Dispersed and established camping options near Haugen, Wisconsin range from small lakeside sites to family-friendly parks. Located in Wisconsin's northwestern lake country, camping facilities generally operate May through October, with several county and municipal parks offering electric sites near fishing waters. This area features numerous small lakes and flowages that provide paddling and fishing opportunities while avoiding the crowds of larger Wisconsin vacation destinations.
What to do
Kayaking and canoeing: Murphy Flowage Park offers an intimate paddling experience on a smaller flowage ideal for exploring by small watercraft. As one visitor noted, "This lake area is smaller but pretty and there is a boat landing there. Personally I'd say it's best for canoeing or kayaking or only a smaller boat."
Fishing access: Shell Lake Municipal Park provides convenient access to Shell Lake, with amenities supporting anglers. "Swimming beach, fish cleaning station, public boat launch, boat dock rental, RV dump station are also available," explains one camper who appreciated the lakefront camping with in-town convenience.
Night sky viewing: Audie Lake County Park offers exceptional stargazing due to minimal light pollution. A camper shared, "If you are lucky enough to camp with clear skies you will see more stars then you ever have!" The remote location creates ideal conditions for astronomy enthusiasts.
Wildlife observation: Lakeside camping provides opportunities to observe native Wisconsin wildlife. Beaver, loons, and other water-oriented species are common at secluded campgrounds. One visitor to Audie Lake mentioned natural wake-up calls: "Your alarm clock is a beaver slapping its tail or a loon calling its mate."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Eagle Point Park receives praise for its quiet, waterfront setting. "This little city campground is a gem. Quiet and surrounded by water, it's a pretty cool spot. Public beaches and hiking trails, boat launch," reports one satisfied visitor who found the site layout appealing.
Disconnecting from technology: Several campgrounds offer limited or no cell service, creating a genuine wilderness experience. At Audie Lake County Park, one camper appreciated this aspect: "Truly a campground to disconnect, 0 cell service and your alarm clock is a beaver slapping its tail or a loon calling its mate."
Level sites: Finding flat camping spots matters to RV owners. Eagle Point Park offers mostly accessible sites with some limitations. A reviewer noted, "All sites require some leveling. Some of the sites have water hookups. You might be able to get a large rig into the first few spots. But if you try to drive the loop around to the other sites, you might not make it."
Walking distance to amenities: Certain campgrounds provide convenient access to local services. Shell Lake Municipal Park sits within walking distance to town amenities. A visitor observed, "There is a coffee shop about a 20 minute walk from the park. There is a public swimming beach less than a 10 minute walk from the park."
What you should know
Reservations required: Small campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. Eagle Point Park has limited capacity but high demand. "This little city campground is a gem... It is small and fills up fast so I would make reservations," warns one reviewer who appreciated its popularity.
Roadside camping reality: Not all listed campsites provide traditional camping experiences. Chinty Lake Roadside Camp presents challenges for some visitors. A recent camper cautioned, "This is literally just a roadside pull off not really a campsite (and the road was kinda busy), two girls traveling did not feel comfortable spending the night here and went somewhere else."
Variable site privacy: Campgrounds range from open fields to wooded seclusion. Murphy Flowage Park offers elevated sites with limited views. A visitor explained, "There are three sites up on a ridge 'overlooking' the lake. I use that word lightly as there is a lot of underbrush so it's not super easy to see the lake."
Seasonal operating limitations: Most campgrounds close by mid-October. Audie Lake County Park remains open slightly longer than others, operating "May 1 to Dec 1" according to county information, providing additional late-season camping opportunities.
Tips for camping with families
Beach access priority: Doolittle Park offers family-friendly waterfront amenities. "Awesome place to go swimming. Very kid friendly, and pet friendly," reports one visitor who enjoyed the beach facilities with children.
Recreation options: Family campgrounds often provide activities beyond camping. Doolittle Park includes multiple amenities as described by a camper: "This campground, run by the Village of Birchwood, is family friendly with many amenities. There is a public beach, playground, picnic area, boat launch, fish cleaning house, and pavilion."
Farm-themed camping: Red Barn Campground specializes in family-oriented activities with an agricultural theme. "Adorable family campground on a farm that has nice large campsites. The campground revolves around children. A huge playground, pony rides, animal parades and mini golf are only a few things that happen at Red Barn," explains one parent.
Budget-friendly options: Municipal campgrounds offer economical family camping. Doolittle Park provides tiered pricing based on camping style. A visitor noted, "The pricing for sites is reasonable also with tent sites at $10.00 per night, All other campers are $30.00 night. There are also monthly and seasonal sites available."
Tips from RVers
Site specifications: Country Quiet RV Park and Campground offers spacious sites for larger rigs. A visitor commented on the layout: "This is a very nice RV Park. There's plenty of sites and they appear to be expanding. Sites are fairly spread out. Easy loop system makes this campground very easy to navigate through."
Hookup availability: Campgrounds vary in utility access. K and C Country Air Campground provides necessary hookups for self-contained units. A camper confirmed, "great place water sewer electric sites. very quiet campground."
Cellular connectivity: Internet access varies significantly between campgrounds. Eagle Point Park offers strong signals. "I had great 5G signals from Verizon and T-mobile here," one RVer reported, contrasting with the zero connectivity at more remote locations like Audie Lake.
Leveling requirements: RVers should prepare for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. Eagle Point Park requires equipment for leveling: "All sites require some leveling. Some of the sites have water hookups."