Kevin K.
Traveler
TravelerSky High Camping Resort
It’s a great place to stay they have lots of activities for the kids, it helps that they are year around and their prices aren’t bad.
Tent Camping near Horicon, WI
12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Tent campsites near Horicon, Wisconsin range from primitive walk-in sites to more accessible campgrounds within a short drive of the area. Wild Goose City Park in Juneau provides a convenient tent camping location along the Wild Goose State Trail, while Purplehaze Acres offers nine dedicated tent sites with walk-in access options. Sandhill Station State Campground in the Lake Mills Wildlife Area provides more remote tent camping approximately 30 miles southwest of Horicon.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities suited for primitive camping styles. Sites at Sandhill Station require carrying gear from the parking area, with distances ranging from 100-500 yards to individual campsites. Vault toilets are common at most locations, though flush toilets and showers are limited to certain areas like Waubedonia County Park. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at established sites including Greenbush Group Campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest, though campers should verify current fire regulations before their visit. Water access varies significantly between locations, with many sites requiring campers to bring their own supply.
The tent camping options in the Horicon area cover diverse settings from oak savannas to lakeside locations. Kettle Moraine State Forest offers backpacking opportunities with secluded tent sites like Shelter 1, which includes an open shelter structure, fire pit, picnic table and outhouse. Sites at Sandhill Station provide spacious, private camping in an oak savanna setting with mixed shade coverage. Group camping options are particularly robust at Greenbush Campground, where sites 2 and 9 can accommodate over 20 backpacking tents simultaneously with ample trees for hammock setups. A visitor to Sandhill Station noted, "The campsite we were on was spacious, private, and beautiful. We had two large oak trees on either side of our site, giving us a good amount of mixed shade."
Best Tent Campgrounds near Horicon (12)
1. Wild Goose City Park
2. Purplehaze Acres
from $40 - $160 / night
Check Availability3. Little Turtle Lake
from $50 - $80 / night
Check Availability4. Cappie's Landing
from $20 / night
Check Availability5. Sandhill Station State Campground
"Sandill Station is right outside Lake Mills, WI, right off the Glacial Drumlin bike trail. It features 15 campsites and 1 group campsite in an oak savanna, with varying degrees of shade."
from $19 - $70 / night
Check Availability6. Backpack Sites — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit
from $21 / night
Check Availability7. Greenbush Group Camps — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit
"Water is usually available, but more limited during the pandemic (spigot turned off by our campsite, but available near the parking lot at the entrance - a longer walk)."
"Those can each fit over 20 backpacking tents at the same time. Grassy sites surrounded by trees (plenty for hammocks too). Short walk to pit toilets and drinking water."
from $90 / night
Check Availability8. Backpack Sites — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit
"You can rent backpacking shelters, at the ranger station in Eagle. The shelter is basically a barn without a front door. It comes with a fire ring, table, and an outhouse!"
"Reservable backpacking sites about 45-60min away from nearest parking. Fire pit, shelter, and picnic table at site.
Really enjoyed the hike through forest to get to this site."
from $21 / night
Check Availability9. Waubedonia County Park
10. KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site
"Great backpack camp site. Decent walk and terrain to get to the site. There is an open shelter to put your tent if you prefer to outside."
Drive Time
- 33 min from Fond du Lac, WI
- 48 min from Oshkosh, WI
- 52 min from Milwaukee, WI
- 54 min from Madison, WI
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Horicon, WI
3 Photos of 12 Horicon Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Horicon, WI
639 Reviews of 12 Horicon Campgrounds
- KKevin D.
ScoutLake Kegonsa State Park Campground
This campground charges both a site reservation fee ($33 for a primitive mosquito infested tent site) AND an additional day use fee on top of that - a $16 fee on top of that! $49????? For a no hook up single tent site???? Of course the fees aren’t actually published anywhere so you have to reserve it to actually know what you’ll be paying. It’s nothing special so these fees aren’t actually warranted for this place. 👎
Cindy S.TravelerBreezy Hill Campground
A year round place
Very friendly and very clean. 1 swimming pond 2 fishing ponds volleyball courts and 2 off leash dog areas. Showers are free and they have a huge kid play area along with a seasonal swimming pool and hot tub.
- CCarrina G.Scout
Lazy Days
Do not stop here!!
We have been seasonal campers for many years! When we first started, everyone was very nice and we always had a great time. Each years the rules change a bit which is common.The last three years have been horrible! We have had nothing but issues that I brought up to the staff many times. I have had the workers ask me if I was f***in stupid, people stealing stuff off our lot, telling our guest we don’t camp there( even tho they knew they were coming for my daughters birthday party), and much more. They are extremely Strict on the 5 mph. They will scream at you if they see Gravel dust as you drive. The campground is not well maintained. I wish things would not have ended the way it has. I’m happy we found a better family friendly campground to be at where my kids are not scared to be playing in our lot!
Mindy B.
GuidePike Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit
Near Ice Age Trail, open woods
Sites are large, well-spaced, many shaded by wonderful large trees. The woods are very open with little understory, and much of the area facing the road is graveled, so you will still see your neighbors. So many hiking options - the Ice Age Trail connects to the campground only a few minutes walk away. Many hiking options, the walk to the Powder Hill Lookout tower is a must. Picnic area and waterfront are a short drive away. Bathrooms were clean and showers free, hot, and strong. Some traffic noise from highway nearby but quiet at night.
Renee R.GuideWhitewater Lake Campground & Hickory Woods Group Camp — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit
Nice Campsites
For a primitive campground, this was a nice-enough experience.
Pros:
- The sites we stayed in and the others that we noticed seemed sizeable and had nice tree-cover
- Having access to the Ice Age Trail was really neat
- Lake access nearby
Cons:
- On the continuum of vault toilet quality, these were on the less-desirable end. We joked about whether it was scarier to visit them when they were dark or when the lights were on. If you love having fly friends keep you company when nature calls, then these are the bathrooms for you! The bathrooms did get cleaned on Sunday morning, but this didn't help the situation very much.
- No showers
Hailey Adriana O.TravelerMilton-Madison SE KOA
Notable bad news
⭐ 1/5— Not a Family-Friendly Experience We have traveled by motorhome for many years and stayed at numerous KOA campgrounds. For many years ! Sadly, this is the first negative review we have ever written. Milton KOA is beautiful and clean, although the sites are somewhat crowded. Most staff members were polite and helpful. Unfortunately, the conduct of one employee was completely unacceptable. Our group included six families with children ages 3–18. This employee used profanity, including the“F-word,” toward the children and behaved in a verbally abusive and threatening manner. When one mother calmly tried to address the situation, the employee moved toward her aggressively, causing her to fear she might be struck, and shouted,“I’m sick and tired of this.” At approximately 9:45 p.m., the 18-year-olds in our group were ordered back to their campsite, even though they were simply walking around and were not being loud or disruptive. Adults were allowed to drink in the pool area, while our children were treated with hostility and disrespect just for being there. No food no drinks.No child or parent should experience profanity, intimidation, or threatening behavior from a campground employee. The campground may be enjoyable for adults traveling without children. However, based on what our six families experienced, we cannot recommend Milton KOA to families with children. We are submitting a formal complaint to KOA Corporate and requesting a thorough investigation. Also, wasp infestation beware if you have allergies .
- RRussell H.Traveler
Milton-Madison SE KOA
Great Family Spot
Wonderful family spirt. Great clean showers and bathroom. Pool. Large campstore with lots of amenities.
- Nan N.Guide
Astico County Park
Great location, a little noisy. Overall good place
We camped on Site 9, which is at the front of the park near the entrance. The site was mostly level, with electric only hookups. If I had been here before I would have chosen a site tucked back farther to avoid some of the highway noise, but overall it was a good experience. We hiked a mile or two through the park, the bathhouse we used while on a walk was well supplied and clean with bathroom and shower combined, all unisex. We would stay here again if in the area.
Guide to Horicon
Tent camping near Horicon, Wisconsin provides opportunities to explore the glacially-formed landscapes of east-central Wisconsin. Campsites in this region range from 750 to 1,100 feet in elevation, with the area receiving approximately 35 inches of precipitation annually. Summer temperatures typically range from 60°F to 85°F, making late spring through early fall the prime camping season in the region.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Horicon Marsh, the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States, attracts numerous bird species. Nearby at Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake, campers have lakefront access. "They also have tent sites. This season there will be new owners so I hope they keep some of the annual activities," notes Kevin C.
Backpacking trails: The area offers hiking opportunities with backpacking sites at KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site. "Great backpack camp site. Decent walk and terrain to get to the site. There is an open shelter to put your tent if you prefer to outside," states Erin Z. The shelter includes a fire pit and picnic table for overnight stays.
Cycling routes: The Glacial Drumlin bike trail connects to several camping areas in the region. According to Kim L., "Wild Goose bike trail leads to this park in Juneau. It's a good place to stop and have a break. There's a playground and public bathroom, drinking fountain."
What campers like
Private campsites: Many campers appreciate the secluded nature of sites in the Horicon area. Hilary S. from Northern Unit Greenbush Group Camp reports, "The nine sites are visually separated, but not far enough away from each other to block louder noise. We had six tents, but the site could easily have accommodated more."
Lake views: Waterfront camping provides scenic vistas at several locations. At Snug Harbor, Josh F. notes, "The property is basically terraced along a slope down to the lake, with the RV and mobile home sites closer to the lake. The tent sites are above it all with decent views of the lake below."
Oak savanna environments: The region's natural landscape features oak savannas ideal for tent camping. Tawnie T. from Sandhill Station State Campground shares, "The sites are all very remote; no onsite rangers or anything like that. Beautiful walk in sites, no carts to haul gear so pack light!"
What you should know
Weather considerations: The region can experience extreme temperature variations. Tawnie T. warns about Sandhill Station: "We were there in mid-June on one of the hottest weekends of the year and we were massacred the second we walked into the site. I do believe these would be lovely sites in the fall or Spring, though."
Gear hauling requirements: Many campsites require carrying equipment from parking areas. At KMSF Shelter 1, campers should "Bring a small axe" for gathering firewood, as Erin Z. recommends, noting the site has limited facilities but "It's very secluded for privacy."
Water availability: Access to drinking water varies significantly between campgrounds. Hilary S. observed at Northern Unit Greenbush: "Water is usually available, but more limited during the pandemic (spigot turned off by our campsite, but available near the parking lot at the entrance - a longer walk)."
Tips for camping with families
Playground accessibility: Several campgrounds offer playgrounds for children. At Wild Goose City Park, Kim L. mentions, "There's a playground and public bathroom, drinking fountain. Plenty of space to spread out for a picnic when you're biking through."
Group camping options: Families can book adjacent sites or group areas. Amber R. describes Greenbush Group Campground: "Large sites great for groups. Sites 2 and 9 are the largest. Those can each fit over 20 backpacking tents at the same time. Grassy sites surrounded by trees (plenty for hammocks too)."
Small campground advantages: Less crowded options provide quieter family experiences. Kevin S. describes Waubedonia County Park as "A nice little campground near the river in Fredonia, WI. The campsites are inexpensive and comfortable, though there aren't as many amenities that a larger campground would have."
Tips from RVers
Terrain awareness: The sloped landscape affects site selection. Josh F. notes about Snug Harbor, "The campground is basically terraced along a slope down to the lake, with the RV and mobile home sites closer to the lake."
On-site amenities: Some campgrounds provide additional services. James W. shares his experience at Snug Harbor: "Staff was great, helped me back in. Nice Bar/Restaurant on site. Met 2 nice couples which helped with any questions."
Seasonal considerations: Weather patterns impact the camping experience. Carole X. reported about her stay at Snug Harbor, "Beautiful views overlooking Turtle Lake. Friendly and helpful staff. My husband got stung twice when we went to plug-in our electric. But the staff came out immediately to spray and remove the nest."
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Horicon, WI?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Horicon, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Horicon, WI is Wild Goose City Park with a 3-star rating from 1 review.
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What is the best site to find tent camping near Horicon, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Horicon, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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