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 Jefferson, WI
2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Tent campers in southeastern Wisconsin can find several campgrounds within a short drive of Jefferson. The Sandhill Station State Campground in the Lake Mills Wildlife Area offers carry-in tent sites 100-500 yards from the parking area, situated in an oak savanna setting. New Glarus State Park Campground, though farther southwest, provides both drive-in and walk-in tent sites with decent separation between campsites. KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site offers a more remote primitive tent camping experience with an open shelter where campers can pitch tents.
Most tent campgrounds in this region feature basic amenities with varying levels of facility development. The primitive tent setups at Sandhill Station include pit toilets only, with no showers or flush toilets on site. According to one visitor, "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." Walk-in sites typically require campers to pack gear from parking areas, with distances ranging from 40 to 1,000 feet depending on the location. Many sites provide fire rings and picnic tables, though campers should verify if firewood is sold on-site or must be purchased locally to prevent spreading invasive species.
Tent camping areas near Jefferson offer varying degrees of privacy and natural settings. The walk-in sites at New Glarus are "spacious and wooded" as one camper noted, though some highway noise may be audible, particularly at sites closest to roads. More secluded options like KMSF Shelter 1 require a "decent walk and terrain to get to the site" but reward with greater privacy. Seasonal considerations impact the camping experience, with mid-summer bringing mosquitoes at wetland-adjacent sites like Sandhill Station. Fall and spring typically offer more comfortable conditions with fewer insects. Several campgrounds connect to trail systems, including the Glacial Drumlin bike trail near Sandhill Station, providing tent campers with day-trip opportunities from their primitive tent sites.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Jefferson (14)
1. 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."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $19 - $70 / night
2. 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."
Check Availabilityfrom $21 / night
3. 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."
4. Cappie's Landing
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
5. New Glarus State Park Campground
"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."
33 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $19 - $70 / night
6. Walk In Campsite & Shelters — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Lapham Peak Unit
Check Availabilityfrom $19 / night
7. Wild Goose City Park
8. Purplehaze Acres
Check Availabilityfrom $40 - $160 / night
9. Little Turtle Lake
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $80 / night
10. Equestrian Campground - Rock Cut State Park
"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"
Drive Time
- 24 min from Janesville, WI
- 34 min from Madison, WI
- 41 min from Milwaukee, WI
- 1 hr 9 min from Racine, WI
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Jefferson, WI
4 Photos of 14 Jefferson Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Jefferson, WI
706 Reviews of 14 Jefferson 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. 👎
Zach G.TravelerNew Glarus State Park Campground
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. Pretty good cell service with T- mobile.
- GGladys L.Traveler
Plum Grove Campground - Rock Cut State Park
Rock Cut State Park in Rockford , Illinois
We 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.
- Maria W.Scout
New Glarus State Park Campground
Rustic but nice trails and close to town
Campground 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!!
- 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!
Sherry K.ScoutPearl Lake
Late night party central
The 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.
kelsea D.TravelerPrairie View — Chain O' Lakes State Park
A lot to do.
There’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.
Maria Mercedes M.
LegendHoneysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park
Lively Little Campground Beside Turner Lake
There’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.
Guide to Jefferson
Tent camping options near Jefferson, Wisconsin include primitive carry-in sites, backpacking locations, and walk-in campsites within 30 miles. Most sites require campers to transport gear distances ranging from 40 to 500 yards from parking areas. The southeastern Wisconsin landscape features oak savannas, wetlands, and forested areas where campers contend with limited amenities and seasonal mosquito activity, particularly at sites near water features.
What to do
Bike access to breweries: New Glarus State Park Campground connects directly to the Sugar River Trail, allowing campers to bike approximately 1.5 miles to New Glarus Brewery. "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!" notes Kate B.
Historical exploration: Visit Aztalan State Park near Sandhill Station State Campground to explore Native American archaeological sites with prehistoric burial mounds. The nearby Aztalan Museum houses artifacts from local indigenous cultures alongside pioneer-era items for a $4 admission fee.
Trail connections: The Glacial Drumlin bike trail runs adjacent to campsites at Sandhill Station, offering over 52 miles of converted rail-trail. "Sandill Station is right outside Lake Mills, WI, right off the Glacial Drumlin bike trail," explains Jimmy P. The crushed limestone surface provides ideal terrain for family cycling through wetlands and farmland.
What campers like
Natural isolation: KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site offers true seclusion with a dedicated shelter structure. "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," reports Erin Z. The site requires hikers to collect their own firewood from surrounding areas.
Walk-in privacy: New Glarus State Park Campground features walk-in sites with significant separation from neighbors. "The walk-in sites have a good amount of space between each site, however the sites on the east side of the bike trail get less level the further you get from the parking lot," explains Sarah W. Cart transportation is available for gear hauling to these sites.
Oak savanna setting: The unique ecosystem at Sandhill Station provides distinctive camping in an oak savanna habitat not commonly found in Wisconsin campgrounds. The mixed light filtering through mature oak trees creates ideal camping conditions during spring and fall when temperatures moderate.
What you should know
Highway noise challenges: Some campsites experience traffic noise despite natural settings. At New Glarus, Katie K. reports, "These sites are right next to the highway and are subject to continuous, round the clock highway noise. The highway seems to be a regular truck route, with lots of semis driving by at all hours."
Seasonal insect considerations: Early summer brings heavy mosquito pressure at wetland-adjacent sites. "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," warns Tawnie T. about Sandhill Station State Campground.
Bathroom limitations: Most primitive sites feature vault toilets without running water. "The only thing I cant get over is the vault toilets. I would have thought they updated these by now. Creaky wood doors, BRIGHT lights, and always buggy," notes Dana B. Pack hand sanitizer and toilet paper as backup supplies.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection strategy: Choose sites closer to parking areas when camping with children. At New Glarus, site 19 offers a good compromise: "It is the closest site to the parking lot on the east side of the trail, but you have to take a short foot-path off the main trail to get to the site and the site itself can't actually be seen from the trail," recommends Sarah W.
Playground access: Wild Goose City Park provides playground facilities with bathroom access. "There's a playground and public bathroom, drinking fountain. Plenty of space to spread out for a picnic when you're biking through," notes Kim L. The park connects to the Wild Goose State Trail for family-friendly cycling.
Food storage concerns: Secure food supplies due to wildlife activity, especially at walk-in sites. "The campgrounds do have a lot of raccoons so it is nice to be within an easy walk of your vehicle if you would prefer to secure your food," advises a camper at New Glarus State Park.
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options: Most tent-focused campgrounds near Jefferson have minimal facilities for RVs. Purplehaze Acres offers 9 tent sites with drive-in access but lacks hookups or dump stations. RV campers need to arrive with water tanks filled and batteries charged.
Water availability: RV campers should plan to bring sufficient water supplies, as many sites have limited or seasonal water access. Some smaller campgrounds like Little Turtle Lake provide pit toilets but no water facilities, requiring self-contained camping strategies.
Weekend availability: Reserve sites well in advance for summer weekends. New Glarus State Park fills quickly, particularly sites with vehicle accessibility. Walk-in sites typically remain available longer than drive-up spots, though they require equipment transportation from parking areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Jefferson, WI?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Jefferson, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Jefferson, WI is Sandhill Station State Campground with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Jefferson, WI?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Jefferson, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near Jefferson, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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