Best Tent Camping near Marshall, WI
State parks and public lands surrounding Marshall, Wisconsin provide several tent camping options within a 30-mile radius. Sandhill Station State Campground in the Lake Mills Wildlife Area offers walk-in tent sites in an oak savanna setting, with sites located 100-500 yards from the parking area. KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site provides a more secluded backcountry tent camping experience with a shelter structure where campers can place tents if desired. New Glarus State Park Campground, though farther south, features both drive-in and walk-in tent sites with varying levels of privacy and woodland cover.
Most tent-only campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities suited for primitive camping experiences. Vault toilets are standard at most locations, though their condition varies by season and maintenance schedules. Fire rings and picnic tables are provided at most sites, with firewood available for purchase at some locations or from nearby gas stations and local vendors. Walk-in tent sites typically require campers to carry gear from parking areas, with distances ranging from 40 to 1,000 feet depending on the specific site. Summer camping brings higher insect activity, particularly at Sandhill Station where one camper noted they were "massacred by mosquitoes" near stagnant water areas during hot weather.
The tent camping experience varies significantly across seasons and specific sites. At Sandhill Station, campers report spacious, private sites with mixed shade from oak trees, making it "a nice choice for a private, quiet getaway into the oak savanna" according to one visitor, who recommended fall visits over summer to avoid excessive heat and insects. Walk-in tent sites at New Glarus Woods are described as "spaced out well and heavily wooded," though highway noise can be an issue at certain sites. The KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site offers what one camper called "a great backpack camp site" with "decent walk and terrain" leading to a secluded area with a fire pit, picnic table, and outhouse, providing true backcountry tent camping for those seeking privacy.