Christine H.
Traveler
TravelerTurtle Lake City Park
Not free
Electric hookup, dump station on site. Sites are a little close together. $25/night with a 7 day max stay.
Best Campgrounds near Baldwin, WI
Campgrounds near Baldwin, Wisconsin provide a range of accommodations across wooded areas and lakeside settings. Highland Ridge Campground, located in Spring Valley, features spacious sites under dense tree cover and operates from April through November with electric hookups available. Glen Hills Park Campground in nearby Glenwood City offers both wooded and open sites with a mix of tent and RV camping from May through October. Most developed campgrounds in the area maintain shower facilities and basic amenities, though several locations preserve a more rustic experience with pit toilets and minimal services.
Access to campsites in the Baldwin area varies by season and location. Many campgrounds close during winter months, with the peak camping season running from late spring through early fall. Cell service can be inconsistent throughout the region, particularly in heavily wooded areas. A visitor noted, "Highland Ridge is a beautiful, densely wooded campground with fairly well spaced sites. Some sites on the short loop (28-38) are a bit smaller and slope down from the road, so be careful of the site's size when booking." Water availability differs between locations, with some offering hookups while others provide only central water stations. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays when sites fill quickly.
Mixed-use campgrounds dominate the Baldwin area landscape, accommodating both tent and RV campers with varying levels of amenities. Several campers highlight the privacy afforded by wooded sites, particularly at Highland Ridge where the spacing between campsites receives frequent positive mention. As one camper described, "Out of about 20 campgrounds we've stayed at this year so far, this was one of our favorites. There is a lot of space between sites, there are a lot of trees, it's very quiet at night, and there are trails from the campground." Terrain varies significantly between campgrounds, with some featuring level sites and others positioned on hills or slopes that may challenge larger RVs. Wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly bird watching, are commonly mentioned in camper reviews, with multiple reports noting owl sightings and abundant forest creatures.
Best Camping Sites Near Baldwin, Wisconsin (131)
1. Willow River State Park Campground
62 ReviewsHudson, WI16 milesWebsite+1 (715) 386-5931"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!"
2. Highland Ridge
15 ReviewsSpring Valley, WI8 milesWebsite+1 (715) 778-5562$24 - $280 / night
"T-mobile service is almost non-existent depending on location. The showers and bathrooms were spotless. Firewood is available at several roadside stands just outside the entrance."
"Came here without a reservation while driving cross country. It is only a few miles from the highway but is a beautiful and quiet, natural environment with lots of trees."
3. Afton State Park Campground
37 ReviewsAfton, MN21 milesWebsite+1 (651) 436-5391$22 - $85 / night
"It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees."
"Afton state park is a 1700 acre park just outside Woodbury that has excellent river views from the campground."
4. Highland Ridge - Eau Galle Reservoir
5 ReviewsSpring Valley, WI8 milesWebsite+1 (715) 778-5562"Great for hiking and kayaking/canoeing is near by."
"Stayed middle of the week found local firewood from farms nearby. Also a creamery is a short drive from camp."
5. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve
37 ReviewsLake Elmo, MN26 milesWebsite+1 (651) 430-8370$23 - $80 / night
"Well placed sites nestled near lovely walking trails - Very nice water hook ups and electric- well maintained! Loved this Camping Site!"
"For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities. Before we even get to the campsite let's mention the filtered swimming pond."
6. William O'Brien State Park Campground
39 ReviewsMarine on St. Croix, MN27 milesWebsite+1 (651) 539-4980$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."
7. St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park
20 ReviewsDenmark, MN23 milesWebsite+1 (651) 430-8240"Washington County, which manages campgrounds at both the Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St Croix Bluffs Regional Park, does a great job of maintaining campgrounds, trails, and bathroom facilities at both parks"
"A great location along the St. Croix River, easily accessible from the Twin Cities or from West-Central Wisconsin. "
8. Glen Hills Park Campground
3 ReviewsGlenwood City, WI10 milesWebsite+1 (715) 265-4613"The adjacent golf course is fun!"
"very nice lake to fish and paddle board."
9. Hoffman City Park
4 ReviewsRiver Falls, WI13 milesWebsite+1 (715) 425-0924$10 - $20 / night
"There is a dumping station at the exit. There are no fire pits, bring your own. Great wooded hiking trails."
"Right next to the freeway, so you will hear that at night. There are a lot of restaurant options near by if you don’t want to cook."
10. Frontenac State Park Campground
33 ReviewsFrontenac, MN29 milesWebsite+1 (651) 345-3401$24 - $75 / night
"Quiet, pretty hiking trails, nice people, close to home but tucked away enough to be away from everything"
"The ranger station was small and charming, stocked with board games to rent, and it’s clear the staff cares about creating a positive camping experience."
Recent Camping Photos near Baldwin, WI
217 Photos of 131 Baldwin Campgrounds
Benjamin
Highland Ridge - Eau Galle Reservoir
Tina
Highland Ridge
Mike R.
Glen Hills Park Campground
leif D.
Willow River State Park Campground
Bryce R.
Apple River Family Campground
Erik R.
Afton State Park Campground
Daryl L.
St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park
Krista T.
Lily Springs Regenerative Farm
chuck
Bay City Campground
Amy K.
Lake Elmo County Park Reserve
Matt C.
William O'Brien State Park Campground
Clarke N.
Village Park
Recent Reviews near Baldwin, WI
637 Reviews of 131 Baldwin Campgrounds
Jay W.
LegendInterstate Park — Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Great park, plenty around the area...BUT THE NOISE!!!
Interstate Park in Wisconsin is just south of HWY 8 on HWY 35. The entrance is located on the west side of HWY 35 in the town of St. Croix Falls. St Croix Falls is a small town with a nice downtown on the river with plenty of restaurants (Dalles House Restaurant and Lounge is a favorite) and places for necessities. There are coffee shops, hotels and even a Wal-Mart nearby. There is also a casino in the town of Turtle Lake about 30 mins away.
The park is home to the western terminus of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail that covers 1200 miles through Wisconsin. The park also offers a Ice Age Interpretive Center which boasts interactive activities and displays of the last Ice Age. The park is also home to several other trails worth discovering.
There are two campgrounds in the park, a North and South campground as well as two group campsites. The South is a bit more rustic. The showers are located at the North campground.
For amenities there are flush toilets and showers. There is a sandy swimming area available as well as boat launch and other water activities.
This park is beautiful especially being on the cliffs of the St. Croix River offering spectacular views through out the park and the area. You can even take the bridge over to Taylor Falls Park Minnesota for more spectacular views as well as other shopping options. If you take this trip, Taylor Falls Park will be on the South and your shopping options will be to your North.
Even being in such a wonderful location with plenty of activities and amenities, I find the camping hard to enjoy at this park for all the noise that generates from the hwy crossing over the river. The sound especially of the semi trucks and their brakes that go all night long. This is the big reason for the average rating for this campground.
Blake K.
ScoutFrontenac State Park Campground
Beautiful Views
You have clear views of the River and Valley from the campgrounds.
- Erik R.
RangerAfton State Park Campground
A true year-round backpack camping experience
So, 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.
Crystal B.LegendPool 4, Riecks Lake Park
Small area along the river near the road
Just for clarification, the map coordinates are about 2 miles off here. The address brings you to the lock and dam and while there appears to be a 10 hour parking sign, it is just the parking lot. About 2.1 miles north on the road is the small campground and park. This is seasonal camping closed over winter. The campground and the road is on a narrow piece of land between the Mississippi and a ponds/backwaters that has an impressive amount of waterfowl present.
- Crystal B.Legend
Whippoorwill Ranch Kampground
Nice traditional rural campground
This is in a rural area and has many seasonal sites. Transitional sites too. There is a restaurant/bar on site. The river is behind the property.
- Crystal B.Legend
Bailey Park in Wabasha MN
Small campground in the City of Wabasha MN
Small basic campground in Wabasha MN. Mostly permanent sites. There is a dog park directly next to the campground.
- Crystal B.Legend
Pioneer Campsite Resort
Large resort style campground near the Mississippi River
This campground is well known in the area as it has many permanent sites where many of the sites have had generations of families stay. There are many permanent type dwellings like trailer homes and campers that have been set up permanently. There are some transitional sites available as well. They have a clubhouse/store. Pool. A dock on the Mississippi and supper club type restaurant is down the road a bit.
- Crystal B.Legend
Beach Park at Hungry Point
City of Wabasha campground (seasonal)
This is the city of Wabasha MN campground. It is only for seasonal camping meaning they DO NOT offer daily/weekly sites. Lots are situated at the end of a Main Street and there is a public bathroom with a shower nearby. There is also a beach (Mississippi River) a marina/docks/slips, and a public park nearby.
Guide to Baldwin
Camping near Baldwin, Wisconsin offers a mix of wooded seclusion and family-friendly amenities within the St. Croix River Valley area. Most campgrounds in this region sit at elevations between 800-1,100 feet, with the terrain characterized by rolling hills and river valleys. Spring and fall camping seasons typically experience temperature swings of 30°F between day and night, requiring campers to pack additional layers even during summer months.
What to do
Hiking trails access: At Willow River State Park Campground, most trail heads start directly from the campground area. "Walked about a mile to the falls area. This was really beautiful and was only a couple hundred yards from my site," notes camper Leif D. The park features both paved and unpaved trails with varying difficulty levels.
Paddling opportunities: Nearby lakes offer calm water recreation options. "We enjoyed a peaceful paddle" at Highland Ridge, according to Lee D., who adds that while there are no equipment rentals available, the small lake is perfect for beginners. Most area lakes prohibit motorized watercraft or limit them to electric motors only.
Fishing access: Several campgrounds provide direct access to fishing opportunities. At Interstate State Park, some sites feature river access where "you can even fish from some of the sites," reports Brian C. The St. Croix River contains smallmouth bass, walleye, and northern pike, while smaller lakes hold panfish and stocked trout.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the natural buffers between campsites at William O'Brien State Park Campground. One camper staying at the Savanna campground noted, "Compared to Wild River State Park, the sites at Savannah are pretty cramped with inconsistent vegetation between sites. I wouldn't want to stay here when the loop is fully reserved." Site selection timing matters significantly during peak season.
Night sounds: Natural ambiance receives frequent mention in reviews. At William O'Brien's Savanna Campground, "You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite," reports Laura E. Several campgrounds maintain quiet hours starting at 10 PM, with enforcement varying by location and season.
Budget-friendly options: Costs vary significantly between parks. At Highland Ridge, "Cost is $20/$16 for electric/non-electric. This is an Army Corps of Engineers park which means you pay $10/$8 if you have an NPS Lifetime Senior Pass," explains Mary S. Most campgrounds also charge separate vehicle entrance fees between $7-12 per day.
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Availability varies dramatically throughout the year. "This site was easily accessed off the highway and incredibly convenient to reserve online! $20 for a non-electric site got you a quiet, private site, perfect for a good night's sleep on the road," notes Molly K. about Highland Ridge - Eau Galle Reservoir, which makes it practical for last-minute travel during shoulder seasons.
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife regularly visits campsites. "Raccoons will visit your site at night. We had everything secured but they still tried and plenty of racket until we chased them away," reports one camper at Interstate State Park. Food storage requirements vary by park, but most recommend securing all scented items in vehicles overnight.
Shade considerations: Tree cover affects comfort and solar charging capabilities. "It's completely in the woods, and sites are FULLY shaded. Sites 28-38 are on a loop with a picnic pavilion in the middle with some openings for sun on the road and in the picnic area," explains a Highland Ridge camper. This limits solar panel effectiveness but provides cooling shade during summer months.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park features "Nice playground for the kids. Fantastic bathrooms zoned showers," according to Lisa D. Several parks have added nature-based play areas with logs and boulders rather than traditional equipment.
Swimming options: Water access varies by location. At Glen Hills Park Campground, "There is a beach, but you need to drive out of the park to access. There is a 'natural playground' by the beach, which is very creative and the kids easily pass a couple hours there," according to John W. Most beaches lack lifeguards, so parental supervision is essential.
Educational programs: Several parks offer ranger-led activities. "There is an interpretive center for Saturday evening ranger programs and a playground next to it," notes one Highland Ridge visitor. Program availability typically increases during summer weekends and holidays, with some parks requiring pre-registration.
Tips from RVers
Site selection challenges: Campsite size and access can be problematic. At Lake Elmo County Park Reserve, "Sites are spacious and spread out, electric hookups at all sites," according to John H. However, at Glen Hills Park Campground, "Sites are small and can be difficult to get into with large rigs," warns Kristin F.
Highway noise factors: Several campgrounds experience traffic noise. At Hoffman City Park, "This campground is literally adjacent to the highway. You will hear it all night," cautions Jason W. Selecting interior sites rather than those on campground perimeters can sometimes reduce noise impact.
Dump station access: Facilities vary between parks. At Highland Ridge, "There is a little dump station near the entrance where we got potable water and will dump on the way out," mentions one reviewer. Most campgrounds with dump stations position them near the exit road, allowing convenient access when departing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Baldwin, WI?
What camping is available near Baldwin, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Baldwin, WI offers a wide range of camping options, with 131 campgrounds and RV parks near Baldwin, WI and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Baldwin, WI?
Which is the most popular campground near Baldwin, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Baldwin, WI is Willow River State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 62 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Baldwin, WI?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Baldwin, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Baldwin, WI.
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