Campers near Frederic, Wisconsin find themselves in the center of northwestern Wisconsin's unique transition zone between the northern hardwood forests and prairie landscapes. At approximately 1,200 feet elevation, the area offers cooler summer temperatures than the Twin Cities, with July averages around 80°F during the day and 60°F at night. Most camping areas close for winter by mid-October, though several offer year-round access with limited amenities during snow season.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: William O'Brien State Park offers excellent bank fishing along the St. Croix River with prime spots near the campground. As one visitor noted, "This campground is lovely. You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite."
Wildlife viewing: Wild River State Park provides wildlife viewing throughout its extensive trail system. A camper shared, "We spent an entire day hiking and it was decent hiking along the river... We saw sooooo many deer some even walking right through campsites! You can hear coyotes, raccoons and very loud owls."
Winter activities: Despite seasonal closures, winter camping remains available at select parks with plowed sites. One camper at Wild River State Park Campground explained, "We planned on attending their candlelight ski and decided to camp. The campground was fully reserved but was empty, the low was 10 so people must have bowed out. The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent."
Star gazing: The rural location provides excellent night sky viewing opportunities at most campgrounds. A visitor to Wild River State Park mentioned, "The star gazing area was great! Intermittently had 1-2 bars of T-Mobile with LTE Internet. Wi-Fi is available at the park entrance."
What campers like
Private sites: Many campgrounds in the region feature tree-screened sites despite relatively close spacing. At Interstate State Park, campers note, "A few of the sites along the river have a real nice view and are slightly more secluded. The best site is #25."
Accessible river locations: Riverside camping ranks as a top feature throughout the area. One camper at Interstate State Park shared, "When we first arrived to Interstate State Park our very first thought was 'that this is awful'. We hoped that our campsite that we had reserved was not as equals to those on the lower end of the northside, very open space more field like then camp ground to us. And then we came upon our site. With a waterfall on the back side and saint croix river on the other."
Rustic camping options: For those seeking a more primitive experience, Straight Lake State Park Campground offers hike-in sites with minimal amenities. A visitor mentioned, "This campground is a great option close to the Twin Cities. There are small number of hike in camp sites with nearby water (Straight Lake). The park offered carts to help pack in camping supplies."
Accessible day trips: Most campgrounds serve as excellent base camps for exploring nearby towns and attractions. A visitor to Interstate State Park wrote, "The park is laid out kinda funky, but that is a product of it being on the river. Campground and Park Office are on the south end and the attraction is a 2.7 mile walk towards Taylor's Falls along the highway to get to some very cool, unique scenery."
What you should know
Seasonal bug activity: Mosquitoes and biting flies peak from late May through July. A camper at St. Croix State Park warned, "Do not camp in June... We chose the peak of mosquitos season and camping next to slow moving water is a recipe for disaster. It was also a very hot weekend."
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies dramatically throughout the region, with most campgrounds offering spotty coverage. At William O'Brien State Park, one visitor found "Cell reception for T-Mobile was minimal to non-existent. Wifi is available in the visitor center parking lot."
Wildlife encounters: Nocturnal wildlife activity can disrupt camp, particularly in primitive sites. A camper at William O'Brien State Park mentioned, "Raccoons will visit your site at night. We had everything secured but they still tried and plenty of racket until we chased them away."
Road conditions: Several campgrounds feature unpaved access roads that can become challenging after rain. At Camp Waub-O-Jeeg, a visitor noted, "The roads are rough in spots... The road to the sites named after birds was rough and I was nervous that I would bottom out going up the hill."
Tips for camping with families
Site selection: Choose campsites away from high-traffic areas for better family experiences. At William O'Brien State Park, a camper advised, "If I stayed again, I might try site 121 or 123 since they have more privacy. Sites 98, 110, 111, 112, 113, and 114 are right on the road into the campground with some tree coverage and prairie behind. These do not feel very private at all."
Beach access: For summer camping with children, look for campgrounds with swimming areas. At Big Rock Creek, families appreciate that "It was nice to have kayaks and paddle boards to try for free, but everything else is a charge."
Playground availability: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. A visitor to Camp Waub-O-Jeeg mentioned, "It is a kid friendly campground. I often see kids meeting each other from different sites and then hanging out and playing games together. There are nice playgrounds on both the A and B hill."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds enforce quiet hours inconsistently. A camper at Camp Waub-O-Jeeg shared, "One group had been extremely loud since 9pm, so it was kind of surprising that there wasn't a final inspection lap after quiet hours started. The group was asked to be quiet at around 10:30pm by a camper, they disregarded that, and we finally called at around 11:30pm to complain."
Tips from RVers
Electrical limitations: Some campgrounds offer limited electrical capacity. At Big Rock Creek, an RVer warned, "We came up with our camper with the expectation we'd have electric and water hook ups. For the most part we did. The electricity was not for a 30 amp hook up. It's 50 amp or use an adapter. We used the adapter and blew a circuit breaker when we used the A/C and the microwave at the same time."
Full hookup options: For RVers seeking comprehensive services, James N McNally City Campground in Grantsburg offers complete connections. A visitor described it as having "the wood river winds it's way through this parks south and east campsites, with a lock and dam at the west end making a nice sound of moving water if you can get a campsite near it."
Site spacing: RV sites vary significantly in size and separation throughout the best places to camp near Frederic. At Interstate State Park, a visitor cautioned, "Even in April the campground was mostly full. Do not pick a site inside the loop (the electrical hookup sites) if you want privacy."
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds with full hookups close by mid-October. Plan accordingly for late-season camping near Frederic, Wisconsin, as most RV-friendly sites with water connections shut down before freezing temperatures arrive.
