Camping sites near Manawa, Wisconsin offer diverse lake and river recreation opportunities within the Wolf River watershed. The region features a mix of county parks, private campgrounds, and family-friendly destinations surrounded by mixed hardwood forests and wetlands. Summer temperatures typically range between 60-85°F with higher humidity levels, making water activities particularly popular.
What to do
Water activities on Wolf River: Wolf River Campgrounds provides tubing trips with shuttle service to launch sites. One camper noted, "The river is fantastic for tubing and kayaking with your family. This is a fun social campground." For larger groups, the river offers unique social experiences as you can "strap yourself together with your group and enjoy a relaxing but fun trip down the river towards the campground with optional stops along the way."
Beach swimming and boating: Lakes throughout the region provide swimming opportunities at places like Hartman Creek State Park Campground, where a visitor shared, "Allen Lake has a fishing pier that the kids loved fishing from. Good catches early in the morning!" The small lakes offer peaceful paddling experiences as "Hartman Creek is a nice small lake, with no wake. There is now a rental building available with kayaks, paddle boats, SUP, etc. to rent."
Hiking and biking trails: Many campgrounds connect to trail systems for day hikes or bike rides. At Lake Emily Park, campers can enjoy "hiking, fishing, bike trails" with tent sites at $19.00 per night and electric sites at $25.00. Hartman Creek State Park receives praise for its "ample hiking opportunities in the area, some you can walk to from the campground, some requires a small amount of driving."
What campers like
Campground cleanliness: Visitors frequently mention well-maintained facilities as a highlight. One reviewer at S'Mores Campground appreciated the "huge extremely clean pool, bathrooms, showers. Both of which were amazing! And free of use. Pool is very well maintained and kept, plenty of chairs to use and tables."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Natural settings provide chances to spot local fauna. As one visitor to Fremont RV Campground shared, "My son was pretty enamored by all of the awesome wildlife we saw on the strip. Might've been the time of year but it was just beautiful."
Star visibility: The rural setting allows for excellent night sky viewing. At Hartman Creek State Park, campers "loved the quietness at night. Not entirely sure, but I believe there is a quite policy after 10pm. Gorgeous to look up and see the amazing stars at night."
What you should know
Site spacing varies significantly: Privacy between camping spots differs dramatically between locations. A visitor to Keller Lake Campground mentioned it's a "quiet spot not many campers. Nice rapids by dam. Some hiking and fishing. Only five campsites," contrasting sharply with more developed locations where sites can feel crowded.
Seasonal operation limitations: Most campgrounds operate from spring through fall only. Hartman Creek State Park runs "April to November," while S'Mores Campground lists "May 15th to October 6th is the campsites open/closed dates."
Facility hours affect experiences: At some locations, amenities have limited availability. One camper at Rustic Woods Campgrounds observed that "the bar & grill is only open Thursday-Saturday. This is also where you need to go to get items for mini golf and is attached to the ice cream shop, arcade, etc. With this being said it's extremely difficult to get anything for the kids if need be."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated children's activities. At Rustic Woods Campgrounds, families appreciate the "many ongoing and scheduled activities. Pool, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, Cornhole, basketball court, playground."
Pool facilities for cooling off: Swimming pools provide relief on hot summer days. S'Mores Campground features a "huge and brand new kids play area. They also have rock mining for kids located by the pool which the kids loved."
Cabin options for easier family stays: Several campgrounds offer cabin accommodations for families wanting comfort without tenting. A visitor to S'Mores Campground described, "Amazing cabins, amazing setup, they all have picnic tables and benches on porch. Cabin had three beds, fridge, air conditioner, two windows, plenty of plugs in."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions and layouts: Fremont RV Campground provides various campsite options, though some visitors note limitations. One camper reported, "We stayed here for a night to visit Union Farm Cheese Factory. The campground was expensive at 80$ for water and electric only on a dirt pull through."
Hookup availability: Most campgrounds offer at least basic services. At Wolf River Campgrounds, "this campground has full hookups, a laundry, shower house, bathrooms, a restaurant/bar, fire rings, and picnic tables."
Location considerations: Some campgrounds offer more convenient access to attractions. At Hartman Creek State Park, visitors appreciate that it's "a short jaunt to beautiful downtown Waupaca" making it easy to access supplies or additional activities.
