Best Tent Camping near Florence, WI

The Florence, Wisconsin region offers several tent-specific camping opportunities in the surrounding forests and parks. East Bass Lake Park provides secluded tent camping with only two spots available on a first-come, first-served basis with a two-day maximum stay. Chequamegon National Forest's Perch Lake Campground features walk-in tent sites that require a short hike from the parking area, offering a more immersive forest experience. Stevens Lake Campground is another tent-only option with basic amenities in a natural setting.

Most tent sites in the Florence area feature minimal amenities, with pit toilets being the most common facility. Fire rings and picnic tables are available at some locations like Perch Lake Campground, but others may have no designated facilities. Potable water access varies significantly - East Bass Lake has no drinking water, while some campgrounds offer hand pumps that may produce mineral-heavy water. Campers should bring adequate water supplies, especially during peak summer months. Sites typically accommodate standard tent setups on natural surfaces with varying degrees of privacy, from open areas to wooded sections with natural screening between sites.

The tent camping experience around Florence offers genuine solitude and natural beauty, particularly at the walk-in sites. Tent campers at Perch Lake can access the water directly from their sites, providing opportunities for fishing and paddling. The secluded nature of these campgrounds makes them ideal for those seeking to disconnect, though they require more preparation than developed campgrounds. Wildlife sightings are common, with some areas requiring proper food storage due to bear activity. A camper at Perch Lake noted, "The sites still feel very secluded and private. There is no bear box and there definitely are bears, so you'll want to hang your food." The remote locations often provide excellent star-gazing opportunities, particularly at sites away from town lighting.

Best Tent Sites Near Florence, Wisconsin (32)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 32 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Tent Camping Reviews near Florence, WI

372 Reviews of 32 Florence Campgrounds


  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 4, 2024

    Bates Township Park

    Motorcycle camping

    Great find. Sunday night beginning of June. Only camper in the tent section. Quiet spot with good hosts. Close to the lake. Grass and gravel. Restroom share with the park/boat launch area. I would definitely stay here again. If there was a drawback would be sites have some slope toward lake. Being only one there I found flat spot to tent but if busy choice might be limited. No control over weather but woke up and had to pack up in the rain. Definitely check it out! Thanks to the Hosts!

  • Andrew D.
    Jun. 26, 2023

    Franklin Lake

    Great campsite

    Stayed one night on  a Sunday.  Mostly empty but you can see it is heavily booked for the Fourth of July weekend. They just added electric hook up to some sites in the South End.  Right now the price is the same for electric or non-electric sites.

    Sites are large and decent spacing between sites.  Heavy tree cover with mostly shade.

    The site was mostly gravel with nice fire ring and picnic table.

  • Samantha W.
    Aug. 16, 2020

    Sturgeon River Campground

    Great Rustic Campground

    This campground is located just off the Sturgeon River in the Ottawa National Forest and is first come first serve with no reservations. From speaking with a local who frequents the campground, it is usually quiet with few sites actually in use at a time; it seems this year (2020) there have been more people out camping, though, so getting there earlier is better to ensure finding a site. 

    It is rustic -- there is no water pump, but there are pit toilets in the center of the site. If you don't bring enough water the river next to most sites can provide drinking water with the proper filtration. The national park website says there are 9 sites, but only 7 are actually available. My best guess is the MIA sites existed in the central part at one time. 

    Two sites can fit a camper, but they also happen to be the sites with the best view of the river. The remaining sites are tent-only due to a set of rocks blocking off the sites so vehicles do not drive in. From what I could tell with observations, 4 or 5 sites are either right on the river or have a short trail to get to the river.

    The locations are sparse enough that the only thing really heard from other campers is the occasional shutting of a car door. The soft sound of the river drowns most noises out. Each site has a fire ring, most have a grate on the ring, a lantern hook, and a picnic table.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2022

    Sturgeon River Campground

    Remote and beautiful

    The Sturgeon River is wide and beautiful. Just imagine sitting next to the rippling water. The road there is down some dirt roads with some bumps but it’s drivable.

    The small rustic campground doesn’t have all the frills so this is for the rustic campers. The sites vary but there is shade to be found. We enjoyed the seclusion of this forest campground.

    On the way to camp you pass a trailhead. Head back for a hike. This is in the Sturgeon River wilderness so take care to leave no trace that you were here.

  • Carrie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2017

    Lac Vieux Desert

    Nice place near a historic lake

    Nice campground with all the basics of a National Forest Campground. The sites offer each site a fair amount of privacy. They are all suitable for trailers and tent camping as they provide a level tent pad in each site.

    I'm only giving 4 stars because the campground is about a mile from the lake. However, the distance from the water does help with the mosquitoes.

    Fire rings have grills, and there are wooden picnic tables.

    Lac Vieux Desert is a big and beautiful lake with excellent fishing! Although we didn't do great, others did. This is the headwaters of the Wisconsin River.

  • S
    Jul. 21, 2021

    Van Riper State Park Campground

    Van Riper State Park

    We stayed at Van Riper State Park three times during June and July. The park is always clean and well-maintained. The bathrooms and showers and generally always nicely maintained as well, and there are plenty of both. The bathrooms do tend to run out of soap and toilet paper at busy times. Dogs are not allowed on the beach but also cannot be left unattended in your site. The rules are heavily enforced in this park. Park staff will ask you to move vehicles if you have more than two, and you will be asked to turn music completely off upon quiet hours. This is not the place to go if you want to party.

    Sites 15 and 17, as well as several other sites along that side of that loop, now have a wooden fence at the back of them, so they are not as large as they appear in the photos online.

    We have stayed in sites 14, 90 and 93. We travel with a 34’ trailer.

    Site 14 is narrow but manageable. It is well-shaded by large pine trees on the site. Site is entirely dirt. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines in.

    Site 90 is on a corner by the propane tanks. It is a large site. It does have some roots and low spots. It is partial grass. It has nice shade and is adjacent to the bathrooms. There are trees to hang hammocks or clotheslines.

    Site 93 is a large site that backs up to a small grass/tree buffer. It is across the road from the bathrooms. It has nice shade. There is a place to hang a clothesline but not hammocks.

    Pros: Clean, well-maintained park

    Quiet

    Lots of playground equipment

    Bike/scooter pump track

    Excellent beach area

    Lots of green space

    Hiking trails

    Wood and ice available for purchase at the entrance

    Laundry is available; one washer and two dryers

    Very kid and pet friendly

    Cons: Park website has out of date information, specifically that there is no longer a store on the beach, nor are there kayaks/SUPs to rent

    The Water Warrior Island is no longer in the lake

    There are very few sites with buffers between

    It is sort of far to the beach and laundry from the modern campsites

    No non-reservable sites available

  • Kirsty G.
    May. 1, 2019

    Chequamegon National Forest Perch Lake Campground

    Short secluded hike in sites

    The hike to these sites is very short. We paid when we parked. It’s a great place to camp if you want to experience being in the woods for the first time. We stayed on the south loop which has 6 sites. The sites still feel very secluded and private. There is a fire ring and picnic table at each site. There is no bear box and there definitely are bears (during one camping trip some hunters treed and shot a bear in the early morning and we saw them carrying it while hiking out) so you’ll want to hang your food. There was access to the lake from our campsite.

  • Nancy May The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Franklin Lake

    Season's Best at Franklin Lake

    We have had an excellent camp-out this year here. Maybe because our site is only a yard away from the water, and with ample living space for multiple tents and a vehicle. A fire ring and a picnic table. A set of vault toilets nearby. We didn't expect to find flushing toilets in a campground anywhere, but, we have a choice here to drive up further and use the facility. The wood forest is nicely maintained. Falling off branches are taken care of off the roads right away. And, that's all we care about in enjoying the outdoors this year.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2021

    Sturgeon River Campground

    Can hear the Sturgeon River

    Quiet, peaceful national forest campground. Free. 9 wooded sites. Near the river; nice to hear at night. Good spacing between sites. Some are level. Mens/womens vault toilets. No water. No trash; need to pack it out. Basic T-Mobile service is very sporadic. Would stay here again.


Guide to Florence

Tent camping near Florence, Wisconsin provides a rustic outdoor experience in the heart of northern Wisconsin's forest country. The region receives approximately 60 inches of snowfall annually, creating a dramatically different camping environment between summer and shoulder seasons. Most primitive campsites in this area sit at elevations between 1,500-1,700 feet, contributing to cooler nighttime temperatures even during summer months.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer direct access to lakes and rivers. Stevens Lake Campground provides immediate lake access where campers can fish for various species. One visitor noted, "The morning greeted us with a misty fog and raining leaving. After breakfast the fog burned off and the mirror surface lake showed her magic" (Stevens Lake Campground).

Hiking nearby trails: The area surrounding Chequamegon National Forest Perch Lake Campground features multiple hiking options. A camper mentioned, "Loved the hike in, decided to walk the whole loop and unfortunately the bridge at the end was under water and we had to turn around and walk back instead. Lake was gorgeous and the hike in wasn't too bad."

ATV trail access: Several sites connect to the extensive northern Wisconsin ATV trail system. McClintock County Park provides direct trail access, as one camper reported: "Nice place if your in to ATV riding. Trails really close. Good view of the river. Bring ways to keep mosquitoes at bay though."

What campers like

Secluded camping experience: Most tent sites near Florence offer genuine privacy away from larger campgrounds. East Bass Lake Park provides extremely limited capacity with just two sites, creating an exclusive experience. A camper shared, "While there is only 2 spots for camping in this town park. It is a great place for those who want some solitude. Small sites for tent or pop-up."

Proximity to water features: Paint River Forks NF Campground sits directly on a river with clean, well-maintained sites. A recent visitor commented, "5 or so campsites. Clean out house right on river. Just a mile or so down the dirt road."

Natural surroundings: The unspoiled forest setting remains the primary attraction. Marinette County Goodman Park offers a deeper wilderness feel, with one camper stating, "Very nice peaceful feels like youre in the middle of nowhere."

What you should know

Water quality concerns: Hand pumps at some sites produce questionable water. At Genes Pond State Forest Campground, a camper warned, "The only downside to this campground is the horrid water. It comes from a cistern and has a hand pump. The water is awful. Cloudy and foul tasting, stale and full of minerals."

Limited facilities: Most tent sites feature basic amenities only. Vault toilets are standard, with very few offering showers or flush toilets. Picnic tables and fire rings vary by location.

Bear activity: Wildlife encounters require proper food storage. No dedicated bear boxes exist at most sites, requiring campers to hang food. Perch Lake Campground has confirmed bear sightings with one camper mentioning hunters "treed and shot a bear in the early morning."

First-come availability: Many campgrounds operate without reservations. East Bass Lake Park enforces a two-day maximum consecutive stay policy to ensure turnover.

Tips for camping with families

Best beginner-friendly options: For first-time wilderness camping experiences, consider walk-in sites that aren't too demanding. A reviewer noted about Perch Lake Campground: "The hike to these sites is very short. We paid when we parked. It's a great place to camp if you want to experience being in the woods for the first time."

Entertainment alternatives: Bring additional activities for children during inclement weather. A camper at Boulder Junction recalled, "The weather was a bit cold on Lake Superior and our picnic was ruined. However we had a great laugh making sandwiches in the car in a middle of a rain storm."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area offers chances to spot unique wildlife. One Boulder Junction camper mentioned, "We were lucky enough to see a white deer."

Tips from RVers

Site limitations: Most tent-focused campgrounds near Florence cannot accommodate larger RVs. Sites generally support smaller pop-ups or truck campers only.

Alternative motorcycle camping: Bates Township Park offers motorcycle-friendly tent camping with decent amenities. A motorcyclist noted, "Great find. Sunday night beginning of June. Only camper in the tent section. Quiet spot with good hosts. Close to the lake. Grass and gravel."

Site gradient concerns: Be prepared for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. The same motorcyclist at Bates Township Park observed, "If there was a drawback would be sites have some slope toward lake. Being only one there I found flat spot to tent but if busy choice might be limited."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Florence, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Florence, WI is East Bass Lake Park with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Florence, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 32 tent camping locations near Florence, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.