Top Tent Camping near Jefferson, WI

Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Jefferson? The Dyrt helps you find campsites with tent camping near Jefferson. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.

Best Tent Sites Near Jefferson, WI (11)

    Camper-submitted photo from Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake
    Camper-submitted photo from Sandhill Station State Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sandhill Station State Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sandhill Station State Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sandhill Station State Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sandhill Station State Campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sandhill Station State Campground
    • No image available

      3. KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site

      1 Review

      Designated backpack campsites are available by reservation at the following properties. These campsites may be several hundred yards to a few miles away from the nearest parking area and campers need to carry all gear in and out. Campsites typically feature a fire ring, seating, and a primitive privy or wilderness latrine, which may be shared with other campsites. There are also a limited number of opportunities for very primitive, remote camping on DNR lands.

      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • Tents
      • Dispersed
      • Tent Cabin
      Camper-submitted photo from New Glarus Woods State Park
      Camper-submitted photo from New Glarus Woods State Park
      Camper-submitted photo from New Glarus Woods State Park
      Camper-submitted photo from New Glarus Woods State Park
      Camper-submitted photo from New Glarus Woods State Park
      Camper-submitted photo from New Glarus Woods State Park

      4. New Glarus Woods State Park

      16 Reviews
      31 Photos
      48 Saves
      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Electric Hookups
      • Phone Service
      • Reservable
      • ADA Access

      $15 - $25 / night

      • No image available

        5. Wild Goose City Park

        1 Review
        1 Save
        • Pets
        • Phone Service
        • Reservable
        • ADA Access
        • Tents
        • Trash
        • No image available

          6. Cappie's Landing

          Be the first to review!
          2 Saves
          • Pets
          • Fires
          • Reservable
          • Tents
          • Toilets

          $20 / night

          Camper-submitted photo from Purplehaze Acres
          Camper-submitted photo from Purplehaze Acres

          7. Purplehaze Acres

          Be the first to review!
          2 Photos
          7 Saves

          Purplehaze Acres is a 60-acre organic rustic farm in Rubicon, WI and resides at the beginning of the approx. 650-mile Niagara Escarpment--known locally as "The Ledge". We are in close proximity to the Ice Age Trail, and the natural treasures of the great Horicon Marsh, Lake Sinnissipi/Rock River with canoeing/kayaking/fishing, Ledges County Park, and the world-renowned Holy Hill Shrine.

          Nearby Hustisford ("Husti") offers unique shopping and dining experiences, such as the Mercantile and Mocha Vino. Need a few organic groceries? Make sure to visit Back To The Best Organic grocer only 3 miles away, featuring food raised on local organic farms including Purplehaze Acres.

          Potable water, charcoal grills, firepit grates, eggs and available for purchase--firewood. COMING SOON: Did you forget something? If so, check out our Camp Cupboard Store. FYI: In addition to our private individual sites, our PEACE CAMP site is a group site perfect for the rustic camp wedding, small festivals, EAA, Harley celebrations and other fun casual events. Check out the Peace Camp listing for details.

          Your approach via 1/2-mile dirt drive up the hills and through the woods . . . to not your grandmother's typical house you go. You'll find wonderful vistas, wildflowers, berries, trails up into the woods, a 900' grass runway for aviators on an overall great "peace" of earth. ☮

          • Pets
          • Fires
          • Phone Service
          • Reservable
          • Tents
          • Picnic Table

          $40 - $160 / night

          Camper-submitted photo from Little Turtle Lake
          Camper-submitted photo from Little Turtle Lake

          8. Little Turtle Lake

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          2 Photos

          Primitive camping on private pond well maintained lawns. Clothing optional.

          • Pets
          • Fires
          • Phone Service
          • Reservable
          • Tents
          • Group

          $50 - $80 / night

          • No image available

            9. Scheidegger Forest (Dane County Parks)

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            3 Saves

            Scheidegger Forest is nearly 80 acres and offers a mile of loop of hiking trails, a reservable shelter, and restroom. The area has been restored from a former Dane County Sheriff shooting range to a managed forest of primarily oak and hickory. The shelter, kiosk, and bathroom were all built from wood harvested on-site. Water is not available at this site When this Group Camp is reserved, the Shelter is not available to be reserved by another party(and vice versa). Located~ 100 feet east of loop parking lot, just beyond the restroom No potable water at this time. Vault(pit) toilet. Campfire ring. No electricity. 20’ x 30’ shelter– picnic tables. Vehicle parking in parking lot * Reserve a campsite online here: https://web2.myvscloud.com/wbwsc/widanectywt.wsc/splash.html * Check opening and closing dates here: https://www.danecountyparks.com/about/Parks-Opening-Closing-Schedule * See campground rules here: https://www.danecountyparks.com/about/rules

            • Pets
            • Fires
            • Reservable
            • Tents
            • Group
            • Standard (Tent/RV)

            $65 / night

            • No image available
            Showing results 1-10 of 11 campgrounds

            Recent Tent Reviews In Jefferson

            587 Reviews of 11 Jefferson Campgrounds


            • Addison G.
              Camper-submitted photo from Turner Lake South - Chain O Lakes State Park
              Oct. 23, 2024

              Turner Lake South - Chain O Lakes State Park

              Awesome choice for campers on a budget

              These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There’s some small trails around as well that are beginner. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night. Bathrooms could’ve been cleaner but we were grateful for the facility which doubled as a storm shelter. There’s indoor showers and bathrooms. There are also cabins at this campsite, not sure on pricing tho

            • Brian O.
              Camper-submitted photo from Turner Lake South - Chain O Lakes State Park
              Oct. 17, 2024

              Turner Lake South - Chain O Lakes State Park

              Fine camping in Northern Illinois

              We stayed in the Turner lake south loop, which has nice and private sites. This is in contrast to Honeysuckle hollow which is open and row after row of RV sites. Fox den and Prairie view loops are nice as well with mostly primitive sites. Be aware that the map on www.ExloreMoreIL,com(where you make your reservations) doesn't show where the restrooms are. In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60& 61. Facilities are clean and well lit. Fire pits are slightly raised steel troughs with a heavy adjustable grill. This is a BIG park, the campgrounds are two miles from the front gate, and it's a drive to the main boat launch at Maple Grove, where you have access to the Fox River and Grass lake. This location has a huge parking lot for boat trailers, a very well stocked general store with fishing supplies, a cafe, boat rentals and good firewood. To get away from the crowd if you're a canoeist or kayaker it's nicer to leave the park and go back in at Oak Point picnic area and boat launch at the northern border. This will put you on the Fox river with developments to the north(including a bar& grill) or to the south which is all nature. I think the distance by boat between the two launches is 4-5 miles, but I'm not sure, Halfway there you'll meet up with the Goldfinch trail which is the shortest loop and the most diverse in term of flora. There are horse/ snowmobile trails, but no equestrian campground. Chain o' Lakes is one of the busiest waterways in Illinois, with motorboats everywhere in the height of the summer season. We canoe, and both times we stayed there it was October, so I can't tell you how crowded, but the vast number of picnic areas must be there for a reason. An odd thing is that you can hear a Steam Train whistle quite often, this is from Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove. We don't have kids so we went to Stade's Farm& Orchard(which is also large and kid friendly) because they have an orchard and vegetable market. One last thing, the gates close at 10:PM and there are tire shredders, you can leave but you can't get back in… unless you want to walk 2+ miles in the dark:)

            • Linda N.
              Camper-submitted photo from Milton-Madison SE KOA
              Oct. 16, 2024

              Milton-Madison SE KOA

              cant wait to go back

              I ended up here because I was going to a music festival in the area, and they turned me away because I have a service animal. I wasn't going to do all that work for nothing and just go home, so I decided to look up my nearest campground and it was KOA in Milton. they made me feel welcome. they understood my dilemma. it was a wonderful weekend. lots of amenities and I just absolutely can't wait to go back next year. I'm going to try to make it a couple times. so much fun, just me and my dog. And one last the thing, my fellow campers were more than hospitable and very nice and I appreciate that very much.

            • Linda N.
              Camper-submitted photo from Sweet Minnihaha Campground
              Oct. 16, 2024

              Sweet Minnihaha Campground

              music fest

              I originally went to this campground a couple years ago for a music festival, but I discovered how much fun it was. the people were incredible. the staff was really awesome so I continue to make it back at least once a year

            • A
              Camper-submitted photo from Big Foot Beach State Park
              Oct. 11, 2024

              Big Foot Beach State Park

              A bit deceptive

              So this place is much less dog friendly than is advertised. Dogs aren’t allowed in large swaths of the park nor on the (tiny tiny, bordered by loud highway) beach. Lake Geneva is very pretty, but the area is obviously very wealthy and obviously geared toward retirees without dogs or with tiny dogs they leave at the RV (to bark, constantly, at their next site neighbors. Until the owners get back.)

            • Jaime P.The Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Badgerland Campground
              Sep. 9, 2024

              Badgerland Campground

              Great little campground

              We booked a weekend here for a soccer tournament we had in Verona, so we didn’t spend a lot of time on the property. The staff was amazing! Very friendly and helpful for us new to camping people. We booked online and they were also friendly when I messed up my reservation so thanks for that too. We booked in VIP 1, which is right next to the bath house. We wanted to be close to the showers (coin op). We figured since we’re at a sporting event that might be nice. Very quiet at night. We did have a little time to go fishing at the fishing pond. We didn’t catch anything but we had fun. The fishing pond is a ways from our camping area though. It would have been a long walk so we drove. WiFi is for a fee but it was fine. The fee wasn’t expensive (less than $5). No sewer hook up but there is a dump site so no big deal. Overall good stay.

            • Kenny P.
              Camper-submitted photo from Thomas Woods Campground
              Sep. 7, 2024

              Thomas Woods Campground

              Great place for secluded camping

              Camped here on a whim. Amazing area. Super friendly hosts. The only thing I wish was a little more accessible is the website. I didn't know what kind of site I was getting, what it looked like, or if it was a hike in site or not. Turns out mine was, but it was not an issue for me on this trip. Site 30 for anyone interested.

            • Erin Z.
              Camper-submitted photo from KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site
              Jul. 22, 2024

              KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site

              Remote backpacking Shelter 1

              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. There is a fire pit, but we found our own wood around the site. (Bring a small axe). There is an outhouse, but I wouldn’t recommend using it. There is a picnic table and a bench. It’s very secluded for privacy :) we will definitely be back.

            • Erin Z.
              Camper-submitted photo from Ottawa Lake Campground
              Jul. 21, 2024

              Ottawa Lake Campground

              Great Family Campground!

              Site was spacious but very close to your neighbors. Lots to do in the area. Bathrooms and showers were clean. The beach was not clean and very hard to walk on, very rocky. Electricity on site and water near by. Great trails close by.

            • Julia B.
              Camper-submitted photo from Turner Lake South - Chain O Lakes State Park
              Jul. 18, 2024

              Turner Lake South - Chain O Lakes State Park

              Nice lake

              The campsites are kinda small but not on top of each other. Had some raccoons at night even after we locked up everything in the car. The lake was very nice. We were able to kayak but be careful getting the kayaks in. Stairs down to the pier and the bottom of the lake is very mushy. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by. This loop is best for tent camping. The other loops are basically all rvs. The boat launch to the fox river was nice too but it does get busy.

            • Chris P.
              Camper-submitted photo from Happy Acres Kampground
              Jul. 9, 2024

              Happy Acres Kampground

              Worse place of the trip

              Tried to stay here. Called several times. Left several messages. We were heading that way and decided to stop in and see if they had availability. Pulled in and there was a lady inside the office and it was locked. She gave me an evil look then ignored me. Called twice from the parking lot from inside my rig while staring at the woman. She ignored the call.

            • JThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Madison Campground
              Jul. 2, 2024

              Madison Campground

              Cute campground - near Madison

              We were in Site# B1. We had Full hook- up with a gravel pull-thru. We travel towing a 14 foot trailer and were able to fit both in our pull through site. My jeep though did not fit. The site was easy to level.

              Our site was shaded with lots of trees. This was a larger sized lot with our neighbors not too close (but we did choose a premium site with a patio and paid extra to be on the end).

              This specific lot comes with a concrete patio The lot comes with a picnic table and fire hole in the ground.

              They have a community Outdoor kitchen-y area with picnic tables.
              They do not provide garbage service at your site so you must walk to garbage dumpster.

              You are allowed to ride personal golf carts. There is really not a need to have a Golf cart because it is a smaller campground.

              They do have a Swimming pool.
              There is a Playground. They also offer horseshoes and a volleyball court.

              They have a great general store.

              The streets are gravel so not great for riding bikes but there are great places to ride bikes outside of campground, especially around Middleton and Madison.

              They have cabins for rent and tent areas.

              They have one shower house. The shower house has the typical stalls. These are kept mostly clean.

              There is a laundry facility. It is a cash only facility, but they have a change machine.

              They have a fenced in dog park and many grassy areas to walk dogs.

              There were no trails to hike in the campground.

              Some fun things to do outside of the campground are the Saturday Farmer’s Market in Madison and multitude of bike trails.

            • Rebecca C.
              Camper-submitted photo from Rock Cut state park
              Jun. 30, 2024

              Rock Cut state park

              Not well maintained

              We have a 30 amp trailer. When we got there, the electricity wasn't working. It was 93° on a Saturday. We called the Rangers and asked them to look at our site breaker since it kept tripping. They came, told us the park was old and not updated but then ultimately told us it was our trailer. We had to rent a motel for the night because we couldn't even pull out the slide or anything. This was after spending about 6 hours pulling apart all the electrical in the trailer. Went to camping world the next day just for us to use their plugs and it was fine. We thought maybe it was our cord so we bought a new one and still nothing. We called the Rangers again who came to look at it. Told us that the park was just so old that it probably couldn't keep up and moved us to a 50 amp sight. The 30 amp plug there would work for about 2 mins and then would keep tripping again. So we ended up having to go back to camping world to get an adapter to use the 50 amp. Wasted about 30 hours of our trip over their electrical not being updated and they knew that. Tried to reach out to get the first night reimbursed since we literally couldn't even stay there or use our trailer. Was told we had to come back the next day to speak to the head ranger, came back and he wasn't there again. Was told he would call us two different times and never got a call. Will never stay here again.

            • tThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Madison Campground
              Jun. 23, 2024

              Madison Campground

              Basic

              While the location is great for fast travels into Madison, or getting to great hiking areas. My only complaint is that not every pull through is provided with a fire ring to burn wood (they almost seem random) and that the check in building is a bit bare. Otherwise, great location, great (partial) amenities, and good customer service.

            • Kim J.
              Camper-submitted photo from Waupun Park Campground
              Jun. 21, 2024

              Waupun Park Campground

              Nice campgrounds

              We stayed there for a while very pretty and the people very friendly bring wood to your camp they have trails you can walk and county pool and golf course sites are good size we will return it's close to town as well

            • T
              Camper-submitted photo from Ledge County Park
              Jun. 9, 2024

              Ledge County Park

              Great Park!!

              It was our first time visiting Ledge Park & we would absolutely go back! The sites are natural feeling and the park is very, very clean (including the bathrooms)… the views from “The Ledge” are hard to beat.

            • Addison G.
              Camper-submitted photo from Pinewoods Campground
              May. 30, 2024

              Pinewoods Campground

              Great access to Scuppernong Hikes

              Stayed in campsite directly connected to Green Trail of the Scuppernong Trailhead. Campsite was clean and quite private for being near people.

            • Addison G.
              Camper-submitted photo from Ottawa Lake Campground
              May. 29, 2024

              Ottawa Lake Campground

              Great spot for hiking Kettle Moraine

              Campsites are kept up and quite clean. Some have a beautiful view of lake. Some water fountains did not work, however sinks were always working. So many little trails all throughout the campsite. Family friendly (parks, beach, pet friendly)

            • H
              Camper-submitted photo from The Playful Goose Campground
              May. 26, 2024

              The Playful Goose Campground

              Insert Terrible Adjective

              The Good: Campsites along the river looked really nice. The Bad: We had a 3 day holiday weekend booked for tent camping.Unfortunately the weather did not hold up and our site was completely soaking wet- we could not even steak out our tent. The owner of the campground denied a refund due to policy. The amount of rules and regulations this camp ground has is absolutely absurd. The Ugly: When checking into our site, the woman working the desk was efficient but things took a bad turn really quick. 1. If you book on the Playful Goose website you will get charged a% service fee, which The Playful Goose Staff does not stand behind. 2. If you book on the Playful Goose website you must specify how many nights, adults and tents per site. Without too many logistics, we ended up paying over$220 for a weekend JUST TO CAMP IN HORICON. While trying to set up camp in the rain, a male(we were told he was the assistant manager) in a golf cart drove near our site yelling vulgar language, accusing our group of doing things to the grass(when the grass was a swamp to begin with due to weather) and lastly, as the man was driving away he continued to make harassing comments. The lack of professionalism, courtesy and respect from staff was unacceptable as a paying guest. Playful Goose Takeaway: I will never spend my hard earned money here. Again. And be sure to tell everyone I know to not spend their hard earned money here either. There are so many other beautiful camp grounds within a 100 mile radius and this one will be my last choice. Such a shame this wonderful campground I used to visit has gone down hill.

            • BThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Madison Campground
              May. 24, 2024

              Madison Campground

              Okay if other campgrounds are full or for just 1 night

              Easy to get to from I-90 but also a bit too close so there is road noise. The price may be a little high at $66.00 per night but the sites are all drive through and can handle large rigs. Not bad for a quick one-night stay. Many available sites even on memorial weekend 2024

            • Addison G.
              Camper-submitted photo from Honeysuckle Hollow - Chain O Lakes State Park
              May. 14, 2024

              Honeysuckle Hollow - Chain O Lakes State Park

              Super cute little campsite

              We stayed in Honeysuckle Hollow for a night. Not many people were there that night, as it thunder stormed. However site was well kept and concession stand available by the boat dock with everything you might need.

            • Susan K.
              Camper-submitted photo from Thomas Woods Campground
              May. 12, 2024

              Thomas Woods Campground

              Thomas Woods Campground

              The campground is beautiful wish it was open more than the weekend's. The campground host needs to lighten up and shes out on the gator every 30 minutes, that gets annoying, also since we have also worked as campground hosts you don't run around with the gator giving people rides. It is a shame but we won't camp here again.

              They should check up on the campground host and hire one with a pleasant personality

            • Mehran S.
              Camper-submitted photo from Ottawa Lake Campground
              May. 5, 2024

              Ottawa Lake Campground

              Decent Family Campground (5/3/2024)

              It’s a family friendly and decent campground. Sites are not too secluded, but they’re clean and well taken care of, the facilities weren’t clean, they have volunteer hosts on site for any needs, the lake is beautiful during the sunset, sandy area and playground for kids, car noise is noticeable but not too loud (in the inner camp sites). Few trails around for hiking. They charge an extra $11 for each car’s entry at the gate but you can use the car pass for visiting all the state park’s trails around the area (you need permit for parking at the trailheads). It’s good for family with kids or beginner campers, but not if you’re looking for a relaxing or adventurous time.

            • J H.
              Camper-submitted photo from Crazy Horse Campground
              Apr. 18, 2024

              Crazy Horse Campground

              Used to be a great place to camp

              Unfortunately, I can no longer say this is a great, affordable place to stay. The weekly rates increased by over $75 a week for the full hookup sites this season.  

              There was also a link to last years pricing still active until 4/16 that has since been deactivated when I asked to have my pricing adjusted to that amount. Seems deceptive to me, having 2 different prices in 2 different places on their site.  They will not honor the price and told me if I don't like it I can find somewhere else to camp. 

              Also, they no longer offer kayaks, which was the big draw to the campground. 

              We may keep our reservation this year, but likely won't be back next season.



            Guide to Jefferson

            Camping near Jefferson, Wisconsin, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From scenic trails to family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.

            What to do:

            • Hiking: Explore the numerous trails available at Rock Cut State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "There are plenty of scenic photo opportunities especially during the fall season."
            • Fishing: Enjoy fishing at Quartzite Campground — Devils Lake State Park. A reviewer noted, "The best beach around, crystal clear, shallow water was perfect for our young kids to play in."
            • Swimming: Take a dip in the swimming pond at Rock Cut State Park Campground. Another camper shared, "They have sites with electric and sites just for tents. Tons of trails, fishing and even a swimming pond."

            What campers like:

            What you should know:

            • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can be noisy, especially on weekends. A camper at Big Foot Beach State Park Campground noted, "Always full on weekends. Popular destination for locals and people from Illinois."
            • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have extensive amenities. A visitor at Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "The vault toilets are closed because they are doing construction to build something new in that space."
            • Site Conditions: Some sites may be unlevel or have limited space for tents. A reviewer at Harrington Beach State Park Campground shared, "The sites are gravel but very unlevel."

            Tips for camping with families:

            Tips from RVers:

            • Check Site Conditions: Before booking, check the site conditions. A visitor at Northern Lights Campground — Devils Lake State Park noted, "Some sites have quite a bit of slant but it’s workable."
            • Bring Adapters: If you have an RV, be prepared with adapters for electrical hookups. A camper at Ice Age Campground — Devils Lake State Park mentioned, "The campground remained quiet."
            • Explore Nearby Dining: Don’t forget to explore local dining options. A reviewer at Rock Cut State Park Campground suggested, "If you are on the prowl to see some of the most amazing animals that call northern Illinois their home, then you’ve hit the wild animal jackpot."

            Camping near Jefferson, Wisconsin, has its perks and quirks. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a memorable outdoor experience!

            Frequently Asked Questions

            • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Jefferson, WI?

              According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Jefferson, WI is Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.

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

              TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Jefferson, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.