Best Campgrounds near La Pointe, WI

Camping on and around Madeline Island near La Pointe, Wisconsin centers on its location in Lake Superior within the Apostle Islands region. Big Bay State Park Campground and Big Bay Town Park provide established camping options with both tent and RV sites, while Apostle Islands Area RV Park and Camping offers additional accommodations including cabins and glamping opportunities. The island location creates a distinctive camping experience accessible primarily by ferry from Bayfield, with most campgrounds situated within a 6-mile radius of La Pointe, the island's main settlement.

Access to camping areas requires transportation planning, as the ferry service from the mainland is the primary means of reaching Madeline Island. "Big Bay State Park is on Madeline Island in Lake Superior and is one of the Apostle Islands. The only way to arrive is by ferry boat. It is pricey to bring your RV," notes one camper who found the experience worthwhile despite the logistics. The ferry cost varies by vehicle size and passenger count, with RVs incurring higher fees than standard vehicles. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October, with limited or no services available during winter months. Cell service is generally reliable near developed areas, while more remote sites may have spotty coverage.

Waterfront access and natural scenery represent primary attractions for campers visiting the area. Several visitors mentioned the proximity to Lake Superior as a key feature, with opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and beach access available at multiple locations. One camper described their experience: "Pretty nice campground that you have to take a 20 minute ferry from the mainland. Then you drive through the small harbor town to the campsite. Nice, clean showers and bathrooms." Beyond the immediate campgrounds, the island community offers additional amenities including restaurants, art galleries, and equipment rentals in La Pointe. Nearby mainland locations like Bayfield provide alternative camping options for those seeking proximity to the Apostle Islands without the ferry crossing, while still maintaining access to water recreation and scenic landscapes.

Best Camping Sites Near La Pointe, Wisconsin (114)

    1. Apostle Islands Area RV park and Camping

    23 Reviews
    Bayfield, WI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 779-3397

    $30 / night

    "Apostle Islands is part of a 21 islands chain at the northern tip of Wisconsin, on Lake Superior. On the mainland, the Lakeshore Trail weaves past cliffs and sea caves."

    "We liked the easy drive through sites with full hookup.  The campsites were tiered into the hill.  This helped sound proof the campsites. "

    2. Big Bay State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    La Pointe, WI
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 747-6425

    "Late spring Wisconsin weather made its presence felt, but we were undeterred. Its hard to be disappointed when faced with the spectacular views of the Apostle Islands."

    "Small but has some decent trails. Lovely to walk by the waters edge and skip rocks."

    3. Dalrymple Park and Campground

    17 Reviews
    Bayfield, WI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 779-5712

    $30 / night

    "Dalrymple was just minutes away from Bayfield, and boat rides away from the Apostle Islands and Madeline Island."

    "There are also some primitive tent walk-up sites.

    Nice campground, $30/night, can pay online when you arrive. Good cell reception. Most, if not all, sites have 30 and 20 amp service."

    4. Big Bay Town Park

    15 Reviews
    La Pointe, WI
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 747-3031

    $33 - $40 / night

    "Then you drive through the small harbor town to the campsite. Nice, clean showers and bathrooms. The tents sites are spacious and they're only a 10 or so minute drive from La Point."

    "It was close to the water, just a walk away from a beach and hiking trail. The campsites were fairly private as far as car camping sites go."

    5. Memorial Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Washburn, WI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 373-6160

    "The campground was full when we pulled in at 6 pm but the hosts let us stay in an overflow area, right next to the lake. Lots of small rvs and tents, which we prefer to the big rv parks."

    "Right on the lake. Great place to stop and tour the towns close by. Mostly closed mid-week, but some brew houses and restaurants open."

    6. Big Bay State Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    La Pointe, WI
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 747-6425

    "Big Bay State Park is on Madeline Island in Lake Superior and is one of the Apostle Islands. The only way to arrive is by ferry boat. It is pricey to bring your RV."

    "Sites are fairly large and have lots of trees and woods surrounding them. You get a handicap picnic table and fire pit with grate at each site. Big rig friendly."

    7. Buffalo Bay Campground

    8 Reviews
    Bayfield, WI
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 779-3712

    $45 / night

    "This campground is oriented towards RV’ers and boaters, the campsite has full RV hookups and is adjacent to a very nice marina for those who are looking for that."

    "The lakeside sites have great views though! And nice showers. We were passing thru and the FCFS campgrounds were all full so this was a fine option close to Bayfield!"

    8. West End Thompson City Park

    9 Reviews
    Washburn, WI
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 373-6160

    "Self registration is nice and love being on the lake and walking distance to town."

    "Another great little “city” campground right on Lake Superior. This is a first come first serve campground- no reservations."

    9. Apostle Islands Area Campground

    5 Reviews
    Bayfield, WI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 779-5524

    $25 - $35 / night

    "Great campground with swimming hole & great access to Bayside for island ferry’s! Complaints: Park is located on the side of a hill—Spots are small but level, roads are all at a slope."

    "Location is great if you're looking to do some exploring. Was very quiet even though it was close to Labor Day weekend, and for the size of the campground."

    10. Kreher RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Ashland, WI
    13 miles
    Website

    $45 - $50 / night

    "It's directly on the lake, and it's connected to a bike trail that you can take to downtown or farther north along the lake."

    "There was steady traffic of disappointed RVs driving through the grounds till 6-7pm.

    Water and electric sites only with a dump station on site."

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Recent Reviews near La Pointe, WI

754 Reviews of 114 La Pointe Campgrounds


  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Penmarallter Campsite

    Nice campground close to Two Harbors

    The campground owner/hosts were very friendly and helpful during our five night stay. Two Harbors is a good provisioning and jumping off point for exploring the North Shore area south of Grand Marais. Some shade but mostly sunny pull through camp sites worked well in the cool Minnesota evenings. You can save $5 a night if you only need 30-Amp electric and water.

  • Cynthia K.
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Burlington Bay Campground

    Good base camp for the area

    Large campground run by the city of Two Harbors.

     It has 4 areas of RV camping & 12 primitive tent sites.

     The tent sites by the David Dill area were shady with trees Willow is near the dump station.

     Burlington sites 1-66 have water & electric. There's a row that has lakeside camping. The sites are mostly sunny with some shade. All are close together. There is a lake view. Apparently there's a path with lake access, but not sure which site this was by. 

    The playground is here. Dumpster, dump station & restrooms with showers.

     Agate sites are 67-91. is a loop with full hookup. 73-75, 77, 79,81-84, have beautiful views of the lake, but difficult lake access. Most of this loop is full sun& very close together sites. 

    We were at site 70 & at first I was bummed out not having a lake view. This is my own fault for dithering about what campground I wanted. I was lucky- this was the last site for my dates. I have later found out that someone must have cancelled for this site & I was lucky enough to get it. Reservations fill up quick a year in advance. 

    This site is narrow, but shady. There's foliage to the left separating it from Site 72 (which has a partial lake view) & the back separating it from the Burlington sites. There was a white tail doe walking thru it the first day we were there.

     Sites 67/68 & 70 are close. Our fire pit was only a few feet from site 68's. There's more shade here though.

    Site 69 is somewhat secluded & has shade & easy access to the bathroom. 

    The site across from us was a long site parallel to the road. It was empty the 2 nights we were here.

    Sites 92 to 102 are a little down the road in rows on both sides of the road. Again close together. Full hookup. Just a few feet away from Hwy 61.

     David Dill sites are 1B to 34B These are full hookup sites terraced on a hill. Big rig friendly. There's a bathhouse by the visitor center for David Dill & the tenters.

    Very close together & sunny. They have a pretty good view of the beach & lake. 

    24B to 34B have the best being lowest on the hill. There's a road- then a rocky beach.

     All parts of this campground were full on a Friday/Saturday night. The office has a small gift shop. Open 8am to 8pm during the season. Check in's at noon- which is great! Check out at 11am.

    We did see police patrol occasionally. Hwy 61 is only a few feet away & is VERY loud. There's no Jake brake ordinance for Two Harbors & the truckers are always doing it. 

    This is a busy town!

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Apostle Islands Area RV park and Camping

    Nice place for a day or two

    This is a nice enough campground but I am honestly disappointed. The website describes lots of amenities, which is why I booked this campground, however, everything is extra cost in addition to nightly rate— including mini-golf. The entire campground is in the side of a mountain and there are no flat roads, which makes biking and walking a workout rather than leisure. We will check out Buffalo Bay next time.

  • TexasRed (.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Castle Danger

    Great Spot

    Very nice n secluded spot, only had one other person stay there on labor day weekend. There are a couple of designated spots with fire rings, some are harder to get to. The road in is kind of rough but my subie handled it fine. The location on the dirt does take you to a persons property but check out Skips review for a detailed location. Overall great spot and close to a superior hiking trailhead

  • goose10091203 The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Afterhours Meadow

    Quiet but rough terrain

    Nice little field. Would be great if the groud wasn't all sticks and thorns. Good place to sleep. Not for extended camping

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Apostle Islands Area Campground

    Cute Campground

    Great campground with swimming hole & great access to Bayside for island ferry’s! Complaints: Park is located on the side of a hill—Spots are small but level, roads are all at a slope. Not a great campground for kiddos to ride their bikes, and not super fun to walk uphill in every direction. The campground also charges you $5-7 per person to play mini-golf… which is odd, since it is advertised as a campground amenity on the website.

  • m
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Eckbeck Finland State Forest

    Just fine

    I thought the campground itself was nice. It’s on a very busy road tho and I personally thought the sites in the middle were very close together. We also had a group of very rowdy college aged kids across from us that made our stay less enjoyable. If you can bet a site on the outer edge of the campground, it would be great.

  • Carly A.
    Aug. 29, 2025

    Little Presque Isle Rustic Outpost Camp — Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

    Great Location

    Great campground with access to Lake Superior. Perfect for watching the sunset or yooperlite hunting. This campground is family friendly and the vault toilets are well maintained. Some of the sites are a little close to others, but it wasn’t much of a bother.

    There is a trailhead right at the beginning of the campground that is short and easy with a number of amazing waterfalls along the way.


Guide to La Pointe

Camping near La Pointe, Wisconsin, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax by the water, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Copper Falls State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "Loved the hiking and waterfalls. Campsites were big and could hear the stream behind ours."
  • Swimming: Enjoy the beach at Little Sand Bay Recreation Area. A camper noted, "This campground has a marina and a beach right on Lake Superior."
  • Fishing: Try your luck at fishing in the nearby lakes. A review from Herbster Campground said, "Super nice campground right on Lake Superior."

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers appreciate the stunning views at Big Bay State Park Campground. One reviewer said, "The island is teeming with life. Deer wandered all over."
  • Clean Facilities: Many visitors enjoy the well-maintained facilities at Apostle Islands Area RV Park and Camping. A guest mentioned, "The shower house is huge and kept very clean."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Campers often highlight the peacefulness of Black River Harbor Campground. One review stated, "It was a nice tranquil place to stay."

What you should know:

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for mosquitoes, especially in the summer. A visitor at Copper Falls State Park Campground warned, "HOWEVER, beware of the mosquitoes! They were everywhere in the bathroom."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Potato River Falls Campground, do not have drinking water or showers. A camper noted, "Nice, quiet camp. Gave a 4 because the pot toilet is so far away from some sites."
  • First-Come, First-Served: Many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, like Dalrymple Park and Campground. A reviewer mentioned, "This is a first come first served city campground, which is a good thing because each site is so different."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Spacious Sites: Look for campgrounds with larger sites, like Apostle Islands Area RV Park and Camping. One family shared, "The campsites were tiered into the hill. This helped soundproof the campsites."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have activities planned. A visitor at Big Bay State Park Campground said, "We plan to return every summer."
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for the kids. A camper at Herbster Campground mentioned, "The sunsets were unbeatable!!"

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A review from Dalrymple Park and Campground noted, "Our site overlooked Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands but was a tight fit for our 24' van."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Campgrounds like Little Sand Bay Recreation Area offer full hookups, which can be a big plus. A visitor said, "The campsites had electric hookups and the campground had public showers."
  • Be Mindful of Noise: Some campgrounds can get loud, especially during peak times. A camper at Little Sand Bay Recreation Area mentioned, "The place was packed with large RVs, several of which had drunken, stupidly loud hooting and hollering."

Camping near La Pointe, Wisconsin, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just be prepared for the bugs and check your site size!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near La Pointe, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, La Pointe, WI offers a wide range of camping options, with 114 campgrounds and RV parks near La Pointe, WI and 8 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near La Pointe, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near La Pointe, WI is Apostle Islands Area RV park and Camping with a 4.3-star rating from 23 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near La Pointe, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near La Pointe, WI.