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Ellison Bay, Wisconsin features several established campgrounds nestled along the northern Door County peninsula. Wagon Trail Campground provides 145 wooded sites with tent, RV, cabin, and glamping options, consistently earning high ratings for its privacy and cleanliness. Newport State Park Campground offers more primitive camping experiences with hike-in and walk-in sites in a natural setting. Both tent and RV accommodations are available throughout the area, with most campgrounds situated within a short distance of Lake Michigan shorelines and scenic areas of Door County.
Most campgrounds in the Door County area operate seasonally, typically from mid-May through mid-October, though Newport State Park remains open year-round. Reservations are strongly recommended during peak summer months and holiday weekends when sites fill quickly. "This is probably the nicest, most well run campground we have ever stayed at. The staff is friendly and welcoming, they are pet friendly, and their sites are spacious and private - unlike so many other campgrounds we visit," noted one visitor about Wagon Trail Campground. Cell service can be intermittent throughout the peninsula, with visitors reporting poor Verizon coverage in particular. Winter camping is limited due to harsh conditions, though hardy campers can find year-round opportunities at select locations.
Camping experiences in the Ellison Bay area frequently center around access to Lake Michigan and the natural beauty of Door County. Many campgrounds provide trails leading directly to shorelines, with several visitors highlighting the stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. Developed campgrounds typically offer amenities including clean bathrooms, shower facilities, and hookups for RVs, while maintaining the natural wooded character that provides privacy between sites. Campers particularly value the quiet atmosphere of area campgrounds, with strictly enforced quiet hours at locations like Wagon Trail. The proximity to bakeries, restaurants, and activities in nearby towns like Sister Bay and Fish Creek adds convenience while maintaining the feeling of being immersed in nature.
"And hallelujah, a playground to get my kids out of my hair, positioned in front of their office/store so it feels safe, too."
"This campground does offer some season sites so you can walk around and see people with full decks and things, but there is a lot of sites for the every day people."
from $40 - $150 / night
Check Availability"Camp right next to the water even. We hiked just after a 3” rainfall, so unfortunately the trails were washed out. But we made do.
It’s a beautiful park, and looks to be well kept."
"This is the best place to camp in Wisconsin if you’re looking for a mix of outdoor adventure and touristy activities like drive in theaters and wine tastings."
from $18 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Peninsula State Park is the most popular state park in Wisconsin - and with good reason."
"It's a beautiful campground, with great hiking trails and fantastic views of the clear waters of Lake Michigan."
from $26 - $51 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful wooded area with ready access to the water. Fantastic shower facilities. You do feel a bit packed in with your fellow campers at the adjacent sites. Not a heck of a lot of privacy."
"A short walk through the woods to the beach, feeling secluded surrounded by the sounds of nature. Hiking paths and peace. Clean water and nice sites."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"Surrounded by small quaint towns, Peninsula State Park is nothing less than a Mecca for all sorts of camping enthusiasts. "
"If you're looking for bells and whistles, lots of amenities and lots of friendly neighbors in close proximity, this is the place to go!"
from $26 - $51 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful park with lots of options to camp lakeside. Many sites are very close together, so if privacy is important… choose wisely."
"Great playground for the kids the only problem is it is far away from really anything and the gas station near by charges and arm and a leg for food."
from $20 - $216 / night
Check Availability"Not so far from Washington Island ferry . 3 min driving distance to the lake where you can enjoy beautiful sunsets ."
"We visit this location yearly. It is our most anticipated trip each year. This campground has many wooded sites and a number of newer sites located in the open."
"Close to amenities like shopping & restaurants. Beautiful views. Campsites close to the boat launch are more secluded."
"It has easy access to the bike trails in Peninsula State Park. Most of the fellow campers were in tents, although there were a few pop-ups and RVs."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"minutes away from all the Door County State, and city parks."
"Located close to a lot of attractions. The site were big and level. Lots of trees. Plenty of firewood in stock, and 15 dollars per wheelbarrow full. Bathrooms were clean."
from $30 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Hands down our favorite Wisconsin State Park! Great day or weekend trip! You have to take a Ferry from Washington Island and carry/backpack on your gear (no cars or bikes allowed)."
"Rock island SP is a dark sky spot and combine that with lesser people around, it was a perfect location for stargazing!"
from $20 - $90 / 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 👌
RangerThe first thing we noticed driving in is that the wash house closes today 10/14 at 4 PM for the season, which isn’t an issue for us. Open sites, walkways to a rocky beach, but also trail to a sandy beach. Our site is not level.
GuideNice campground. Some with full hook up and some with just water and electricity. We were on site 404 with just water and electricity. There are a couple of business next to the campground, so can't really touch base with nature. But it is home base. One major bathroom and the rest is porta potties. Nice staff and accommodations are clean.
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….
TravelerClean, large sites, many shaded. Excellent management. Lots to do on the peninsula.
GuideCampground is situated in an industrial area…warehouses, truck storage, etc. It does have a 150 ft narrow sand beach on a bay in Lake Michigan. Campground is a flat somewhat charmless place with tight spots. All the “full hook-ups” appear to be farthest from the water. Seems like a good amount of seasonal folks here escaping from midwestern heat. Bathrooms and showers are centrally located and are VERY clean and nice. We’re here just one night so no complaints but I wouldn’t stay longer than that.
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.!!!!
ScoutVery affordable, quite, bathrooms super clean and people super nice.
ScoutVery nice campground lots to offer quiet relaxing with stuff to do to keep kiddos very busy everything is well up kept and clean
Camping sites near Ellison Bay, Wisconsin sit on the northernmost section of the Door County peninsula, characterized by dense cedar forests and rugged limestone shorelines. The region's unique microclimate, influenced by its position between Green Bay and Lake Michigan, creates warmer autumn temperatures while summer daytime averages hover in the mid-70s. Most non-state park campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October due to harsh winter conditions that can bring over 40 inches of annual snowfall.
Dark sky stargazing: Newport State Park, 3 miles south of Ellison Bay, offers exceptional night sky viewing as Wisconsin's only designated Dark-sky preserve. "I could still hear the footsteps pacing further from the tent now but definitely still on the campsite," shares one camper about a memorable night at Newport State Park Campground, highlighting both the tranquility and wilderness experience.
Lighthouse exploration: The Eagle Bluff lighthouse near Fish Creek is temporarily closed for renovations as of August 2025, but Rock Island's Potowatomi lighthouse remains accessible. A visitor to Rock Island State Park Campground notes, "The island has a great history that can be explored by hiking to the Potowatomi lighthouse and poking around the boathouse by the ferry dock."
Water activities: Access to Green Bay and Lake Michigan shorelines provides multiple swimming and paddling options. At J.W. Wells State Park, 30 miles northwest of Ellison Bay, visitors enjoy "a trail leading to the picnic shelter and sandy swimming beach" with "stunning views, great trails (some moderate to difficult), fishing and paddling at water access."
Private, wooded sites: Many campgrounds in the area maintain natural spacing between sites. A recent guest at Baileys Woods Campground explained, "For a private campground, the sites were large and wooded, overall the campground was clean and quiet. For a private campground, the sites were large and wooded, overall the campground was clean and quiet."
Clean facilities: Wagon Trail Campground consistently earns praise for immaculate bathrooms. One camper observed, "They are well-known for having the cleanest bathrooms/showers in the area and their bathrooms did not disappoint! They are air conditioned with individual, private stalls and hot water!"
Family-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds feature playground equipment and recreational activities. At Tennison Bay Campground in Peninsula State Park, visitors appreciate the range of options: "Kayaking, horseback riding, and amazing hikes are some of the immediate activities. If that's not really your pace, you can head out to one of the many towns that surround the area."
Reservation timing: Peak season bookings at Peninsula State Park campgrounds should be made 11 months in advance. One visitor noted, "It fills up really quickly and unless you book almost 11 months out, you will likely only get a walk up site."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely throughout the peninsula. At Welcker's Point Campground, campers report, "Don't plan on having any cell phone reception with AT&T. 90% of the time I was at my campsite my phone was in SOS mode. You need to drive out to the park entrance to get reliable reception."
Wildlife awareness: Poison ivy is common throughout Door County woodland areas. A camper at Peninsula State Park warns, "Watch out for poison oak and the raccoons though! Great place to camp, but the water is cold so might not be best for swimming - go kayaking!"
Pack layers for temperature swings: Door County experiences significant day-to-night temperature drops, especially on Rock Island where a camper warns, "The island gets very windy and cold at night. Be prepared and bring extra layers! On the plus side, bugs were very very minimal."
Consider walk-in campsites: For families seeking more privacy, Newport State Park offers walk-in sites close to parking. "This spot is a yearly favorite. It's probably retained its fresh quiet feel because all the campsites are walk-in... but you don't have to walk that far. Some are just half a mile in!"
Playground access: Hy-Land Court RV Park in Ellison Bay receives positive reviews despite limited child-specific amenities. A visitor notes it's "not so big, there is no playground for kids, bathrooms and showers are really clean that's a plus, there is also a laundry machine."
Water access considerations: Sites near water often provide the best experiences. At J.W. Wells State Park, "We stay at site 40 but all the spots along there are in the water. There is a tree line though and a small drop."
Facility quality varies: RVers at Wagon Trail Campground consistently praise the amenities: "Small camp store has all the basics. Playground for kids. Campsite was very clean. Tent sites have lots of mosquitoes, so be prepared. Cabins and yurts also available to rent."
Site surface types: Many private campgrounds feature gravel rather than grass surfaces. At Baileys Woods, "All roads and campsites are gravel, there is very little grass. If you are looking for grass to play on, they do have a large mowed area in along the road that is perfect."
Frequently Asked Questions
What amenities does Wagon Trail Campground in Ellison Bay offer?
Wagon Trail Campground in Ellison Bay offers a range of amenities in a wooded setting. The campground features both water and electric hookups for RVs, as well as tent camping options. Facilities include clean restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers. The campground provides fire rings and picnic tables at each site, with firewood available for purchase. Wagon Trail is family-friendly with spacious campsites nestled among the trees, offering privacy between sites. The campground's location provides easy access to Door County attractions while maintaining a peaceful natural environment.
What parks are available in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin?
Ellison Bay and the surrounding Door County area offer several excellent parks for outdoor recreation. Newport State Park is a prime destination in Ellison Bay itself, featuring hiking trails, camping, and Lake Michigan shoreline access. Nearby, Rock Island State Park offers a unique experience requiring two ferry rides to access its pristine beaches and historic lighthouse. The area also has Peninsula State Park with multiple campgrounds, extensive hiking trails, beaches, and a lighthouse. Potawatomi State Park is located at the southern entrance to Door County with additional recreational opportunities.
Where is the Ellison Bay campground located?
Ellison Bay is located in Door County, Wisconsin, at the northern end of the Door Peninsula. The area's premier camping option is Newport State Park Campground, situated along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Ellison Bay. This secluded park offers 16-17 rustic hike-in sites, some positioned right along the water. The park is well-maintained and provides a peaceful alternative to some of the busier campgrounds in Door County. It's conveniently located near local attractions while maintaining its natural charm.
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