2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
State parks and county forests surrounding Janesville, Wisconsin provide diverse tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. New Glarus State Park Campground, located 30 miles southwest of Janesville, offers both drive-in and walk-in tent sites within a wooded setting. Sandhill Station State Campground in the Lake Mills Wildlife Area provides tent-only camping in an oak savanna environment. For primitive tent camping experiences, MacQueen Forest Preserve in northern Illinois (about 45 minutes south) features secluded walk-in tent sites along the Kishwaukee River. KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site offers backcountry tent camping for those seeking deeper seclusion within the Kettle Moraine State Forest system.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of accessibility. Walk-in tent sites at New Glarus require a short hike from parking areas, with distances ranging from 40 to 1,000 feet. Sites typically include fire rings and picnic tables, with vault toilets centrally located. Sandhill Station's carry-in sites require campers to transport gear 100-500 yards from the parking area, with no carts available to assist with gear transport. MacQueen Forest Preserve provides wagons for hauling equipment to primitive tent sites. Water availability varies significantly between locations, with many sites offering non-potable pump water only. Campers should verify seasonal restrictions, as some areas close during winter months or implement fire bans during dry periods.
In early fall, tent campsites throughout the region offer more comfortable temperatures and fewer insects. According to reviews, MacQueen Forest Preserve provides exceptional privacy with sites spaced at least 50 yards apart, making it ideal for tent-only camping. One camper noted that New Glarus walk-in sites are "spaced out well and heavily wooded," though highway noise can be problematic, especially on weekdays. Tent campers at Sandhill Station frequently appreciate the spacious, private sites but recommend avoiding midsummer visits due to mosquitoes near stagnant water. The terrain at most locations is suitable for standard tent setups, though some sites at New Glarus become less level the further they are from parking areas. Winter camping is possible at select locations, with MacQueen Forest Preserve's site #8 highlighted as offering "great remote location overlooking the river."
"We have camped at several of the walk-in sites."
"Smaller campground with decent sized campsites with picnic table and fire ring pit. Although my site and quite a bit of unleveled ground which made for limit options to pitch a tent."
Available next weekend
from $19 - $70 / night
"If your family's perfect camping trip includes saddling up and exploring miles of wooded trails together, the Equestrian Campground at Rock Cut State Park offers a wonderfully peaceful place to spend a"
"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."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $19 - $70 / night
"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
"This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs. There is one wheelchair accessible tent site on a blacktop path in the forest canopy."
"You can't see the campsite next to you, and they all have a picnic table and a fire ring. You do have to walk into all of them, but they do have one wagon and a dolly you can use to tote things in."
"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."
"Pit toilets/shelter/playground near the entrance. Two boat launches.
Variable availability for firewood; the Cenex on the west end of Argyle reliably sells it if there isn't any at the park."
"We saw so much wildlife and really enjoyed the songs of the many species of birds in the area."
from $65 / night
"Here on the Rock River just north of Oregon, there’s something about the gentle bend of the river that makes you exhale a little deeper the moment you arrive, like you’ve stepped into a slower, more playful"
from $74 - $100 / night
ScoutThis 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. 👎
TravelerSmaller campground with decent sized campsites with picnic table and fire ring pit. Although my site and quite a bit of unleveled ground which made for limit options to pitch a tent. Pretty good cell service with T- mobile.
TravelerWe got a campsite with a concrete pad. Electricity 30 amp site. There is a dump station close to the registration office. Boat ramp available for campers. One cabin for rental overlooking the Pierce Lake $50/night for Illinois resident. Beautiful setting. Wild turkeys roaming through our campground.
ScoutCampground is small with only 18 car camping sites. Vault toilets, no showers. No electricity or dump station. Group camping sites and walk-in or bike-sites also available. I don't mind vault toilets but they were very low to the ground without any grab bar. I found it odd that this campground has many sites for cyclists using the sugar river bike trail and there isn't any showers. Being close to town is nice. There is a paved path that takes you right into New Glarus and past the New Glarus Brewery. After a day of cycling or hiking, one really needs a shower before heading into town!!
ScoutThe park is beautiful. The water is beautiful. They say it's a gated community, but it's open to the public 9 to 5 daily. At twenty five dollars per person. And then on friday and saturday night, the locals that park here for the summer start their party central including karaoke at the camper next door, and several others. I've never had a camcround with that loud of parties. And it's a weekend event. I like hearing and seeing people having fun but when the manager extends the curfew for the parties she's at (they kind of party hop), it starts to affect the enjoyment of the park. If we had to stay, we'd stay in the S## sites in the back, where you don't hear so much of the partying. And then during the day, the rules began. Kind of like the soup nazi.
ScoutLOTS of acorns and walnuts dropping on the camper all day and night
TravelerThere’s a lot of things to do out here. We did some hiking with our boy. The site we were at was maintained. It’s a nice place to go camping.
LegendThere’s something wonderfully EZ about camping where the kids can wander down toward the water and suddenly the whole weekend seems to slow down ... and that’s the entire charm of Honeysuckle Hollow. Here at Chain O’Lakes State Park, Honeysuckle Hollow is the largest and most wide open of the park’s camping areas, with electric sites geared particularly well toward RV families, although the tradeoff is noticeably less shade and almost zero privacy between nearly every campsite, compared with neighboring Fox Den, which offers up much more seclusion and shade. The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore the shoreline, while electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and a nearby restroom/shower building keep the actual camping comfortably simple. We especially loved those unhurried moments when the boys could wander toward the lake while dinner was getting started and everyone seemed perfectly happy just being outside together. The shower facility here is convenient, although we found it just slightly more dilapidated conditions than the bathhouse located closer to Fox Den. From what we saw, I’d choose one of the better-spaced sites toward the Turner Lake side of the campground, where EZ water access helps compensate for Honeysuckle’s limited privacy. I’d recommend Honeysuckle for families who value electricity, lake access and a lively campground atmosphere, particularly if having Turner Lake practically in your backyard matters more than having your neighbors hidden behind the trees. One point to note is that the pier was in an advanced state of disrepair and so we were not able to fully maximize this particular amenity - so if accessing Turner Lake is important to you and your family, we would recommend calling ahead to verify the condition of the pier.
GuideWe are traveling mid week in September so did not make advanced reservations. The registration booth attendant assigned us site 506. (We were not permitted to drive through to pick our own location before registering). Our site was grassy and a bit muddy after some significant rains, but it was cozy with trees and tall brush on all sides. Pit toilets at each loop with a shower building just 5 minute walk away. You can hear the din of the highway about .5 miles away, but an easy place to stay if you are traveling through. Electricity on site, water spigots nearby and dump station near the entrance.
Tent camping near Janesville, Wisconsin offers secluded outdoor experiences in an area where oak forests meet prairies. Situated between 750 and 900 feet above sea level, the region features varied terrain with hiking trails that connect to larger trail systems. Seasonal temperatures range from below freezing in winter to humid 80°F days in summer, with fall camping season extending through mid-October when nighttime temperatures typically drop into the 40s.
Brewery visits: 1.5 miles from campsite. Staying at New Glarus State Park Campground puts you within walking distance of New Glarus Brewery. One reviewer notes, "This park is a favorite stop of ours when we want to go visit new glarus brewery for a few beers. It's about a mile and half away."
River tubing: Multi-hour floats available. The Kishwaukee River offers tubing opportunities near MacQueen Forest Preserve. A camper shared, "Some fellow campers were doing a diy tubing right to the campground. About a 2 hr lazy river tube from Kingston or 5hrs from Genoa on the slow moving S. Branch of the Kishwaukee River which can be pretty deep in places."
Bike trail access: Direct connections. Several campgrounds connect to regional bike trails. A New Glarus visitor mentioned, "It's proximity to the brewery and the restaurants, shops, and bars of New Glarus, can't be beat. Also on the Sugar River Trail so bring your bike!" Sandhill Station also sits right along the Glacial Drumlin bike trail for easy cycling access.
Privacy between sites: 50+ yards apart. MacQueen Forest Preserve offers exceptional isolation between campsites. A reviewer explains, "There are eight primitive campsites here, and they're spread out at least 50 yards apart. That's right, at least 50 yards. You can't see the campsite next to you."
Quiet tent-only camping: Limited traffic noise. Tent campers appreciate the peaceful atmosphere at many locations. At MacQueen Forest Preserve, one camper noted, "This is where to go if you don't like pitching a tent in a field of RVs." Another mentioned, "Spots are pretty spread out. Only sites 1,2,8 are forested the rest are around a large open field."
Budget-friendly options: $4-$5 per night. Several primitive camping options near Janesville are extremely affordable. A MacQueen Forest Preserve camper shared, "The very best part? You're in the middle of the country, with gorgeous sunsets, and the primitive camping is only $4." Another noted, "I will definitely be going back this year especially since it's close to me and it's only $5/night."
Train noise: Nighttime interruptions possible. Some campgrounds have nearby train tracks. A MacQueen Forest Preserve camper warned, "If you cannot sleep to the sound of trains at night, this is not the campground for you. I don't mind them at all, and rather enjoy the sound, but there were probably three of them that went by in the middle of the night."
Seasonal mosquito activity: Early fall recommended. Insect populations can be problematic in summer. At Sandhill Station State Campground, one camper shared, "Beautiful walk in sites, no carts to haul gear so pack light! The sites are really near some stagnant water, though, so WAY too many mosquitoes, even with the really intense bug spray."
Gear transport limitations: No carts at some locations. Many sites require carrying equipment from parking areas. At Sandhill Station, a reviewer noted, "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!" This contrasts with MacQueen, where "they do have one wagon and a dolly you can use to tote things in."
Site selection for stargazing: Open meadow sites. MacQueen Forest Preserve offers unique stargazing opportunities for families. A camper remarked, "About half of the campsites are in a meadow at the back end of the campground. It would be beautiful for stargazing!"
Accessible camping options: ADA sites available. Families with mobility needs can find accessible tent camping. At MacQueen Forest Preserve, "There is one wheelchair accessible tent site on a blacktop path in the forest canopy."
Water safety considerations: Varying depths. Families should note water conditions when camping near rivers. Regarding the Kishwaukee River, one camper mentioned it "can be pretty deep in places," suggesting careful supervision for children during water activities.
Terraced camping with views: Three-level layout. Snug Harbor Inn Campground features a unique multi-tiered camping arrangement. A reviewer explained, "Great three tiered camping spot. Full hookup, and great views. Has a pub/restaurant with good food."
Full hookup availability: Electric, water, sewer. RV campers can find complete services at select locations. One Snug Harbor camper noted, "They gave on site bathrooms and showers. Electric, water and sewer hookups."
Campground layout: RVs and tents separated. At Snug Harbor, the design separates different camping styles. A visitor observed, "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Janesville, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Janesville, WI is New Glarus State Park Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Janesville, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Janesville, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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