163 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping opportunities around Athelstane, Wisconsin range from established campgrounds to rustic sites along waterways. The area includes Kosirs Rapid Rafts and Campground in Athelstane, which offers tent and RV sites plus cabin accommodations. Several campgrounds within a 30-minute drive provide varied experiences, including Governor Thompson State Park Campground near Crivitz with electric hookups and shower facilities, and Old Veterans Lake Campground in the Peshtigo River State Forest with more primitive amenities. Most locations support mixed camping styles with both tent and RV sites available.
Road conditions and accessibility vary throughout the region, with some campgrounds requiring navigation on narrow forest roads. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, typically from April through October, though some like Governor Thompson State Park remain open year-round. Summer weekends often reach capacity, making advance reservations essential, particularly for electric sites. Cell service can be limited in more remote areas, especially within the state forests. Winter camping options are significantly reduced, with snow-covered access roads limiting travel. A camper noted, "This campground is out there. With sites right next to the lake, you're sure to enjoy some of Wisconsin's beautiful north woods."
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the Athelstane area. Several campgrounds provide direct lake or river frontage, including sites along the Peshtigo River. Campers frequently mention the peaceful setting and natural surroundings as highlights. The region supports extensive outdoor recreation with connections to ATV and snowmobile trail systems. According to one visitor, "If outdoor recreation is your thing, this is the perfect base camp. The campground entrance is right off the ATV/Snowmobile/Horse Trails which connect to thousands of miles of trail systems all throughout the Northwoods of Wisconsin." Bathroom facilities range from modern shower buildings at larger campgrounds to basic vault toilets at more remote locations. Most established campgrounds provide fire rings, picnic tables, and access to drinking water, though amenities decrease at more primitive sites.
"We stopped here for a quick overnight pit stop on our way from Minneapolis to our final destination camp site in Rowleys bay , Door county, Wisconsin."
"Cost me about $100 for 2 nights (because of Wisconsin Parks car pass)."
from $19 - $36 / night
Check Availability"This is a little campground a short drive down some narrow, twisty backroads from Governor Thompson State Park. We stayed at site 11 which had an awesome little trail to the lake."
"They also enjoy swimming across, and hiking and biking around the lake. Nearby trail to the Peshtigo River Flowage. Pit toilet and water available, plenty of wooded sites available."
from $17 / night
Check Availability"From there it was a short 1 mile paddle to our campsite on the northside of the lake. This site was wooded, with many tall trees which gave great shade, and also spots for hammocks."
"Wild blackberries along the trails and camp sight. Good fire ring, clean vault toilets, big camp sites."
from $19 / night
Check Availability"The sites near the entrance were not what we like…crowded and dark. The sites in the lower portion, however, were pretty nice. Looked like quite a few campers were there for long stays."
from $25 - $39 / night
Check Availability"There are miles of ATV and Side x side trails down the road, We spend the whole day riding and never see it all and they are well groomed."
"The back tent areas are great, great walking trails, right on the water, the staff is so friendly and do daily checks to check if you need fire wood or anything."
from $25 - $30 / night
Check Availability"No cell service — downloaded maps around the highway turnoff to be able to navigate in the dark. Campground is small and sites are close; made friends with the neighbors."
"That’s normally not an issue for us because we will forage and cut our own but the rain has been falling so all the surrounding fallen trees were wet."
"I grew up about 10 minutes away from this campground and it is still an awesome place to go when we are looking for a “staycation”!"
"The fire pit was away from the level area the RV is to be parked. The electric and water were a little farther away than typical but not too bad."
"The sites are big and wooded and there’s some nice hiking trails. It’s also affordable!"
"We visit our family up at shakey lakes campground every summer! They have a permanent site along with several other family members. It is RV and tent friendly."
"There is a big playground picnic area within walking distance. There are paths to the waterfalls by the playground area. The downsides are no wood to buy, no showers and a lot of deer flys."
from $30 / night
Check Availability
ScoutClean, it has a park for children, clean bathrooms, close to everything, reasonable price. I called last minute on Saturday and they got me a spot right away. I suppose to check out at noon Sunday but they allow us to stay longer with no extra charge so the kids can still playing during the day. (No every rv park allow that) so thank you guys 👌
GuideEasy pull off. Spacious. Dispersed, no services but does have a privy - clean! Fire pit & table. No cell service. Perfect for a few days out. 2 sites, one on either side of the bridge. Road in is easy, hard pack gravel. Very little traffic. Accessible for any setup.
TravelerThere are 3 sites at this location. The 2 southern sites can fit decent size trailers. The middle one, which we stayed in, for my 26” trailer pulled by my suburban. Pulled straight in and pulled straight out. Site was clean and the views were awesome!
LegendThis is a lovely campground for families. Easy access to the lake for fishing and kayaking. The water side sites are great! Clean facilities and hot showers. Our next door site neighbors had 12 kids between their 2 sites. You can imagine we did not have a peaceful experience here. Neither the parents nor Camp host gave 2 hoots about quiet hours. The kids were screaming and running through our campsite well after 11 pm each night. Which leads me to my only 2 issues with this campground. There are few cut-throughs to access the bathrooms, so at any moment a stranger could be found unapologetically walking right thru your site. Issue two… I urge you to stead clear of booking site 810. The dishwashing/water station is located inside this site. Not near the road like the rest of them but, inside the site. We spent our evening with either screaming children using it as “safe” zone for freeze-tag, or the entire loop washing their dishes. Not fun….
ScoutDefinitely not meant for RV's or campers. To get to the site you must take a long sandy path that becomes muddy after rain. The path is also very uneven and has several pits where a camper can get stuck. The actual camp site is nice though. Visited in September so bugs were minimal and it was quite. The water near by sounds quite nice.
GuideCloud Lake has 11 sites tucked in a loop on the outer edge of the lake. There is a very nice boat landing and deer hanging stand for the hunters. We had a site right on the beautiful and clear lake. The sounds of crickets, coyotes, and owls filled the night and the sky was bright with stars both nights. You might even see some shooting stars if the light is right! There is a place where they stack free fire wood, but no access to clean water onsite. There are also pit toilets. All and all a magical couple of days if you love nature and the quiet of being 3 miles into the forest. The road was easily accessible this time of year, but sounds like at other times, can be a little difficult.
TravelerI absolutely loved it here first time staying and will be back many more! Would've given 5 starts if the sites had electricity, but theres still plug in over by the pavilion. Definitely a gem of a find.!!!!
Traveler100 yards off main road. 4 very well keep sites right on the lake with boat landing and a well keep vault toilet. During the week the main raod was very busy with ATV/UTV traffic. Can't imagine the traffic on weekends. A lot of vehicles driving in out of the camp area also. Only stayed one night due to the amount of traffic in and around the campground and Very rude campers that set up in the site next to us. They Started up a generator right away. I asked if the were going to run the g at enerator the whole time. The reply was "So what if we do. He Already intoxicated at noon. Packed up and left.
GuideWe love the quiet beautiful lake, the forest is beautiful, do watch the trees when choosing your site. We did not reserve, we drove up, followed the directions to choose a site and are staying 2 weeks. And we will be using bug spray, lots.
Dispersed camping options surrounding Athelstane, Wisconsin range from lakeside settings to forest-enclosed sites within the Nicolet National Forest. The area sits at approximately 1,250 feet elevation with a typical camping season from May through October when temperatures average 45-75°F. Autumn campers can experience vibrant fall colors while spring camping often requires preparation for muddy conditions during snowmelt.
Water recreation: Caldron Falls Reservoir offers quiet paddling opportunities with minimal boat traffic. "We stayed at the Heron's Retreat campsite on the Caldron Fall Reservoir. We checked in at the Gov. Thompson State Park headquarters then launched our canoe from the boat launch at the state park. From there it was a short 1 mile paddle to our campsite on the northside of the lake," notes Steven U. at Old Veterans Lake Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Old Veterans Lake Park provides opportunities to spot local wildlife. "Beautiful little spot. Clear swim area, decent fishing. Saw turtles, snakes, and frogs. Wild blackberries along the trails and camp sight," reports Molly M.
ATV trail access: The trail systems connect directly to several campgrounds. "If outdoor recreation is your thing, this is the perfect base camp. The campground entrance is right off the ATV/Snowmobile/Horse Trails which connect to thousands of miles of trail systems all throughout the Northwoods of Wisconsin," states a visitor at Tranquil~Vista Campground. Shane adds, "There are miles of ATV and Side x side trails down the road. We spend the whole day riding and never see it all and they are well groomed."
Private, secluded sites: Many campgrounds offer well-separated sites. "The sites are a perfect size, and people are generally very kind and respectful," notes Lauren P. about Governor Thompson State Park. Another camper, Jeff F., shares: "We went the weekend after Labor Day and basically had the whole place to ourselves. Very quiet and peaceful. Walked the loops looking at other campsites and most are very private."
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness receives consistent positive mentions. "Clean showers that are their own facility on the back side of building for restrooms, single shower, toilet and sink with locking door," reports Lula L. about Governor Thompson State Park.
Firewood availability: Several campgrounds offer generous wood supplies. Jeff F. notes, "The wood grab was very generous and rather than them taking 5 small pieces and wrapping them together with cellophane, you fill up a wheelbarrow via honor system with large split dry logs and pay for it that way. Made for some great campfires."
Tick prevalence: Multiple campers report ticks, particularly in spring. "Beautiful Lakes secluded areas and a crazy amount of ticks in May. This could be why we were the only people in our loop of the campground so early in the season. Sprayed the entire site with Apple cider vinegar to try to keep the ticks off the dogs," warns Jill G.
Cell service limitations: Coverage becomes unreliable in more remote areas. A camper at Twin Bridge County Park reports, "The drive is lovely thru the Nicollet State forest. Although, you will lose service and if your relying on GPS directions, you'll find yourself in a bind like us."
Site variation: Campsite quality and privacy vary significantly. Stacey N. writes about Twin Bridge County Park, "Our site is huge and wooded and three sides. Quiet. Clean toilets. Friendly staff… and a whole wheelbarrow of firewood for 10 bucks."
Seasonal operational hours: Services have limited availability. "Firewood can only be purchased on site from 3:30-4:00 daily," notes Stacey N.
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds offer swimming access for children. At Peshtigo River Campground, Tayah H. shares, "It's right by an elementary school so it's a very safe area, across the road from an AMAZING playground that all ages will love, also about 50ft from a beach! The beach isn't huge, and is open to the public so at times it gets crowded but is very safe and clean."
Wildlife observation opportunities: Children enjoy spotting local animals. "We come here with the kids every spring. They always catch frogs, fish, and turtles. They also enjoy swimming across, and hiking and biking around the lake," notes Melissa K. about Old Veterans Lake County Park.
Tubing excursions: River tubing provides family-friendly entertainment. Kelly L. says about Peshtigo River Campground, "Great experience for small or large groups. Have a blast every time I go. Kids love it."
Geocaching availability: Some parks offer geocaching opportunities. "Lots of geocaches in the park to keep us busy," mentions Jill G.
Site dimensions: Confirm site sizes before booking. PJ F. explains about Governor Thompson State Park, "For reference: We have a 19ft travel trailer and a ford truck. We stayed at site 19, it is pull in and it was perfect, with plenty of room for everything. We took a walk to be nosy and also liked site 20, it was even bigger! Site 14 looked great for a pull thru site."
Access road conditions: Some campgrounds require navigation through forest roads. Paul and Faith B. report, "This is a little campground a short drive down some narrow, twisty backroads from Governor Thompson State Park."
Power needs for medical equipment: Plan for electricity requirements. "We stayed at Site 10 and LOVED it. Very private and our dog was able to roam at will. We did have someone ratted on us for using our generator to supply our CPAPs because there was no electricity or water," shares Ann M.
Amenities for longer stays: Full-hookup sites are available at several campgrounds. "This campground is a mix between RV's and tenting so you get the best of both worlds!" notes Tayah H. about one of the best places to camp near Athelstane, Wisconsin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Athelstane, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Athelstane, WI offers a wide range of camping options, with 163 campgrounds and RV parks near Athelstane, WI and 39 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Athelstane, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Athelstane, WI is Governor Thompson State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 14 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Athelstane, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 39 free dispersed camping spots near Athelstane, WI.
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