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Best Tent Camping near Frederic, WI

489 Reviews

Tent campgrounds near Frederic, Wisconsin offer a range of primitive and established options primarily in state parks and forests. Straight Lake State Park Campground provides secluded tent-only sites with walk-in access about 10 miles from Frederic, while Governor Knowles State Forest offers remote tent camping experiences along the St. Croix River corridor with multiple backcountry options.

Tent campers should prepare for varying levels of amenities across sites. Straight Lake State Park features fire rings and picnic tables at its 10 private tent sites, but lacks drinking water and modern restrooms. Many walk-in tent sites require carrying gear from parking areas, with Straight Lake providing carts to assist campers. Governor Knowles State Forest's remote camping areas offer true primitive tent camping with no facilities whatsoever, requiring complete self-sufficiency. A visitor commented that "the hike in was not easy. Downed trees over uphill sections, large sections of mud and some overgrown brushy spots."

Areas farther from established campgrounds provide deeper seclusion for tent campers seeking solitude. The Trade River Equestrian Camp in Governor Knowles State Forest offers quiet tent sites with proximity to hiking trails and the river for kayaking. Straight Lake provides access to the Ice Age Trail, making it popular with backpackers and hikers. Sites are generally well-spaced with enough privacy for tent setups, though conditions vary seasonally. Sites near water bodies like Straight Lake tend to have higher mosquito activity during summer months. A recent review noted that "we did not see a single soul out there but us. Now I know why. If you love seclusion and don't mind zero amenities, bugs, mud and brush, go for it! It is a survivalist's dream."

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Best Tent Sites Near Frederic, Wisconsin (41)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Frederic, WI

27 Photos of 41 Frederic Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Frederic, WI

489 Reviews of 41 Frederic Campgrounds

  • Katherine T.
    Oct. 11, 2024

    Wild River State Park Campground

    Solid option with star gazing

    This is a solid state park offering. The sites are decently spaced with good tree cover. Noise seemed to travel between sites, I had some loud neighbors during the day but they settled down before quiet hours. The grass was easy to get tent stakes into. Bathrooms were your basic state park situation. Clean with warm showers so no complaints from me. 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.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2021

    Rice Creek Campgrounds

    Spaced out nicely and they have a tent only loop!

    I booked this on a whim since we needed an overnight close to the State Fair.  I loved the look of the "TENT ONLY" loop - you don't see this often - so it was a good fit.  Seemed that the whole campground was booked up and I assumed, for a similar reason.  The State Fair.

    Booking was fairly easy through their website, and you can "hover" over the sites to see a photo of it.  I chose the one I wanted and hoped it would be what we wanted it to be.

    You DO need a park pass to stay at the campground.

    We arrived after dark, but in the dark you could still tell it was lovely.  I couldn't see any neighbor on the one side where there was a campsite (the other was a field...which is why I chose it). So we set up a tent, enjoyed the last of the evening and crawled into our bags.

    In the morning, when I could see everything, I was thoroughly impressed by the space, the maintenance of the property, the size of the campsites.  All of them were impressive and big!  A few were only separated by swathes of grass, but most had enough trees you couldn't see your neighbor.  And the fact that this loop (F LOOP) was "tent only" meant no generators! It was very quiet!   There were port-o-potties (cleaned about every 3 days) and a centrally located water source (potable) that was in the middle of everything for easy access by everyone. The spaces seemed fairly level, lots of mature trees, fire rings at all of them (with cooking grates that flipped out of the way) and picnic tables at most (resin tables, not wood).

    I took a quick look at the other loops.  The tent/small trailer loop didn't appear to have electric either.  And the RV loops obviously did.  All were very nice!  And there is a shower house (didn't go in) that was for all to use if you had a site.

    We'd stay here again in a heartbeat.

    **I've seen the other reviews here which seem to be based on the bugs.  I know that bugs are part of camping, so I don't review based on that, but I'll add details, if needed.  This one didn't have many, but it was raining, so I'm sure that factored in.  When I camp, I come prepared and I try to focus on reviewing the campsite itself, not the bugs, which I can not control.  I can, however, come prepared for them**

  • D
    Sep. 19, 2020

    Wild River State Park Campground

    Great spot for first time camping

    This was my first time camping EVER, and I wanted a balance of car camping ease with quiet wilderness. I stayed in the E loop. No electric sites, which cut down the number of big rig RVs, but there were plenty of small campers and trailers. To me, this means louder guests than tent campers. That said, people tended to quiet down by 9-10p. There was occasional noise during the day from crop dusters and motorized boat traffic on the St. Croix.

    Site 87 had nice privacy — less between sites 87 and 89 and much more between 87 and 85 (see photos). Site 89 is a double site, so be prepared for a little more activity if someone books there. If I went again, I'd try to snag site 85. Large trees and vegetation between sites, especially on the outside loop. Plenty of space for hammocks. The site itself was level and very spacious. We had a five person tent and could have put up a bug house easily. The fire pit was clean and had a grate on top. Pit toilets were clean and had plenty of toilet paper, especially for the end of a holiday weekend. Bugs were minimal, but could have been because the weather was on the cooler side (50s-60s).

    A couple random notes:

    • Firewood is $6/bundle. Self-pay available if the ranger station is closed. Bring exact change since you'll be paying by envelope.

    • The ranger station was open for window service, and they sold fire starters, soda, t-shirts, etc. Not sure when hours are exactly. They were open when I went around 3-4p Sunday and Monday to buy wood.

    • Cell reception for T-Mobile was minimal to non-existent.

  • amber N.
    Sep. 1, 2019

    Wild River State Park Campground

    Secluded, River Front Buck Hill Site

    Backpack site Buck Hill is right on the river, beautiful view to the east. Circled by flowers (goldenrod in the late summer), brush and trees. End of the path so zero foot traffic / passersby. Fine size for us but if you had two tents maybe tight. Fire ring and picnic table of course. No drinking water (we brought a bladder). It’s a great place to star gaze. There’s a teeny somewhat treacherous path to the river- no beach or anything (water was super low when we went) - Just can get your feet wet.

    Down the path a little bit is an unenclosed toilet - not the best. The other direction down the path (only about 20 ft) is a smallish bear box.

    You can harvest your own wood (at this time) and that was really great - bring a backpacking saw!

    Only downside to the site— you can hear cars on both sides (river and opposite side of forest).

    It was a 2.37 mile walk from the parking lot, mostly shaded.

    Side note: we checked out Deer Creek site which is much closer to the car. It is a hike in / canoe site. It’s wayyy more spacious, and even has two separate clearings. Also has cool stairs down the to water, and a much more expansive view of the river. We will be staying there next time! We want to take a few days to canoe the whole length of the park, camping along the different sites. Next year! :)

  • Sarah D.
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Wild River State Park Campground

    Secluded Backpack/Canoe Site with Sunrise Views

    I was looking for a secluded backpack in site where I could have a peaceful 48 hours of prayer and solitude, and this site was perfect! I also wanted one that wasn't too far remote, since I hadn't been on a proper backpacking trip since the pandemic hit. And as a solo female camper, I wanted a reserved site so that there would be a record of my location for safety reasons. I'm so glad I chose the Deer Creek site, and will almost definitely stay here again at some point!

    This site is accessible by either hiking or canoe. It took me about 30 minutes to hike in from the visitor center parking lot. There is easy access to river water to boil or filter from the canoe landing.

    This site was incredibly spacious. It includes a fire ring and picnic table overlooking the creek and river. It also includes 2 large tent pads (look out for widow makers, one of the tent pads is under a dead tree!). It also has a spot nestled in some pine trees that could fit a smaller tent, canoe storage, or I found it to be the perfect spot to hang my hammock! (This would be a great site for hammock camping.) So if you're camping with a small group of people this would be a great site. It also includes a trail to a fairly private latrine, and a bear box (the park ranger warned me that there are bears in the park although I did not see any.) I also found plenty of dead down and dry wood and birch bark on the ground for building fires.

    This site is great for a one nigjt stay on a longer backpacking or canoeing trip, but also great for camping out at for a couple of nights. I stayed for two, and it connects to all the major trails in the park, so I was able to use it as a great base for hiking and seeing the beautiful changing leaves. In the morning I hiked North to do the Riverside trail and looped back through the woods. Then in the afternoon I did the Deer Creek loop, which is a shared horse and hiking trail. It was so nice to he able to hike out to some of the best trails in the park directly from my site.

    This site felt remarkably remote for being only an hour from the twin cities and a mile from the parking lot! I stayed there Thursday -Saturday, and after leaving the parking lot on Thursday did not see another human being for the rest of the day, and Friday not until I hit the main trails! There was no one else staying within at least a mile of me. I was even able to see fantastic stars Friday night. There was amazing wildlife - a blue heron frequented the site, and I heard all types of owls. Two bald eagles had a nest across the river so I got to see and hear them the whole trip, too- it was absolutely magical!

    This site has a great view of both sunrise and sunset. Thursday night there was a gorgeous sunset over the woods reflected in deer Creek. Both mornings I woke up to watch the sunrise while drinking my coffee next to the fire (it was freezing!!!). Watching the sun rise over the river and fog roll over th water and evaporate while eagles soared was truly magical. Having an easy backpack in site surrounded by water on two sides and with views of the sunrise and sunset like this was so incredible!!!

  • Steph H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2018

    Interstate State Park — Interstate State Park

    Group site with a view

    Group campsite one is a lovely open site right on the St Croix River. This is a walk in site but fairly close to the parking area. Plenty of grassy space to play and set up several tents. If the 5 group sites it is probably the farthest from the vault toilets but still not that far away. The sites are all right next to each other so there is no privacy and no guarantees another group won’t disturb your group at night or vice versa. The park is not very large but what it offers is lovely. In the river side you’ll enjoy rocky trails and the famous potholes and in the hill side you’ll enjoy views from way up high.

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2024

    Paint Rock Springs Campground — St. Croix State Park

    No service

    Felt nice to spend a weekend without cell service about an hour away from home. Forgot to take my usual photos and video of the site all set up but had a few random to share. Nice campground. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. There are flush toilets and showers and the office has a store for any last minute needs.

  • A
    Jun. 24, 2021

    Rice Creek Campgrounds

    Horsefly Camping Trip From Hell🥺

    My husband and I paid for one night at a non electric drive in tent site with the disabled discount it came to $11.50. When you first pull in to the park there we’re an average amount of annoying bugs, especially for an 85 to 90 degree, summer day in a highly vegetative, woodsy park. Staff was not present due to the COVID-19 but we submitted our cash payment and grabbed the site map and park guide and drove to the left to find our camp site. As we slowly whined down a gravel road the trees became more dense, our site seemed perfect for the two of us! Picnic table and fire pit centered and to our left a designated tent landing area, to the right was just enough space to park our Mercury Sable Sedan. They had shower and restroom facilities within a short walking distance from our site, that is when we started noticing the horseflies were making it known that we were “trespassing on their turf”. We entered the shower and restrooms to bugs, bugs, BUGS!! Nasty 🤢. Neither of us showered there. Walked back to set up our tent, horseflies nonstop attacked us. To not get bite we had to run around like chickens with our heads cut off! No joke. So when our tent was finally set up instead of enjoying marshmallows at our fire pit we watched Netflix on our tablet instead our tent. Next day taking the tent down was even worse hot 90 degree day, horseflies and no breeze.. So my husband and officially nicknamed this campground “Horsefly Hell”. And no we don’t recommend this one.

  • Jaime N.
    Nov. 9, 2020

    Willow River State Park Campground

    A nice getaway off season

    Three campgrounds, first come first serve. $10/day entry $40/daily for electric hook up (non-resident); no full hook-ups, no water, only 1 vault toilet open per campground. Year round availability, however- tough to find! Very hard to get a cellular connection (T-mobile). Beautiful views of the river, right along the edge if you tent camp. Multiple playgrounds, hiking trails and loads of nature, large beach and waterfalls.

Guide to Frederic

Tent camping options near Frederic, Wisconsin extend beyond established campgrounds into remote backcountry sites in surrounding state forests and parks. The region sits within the St. Croix River Valley at approximately 1,200 feet elevation, characterized by mixed northern hardwood forests and wetlands. Spring and fall camping offers cooler temperatures around 40-65°F, while summer months typically range from 65-85°F with higher humidity levels.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: The small lakes and rivers near Frederic provide good fishing spots. At Grace Lake Road Dispersed, campers report successful fishing trips just steps from their tent sites. "You're about 20 foot from the water and fishing is good," notes a recent camper.

Hiking trails: The Ice Age Trail passes near several campgrounds, making the area popular with backpackers. Straight Lake State Park Campground connects directly to this trail. "The park offered carts to help pack in camping supplies. The Ice Age Trail also runs next to this park," reports one visitor.

Kayaking: The St. Croix River and smaller tributaries offer kayaking options for various skill levels. "Lots of hiking and close to the river for some kayaking," comments a camper about Trade River Equestrian Camp.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many tent campers appreciate the spacing between sites at various campgrounds. At William O'Brien State Park Campground, "Savannah campground appeared quite full, too. All in all, I would visit again. There were lots of people, but it was easy to take a walk and get some space and some nature."

Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to observe local wildlife. "You can hear frogs all night and we even saw a turtle laying eggs in a different campsite," notes a camper at William O'Brien State Park.

Water access: Proximity to lakes and rivers ranks highly among camper preferences. Cedar Point Resort and Campground provides "nice campground with easy access sites. Shuttle is nice, takes you right to the park."

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Bug activity varies significantly by season. A camper at Lily Springs Regenerative Farm noted, "The mosquito situation was very good, we never even went into our screen house that we had set up just in case it was mosquito misery."

Trail conditions: Some remote camping areas have challenging trails. "Downed trees over uphill sections, large sections of mud and some overgrown brushy spots," was reported at Governor Knowles State Forest.

Site variations: Campgrounds offer varied terrain and amenities. Apple River County Park features "15 simple campsites geared towards tent camping, though 5 of the sites are equipped with electricity so folks with vans or small trailers might be comfortable here."

Tips for camping with families

Accessible sites: Families should consider campgrounds with easier access. "There are two parking lots. One by the stream connecting straight lake and Rainbow Trout lake. Path good condition. Fire ring and picnic table with private site," notes a camper at Straight Lake.

Facilities planning: Bathroom facilities vary widely. "The pit toilets were cleaned and stocked with TP and sanitizer. The shower house needs some paint, but had been cleaned," reports a visitor at William O'Brien State Park.

Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with designated play areas. Apple River County Park Campground has "adjacent day use areas including a group picnic shelter and playground. This is a good spot for fishing, and canoeing or kayaking."

Tips from RVers

Site size restrictions: Many tent-focused areas can't accommodate larger RVs. Apple River County Park notes that while they have electric sites, they are "geared towards tent camping, though 5 of the sites are equipped with electricity so folks with vans or small trailers might be comfortable here."

Electric access: For tent campers who need power for medical equipment, some sites offer unexpected options. At Lily Springs Farm, "the fire ring had plentiful stacks of firewood closeby, and there was also an electrical outlet (which was an unexpected surprise!)"

Access roads: Some of the best tent camping near Frederic, Wisconsin involves narrow access roads. A Grace Lake Road camper reported, "Gate is very narrow had to fold the mirrors on my Tacoma to squeeze through but if you park at the entrance it's a short walk."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Frederic, WI is Straight Lake State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

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