Best Tent Camping near Haugen, WI

The forested landscapes surrounding Haugen, Wisconsin offer several tent camping options within a short drive. Straight Lake State Park Campground provides walk-in tent-only sites with fire rings and picnic tables along a well-maintained path from two parking areas. Kirby Lake Primitive Campsite offers free hike-in tent camping with minimal amenities for those seeking a more rustic experience. Phipps Landing near Hayward features three established tent sites along the Namekagon River, with one site noted as more secluded than the others. Howell Landing in Trego provides tent-only camping with river access through a group site arrangement.

Most tent campgrounds in the region have basic amenities with varying levels of accessibility. Tent campsites at Straight Lake require hiking gear to transport equipment from parking areas, though the park provides carts to assist with packing in supplies. Vault toilets are available at most locations, but drinking water is limited or unavailable at primitive sites like Kirby Lake. Fire rings are common at established sites, but campers should verify current fire restrictions before arrival. Spring conditions can be challenging, with one camper reporting "ticks were extremely heavy in the spring" at nearby backcountry sites. Mosquito populations vary by location, with Straight Lake noted for higher concentrations than other Wisconsin camping areas.

The tent camping experience around Haugen offers notable privacy and natural features. According to reviews, Phipps Landing provides "a lovely spot on the Namekagon River" with pit toilets and some road noise from a nearby highway. At Straight Lake State Park, campers appreciate the proximity to water and connection to the Ice Age Trail, though lake shore access can be limited by vegetation. Howell Landing visitors note the campground is "clean and well-kept" but mention the group site setup offers "no separation from other parties." For backcountry tent camping enthusiasts, sites throughout the region provide seclusion but require preparation for primitive conditions, including water filtration equipment and appropriate bug protection.

Best Tent Sites Near Haugen, Wisconsin (37)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Haugen, WI

362 Reviews of 37 Haugen 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.

  • 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! :)

  • 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.

  • Debra M.
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Lake Wissota State Park Campground

    Smaller scale park but lots to do

     This park is on a smaller scale and less crowded than Devil’s Lake. There is a small beach that is in the process of renovation. The sites are large surrounded by trees and very private. The sites on the lake side are not electric and some of them are huge buddy sites, great for extended families. There are two shower houses in the campground located next to sites 29 or 72. If you are on the legs furthest from the lake it is a long walk to them, but all those sites have electric. There are two vault toilet locations and a total of 116 campsites all with a picnic table and fire ring. There is a very large playing field and a playground in the Family Campground and another playground past the beach near the fishing dock. This State Park has a large number of picnic shelters and picnic grounds with picnic tables. There are about 10 hiking trails. There is a boat launch and you can rent kayaks or canoes at the visitor center. Everything was kept clean and in good repair. Cell service for both AT&T and Verizon was strong enough to stream video. If you want to take a trip to town, there are about 5 no longer than a 10 mile distance. There was a large grocery store in Chippewa Falls. Only ice and firewood are available at the park.

  • 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. 22, 2018

    Interstate State Park — Interstate State Park

    Rolling prairies along the river

    Some nice hiking and beautiful landscapes of wildflowers, grasses, and the river Typical state campground set up, not a ton of privacy but enough. Stayed 3 nights, tent camping. Biy certified firewood outside the park if you plan on using a lot. A nice weekend getaway close to the metro!

  • Lindsay T.
    Oct. 2, 2022

    Wild River State Park Campground

    Excellent, can't wait to return!

    Great campground with plenty of privacy and space between sites.  Excellent hiking trails along the river.  Restroom/shower building and vault toilets well maintained.

  • Susan M.
    Jul. 17, 2020

    Camp Waub-O-Jeeg

    Great little campground! One of our faves.

    We live in Minneapolis and love having this camp close to home, yet far enough to feel like we are up north. We come here a lot during the summer!

    The camp is rustic, in a good way. Lots of trees, nice sites with water and electric and a dump station (that’s not stinky!) Bathrooms have been renovated recently too.

    Depending on what type of camper you are, there are lots of options. What you won’t find is an RV Park that is open and on top of each other. There are sites big enough for large campers, there are drive-in tent sites (several have been upgraded with electric this year), and a few walk-in sites. There are some seasonal campers too who are friendly and willing to help out if you need something.

    A previous review mentioned the roads. They washed out one night when there was really heavy rain and big storms but the owners where fixing them right away the next day. They said that happens now and then because it is a dirt road but they have all the equipment to fix them promptly. You can tell they care a lot about the campground and they are very attentive. They are good about coming around and monitoring what’s going on. They enjoy good conversation too.

    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.

    The campground owners are great and very helpful. They will help you get situated into your site and bring you firewood and even a cooked Heggies pizza! They are also great about explaining the different sites and making sure it will work for the type of camping you are doing. They truly are hosts!

    There is a walking path down to the river and the Lions Park is in walking distance. There is a big hill up into the campground, (because of the river) but there is parking at the Lions Park if you want to drive. The Lions Park also has a boat launch for the St. Croix and there is a parking lot at camp where you can store it during your stay.

    Taylors Falls is two miles away where you will find cute shops, ice cream and good dining. St. Croix Falls is right over the river where you have more restaurants, a grocery store, Menards and a Walmart.

    There are a few ATV’s and mini bikes but they mostly stay over on another hill where there are trails set up for them and no campsites are over there. If you enjoy riding, bring them along!

    For the most part, people are respectful of the 10pm quiet hours. If people are loud, the campground owners have asked that you call them no matter how late so they can take care of it. They appreciate k owing if others are not being respectful, day or night.

    The camp store has lots of necessities like ice, snacks, s’mores stuff and more. They have games you can check out and little items you may have forgotten at home.

    We often stay at State Parks. We liked this camp because it is similar when it comes to rustic and wooded, but they don’t have all the strict rules like the State Parks. We will keep coming to Camp Waub O Jeeg!


Guide to Haugen

Discover the beauty of tent camping near Haugen, Wisconsin, where nature's tranquility meets a variety of outdoor activities. With several campgrounds offering unique amenities, you'll find the perfect spot to pitch your tent and enjoy the great outdoors.

Tips for tent camping near Haugen

  • K and C Country Air Campground provides a peaceful environment with essential amenities like drinking water and electric hookups, making it a great choice for a comfortable stay.
  • For a more rustic experience, consider Straight Lake State Park Campground, where you can enjoy hike-in sites and the beauty of nature without the distractions of modern conveniences.
  • Sawmill Park offers year-round camping with drinking water and fire pits, perfect for those looking to enjoy a cozy campfire under the stars.

Local activities to enjoy while camping

  • At Earl Park, you can explore the scenic St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, ideal for fishing and kayaking adventures.
  • Hayward Landing is a great spot for boat-in camping, allowing you to access beautiful waterways and enjoy fishing or swimming right from your campsite.
  • For hiking enthusiasts, Kirby Lake Primitive Campsite offers a serene setting with trails nearby, perfect for a day of exploration.

Unique features of nearby campgrounds

  • Loon Lake Campground is a private site that provides a tranquil atmosphere, ideal for those seeking solitude and a chance to connect with nature.
  • Stinnett Landing allows pets, making it a great option for families who want to bring their furry friends along for the adventure.
  • Bay Park Resort and Campground features thirty-amp hookups, catering to those who prefer a mix of tent camping with some RV comforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Haugen, WI is K and C Country Air Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 37 tent camping locations near Haugen, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.