Maribel, Wisconsin offers camping options along the Devils River and within 30 minutes of Lake Michigan. The area lies within the Great Lakes region at elevations around 700 feet above sea level and experiences seasonal climate patterns with warm summers and cold winters. Winter temperatures typically drop below freezing while summer highs average in the mid-70s to low 80s°F.
What to do
Hiking near caves: Visit Maribel Caves Park just a mile from Devils River Campground, where you can explore multiple cave formations. "The New Hope Cave is only open to tour 1 weekend of the month. It is usually the 3rd Saturday of the month... We were still able to visit the other caves and walk around and look at wildlife. If you go when it is raining you won't be able to go in many of the caves as they become flooded but it does make some really cool waterfalls!"
Mini golf and indoor recreation: Village Inn on the Lake offers recreation options for rainy days. "Cute Mini Golf Onsite! Location is great! About 2 Miles from Neshotah Beach! The hotel is convenient for your family and friends to stay if they don't have a camper. The area is your playground with lots of biking and hiking trails."
Visit Lake Michigan beaches: Scheffel's Hideaway Campground provides access to Lake Michigan beaches through nearby trails. "It's along part of the Ice Age Trail that leads to the Lake Michigan Beach. Point Beach State park is also a great place to visit and is only a few minutes up the road."
What campers like
Swimming ponds: Devils River Campground features a large treated swimming pond with beach area. "The central pond and waterfall were awesome! The only negative with our stay (which the campground can't help) were the mosquitos, flies, and bees. So bring bug spray!"
Indoor pool access: Village Inn on the Lake Hotel and RV Park offers campers access to an indoor pool. "The indoor pool is so nice! It's a saltwater pool and they have a separate hot tub. It was not crowded the time we went but I'm sure it can get busy (maybe more in winter since it's indoors)."
River exploration: The Devils River provides opportunities for wildlife viewing and catching crayfish. "It is fun to go down by the river and explore. One year we caught about 60 crayfish and cooked them on the campstove and ate them."
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Most RV parks near Maribel operate seasonally from spring through fall. "We stayed here for 2 weeks in our 2021 Keystone Hideout 250BH. They don't have a ton of sites and they are reserve only. The weekdays are extremely quiet but the weekends get a little busy due to the seasonal sites."
Site spacing concerns: Some campgrounds offer better site spacing than others. At Apple Creek Campground, expect tighter quarters: "We wanted septic and they didn't tell us that the septic is a guy in a truck who comes by one or two times a week. There is a dump station however. It's older but clean."
Reservation systems: Many Maribel area campgrounds require advance bookings, especially during summer. "Reservation process was ok though not automated. Reserved in January and female owner stated they don't man the phones much while closed."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreation: Kewaunee RV & Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "This site is beautifully maintained with swimming pool, volley ball, game area, large park like setting to walk your dogs. Variety of options for camping including cabins, laundry room, country store."
Seasonal activities: Consider special events when planning your visit. "Stayed there for our daughters birthday weekend. The owners overheard us talking as we checked in and brought her campfire colors as a gift all wrapped."
Swimming options: Multiple RV parks offer swimming facilities with varying depths for different age groups. "They have a pool for kids both older and small. It's very peaceful and quiet. I felt we got a lot of rest at night because it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop most nights."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When booking at RV parks near Maribel, request end sites for more privacy. "The sites are open but enough space for privacy as well, if you do the end sites. The middle sites are pretty open so there isn't a ton of room for privacy."
Leveling considerations: Some campgrounds in the area have uneven terrain. "Even though we were on a hill the campsite was level. We had plenty of room for rv and tow. The main campground (and amenities) were down the hill a bit. We liked being on the hill away from the pool etc."
Waterfront options: Stop-N-Dock Marina & RV Park offers waterfront RV camping with full hookups from mid-May to mid-October. "Very pretty and peaceful campgrounds. WiFi very spotty. Water, sewer and electricity setups. Close to amenities. Get site 1 if possible."
