Looking for the best options for tent camping near Cambridge? Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Cambridge, including sites, reviews, and tips. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Cambridge campsites are perfect for tent campers.
$15 - $25 / night
Snug Harbor is the place to be for Campgrounds in Wisconsin. At Snug Harbor you’ll find excellent fishing, boating and swimming on a private, clean, sandy beach.
Our campgrounds offer three different options for today’s camping enthusiasts: Tent Sites, RV Sites, and Manufactured Housing. We have all the modern conveniences while allowing you to relax and enjoy majestic views from every site. Amenities include full hookup, laundromat, ice, firewood, bait, candy, and some fishing supplies. Rent one of our rowboats or canoes for a relaxing day on the lake, or join in a pick-up game of volleyball or horseshoes. Additionally, our RV sites have 30 and 50 AMP electric service and full sewer hookups.
Campsite rentals include sewer hookup. Reservations are recommended. Boat slips are available for a fee. We offer affordable rates for RVs and tent campers. We also have reasonable rates for pier rental, visitors, and our four-legged friends.
$15 - $45 / night
Designated backpack campsites are available by reservation at the following properties. These campsites may be several hundred yards to a few miles away from the nearest parking area and campers need to carry all gear in and out. Campsites typically feature a fire ring, seating, and a primitive privy or wilderness latrine, which may be shared with other campsites. There are also a limited number of opportunities for very primitive, remote camping on DNR lands.
If you’re traveling with a larger group, family, or organization, Devil’s Lake State Park has you covered with their Group Campsites located on the South Shore. There are 8 sites available that can accommodate 20 to 60 campers, depending on the site.
The park’s group camp facilities feature modern showers and restrooms, and the location is conveniently located about a 15-minute walk via the Group Camp Trail to the South Shore day-use area and beach. Climbing groups will also appreciate the location, which is situated at the head of the CCC trail.
This 6.13 acre property is located in the Town of Watertown, within the City of Watertown’s extraterritorial boundaries. It lies between the City of Watertown and the Village of Johnson Creek in the north-central part of the County.
The landscape is primarily mowed turf grass with some low, riparian woods and wetlands. It is fairly level to gently rolling from the east to the lower areas in the west. This park provides non-motorized and motorized access to the Rock River, and provides 600 feet of river frontage for shore fishing.
This park offers an open air shelter for rent, and two walk-in primitive campsites.
$20 / night
Scheidegger Forest is nearly 80 acres and offers a mile of loop of hiking trails, a reservable shelter, and restroom. The area has been restored from a former Dane County Sheriff shooting range to a managed forest of primarily oak and hickory. The shelter, kiosk, and bathroom were all built from wood harvested on-site. Water is not available at this site
When this Group Camp is reserved, the Shelter is not available to be reserved by another party(and vice versa). Located~ 100 feet east of loop parking lot, just beyond the restroom No potable water at this time. Vault(pit) toilet. Campfire ring. No electricity. 20’ x 30’ shelter– picnic tables. Vehicle parking in parking lot
Reserve a campsite online here: https://web2.myvscloud.com/wbwsc/widanectywt.wsc/splash.html
Check opening and closing dates here: https://www.danecountyparks.com/about/Parks-Opening-Closing-Schedule
See campground rules here: https://www.danecountyparks.com/about/rules
$65 / night
Purplehaze Acres is a 60-acre organic rustic farm in Rubicon, WI and resides at the beginning of the approx. 650-mile Niagara Escarpment--known locally as "The Ledge". We are in close proximity to the Ice Age Trail, and the natural treasures of the great Horicon Marsh, Lake Sinnissipi/Rock River with canoeing/kayaking/fishing, Ledges County Park, and the world-renowned Holy Hill Shrine.
Nearby Hustisford ("Husti") offers unique shopping and dining experiences, such as the Mercantile and Mocha Vino. Need a few organic groceries? Make sure to visit Back To The Best Organic grocer only 3 miles away, featuring food raised on local organic farms including Purplehaze Acres.
Potable water, charcoal grills, firepit grates, eggs and available for purchase--firewood. COMING SOON: Did you forget something? If so, check out our Camp Cupboard Store. FYI: In addition to our private individual sites, our PEACE CAMP site is a group site perfect for the rustic camp wedding, small festivals, EAA, Harley celebrations and other fun casual events. Check out the Peace Camp listing for details.
Your approach via 1/2-mile dirt drive up the hills and through the woods . . . to not your grandmother's typical house you go. You'll find wonderful vistas, wildflowers, berries, trails up into the woods, a 900' grass runway for aviators on an overall great "peace" of earth. ☮
$40 - $160 / night
Legend
I did not stay here, but I spend some time walking through to get a feel for the place.
This is primarily an RV/mobile home campground, but there are some nicely tucked away tent camp sites that I'll recommend later in this review. Gravel roads connect the three loops and the landscaping is well kept and maintained. The campground sells ice, firewood and rents boats.
There is a very clean bathroom and bathhouse, freshwater for campers, and some electric tent campsites. The property is basically terraced along a slope down to the lake, with the RV and mobile home sites closer to the lake. The tent sites are above it all with decent views of the lake below (and the RVs).
The Galapagos tent campsite is elevated and a short distance from the loop road, and has a nice view of the lake. The Box Turtle site is also a bit elevated above the main driveway as is Snapper 7, though I am not sure where you are supposed to put your tent in that site.
Now, Snapper 4, 5,6 and 7 would be nice for group camping because they are all very close to one another and a bit more private, set away from the rest of the campsites. There are lots of electrical sites for campers and RVs, most of which look like they are quite permanently in place.
Legend
I did not stay at this campground, but drove through it to see the place. I was looking for tent campsites and if there are any, they were under the tires of an RV. There are lots of things to do here, but tent camping is not one of them. I have nothing bad or good to say about the place, just letting tent campers know that this might not be the place for them.
Legend
This is a relatively small, private campground mostly for RVs though there are some very nice sites that would be lovely for tents. There are a dozen tent sites that back up to a very charming river, each one has a picnic table and fire pit. The view of the river from these sites is lovely. Adding to the waterworks, there is a cute pond with a charming fountain in the center of the RV sites, and a nice horseshoes pit. There are a number of RV sites with full hookups.
I spoke with the owner and they did not have tent camping in 2020. They were worried about people in too close proximity in the restroom. In 2020 they only allowed RVs that had their own restroom facilities. The owner told me that maybe there will be tent camping in 2021.
Guide
We visited this spot last summer as a place to stay for 1 night on our way farther north.
We really enjoy tent camping and prefer walk-in/hike in sites so we can have some privacy away from other campers. The campsites were decently dispersed and the ground was nice and grassy so it was pretty comfortable.
We always want more space between campsites, but I think the privacy level was fine. The tent sites are right off the parking lot where the boat ramp is so maybe on a busy weekend it would be a little loud, but overall a nice night for us!
We left in the morning to continue our drive so we didn’t spend much time checking out the hiking trails.
We did however go checkout the beach which wasn’t much to write home about. If I remember correctly, we had to pay a fee to enter. Always happy to support a state park. We just figured since we were already paying to camp there, it wouldn’t cost extra. I’m pretty sure we paid an admission fee and didn’t stay for long. It was across the way and requires a drive instead of a hike to get there.
Scout
Was in site 20. Nice spot for tent camping and enough room from each neighbor.
Traveler
Making reservations at the group site was easy and ensured no other campers were near us. Beach access and a great tree canopy allowed for comfortable tent camping.
TravelerThis is a great state park not too far from Chicago. Has a lot of rv sites and dedicated tent site close to the lake.
Ranger
This KOA, bought by new owners, was a great overnight! Clean bathrooms/showers, nice pool, long-level gravel sites, full hook ups, nice town, nice camp store, super nice owner! Would absolutely stay again! Even have a few tent camping sites
GuideTent sites are in hickory hills area. Easy walk to showers/toilets over across from site 100. Tent sites are much more shaded and private than electric sites. We were traveling with another family so had two sites. If you have two parties I'd recommend sites 27 and 31 which have a little private path and potentially 53 and 5 which also appeared to have a path between them. Our sites 47 and 53 were big and shaded but not very flat for sleeping. Boat launch very close if you bring your own kayaks or canoes. There are also some for rent at the other end of the park. Park and ice at concessions.
TravelerWe tent camped in the staghorn section, less packed that the other options. Nice place, bathroom and showers were decent. Lot of trails, rentals of kayak, great for dogs and kids. Meijer is also close by in case you forget anything.
ScoutNice quiet place to get away. Large lake for boating and fishing. Sights are good sized for campers and pop-ups. Tent sites are a little sloped. Easy trails around the lake.
Traveler
Camped here in a camper van. Very quiet (mid week in September). Very well maintained trails. Most sites are spacious, shady. I did not check out the tent sites, but the one I did see was really nice. A bit of highway noise, certainly nothing bad.
Traveler
Been going here every year with friends for over a decade. Nice size tent sites, great beaches with some nice amenities, like SUP and boat rentals, snack bar, fishing, etc. Awesome camp store and the hiking is fantastic. Gets busy because of its location to UW, and because it's awesome. ;)
Ranger
Open pad sites for tent camping under tree canopy, great hiking over looking swimming and boating lake. Requires WI St Park pass to get in plus camping fees. Has both vault and flush toilets w showers. Close to town for other activities, near Wi Dells Water park 21 ,miles not a bad drive.
Part of the ice age trail system maintained hiking trails are great.
Legend
I did not stay at this park, but did drive and walk through it to get a feel for it. There are a number of sites I'd love to tent camp in.
This park is bounded by a lake with a nice beach. There are nicely-groomed volleyball courts, picnic shelters and abundant picnic tables. There are pit toilets throughout the campground and one flush toilet station in the public picnicking area.
The campsites are up the hill from the public areas I just described. Sites 1 through 8 are in an oak savannah, semi-shaded but mostly in a grassland area. Sites are grassy with no gravel pads for parking.
The group camping area is slightly shaded, but would be warm and sunny midday. Group site 19 is probably one of the shadiest areas.
Now, sites 22 and 23, 24, 25 and 26 are very cool. The campsites are in the midst of a pine forest. It would be sweet to tent camp there and listen to the wind in those trees. Note, there is no camping IN among the pine forest, and these sites are going to be quite sunny and warm midday without much shade.
Traveler
The trails and the views at this park are phenomenal. Find pictures of the campsites if possible, because some of the sites get a LOT of sun, and as we tent camp, it can be unbearable for our children. (We’ve camped with them yearly here since our littlest was 2, and that was the year we got a not so shaded site. Lesson learned.)
GuideWe tent camped in the quartzite campground. Overall a pretty much wide open campground with virtually zero privacy so if you’re looking for that, look elsewhere. With that said, we enjoyed our stay as the sites along the perimeter are a little more private being along the tree line and decent space between each site. The park itself is beautiful and look forward to coming back
GuideI can not tell you how many times I’ve been here. My son lives within seconds of here so it is very convenient. They gave on site bathrooms and showers. Electric, water and sewer hookups. They also have tent sites. This season there will be née owners so I hope they keep some of the annual activities.
Guide
This a dodge county campground we have been to 3 out of the 4. So fare Astico is are more favorable. There are 3 areas. River witch are electric. Point tent camping only upper, Danville are electric. There are pit toilets also a main shower bathrooms. Camp hostess are great. They help with camp wood with they ask if you want bundles or lose choose loose. They also have canoes and kayaks to rent. We will be going back.
GuideBig state park up in the north end of the state. Campground is fun but if you're looking for privacy you won't find it here. This place is packed with campsites on top of each other. It's like a mini city of tent camping. The RV sites were on top of each other too. Facilities were gross. Lot of litter. The hiking trails were nice. Not labeled too well but they were decent. Has a camp store.
Guide
A little hard to find at first. GPS will take you to a service road as the entrance, actual entrance is on the other side of the lake just before The Boat House Bar.
Came in really late without a reservation but they have a self check in. Small cards next to check in booth. I recommend snagging an RV site. The price is the same and it’s way better. Tent camping area was really muddy. I only brought a hammock but could easily fit six tents on my site alone. Roads and facilities are in great shape. Constant hot water.
GuideWill likely not be back to camp here again. Very crowded with loud and obnoxious campers, dogs off leash, music and lights on late at night, etc. No privacy between sites down in Hickory Hills and no personal space. Did i mention basically every tent site down here is on an incline?? Just not my kind of scene.
Did have decent TMobile service and the showers and pit toilets were clean and useable. Albeit rundown.
GuideTo start: I’m an RV camper who stayed in one of the electric sites this go-around, but I’ve tent camped here in the past as well.
I’ll start with what I loved; the sites here are VERY private. You only get glimpses of your neighbors through the thick foliage. Doesn’t get much more private than this in a campground with hookups!
The bathrooms are pretty dirty (dead bugs everywhere).
Be careful about your site selection; do NOT camp along the road if you plan to be outside or you’re tent camping. I know from prior experience that it’s EXTREMELY loud at almost all times of day.
There’s a good playground and beach, but they’re a bit far from the campsites. On an extremely hot day you might want to drive rather than walk, especially with little ones.
If you’re camping with your dog you won’t find great trail access from the campground; the closest trail doesn’t permit dogs. I’d also avoid the dog beach like the plague. I didn’t see much in the way of posted rules, and people apparently had no problem bringing their untrained, unsocialized dogs. My dog was attacked by two dogs who wanted to get at her toy and the owners did nothing to stop it. My husband received a lovely bite from one of the dogs when he tried to fight them off.
This campground could be stellar with just a few tweaks. Overall I’d say it’s a decent enough place to stay when visiting Kettle and I’ll likely be back.
Legend
This is a campground with semi-permanent and permanent trailers and RVs. Sites have electricity and water hookups. There is a nice little pond in the park and it's very well maintained and groomed. They have little go-karts and bikes to rent, they have propane gas to rent and sell ice. They also have Wi-Fi!
I spoke with the owner, there are tent sites, but unless you were with an RV group, a tent camper might feel a bit out of place. Still, it's out of the way from traffic and other noises, has a very park-like feel to it and the owner was very nice when I spoke with him.
GuideMay family tent camped here for the first time this year, 2020. The site (514) was spacious enough for a 10 person, and a 6 person tent. There were enough trees to mostly block out your neighbors, and it’s up on a slight hill so if it does rain the water would drain away from your tent(s).
The state park itself has several trails with varying degrees of difficulty. My son and I opted to take the 4 mile loop around the lake that included the 900 foot assent, and crown back down the face of the ‘mountain’?? The landscape surrounding Devils Lake is gorgeous, and the lake is large, and offers plenty of things to do.
Unfortunately during these COVID-19 times the boat rental was not open, but there was plenty of beach to hang out on.
We will definitely be heading back next year.
Ranger
If you’re looking for a casual family friendly campground with lots of amenities and activities for kids, this place is for you. Unfortunately, as a tent camper, secluded primitive sites won’t be found here. You’ll be hearing the rustling of other campers, screams from playing children, and loud music playing up to 10pm.
I imagine it would be fun as a family camping trip, but as a couple looking to getaway from the busy life, solitude was not found here.
As far as the primitive sites go, the sites are too close together and hardly anything covering between so you can see/hear everything your tent camping neighbors are doing.
The ground was unkept on our site, making tent placement difficult and unable to lay the tent flat.
This reservation was a last minute decision since devils lake campground was completely booked. It did the job. A bit pricey for the experience though.
Legend
Took a tour of Sky Haven on a whim. Talk about full service camping! They have everything here- tent sites, RV sites, cabins, nightly, weekly, and long term rates. Frisbee golf, mini golf, a "mining" site, go carts, game room, showers, laundry. It was pretty overwhelming as I don't camp this way. But for a family gathering or reunion, or a big trip, this could be just right for you. Rates were reasonable for all the services you get. I liked the views since the place is up on top of a "mountain". The staff was really friendly and welcoming and answered every silly question of mine with a smile. Not my camping jam, but definitely nice.
Tent camping near Cambridge, Wisconsin offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of amenities and activities. With several well-reviewed campgrounds in the area, you'll find the perfect spot to set up your tent and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cambridge, WI is New Glarus State Park Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 16 reviews.
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