Tent Camping near Ellsworth, WI

Tent camping near Ellsworth, Wisconsin offers sites across a mix of prairie, wooded, and riverside terrain. Located in the St. Croix River Valley, most campgrounds sit between 700-800 feet elevation, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Winter camping options remain available at select parks where heated cabins provide shelter during Wisconsin's sub-freezing temperatures.

What to do

Hike to Hidden Falls: At Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Campground, trails lead to a scenic waterfall. "We went there last July just go hiking for the day. The trails were great and at the end of the trails there were beautiful falls. The falls weren't huge but there were pretty. A lot of things to photograph," writes Halie B.

Beach swimming: Hok-Si-La City Park & Campground offers water access for cooling off. "The campground is very green and luscious, full of beautiful trees, plants and wildlife, we heard bullfrogs, owls, woodpeckers and more. This campground is a tent only campground with a couple cabins as well, which adds to its secluded feel," notes Beth W.

Railroad trail exploration: Winter camping provides unique experiences near Ellsworth. One camper at William O'Brien State Park Campground reports, "We decided to take a night trek through the park. The moon was very bright that night so visibility was excellent. We walked some trail through a frozen marsh landscape and happened upon a railroad that passed above our trail with a beautiful tunnel-overpass."

What campers like

Spacious group sites: The group camping areas receive consistent praise for their size. "The group sites are spacious and the cleanest outhouses I have ever seen," writes Bryan W. about Hok-Si-La City Park. Another camper added, "We've stayed here with a group of about 20 people with plenty of room."

Wildlife encounters: Camping near Ellsworth brings opportunities to observe local animals. "We were able to watch eagles from our campsite, which was amazing," notes Anne T. The parks host diverse wildlife, with one camper at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park mentioning, "This campground is lovely. You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite."

Lakeside views: Waterfront sites rank among the most popular. "Stay in the N sites, they are a little more private, and a few offer great views of Lake Pepin. N1 is a prime site," recommends Emily H. Several campers note sunset views as a highlight for tent campers selecting waterfront sites.

What you should know

Tent pad conditions: When tent camping near Ellsworth, expect varying tent pad quality. "The tent pad was very spacious and flat, great for sleeping!" reports Hannah Y. about her stay at Nerstrand Big Woods.

Weekend crowds: Weekday camping offers more solitude. "My first time solo camping was at William O'Brien State Park on a Sunday evening. Weekends have been packed and reservations scarce for months at state parks in Minnesota. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon was a dream—very few people in the campground loop," writes Dani K.

Water considerations: Access to water varies significantly between campgrounds. At Afton State Park in 2019, one camper warned, "None of the water faucets or water pumps on the trails at Afton State Park are working. The good news is you can fill up on cold drinking water at the visitor center before trekking around the park's beautiful hiking trails!"

Mosquito preparation: Bug protection is essential for tent camping near Ellsworth. A camper at Lily Springs Regenerative Farm recommends "all sorts of bug survival gear to make your life less slappy if you are camping at this site in the summer."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection for kids: Choose sites with natural features kids enjoy. "This is a great place to take kids, good 1st camping experience for bonfires and single night camping," notes Megan L. about Camp Sacajawea Retreat Center.

Beach access planning: Family swimming requires advance planning. At Hok-Si-La, "there is great lake access for swimming and shower houses (bring your quarters though, showers cost 50 cents for 3 minutes). The only down side is that you cannot leave any cars near your campsite...from the group sites it is a trek to the lot and to the beach."

Wildlife education opportunities: Turn animal encounters into learning experiences. "This campground is lovely. You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite," shares one camper, creating natural science opportunities for children.

Cabin alternatives: For families new to camping, cabins provide a gentle introduction. "Camper Cabin (Eastern Bluebird) - Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park! Screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds!" reports Alison O.

Tips from RVers

Site spacing awareness: RV campers note proximity concerns. "The sites have quite a few trees separating them, but most of the sites on the C loop back up almost into the sites on the right side of the B loop. (so we basically had the back our neighbor's trailer hanging almost into our site," reports Deb M. at William O'Brien State Park Campground.

Branch clearance issues: Maneuvering RVs requires attention to overhead obstacles. "There's some sites that are tricky to back a trailer into, which would have been helped by some maintenance - there were LOTS of branches that needed to be trimmed back," continues Deb M.

Dump station quality: RV waste disposal facilities receive mixed reviews. About Nerstrand Big Woods, a camper notes, "Sites are good and some can handle bigger RV's. Some Electric sites. Nice dump station."