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Best Tent Camping near Appleton, WI

359 Reviews

Tent campsites near Appleton, Wisconsin include established options with varying amenities and natural settings. Camp Wilderness offers tent sites with trails and lake access in a program-centered environment geared toward teaching outdoor skills to children. Camp Shin-Go-Beek provides tent camping with boat-in and walk-in access only, featuring potable water, showers, and toilets. Kettle Moraine State Forest's Northern Unit, located approximately 40 miles south of Appleton, contains group camping areas suitable for multiple tents.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities including pit toilets, potable water, and designated areas for fires. Camp Shin-Go-Beek offers more developed facilities with showers available, while maintaining a semi-primitive experience. Picnic tables are common at established sites, and trash collection is typically provided. The Greenbush Group Campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest features large, grassy sites surrounded by trees, making them suitable for both tent camping and hammock setups. Many locations require reservations, particularly for group sites, and pets are permitted at select campgrounds.

The tent camping experience varies significantly across locations. Camp Shin-Go-Beek provides a peaceful setting with access to a private beach, creating opportunities for swimming and water recreation. The larger group sites at Kettle Moraine State Forest can accommodate multiple tents, with sites 2 and 9 capable of fitting over 20 backpacking tents simultaneously. Visual separation between sites provides some privacy, though sound can carry between neighboring campsites. One camper noted that Camp Shin-Go-Beek was "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." Most locations are accessible from spring through fall, with Kettle Moraine's Northern Unit Greenbush Group Camp typically open from April to November.

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Best Tent Sites Near Appleton, Wisconsin (5)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Appleton, WI

5 Photos of 5 Appleton Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Appleton, WI

359 Reviews of 5 Appleton Campgrounds

  • Sara S.
    May. 27, 2019

    Mauthe Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit-Iansr

    GREAT beach!

    The campground and campsites are pretty standard.  Nice amount of space and privacy. 101 Walk in site was quite nice. Level ground, nice tree cover so it didnt feel too open. 

    Loved being close to the beach and playground area! The kids really appreciated it :) The beach was very clean and even though it was a warm, busy day we didnt feel like it was too crowded.  The earlier you arrive the better chances you have of getting a picnic table in the shade ;)  

    Enjoyed the walk around the lake, some parts are still a bit muddy, but overall it was a nice walk and the kids actually made it without too many complaints ;)  Nice variety of scenery!  Even caught a couple frogs.

    Definitely a place to visit again! 

    *checked out some of the trails near by which were really great as well!

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2022

    Mauthe Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit-Iansr

    Kettle moraine trail access here

    Mauthe lake is in the Kettle Moraine Northern Unit. It feels remote but we drove through a bunch of rural houses on the way in. The rustic roads made for good cycling. We passed quite a few pedaling up and down the hills.

    The campground itself sprawls along one side of the lake. With the loops for each group peeling off, it is easy to lose your way. The signs mark the direction well so go slow. It helps to know your site number.

    There was nobody at the entrance office. I’m not sure if it’s just today but make online reservations. It seems to be the 2022 way.

    There is a shower house but we made use of the more convenient vault toilets. Water is available in different ways - even a drinking fountain. There seems to be only one garbage collection site on the way out. This was less convenient since we have dog droppings to deal with.

    There is a nature trail that goes around the lake. By the beach and picnic area it’s paved. The rest is gravel or dirt. With recent rains we found a few puddles to walk through and mud to avoid. Our dog loved having the trail so close. Most of the trail is in the sun so bring water on hot days.

    Swimming isn’t allowed due to a blue algae bloom. This left plenty of empty space for us to sit with our dog under the trees. Folks did make good use of the fishing pier and playground. We also saw kayaks and stand up paddle boards on the lake.

  • S
    Dec. 26, 2017

    Calumet County Park

    The park is on the shores of Lake Winnebago and the sunsets are fabulous!

    The park:

    • is well kept
    • showers & bathrooms are very clean
    • has a marina
    • has hiking and cross country ski trails
    • sites are spacious
    • many sites available on the edge of the water
    • electric hookups on most sites
    • some very private sites
    • a few close restaurants
    • Camp staff is always helpful and friendly.
    • Picnic table, & fire pit at every site
    • They take reservations, sell firewood, have a camp store, allow pets on leash, allow alcohol
  • Denise N.
    Jun. 28, 2018

    Kettle Moraine State Forest Long Lake Campground

    Long Lake Fun

    We've camped at Long Lake twice - both times with kids, and thoroughly enjoyed. The sites are spacious and clean. Each site comes with a fire pit, grate and picnic table. We have camped in the 800s but hope to get back for more variety in the future.

    Long Lake has two separate beaches and we much prefer the South Shore beach. North Shore is a little less populated, but the hike/stairs down into the beach area can be annoying with kids, toys, camp chairs, and a cooler full of food and beer. South Shore has a boat launch, clean restrooms and a picnic cabana that can be reserved. Both beaches are large and ample. We spread out with a pop-up canopy and did not feel crowded in or like we were imposing on others.

    Long Lake is big, so motorcraft are allowed. It's fun to sunbathe and watch waterskiiers and tubers fly by off in the distance.

  • Nina T.
    Aug. 22, 2016

    High Cliff State Park Campground

    quick decisions

    This is always a nice campsite for us on our way up to family that lives in Appleton we always choose to Camp instead of stay in a hotel. This particular time we chose site 93 due to all reservable Sites were taken and all we have left to choose from at 9:45 at night where walk-ins. Although the site was rocky wide open I could see my neighbors and full of spiders it was actually a decent place to easily set up in the dark and grab a quick night's sleep.

  • Jimmy P.
    Jun. 29, 2019

    High Cliff State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Wenzel Ivanhoe 6 at High Cliff State Park

    Campground Review

    High Cliff is a generally wooded and shaded campground on a cliff overlooking Lake Winnebago. The sites are average to above average size, with a good mix of electric and non-electric sites. We are tent campers and the ground was pretty flat and there was a good spot for our tents in our site. Our site was nice and spacious with a good fire-ring that had a grate that rotated. Typically I use an adjustable tripod grill, but since was a rainy weekend, it was nice to be able to not have to get that out. The one thing about our site(and the campground in general) in the rain was the mud. Since it is heavily shaded there isn't really any grass, so the ring forest floor soil turns mucky and muddy.

    There is one main flush toilet/shower building in the campground, and a bunch of pit toilet buildings. The pit toilet buildings had some issues with the lights in some of them, but the shower/flush building was mostly clean and not too far away. There is also a really nice playground nearby.

    Within the park are plenty of hiking/biking trails, a lookout tower, and there is beach access. The beach/water is definitely swimmable, but this isn't the most beautiful beach for swimming. When we were here, it was cool and rainy, so the most we did was put our feet in the water. There isn't much sand, but there are large grassy areas.

    The weekend we were there a local theater group happened to be performing a minimal version of Romeo and Juliet. It was awesome.

    Product Review

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time, this time I got to test the Wenzel Ivanhoe 6 tent.

    I've owned a bunch of tents throughout the years, but mostly they were small backpacking size tents. We have use a large 8-person Cabella's tent for the past 9 years for car camping, but it is time-consuming to set-up, so we thought the Wenzel Ivanhoe 6 would be a nice complement tent for us.

    The Ivanhoe is part of Wenzel's "Tribute" collection, with a retro-inspired design. The Ivanhoe reminds me of my parents' old canvas tent. The Ivanhoe is a single-walled house-shaped tent made of weather-treated polyester and taped seams. It held up really well in the rainy weather we had camping and there was just one small area that the seam tape failed: a"troubleshooting" tag that hangs down inside the tent.

    What I like:

    • The single pole design is simple and quick to setup

    • There is good airflow with the large screens on the doors and the two side windows; The rear vent is a nice touch

    • It has a great look and it well made

    • It actually fits in the bag it came in

    What I don't like

    • The top peak vents don't really work

    • There was a slight leak by the tag (I'll use some seam-sealer to fix this for the future)

    • Since it isn't freestanding, there are a lot of guy lines that are easy to trip over in the dark

    For a sub-$200 tent, this tent is awesome. It's easy to set up and looks great. It is a simple design that is spacious and comfortable for 3-4 people. It did great in rainy weather. I definitely recommend this tent for for those looking for a car camping tent around this size and want to spend less than $200.

  • L
    Jul. 5, 2022

    High Cliff State Park Campground

    Beautiful Park but Lots of Raccoons

    The park itself is beautiful, and the trails are nice. The tent sites were on the smaller side and kind of close together. The park ranger was good-natured and patient when we accidentally set up on the wrong site.

    Make sure to store your food correctly! The two sites beside us were ransacked by raccoons all night long because they left their supplies out. Three raccoons came to smell around our picnic table as soon as we zipped up inside the tents but left quickly after not finding food.

  • Stacey N.
    Jun. 26, 2021

    Waupun Park Campground

    Very nice

    Enjoying our time here, in spite of the rain. Some sites are nicely spaced apart. Camp hosts are friendly and helpful. Bathrooms and showers are modern and clean. We would camp here again. Site 21 is very nice… a little private elevated back yard area with a fire ring and picnic table. Only drawback is that it’s a little narrow, but not a deal breaker at all.

  • K
    Jun. 23, 2019

    Mauthe Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit-Iansr

    North Unit

    Our campsite was up the hill and away from the lake as those sites are quite ‘busy’ and we usually look for sites with more privacy. This campground is huge and offers many different kinds of sites depending such as open sites in a pine forest, down by the lake, or tucked away in the trees and bushes. We found several decent choices on a busy fall weekend without a reservation. We enjoyed the spacious campsite that had a couple of it’s own mini-trails and plenty of opportunities to hike in and around the area. I don’t fish, but it seemed like the popular thing to do for many other visitors. The vault toilets were okay but there is a nicer bathroom down the lake.

Guide to Appleton

Tent camping near Appleton, Wisconsin offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying various amenities and activities. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly environment or a spot for a group gathering, there are several well-reviewed options to consider.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • At Camp Wilderness, you'll find essential amenities like drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets, making it a comfortable choice for families.
  • Greenbush Group Campground features large grassy sites surrounded by trees, perfect for setting up multiple tents and enjoying a communal camping experience.
  • The Northern Unit Greenbush Group Camp offers reservable sites with drinking water and picnic tables, ensuring a convenient stay for tent campers.

Specific local activities

  • Families can engage in outdoor adventures at Camp Wilderness, which includes trails, a lake, and an obstacle course designed for kids.
  • The scenic surroundings of Greenbush Group Campground provide ample opportunities for hiking and exploring the Kettle Moraine State Forest.
  • At Northern Unit Greenbush Group Camp, you can enjoy a peaceful camping experience while being just a short drive from Milwaukee, making it an accessible getaway.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $30

  • Camping at Camp Wilderness is budget-friendly, with prices typically around $30 per night, making it an affordable option for families.
  • Greenbush Group Campground offers group sites that can accommodate many tents, often at no cost for the sites themselves, though reservations may be required.
  • The Northern Unit Greenbush Group Camp has a reasonable fee structure, with prices generally falling within the $20 to $30 range for a night of camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Appleton, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Appleton, WI is Camp Wilderness with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Appleton, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 tent camping locations near Appleton, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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