Top Free Dispersed Camping near Friendship, WI

Want to go dispersed camping near Friendship? Dispersed camping is an excellent way to get away from it all and to disconnect. Search dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots and read camper reviews.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Friendship, WI (1)


Recent Dispersed Reviews In Friendship

4 Reviews of 1 Friendship Campgrounds


  • Joel K.
    Camper-submitted photo from Lower Wisconsin Riverway
    Apr. 5, 2024

    Lower Wisconsin Riverway

    Canoe paddle and sandbar camping

    Paddle trip in early June 2023. From Prairie du Sac to Spring Green, about 21 miles? Went mid week, saw one Boy Scout troop but generally nobody else.

    Campsite was beautiful with a fire pit and some left over wood from the previous group. BUT, even though you couldn’t see the road you could hear it. It’s a truck route so at 6:30am it was busy with trucks and noisy which definitely took away from the vibe of dispersed camping.

    Water levels were good. Weather was beautiful.

    Only camped one night. We rented the canoe and they ran the shuttle for us, which was very easy to arrange. Would do this again!

  • Leah M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lower Wisconsin Riverway
    Feb. 3, 2024

    Lower Wisconsin Riverway

    River Canoeing Camping

    So much fun. Bring dry wood! Don’t forget your meat ( obviously we did)! I Great time regardless. Canoe and then camping on the river. There was a storm, it was a rough summer (2023) many storms. So much fun.

    Highly recommend.

  • A
    Camper-submitted photo from Lower Wisconsin Riverway
    Feb. 21, 2021

    Lower Wisconsin Riverway

    My favorite place to camp

    If chilling and canoeing is what you want with little to no other human contact the lower Wisconsin river is the place. Eagles everywhere. Great fishing.

  • Siobhan R.
    Camper-submitted photo from Lower Wisconsin Riverway
    Jul. 21, 2020

    Lower Wisconsin Riverway

    Ranger Review- COAST headlamp on the Wisconsin River

    Spend another amazing weekend on the Lower Wisconsin Riverway! We did 15 miles this trip- put in at Lone Rock (Otter Creek) Friday and canoed about 6 miles until we found a nice high sandbar near Gotham Jack Pines Burren State Natural Area. We spend Saturday just hanging out and fishing, then paddled out 9 miles on Sunday to the Muscoda boat launch, where Wi River Outings gave us a shuttle back to our truck. Water was very high this trip- not many sandbars out there, but also not as many people. Fishing wasn’t too great either due to the high water, but we did get a bunch of catfish. Beautiful scenery, very few houses until we got closer to Muscoda. The Riverway goes 92 miles from the Sauk City Dam all the way to the Mississippi River and sandbar camping is free the entire way! Make sure to keep an eye on water levels for the area you will be on, and also the weather. (Shout out to the Midland weather radio that I’ve reviewed for the Dryt before that alerted us to the severe weather when it blew up out of nowhere!) I use the Wisconsin Canoe Company’s website for a lot of information for planning trips. They have detailed maps and guides for the entire Riverway. Remember that no glass is allowed on the river because the fine is pretty steep and no one wants to step barefoot on broken glass! You need to pack in everything you need, including water. The river is very sandy and eats through water filters quick. This is wilderness camping, yet close to town if you need supplies or assistance. Some firewood can be scrounged from the islands, or you can get some from many roadside stands or an outfitter. It was pretty hot this trip so we didn’t do a big fire, just a little one in the stick stove for some ambiance. The nice thing about being right on the river is being able to take a dip in the cool water any time it was too hot! Be careful of drop offs, especially on the downstream side of islands and make sure kids and people that aren’t strong swimmers always have a life jacket on when wading- the currents can get very strong. There are many loaner life jackets at many of the landings as part of a DNR program. Also be sure to bring lots of sunscreen and something to make some shade- it’s very sunny out there! As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I occasionally get gear to review. This trip I had the FL1R headlamp from Coast. Right out of the box I was surprised by how light it was- about 1 oz! I’m not too worried about weight on the canoe, but the small size meant I could shove it in my bag with no worries and not taking up a ton of space. The 200 lumen light really lit up a huge area. I wish I could have gotten better pictures, but it doesn’t really show up as good as it looked in real life. The battery lasted the entire weekend with no problem. Before the trip I tested it out at home and it lasted at continuous high power for over 3 hours. The red light feature was my favorite. It allowed me to do all kinds of tasks while keeping the bugs away. I also appreciated that it came with a hat clip if I preferred to use that instead of the included band. The splash resistance was also a must for on the water or in bad weather. Overall a very good headlamp and I would definitely order from Coast again.



Guide to Friendship

Camping near Friendship, Wisconsin, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you’re looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails at Devils Lake State Park. One visitor mentioned, "The hikes were the nicest I’ve seen in the surrounding areas," making it a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts.
  • Swimming: Enjoy the beach at Quartzite Campground. A reviewer noted, "The best beach around, crystal clear, shallow water was perfect for our young kids to play in."
  • Fishing and Boating: Head to Buckhorn State Park Campground for fishing and kayaking. One camper shared, "There is a bar and grill across the river with a live cover band on Friday night," adding to the fun atmosphere.

What campers like:

  • Spacious Sites: Campers appreciate the roomy sites at Ice Age Campground. A visitor said, "Some sites have quite a bit of slant but it’s workable. Ours was perfect."
  • Clean Facilities: Many enjoy the well-kept restrooms and showers. A reviewer at Northern Lights Campground mentioned, "Clean bathrooms and so much to do at Devils Lake."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Wisconsin Dells KOA are great for families. One parent noted, "The campground is kid-friendly, with a playground and a pool."

What you should know:

  • Busy Weekends: Many campgrounds can get crowded, especially on weekends. A visitor at Quartzite Campground mentioned, "Saturday got a bit too crowded, but otherwise it was a great stay."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have all the amenities you expect. A camper at Ice Age Campground noted, "The bathrooms could use more upkeep."
  • Reservation Fees: Be prepared for additional fees. A reviewer at Mirror Lake State Park mentioned, "The site cost was $35, but the Wisconsin DNR adds a ‘parking fee’ of $11."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose the Right Campground: Look for family-friendly options like Buckhorn State Park Campground. One family shared, "We had a walk to site on the water and it was very nice!"
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities. A camper at Wildcat Mountain State Park said, "The views from the overlooks, which are a short hike, are worth checking out."
  • Pack for Bugs: Be ready for mosquitoes, especially in the summer. A visitor at Hartman Creek State Park warned, "We couldn't leave our tents until the sun went down because of the bugs."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Levels: Make sure your site is level before setting up. A reviewer at Northern Lights Campground mentioned, "Some sites have quite a bit of slant but it’s workable."
  • Bring Extra Cords: If you need electricity, ensure your cords reach the hookups. A camper at Wisconsin Dells KOA noted, "There was no space to hang out as their camper took up the entire space."
  • Explore Nearby Attractions: Take advantage of local attractions. A visitor at Mirror Lake State Park said, "Close to downtown Baraboo and WI Dells to explore the city for a day."

Camping near Friendship, Wisconsin, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Enjoy the great outdoors and make some lasting memories!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Friendship, WI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Friendship, WI is Lower Wisconsin Riverway with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.