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Best Tent Camping near Lancaster, WI

528 Reviews

Several tent campgrounds can be found within 50 miles of Lancaster, Wisconsin, with notable options in nearby state forests and parks. Yellow River State Forest in neighboring Iowa offers primitive backcountry tent camping at Camp Glen Wendel and Camp John Schultz, while Governor Dodge State Park provides backpack campsites with more amenities. These areas feature well-maintained trails and campsites specifically designed for tent campers seeking a more immersive outdoor experience.

Most primitive tent sites require minimal to moderate hiking to access, with distances typically ranging from half a mile to just over a mile from parking areas. At Yellow River State Forest, backpackers must carry in all necessary supplies as amenities are limited. Camp sites provide fire rings and sometimes benches, but potable water is generally only available at headquarters. Governor Dodge State Park offers more facilities for tent campers, including drinking water, showers, and toilets. One camper noted, "Back packing sites are 1/2-1 mile hike from parking lot. Great hike threw out the state park," highlighting the relatively easy access despite the walk-in nature of these sites.

Tent campers visiting these areas benefit from the secluded nature of walk-in sites compared to standard drive-up campgrounds. The backcountry locations in Yellow River State Forest provide significant privacy, with visitors reporting abundant wildlife viewing opportunities and night sky visibility. According to one visitor, "Yellow River has great backpacking sites. Park near ranger station and hike in or grab a map and find a smaller parking location near the trail you want to explore." Many tent campsites are situated in forested areas offering natural shade and protection from wind. During peak summer weekends, the more accessible backcountry sites at Governor Dodge State Park fill quickly, while the more remote locations in Yellow River State Forest typically offer better availability even during busy periods.

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Best Tent Sites Near Lancaster, Wisconsin (13)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lancaster, WI

7 Photos of 13 Lancaster Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Lancaster, WI

528 Reviews of 13 Lancaster Campgrounds

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 16, 2022

    Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area

    Unique County wildlife site along Maquoketa River

    Unique hike or paddle primitive site. Native forbs and wildlife surrounding the area. Two parking sites to hike in or access by river. Site is along river, has table, fire ring, latrine. Pack in, pack out and Leave No Trace.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2022

    Camp John Schultz — Yellow River State Forest

    Nice back country state forest site

    Hiked into this Camp that includes 5 primitive sites: fire rings and benches. Lush dense forest with intermediate hiking including typical summer insects. Leave No Trace ethics include: minimizes fire impacts by gathering only dead, down, wood. Sounded by nature atop of hill hike near Fire tower ( only fire tower in Iowa), cell reception is found up here.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Jen L.
    Aug. 23, 2018

    Wyalusing State Park Campground

    Fantastic get away

    Located on the far western edge of Wisconsin this state park offers a little of everything - hiking trails connected to the camp grounds, boat access to the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, overlook of where the Wisconsin River meets the Mississippi River, showers and flush toilets, playground/basketball/tennis courts, etc. Depending on what part of the park you are in (and the season) you can be away from it all or have almost all the comforts of home. There are 2 campgrounds within the park - Homestead (back in the woods and a little more rustic with vault toilets and no showers) and Ridge (on the bluff). Also both an indoor group site and outdoor group site. Campsites are mix of RV (+/- electric) and tent. Ridge Campground sites- located on the bluff they stay dry even when the rivers are at flood level. Some sites have views of the river right from the tent/RV. During peak season you will definitely need a reservation (likely months in advance), but there are a few same day spots held in reserve. Also during peak season there is a concession stand near the campground and boat rental (canoe/kayak) near the boat launch (neither were open when I camped there but were on a separate day trip)

    A short drive from the state park is Effigy Mounds National Monument with additional trails and a reverse of the scenic view (looking south and east instead of west/northwest). Definitely worth a look since its FREE and so close by. Also in the area is Villa Louis (historical homestead) which can be toured for a modest fee (good rainy day activity). If coming from Madison area be sure to check out some of the small wineries along the drive either to or from the park.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 30, 2025

    New Wine Park Dubuque County Park

    Nice small county park campground

    General: This is a small (29-site) county park campground situated along the North Fork Maquoketa River. Nine of the sites are reservable, and the rest are first-come, first-served. Some sites are primitive, and some have water and 30-amp electricity hookups. There is one ADA-accessible site with a paved camper pad. 

    Site Quality: Most sites are level. The camper pads are gravel/grass, but not all are clearly defined. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. 

    Bath/Shower: The bath/shower house was closed when we were there in November but there are vault toilets about a quarter mile from the campground (in the day-use area) that were very clean and well-stocked when we were there. 

    Activities/Amenities: Many activities including disc golf, three hiking trails, volleyball, two playgrounds (one in the day-use area and one by the campsites). There are two reservable picnic shelters. There is also a dump station. 

    We were tent camping in November on a backpacking trip so we didn’t take advantage of any of the activities but would return in our van on a future camping trip. We were the ONLY ones in the campground at this time of year!

  • Mary S.
    Aug. 19, 2018

    Big Paint Campground — Yellow River State Forest

    Small campground has nearby hiking and fishing

    This review is for Yellow River State Forest's Big Paint Campground which consists of sites 35 through 61. Big Paint is a couple miles from Little Paint, a larger campground with 70+ sites. There are two equestrian campgrounds (Creekside and Little Frontier with sites numbered 1 through 34) as well as hike in campgrounds for backpackers. A photo of an area map is included.

    Why did we choose Big Paint instead of Little Paint?

    It's smaller and that's just our personal preference. There were only 4 sites occupied early Friday afternoon and a few more were reserved. We liked site 35, the first site on the left as you enter. This site is like being in a garden with trees and flowers surrounding the site. It had rained and more rain was coming, so the gravel parking pad on #35 was appealing. Most of the sites are completely on the grass.

    Activities

    Stocked trout streams are an attraction for fishermen; see photo of stocking calendar. We enjoyed hiking despite the mosquitoes and humidity in August and were able to make a 5+ mile loop leaving from the campground. You can also hike from Little Paint, and there are equestrian trails. This would also be a good area for X-country skiing and snowmobiling. A photo of the trail map is included. Caution: hunting is allowed in the non-campground area of the state forest.

    Amenities

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Other than that, you can dispose of your trash and use a vault toilet. There's water at the information center (and a camp host site) outside the campground about 100 yards to the left.

    Cost

    You're not getting much (and that's not a bad thing) so the $9 fee seems fair. Pay up front at the entrance station, or make a reservation online at last 2 days ahead of time (and pay a reservation fee). There are 7 non-reservable sites at Big Paint. I doubt that Big Paint fills up; just check the reservation site to see if they get crowded.

    https://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/yellow-river-state-forest/r/campsiteSearch.do?search=site&page=siteresult&contractCode=IA&parkId=610130

  • 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

Guide to Lancaster

Tent camping sites near Lancaster, Wisconsin offer accessible primitive outdoor experiences with varying levels of amenities. The landscape features rolling hills, densely forested areas, and river access points, creating diverse camping environments within a 50-mile radius. Fall camping season typically extends through October with average nighttime temperatures ranging 35-55°F.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Camp Glen Wendel in Yellow River State Forest provides access to quality fishing spots. "Very secluded with good fishing opportunities and great fishing in the area!" notes camper Lindsey R.

Stargazing: Frenchtown Park offers unobstructed night sky viewing away from light pollution. At Yellow River State Forest, one camper mentioned, "Great spot to view the stars. Awesome for kids."

Hiking preparation: Use Yellow River State Forest trails as practice grounds for longer backpacking expeditions. "Great park with a few longer trails for backpacking. Have used these trails/this park to prepare for longer trips," shares Brooke M..

Trail exploration: Discover the Lost Canyon Trail at Governor Dodge State Park. "We did the lost canyon trail which is just stunning with bluffs, small water fall," according to Nick C.

What campers like

Secluded camping: Backpacking sites at Yellow River State Forest offer significant privacy. "I've done this loop several times, and have never been disappointed. Lots of quiet, and many more great views on the upper trails," says Kevin C..

Affordability: Yellow River State Forest camping is budget-friendly. "This site fills up really fast because of the cheap price of only 9 dollars. This is the cheapest but one of the best campsites ive been to," reports kevin T.

Wildlife viewing: Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area provides opportunities to observe native species. "Unique hike or paddle primitive site. Native forbs and wildlife surrounding the area," notes James M.

Water features: Multiple camping areas feature creeks and small ponds. At Camp John Schultz, the "lush dense forest with intermediate hiking" surrounds campers with natural water features, according to James M.

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Reception varies significantly between camping locations. At Camp John Schultz, "we loved the lack of cell phone reception!" notes Kimberly W., while also mentioning that "cell reception is found up here" near the fire tower.

Trail conditions: Some paths require caution during wet weather. At Camp Glen Wendel, "There are some thin trails down steeper hillsides, so make sure to take it slower if the ground is muddy," advises Kevin C.

Camping setup: Be prepared for varied terrain at backpacking sites. At Governor Dodge State Park, site 802 is a "small spot on rough ground not to level for tents but still feaseable," according to Nick C.

Water availability: Water access points are limited at primitive sites. At Camp Glen Wendel, "Sites have fire rings and benches, some more spacious than others... Potable water is at HQ near registration kiosk," explains James M.

Tips for camping with families

Easy backpacking introduction: Governor Dodge State Park offers manageable hiking distances for families new to backpacking. "Back packing sites are 1/2-1 mile hike from parking lot. Great hike threw out the state park... Lots to do for the whole family," shares Nick C.

Dedicated group areas: Hickory Ridge Group Camp at Governor Dodge State Park accommodates larger family gatherings. "Spacious sites, lots of availability to swim and hike. Will definitely come back," reports Matthew O.

Off-grid options: Some families appreciate the digital disconnect at more primitive sites. At Blackhawk Memorial Park, one camper praised the experience as "Quiet, off the grid! Very pleasant!"

Safety considerations: Be aware of seasonal hunting. At Yellow River State Forest, one visitor noted, "There is hunting open to the public so enjoy and/or be careful!"

Tips from RVers

Limited RV amenities: Most primitive camping areas near Lancaster have minimal RV services. At Worthington Sportsman's Club, despite being technically RV-accessible, the focus is on "so secluded without being in the middle of nowhere," according to Becky.

Generator requirements: Some sites like Camp John Schultz require self-supplied power. "If you require electric bring a generator. Water is available but needs to be carried in," advises Kimberly W.

Site spacing: County parks typically offer more open RV parking. At Blackhawk Memorial Park, it was noted that "sites are generally well marked, but some can be difficult to find," and the park is "well-maintained" despite limited supervision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lancaster, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lancaster, WI is Camp Glen Wendel Primitive Backcountry — Yellow River State Forest with a 4.8-star rating from 12 reviews.

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

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

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