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Best Tent Camping near Janesville, WI

723 Reviews

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."

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Best Tent Sites Near Janesville, Wisconsin (13)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Janesville, WI

10 Photos of 13 Janesville Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Janesville, WI

723 Reviews of 13 Janesville Campgrounds

  • Marisa A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2020

    MacQueen Forest Preserve

    Secluded Hike-in Tent Campsites on the Kish

    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. This is a very primative campground with 1 set of Vault toilets. The other campsites require a walk/hike along a gravel path for completely wooded sites or cross a football sized meadow for open air sites. There are several well-water pumps "not for drinking." Each campsite has a fire pit and a picnic table. Pack out your garbage for the dumpster in the parking lot. There are only 9 sites total. VERY private and secluded. Tents only! Massive forest preserve area for excellent hiking. 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.) Absolutely NO ALCOHOL. Cost for tent sites is only $4 per tent or tent-like structure. There are primitive cabins for rent and a large lodge if you rented the structure for an event here. By their facebook page, it looks like there have been beautiful weddings here. This is a former scout camp flanked by more forest preserves. The ranger is very nice and the entrance is locked from sunset to sunrise. I hesitated even posting this tent-camping primitive heaven, because I almost want to keep it for myself and the locals. Please practice leave no trace and follow the rules if you go so this place stays open. Dog friendly, but must be leashed all of time or a $50 fine. My dog loved the trails and river crossings! Gorgeous hidden gem about an hour into cornfield country from Chicago NW suburbs like Woodfield Mall. I had cell service at one spot in the parking lot, but it was fleeting with T-mobile. A fellow camper had the best private spot (#2) which other than the ada site was the best because it was closest to the parking lot, yet she still had a festival/yard cart to pull her gear up a gravel path. Make sure you bring yours or are outfitted with backpacking gear. Like anywhere, prevent insect deforestation and don't bring firewood, it's fine, they have plenty.

  • Meg
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    Beautiful View (site 20), serious slope

    We LOVE site 20 as does everyone else who books this one up quick. Literally the only downside is that you have no flat spots anywhere on the site, which killed our backs sleeping in tents.

    Pros - lake view, but a safe distance down the hill so no worries about the kids at the campsite.

    On the end with tons of privacy, full row of trees and a ton of space until the next site. It’s like your own mini oasis.

    Lake is also fabulous. We decided to rent instead of hauling our own kayak and they were clean, affordable and quick process.

    Cons - lol that hill is no joke. Pit toilets I wouldn’t touch with a 10ft pole, but that’s pretty typical.

  • Alex H.
    Sep. 26, 2022

    Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

    No Flat Spots

    Very nice park. Well marked and maintained trails. A large lake with boat launch and beach area. Separate pet area.

    We spent the weekend at site 101, which is a tent site. I wouldn't recommend this site. based on a quick walkaround, it seemed a bit smaller than other sites. That's not really a deal-breaker, but it didn't really have any flat spots to pitch the tent. We ended up pitching it up on the parking area, but it was still a bit slanted and we could feel the tire divot a little through the air mattresses. Aside from that, it was great. The site had a picnic table and fire ring that we used a lot. It was secluded from the surrounding sites.

    We hiked the Windy Ridge trail and the Prairie Loop trail. both were well maintained and enjoyable trails. We also spent some time on the beach.

  • Cristina S.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Blue Mound State Park Campground

    Clean and Modern

    Campsites, trails and facilities were immaculate. Staff was friendly. drive in and hike in sites available. great for families; trails have info markers to educate hikers on geology and flora of area. Drive in campsites had fire rings and picnic tables, vault toilets available.

  • Sarah B.
    Jul. 19, 2024

    Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

    Def do not recommend for summer 2024!

    I wanted so badly to love this campground experience, but just didn't. Site 19 was an easy walk-in that theoretically had nearby vault toilets, parking, and water.

    Each site only had space for one car to park before walking in. Not a huge deal, but annoying as there were 2 of us who drove separate and we had to problem solve. When we got to the site I was shocked to see that what was labeled as a tent site had literally NO flat space to actually set up a tent. Spacious site, but fully sloped.

    Also, what I would have loved to know, is that the vault toilets are closed because they are doing construction to build something new in that space. Construction that starts loudly each day at 7am. Honestly every site from about #35 down was affected by the noise because the construction is happening in the middle of the loop (and actually blocking some of the one-way road as well).

    The park in general was okay. Per the usual, the pet areas were lacking. No beach at all, just grass covered in goose poop and one cut out on the raised shore between tall grasses and foliage where a dog could potentially jump in. Certainly nowhere for a human to enjoy the water with their pups unfortunately.

  • Josh F.
    Sep. 21, 2020

    Blue Mound State Park Campground

    Close to Madison, near Military Ridge Trail, Some sites are Far, Far Away

    I spent two nights in the campground at Blue Mound State Park. Overall, the park has well-maintained hiking and MTB biking trails, extraordinarily clean and well-kept vault toilets, and ample access to drinking water. Both tent and RV/camper sites are on a typical one-way road pattern with a couple of loops there are plenty of sites with and without electricity. At the time I was there, the camp host sold high-quality hard wood for $5/bundle from a trailer on the honor system, so if you run out in the middle of the night, wood was easy to replenish. One of the park's highlights are lookout towers with views above the treetops, Unfortunately in 2020 both were closed, presumably because it would be difficult to keep a safe distance from others when on the stairs or while at the top. Pity, it'll be a reason to return. Still, there are several observation areas that are maintained well enough to keep the undergrowth from blocking the view of the Wisconsin River Valley nearly 15 miles to the north. This is where the "Blue Mound" name must come from, the hills at that distance did have a bluish cast to them.

    If you've read any of my other reviews you know what's next, my list of the best campsites. While I've visited several parks now that have "walk in" sites, with cars parked a minute or two from the campsite, about a dozen sites in Blue Mound State Park take "walk in" to a new level. Cars can drive to a barrier across the road, and the sites are a 10-15 minute walk downhill, The park provides ONE medium-sized cart (250 lb weight limit, 20-minute use limit) that I guess would be in high demand during load in and load out. (NOTE TO SELF, camp Thursday through Monday if going here, or arrive EARLY to get a cart). Most of these sites are quite sunny; 105 is nice and shady and private, 106 slightly shaded 109 and 110 are shaded, very close to one another and would be good for a group camp setup 111 is quite shady. There's water and toilets in the walk-in camp ground. You'd want to sip wood for campfires and cooking, the nearest source is a 15-minute walk uphill and back, and then if using the cart, you have to return it for another round trip.

    Back in the family campground where mortals and RVs park, I think the following are the nicest in terms of shade, level, size and privacy.

    42, 45, 47, 51, 64, 66, 69, 71, 73

  • Josh F.
    Dec. 29, 2020

    New Glarus State Park Campground

    Small, close to 2 busy roads - there are nicer options in Southern Wis.

    Throughout the summer of 2020, I camped at a number of Wisconsin state parks in the southern part of the state but hadn't gotten to camp at this one yet. While driving through the area I visited the park in December- photos won't show its summertime beauty but my walk through the park identified some ideal spots for camping. 

    The state park is open year-round, camping open May - October. The first thing I visited were the walk-in campsites. There is a loading zone parking lot with limited time parking. Access to the 14 walk-in sites is via a single trail with campsites on either side of the trail. There is a decrepit but functional pit toilet. All the walk-in sites have a picnic table and each is tucked off the trail into the woods.

    The downside to the walk-in sites is their proximity to a major highway. While walking through the campground I could easily hear the road noise. If I were looking to get away from civilization, or at least pretend to be far away from it all, that road noise would be a constant reminder that I wasn't. The further down the walk-in site trail I got, the closer I got to the highway and in fact, car headlights showed right up the trail as I was approaching the last set of campsites.

    When looking at a map and choosing a site, the walk-in campsites on the same side of the trail as the toilet are a little more private and secluded, and back up to expansive woods. The sites on the other side of the trail are nice but they are a little closer to the freeway and don't have as much forest coverage behind the campsites. The furthest walk-in site is at least a 4-minute (slightly downhill) walk from the parking lot. The centrally-located restroom is no more than 2 minutes from any of the walk-in campsites. Sites are between 40 and 1,000 feet from the walk-in loading zone.

    If walking to your campsite isn't your thing there is also a family campground with 17 drive-in (not drive through) sites located along a typical one-way paved road system. Unfortunately, this side of the state park is bordered by a different and only slightly less traveled road than the walk-in sites. Some campsites are sandwiched between the loop road and the main road, are lit by nighttime traffic headlights lights. As the campground road continues toward the group campground it veers away from the main road and offers a bit more privacy. These are the sites I'd select if I were to camp here.

    Of the group campsites, 55 and 56 are in a nicely wooded area with shade. 52 53 and 54 are in an open area with no shade. The family campground is serviced by two pit toilets centrally located to the campsites.

    Due to the very small size of this state park, lack of much to do except one hiking trail through it, and proximity to two main roads, I would not recommend the state park. There are many others in southern Wisconsin that have far more to offer. 

    Seriously, if you're looking for a Wisconsin state park in this neck of the woods, check out Yellowstone Lake or Blue Mound State Park instead. See my review of the latter for specific spots that would be awesome for tent camping.

  • S
    Oct. 2, 2020

    Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    Good Tent Sites

    We visited this spot last summer as a place to stay for 1 night on our way farther north.

    We really enjoy tent camping and prefer walk-in/hike in sites so we can have some privacy away from other campers. The campsites were decently dispersed and the ground was nice and grassy so it was pretty comfortable.

    We always want more space between campsites, but I think the privacy level was fine. The tent sites are right off the parking lot where the boat ramp is so maybe on a busy weekend it would be a little loud, but overall a nice night for us!

    We left in the morning to continue our drive so we didn’t spend much time checking out the hiking trails.

    We did however go checkout the beach which wasn’t much to write home about. If I remember correctly, we had to pay a fee to enter. Always happy to support a state park. We just figured since we were already paying to camp there, it wouldn’t cost extra. I’m pretty sure we paid an admission fee and didn’t stay for long. It was across the way and requires a drive instead of a hike to get there.

  • Becca Z.
    Aug. 30, 2020

    Lowden State Park Campground

    Great camping spot!

    We were so happy with the size of the tent camping sites. They were mostly all flat, plenty of space and gave privacy from the neighbors. We were at site 28 which had both sun and shade. Right across from the pit toilets which I wouldn’t pick next time. There was no shower house or running water in the loop we were at. Across the street were the electric rv sites and a few tent sites. Only compliant is even from the middle of the campground we could hear the road noise. Otherwise great!

Guide to Janesville

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.

What to do

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.

What campers like

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."

What you should know

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."

Tips for camping with families

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.

Tips from RVers

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 Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.

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TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Janesville, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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