacious. It includes a fire ring and picnic table overlooking the creek and river. It also includes 2 large tent pads (look out for widow makers, one of the tent pads is under a dead tree!). It also has a spot nestled in some pine trees that could fit a smaller tent, canoe storage, or I found it to be the perfect spot to hang my hammock! (This would be a great site for hammock camping.) So if you're camping with a small group of people this would be a great site. It also includes a trail to a fairly private latrine, and a bear box (the park ranger warned me that there are bears in the park although I did not see any.) I also found plenty of dead down and dry wood and birch bark on the ground for building fires.
This site is great for a one nigjt stay on a longer backpacking or canoeing trip, but also great for camping out at for a couple of nights. I stayed for two, and it connects to all the major trails in the park, so I was able to use it as a great base for hiking and seeing the beautiful changing leaves. In the morning I hiked North to do the Riverside trail and looped back through the woods. Then in the afternoon I did the Deer Creek loop, which is a shared horse and hiking trail. It was so nice to he able to hike out to some of the best trails in the park directly from my site.
This site felt remarkably remote for being only an hour from the twin cities and a mile from the parking lot! I stayed there Thursday -Saturday, and after leaving the parking lot on Thursday did not see another human being for the rest of the day, and Friday not until I hit the main trails! There was no one else staying within at least a mile of me. I was even able to see fantastic stars Friday night. There was amazing wildlife - a blue heron frequented the site, and I heard all types of owls. Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip, too- it was absolutely magical!
This site has a great view of both sunrise and sunset. Thursday night there was a gorgeous sunset over the woods reflected in deer Creek. Both mornings I woke up to watch the sunrise while drinking my coffee next to the fire (it was freezing!!!). Watching the sun rise over the river and fog roll over th water and evaporate while eagles soared was truly magical. Having an easy backpack in site surrounded by water on two sides and with views of the sunrise and sunset like this was so incredible!!!
TravelerNever again, $81 for an electric only site. Come on Wisconsin let's jab the out of .staters. Entry fee to parks, extra for out of staters. The site was secluded but not close to level. Not close to the facilities. I am going back to SD. They don't add fees because you are from out of town, they actually encourage out of state tourists. Last trip to a Wisconsin state park . And the showers were closed for the season, this is 10/9/25. But still full price and just an electric only site. No thanks Wisconsin
GuideInterstate State Park has some nice features, but overall it wasn’t my favorite. Many of the exterior loop sites have river access, which was a highlight, and we didn’t have to deal with mosquitoes thanks to being right on the water. The nearby towns are also very charming and worth exploring.
That said, the campground is small and very crowded, likely because it’s so close to the Cities and popular with canoe rentals. Expect a lot of traffic noise, and in the fall, migrating geese can be very loud (which didn’t bother me, but might for some). The ranger office had limited hours, and since firewood is locked up, there’s no self-serve option. Another downside: a riverboat cruises by frequently, blasting music in the evenings and giving tours during the day.
The sites are close together, with RVs and tents mixed on one loop, so generator noise is common. It wasn’t a terrible stay, but just too small and busy for my preference—I don’t think I’d return.
Best sites seemed to be 21 (great river views, less private), 23 (fun detached tent pad), and 18 (most private). Sites 4–5 were also lovely but close to the bathrooms and camp host, so expect more foot traffic.
LegendThis is a beautiful park and the campsites for the most part all seem spacious, and the loop we were in (whichever one site 52 is in) all had decent tree cover.
The bathroom facility has seen better days. The nature center is nice and a great place to spend some time if it is raining during their open hours.
Campgrounds near Amery, Wisconsin range from established lakeside facilities to more rustic farm settings, spread across both Wisconsin and Minnesota. North Park RV Campground within Amery offers electric hookups, showers, and easy access to town, while just 30 minutes away, Interstate State Park straddles the St. Croix River with tent and RV camping options on both the Wisconsin and Minnesota sides. Apple River County Park provides primitive camping with easy canoe and kayak access. Several campgrounds in the area feature waterfront views and accommodate various camping styles including tent sites, RV spaces with hookups, and even cabin rentals.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically from May through October, with limited winter availability. Interstate State Park and Wild River State Park remain open year-round, though with reduced services during winter months. The Apple River serves as a central feature for many camping experiences, offering opportunities for fishing, paddling, and swimming. Road access varies significantly among sites, with developed campgrounds providing paved parking while more remote locations may require navigation on gravel roads. According to one visitor at D N Campground, "If we had brought our kayaks we could have plopped them right in the river from our campsites and had an amazing paddle on this pristine tributary of the St Croix."
The camping experience around Amery showcases the region's natural water features. A camper described North Park RV Campground as having "easy in & out" positioning in a city park with amenities including "tennis, frisbee golf, skateboard park, boat launch, swimming" and "easy walk to downtown." Sites at Lily Springs Regenerative Farm earned praise for unique features including farm animals and sustainable agriculture practices. Along the Apple River, campers appreciate the balance between natural settings and convenience to local attractions. Mixed-use campgrounds predominate in the area, with many offering both tent and RV options at the same location. Visitors particularly value campgrounds that provide water access, whether for swimming, fishing, or paddling, with riverside sites receiving consistently positive reviews for their scenic value and recreational opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available near Amery, Wisconsin?
Several campgrounds are available near Amery, Wisconsin. Apple River County Park Campground is a small, wooded county campground with 15 simple sites primarily for tent camping, though 5 sites have electricity suitable for vans or small trailers. The park offers basic amenities including water and vault toilets. Straight Lake State Park Campground provides hike-in campsites near Straight Lake with carts available to help transport supplies. Other options within driving distance include Highland Ridge, Interstate State Park on the St. Croix River, and Anchor Woods Campground, all offering different camping experiences from basic to full-service facilities.
Can you rent RVs in Amery, Wisconsin for camping trips?
While there are no dedicated RV rental companies specifically in Amery, Wisconsin, several nearby campgrounds accommodate RVs, suggesting rental options may be available in the broader region. Highland Ridge is popular with RV campers and features clean shower facilities and bathrooms. Another option is Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, which offers water hookups and electric sites well-suited for RVs. For RV rentals, check with outdoor recreation retailers in nearby larger towns or online RV sharing platforms that connect RV owners with renters. Many of these services will deliver the RV to your chosen campground for an additional fee.
What camping is available near Amery, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Amery, WI offers a wide range of camping options, with 155 campgrounds and RV parks near Amery, WI and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Amery, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Amery, WI is Interstate State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 52 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Amery, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Amery, WI.
What parks are near Amery, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Amery, WI that allow camping, notably Eau Galle Lake and Saint Croix National Scenic River.
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