The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near Fountain City, WI

469 Reviews

Several tent campgrounds surround Fountain City, Wisconsin, offering varied primitive camping experiences along the Mississippi River bluffs and surrounding woodlands. Island Campground at Merrick State Park provides walk-in tent sites within Fountain City's borders, while nearby options include Gooseberry Glen Cart-in Campground at Whitewater State Park in Minnesota, just across the river. These areas feature wooded settings with access to hiking trails, water recreation, and views of the Mississippi River Valley, making them popular destinations for tent campers seeking natural surroundings.

Walk-in tent access predominates at campgrounds near Fountain City, with most sites requiring campers to park and carry gear short distances to their sites. Gooseberry Glen offers push carts to transport gear from the parking area to campsites. A camper noted that "it is a very short walk to the campsite" and sites provide "very private and quiet" camping experiences. Tent pads are typically level with a mix of dirt and grass surfaces. Most tent-specific sites include fire rings and picnic tables, though amenities vary by location. Toilet facilities range from vault toilets at primitive locations to flush toilets at more developed campgrounds.

The tent camping experience near Fountain City benefits from the region's natural beauty and relative seclusion. Sites along creeks and waterways provide soothing background sounds and opportunities for fishing or swimming. One review mentioned that "singing toads at night" created a peaceful camping atmosphere. Many tent sites offer shade from mature trees, which provides relief during summer months. The forested settings create natural buffers between campsites, enhancing privacy. Fall camping is particularly popular for viewing autumn colors, with a reviewer noting that "fall colors were beautiful but not yet at full peak" during an October visit. Access to hiking trails within Whitewater State Park and along the Mississippi bluffs allows tent campers to explore the region's distinctive terrain and wildlife viewing opportunities without needing to relocate camp.

Map showing campgrounds near Fountain City, WisconsinExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Fountain City, Wisconsin (18)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 18 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Fountain City Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Fountain City, WI

37 Photos of 18 Fountain City Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Fountain City, WI

469 Reviews of 18 Fountain City Campgrounds

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 31, 2024

    Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

    Nice state park

    Stayed here for a couple nights on a mini state park road trip. Nice place, like most of the MN state parks. Spotty cell service. Hiked a trail with lots of steps. Fire ring and picnic table are provided at each site. Restroom with showers also available in campground. Site was large and easy to back into and offered some tree cover for shade during certain times of the day. Was unable to hang hammock in specific site we stayed at, but some of the sites looked like they would be suitable.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 23, 2019

    Prairie Island City Campground

    Great introductory campground

    Prairie Island has all of you basic amenities without being too far from town. This campground isn’t for everybody -- if you’re looking for extreme adventure and wilderness, this is not the place for you. If you’re interested in getting into camping and not investing the money into all the gear or having direct river access, this is the place for you! They seriously rent it all. Paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and dutch ovens. The camp store sells all of the basics and fishing supplies. The shower house has flush toilets and pit toilets are located throughout the campground.

    Personally, this campground is not the type that I like to stay at but it is really great for the type that wants to get into camping or the camper trailer type. Unfortunately, not enough activities to do besides boating on the river.

  • ERolf P.
    Aug. 29, 2016

    Perrot State Park Campground

    Group Camping, Hiking, and Water Sports

    Wonderful time in Perrot State Park. Camped in the group campground, site A. Plenty of room for many tents, and nice level ground to pitch tents on. Huge fire ring for large group fires, and both a large grill on the fire ring, and freestanding charcoal grill. Lots of options for hiking and walking in the park with more than 13 miles of trails. We did a 5 mile hike up and over two of the more popular bluffs. We also did a two-three hour canoe/kayak trip and had a blast.

    There is not a swimming beach at the park, so if you're into that, you'll have to leave the park, but there is more than enough to do at Perrot State Park.

  • Beth D.
    Aug. 20, 2022

    Merrick State Park Campground

    Island Campground With Incredible Water Access

    Second stay, first review of Merrick.  We have always reserved an Island site, since they offer the best privacy from neighbors in southern camp along the Mississippi backwaters on Fountain City Bay.  We always bring the kayaks, so the water access offered is why we stay.  

    3 Campgrounds:

     - Island sites offer the best-in-park privacy for a campsite, but they are walk in (carts provided for hauling in).  Worth the short walk in from the lot for what you get. We think site 50 has the best view and launch, with not as much riprap as the other island sites, but you can make any of them work.

     - South Campground sites are closer together with fewer trees, but still offer a front row seat to the Friday evening boat show. Many sites have pretty good direct water access here too

     - North campground has electric and showers/flush toilets, access to water, but no water views

    Notes to self:

     - Bring your bugspray or thermocell, we definitely needed protection.  

     - I grew up in a train town, so I loved hearing the trains in the distance, but if you were up at North camp, it would indeed be really loud.  

     - Porto-pots were passible but not great.  Watch for spidies.

  • K
    Sep. 5, 2020

    Hidden Meadows RV Park

    Hidden Gem

    This is very convenient if you have Mayo Clinic appointments. The campground was nice with grassy sites along with electric and water hook ups, there was a dump station also. Portable toilets spaced around and a centralized bath house by the office. There are seasonal guests and everyone was friendly. We saw deer by the primitive camp areas and had nightly campfires in our fire ring. We will return the next time we are up in MN.

  • R
    Aug. 30, 2019

    Merrick State Park Campground

    Nice Walk-In site but bring your bug spray!

    Very nice walk-in site right on the river. LOTS of bugs to the point it was uncomfortable so make sure to bring bug spray. Tent pad, fire ring and picnic table available. Trees available that are good for those who hammock.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2018

    Houston Nature Center

    Great location!

    The Nature Center campsite is located at the trail head for the Root River State Bike Trail. Trail Head Park is a nice tent only campground with walk-in sites. A majority of the sites have picnic tables and fire pits. The Nature Center has clean bathrooms and free showers. They recommend donations for the use of the showers.

    $20 per night camping fee. You can pay inside the Nature Center or at the slot between the restroom mirrors. The sites are first come, first serve. Local firewood is available near the restrooms as well; take what you need and leave the center a donation.

    Trail Head Park has a 1 acre natural playground near the campsite. When I visited during the week, I only saw a small group of people using the playground. The playground has a zip line, tree house, small rock wall, and more. Inside the Nature Center, they have interactive and interesting displays. The highlight of this campground is the Root River State Bike Trail and the Owl Center in the town of Houston.

    I'd give the campsite 4/5 review. The location, the bluffs, the bike trail, and center get 5/5 review.

  • J
    Oct. 24, 2017

    Sylvan City Park

    Close to bike trail and downtown

    Stayed here in a tent while on a bicycle camping trip and it was adequate. It is located in a city park within a couple minutes walk of the downtown area. The bike trail crosses the south end of downtown so close to that too. This would not be a good place to camp if you'd like to be out in nature

    Biggest gripe is the slope of the tent sites. The majority of the tent sites are on an incline around a pond. There are also a lot of ducks that aren't very afraid of humans. None got into my gear though. There are fire rings at the tent sites. No picnic tables at the individual sites but there are some nearby in the park and there's also a covered picnic shelter. Hammocks would be difficult to impossible as the tent area is a strip of grass between pond and bluff, which has mostly brush or too whimpy of trees to hang from at the base. There are a couple huge oaks but none in pairs.

    Quarter showers and clean restrooms are available. $20/night/tent which seemed a bit steep to me considering how slanted the sites were and quarter showers. It is cheaper than the other places within immediate biking distance which were $25/night.

  • Ashley F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2023

    Castle Mound Campground — Black River State Forest

    Solid campground

    Camp sites were good. Plenty of room for multiple tents & some hammocks. Came with picnic table and fire pit. Fire wood was only $5 on site for a decent sized bundle. Campground was quiet and well kept. Vault toilets in most of the campground (smelly and not the cleanest but this is expected with vault toilets) there was a main shower/restroom area at the entrance to the campground which was very clean. Drinking water available by the showers. Added bonus - the hiking trail was within the campground and was very scenic. Cool rock formations and a decently easy hike.

Guide to Fountain City

Tent camping near Fountain City, Wisconsin offers unique opportunities to explore the limestone bluffs that rise 500-600 feet above the Mississippi River. The region features a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters, making late spring through early fall the prime camping season. Many sites in this area sit within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, providing access to over 240,000 acres of protected habitat.

What to do

Bike the Root River Trail: The Houston Nature Center serves as a trailhead for the Root River State Bike Trail. "The Root River Bike Trail is so awesome and by far the best in the tri-state area," notes one Houston Nature Center camper. The nature center also features "a bike servicing station, showers, and bathrooms. Everything is extremely clean."

Wildlife viewing: Bird enthusiasts can spot eagles, hawks, and waterfowl along the Mississippi flyway. At night, the natural soundscape enhances the camping experience. "Singing toads at night" created a peaceful atmosphere for one Houston Nature Center visitor. For owl enthusiasts, the International Owl Center in Houston offers a unique educational experience.

Water recreation: The Mississippi River and its backwaters provide opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and swimming. Near Northend Campground, campers enjoy "nice sand bottom creek to swim in right behind campground" and the area offers "great fishing" and opportunities for "tubing down the root river to kayaking."

What campers like

Private, secluded sites: Many tent sites around Fountain City offer natural buffers between campsites. At Gooseberry Glen Cart-in Campground, "Right when you park you see the push carts and it is a very short walk to the campsite. You are able to slightly see 1 cart-in site neighbor, but besides that it was very private and quiet."

Quality hiking trails: The hiking trails at Whitewater State Park provide varied terrain and scenic vistas. One camper described their experience: "We did the 4 mile loop and it was perfect for us- a beautiful and challenging hike that wasn't too punishing. There were lots of scenic views, and a good variety of terrain to keep it interesting."

Waterfront camping: Campsites along Lake Pepin provide stunning views and water access. At Hok-Si-La City Park, "The campsites are wooded and have enough distance between them that noise is minimal. I especially love the view of Lake Pepin and the nice little swimming beach. On our last stay, we were able to watch eagles from our campsite."

What you should know

Varied terrain and access: Some campsites require more effort to reach than others. At Aefintyr, "If you are up in the bluff, be sure to wear good shoes for the hike up." The reward is worth it, as "The hike to the site is steep but worth it once you get up there."

Seasonal considerations: Fall brings spectacular colors but can get cool at night. One Gooseberry Glen camper noted, "Fall colors were beautiful but not yet at full peak" during their October visit. Spring brings wildflowers but can be wet and muddy on trails.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Fountain City, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Fountain City, WI is Aefintyr with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near Fountain City, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring