Tent camping near Belgium, Wisconsin offers a variety of natural settings within 30 miles of Lake Michigan's western shore. The area features glacial terrain with rolling hills, kettles, and moraines formed during the last ice age. Many campgrounds in this region sit at elevations between 800-1000 feet above sea level, creating cooler overnight temperatures than nearby urban areas, even during summer months.
What to do
Explore biking trails: Wild Goose City Park provides access to the 34-mile Wild Goose State Trail, perfect for day trips from your campsite. Wild Goose City Park features "a good place to stop and have a break. There's a playground and public bathroom, drinking fountain. Plenty of space to spread out for a picnic when you're biking through," according to Kim L.
Fishing opportunities: Little Turtle Lake offers fishing access for campers staying at one of their five primitive sites. Little Turtle Lake provides toilet facilities and firewood for purchase at their small on-site market, making it convenient for weekend anglers seeking smallmouth bass and panfish.
River recreation: Explore the Milwaukee River from Waubedonia County Park, where campsites are situated near the waterway. The park provides affordable sites with basic amenities for campers looking to paddle or fish. "The campsites are inexpensive and comfortable, though there aren't as many amenities that a larger campground would have," notes Kevin S.
What campers like
Spacious group sites: Greenbush Group Campground offers exceptionally large camping areas for group gatherings. "Large sites great for groups. Sites 2 and 9 are the largest. Those can each fit over 20 backpacking tents at the same time," reports Amber R., who also notes the "grassy sites surrounded by trees (plenty for hammocks too)."
Accessible nature getaways: Northern Unit Greenbush Group Camp provides camping opportunities within an hour's drive from Milwaukee. "We booked this for a coronavirus-safe camping trip, and it did not disappoint," writes Hilary S., noting the visual separation between sites and multiple pit toilet locations around the camping loop.
Budget-friendly options: Tent camping near Belgium offers affordable options compared to more developed campgrounds. Waubedonia County Park provides "inexpensive and comfortable" sites according to visitors, while maintaining basic amenities for weekend trips.
What you should know
Seasonal availability: The camping season varies between locations, with Northern Unit operating from April to November. Water access may be limited during certain periods, as Hilary S. experienced: "Water is usually available, but more limited during the pandemic (spigot turned off by our campsite, but available near the parking lot at the entrance - a longer walk)."
Noise considerations: At group campgrounds, proximity between sites can affect the camping experience. Sites at Northern Unit Greenbush are "visually separated, but not far enough away from each other to block louder noise - we could hear loud music from the site 4 late into the night," according to one camper.
Variable amenities: Purplehaze Acres offers both drive-in and walk-in tent sites across its 9 camping locations. Facilities include drinking water, pit toilets, and fire rings, but campers should note there's no trash service, requiring pack-in/pack-out practices.
Legend
