Best Tent Camping near Medford, WI

Tent campsites in the Chequamegon National Forest near Medford, Wisconsin provide primitive camping experiences with varying levels of amenities. Picnic Point Campground offers tent-only sites along the Mondeaux Flowage, while North Twin Lake Recreation Area provides a quieter camping experience with basic facilities. Several backcountry sites along the Ice Age Trail, including Northside Lake Eleven and Sailor Creek, offer more secluded options for hikers seeking primitive tent setups.

Most tent campgrounds in this region feature basic amenities with fire rings and picnic tables at established sites, though facilities vary significantly. Picnic Point provides water hookups and allows pets, while the backcountry sites along the Ice Age Trail are more primitive with no drinking water or toilets. Campers should bring filtration systems for water from nearby lakes and streams. The free backcountry sites typically require hikers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Weather conditions can change rapidly, particularly in spring and fall, making proper tent setup and rain protection essential.

The tent camping experience in the Chequamegon National Forest offers excellent access to hiking trails and water activities. The Ice Age Trail provides tent campers with unique geological features formed by continental glaciation, including the mile-long Hemlock Esker that rises about 80 feet above the surrounding terrain. Sites at Lake Eleven are situated under groves of pines, providing natural shelter and soft ground for tent placement. A visitor noted that "the site has a nice stone fire pit with log benches surrounding it. Plenty of downed/dead trees provide firewood." Backcountry campers should be prepared for encounters with wildlife, including raccoons, which are common throughout the region.

Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BYToyota Trucks
Spearhead Point

Spearhead Point

23 min away

Otter Lake Chippewa County

Otter Lake Chippewa County

36 min away

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Best Tent Sites Near Medford, Wisconsin (9)

Show More
Showing results 1-9 of 9 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Tent Camping Reviews near Medford, WI

220 Reviews of 9 Medford Campgrounds


  • Michael M.
    Oct. 3, 2017

    Dells of the Eau Claire Park Campground

    Nice views fishing not so great

    This campground is right on the Ice Age Trail and a nice place to stop off during an extended hike.

    There are not that many sites available here and most do supply electricity. More people tent camp here rather than RV camping. There are pit toilets but no shower house although there are water spigots for drinking water. The sites are closer together than some campgrounds but it's not like a city block of camps like some KOA's I have camped at. The night time temperatures dipped in the low 30's in the middle of May when I was there. The campground attendants were on site twice a day to sell firewood and collect camping fees. The DNR rangers do patrol the campgrounds on a regular basis. There is places all along the river to fish and I was told the fishing is good, however I did not have very much luck when I was there. The campground firepits with cooking grates were OK and the wooden picnic tables are worn, but there is level ground for pitching tents.

    The scenery and hiking along the river and on the Ice Age Trail is great. If you had better luck fishing than I did this would have been a great camping weekend. Bring warm cloths and a great sleeping bag.

  • Debra M.
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Connors Lake Campground — Flambeau River State Forest

    Great Canoe and Backwoods Place– Maybe Not the Place for Families

    The State Forest is very beautiful. There is a lake as well as the Flambeau River to explore. There are two campgrounds, Lake of the Pines which has 30 non-electric sites and Connor Lake which has 3 electric sites and 26 non-electric. All sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. There are no play grounds. There are only vault toilets at the campground. There is one shower at the ranger station which is about 4 miles away. There is no cell service at Connors Lake Campground. I could not even make an emergency call which was a concern for me. There are many signs that say to go to the ranger station, about 4 miles to make an emergency call. There is no weather safe shelter at the campground. There are 14 canoe camp areas and the park is beautiful. If you like to canoe this is a great park. We did a hike and cut our stay short since we like a bit more services and safety.

  • Debra M.
    Jul. 18, 2021

    Lake Wissota State Park Campground

    Smaller scale park but lots to do

     This park is on a smaller scale and less crowded than Devil’s Lake. There is a small beach that is in the process of renovation. The sites are large surrounded by trees and very private. The sites on the lake side are not electric and some of them are huge buddy sites, great for extended families. There are two shower houses in the campground located next to sites 29 or 72. If you are on the legs furthest from the lake it is a long walk to them, but all those sites have electric. There are two vault toilet locations and a total of 116 campsites all with a picnic table and fire ring. There is a very large playing field and a playground in the Family Campground and another playground past the beach near the fishing dock. This State Park has a large number of picnic shelters and picnic grounds with picnic tables. There are about 10 hiking trails. There is a boat launch and you can rent kayaks or canoes at the visitor center. Everything was kept clean and in good repair. Cell service for both AT&T and Verizon was strong enough to stream video. If you want to take a trip to town, there are about 5 no longer than a 10 mile distance. There was a large grocery store in Chippewa Falls. Only ice and firewood are available at the park.

  • debe K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2021

    Harstad Park

    Great Place to Simply Camp

    Harstad is get away camping. Right on the Eau Claire River with canoe kayak access. A great shallow creek for kids to explore. 29 sites mostly separated by trees and brush. A large reservable shelter and field for playing sports on. Only has pit toilets, no electricity and no showers. The bathrooms are are cleaned daily by rangers from another county park. No ranger on site, so you have to request firewood for purchase the day before. Has reduced rate for weekly stays.

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2019

    Sailor Lake NF Campground

    Spacious sites in the Wisconsin woods

    Nestled within Wisconsin forest you find Sailor Lake. This national forest campground has water access as well as sites away from the lake. We stayed at site 12 - a pull through site away from the water.

    Many, although not all, of the waterside sites are for tents. You park and carry your gear down a few steps for a close to the water feel. There is an open area for everyone to enjoy the lake - it’s filled with purple flowers today. With plenty of woods around, all sites offer privacy but they have different vibes. Plenty of choice here so look around or reserve one. Plenty of sites available for walk-ins too. A couple of vault toilets, garage receptacle and water source round out a nice camp.

    ATV trails as well as non-motorized trails are plentiful. We hiked on them and it was nice. Minimal cell signal encourages disconnecting for your stay.

  • M
    Sep. 23, 2021

    Lake of the Pines Campground — Flambeau River State Forest

    Nice area. Awkward check in.

    We arrived at Lake of the Pines knowing sites were reservable. We didn't know they had to be reserved. There were no less than eleven signs at the entrance. You could purchase a vehicle pass required for entry but could not pay for camping. The instructions said to call a telephone number. With no cell service we were about to drive until we could call. Luckily a very pleasant maintenance women told us there was a dedicated phone for reservations at the forest headquarters a few miles away. We apparently missed that sign.

    We took a chance and paid for an out-of-state annual vehicle pass for $38 as opposed to buying an $8 pass every day. We checked out the park and there were only two sites occupied. We chose one next to some campers on motorcycles because it had a partial view of the lake and drove to the headquarters. We called and asked for a specific site number. The person said she had no Lake of the Pines in her system. We figured out it was Flambeau/Lake of the Pines and confirmed that the adjacent site was occupied. We reserved the site and paid by card over the dedicated reservation phone. They said we would receive a confirmation email but...no cell service. Returning to the campground we found that the site we reserved was the one occupied. Apparently the motorcycle guys blew off the whole camping reservation and fee. We set up on another site and hoped no one reserved that one. All the site number signs said first come-first served? We corrected the site number at the phone at the forest headquarters the next day. First we tried the office which had hours posted but was closed, so we used the dedicated phone line.

    After all this, we had a nice time paddling the milder sections of the Flambeau River. Shuttle prices for private canoes at local tavern/outfitters were reasonable. No one we saw other than DNR wore masks. Wisconsin DNR needs to get their act together. There is no reason to have a payment drop box for vehicle permits but not camping. Consolidate your check-in signs.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 18, 2022

    Coon Fork Campground

    Lovely campground with lake views

    The campground is lovely considering it's only $20 for lakeside ($17 non lakeside). It has a shower house, bathroom, dump station, wood for sale ($6/bundle), ice for sale and is non electric. The sites are very generous with a lot of green between spaces. You are not on top of your neighbor.

    I like to hammock, and while not a lot of the sites are ideal, they're are a few that are. A3 was one ($17 non lake) and 2LR ($20 lakeside). The latter was perfect for several hammocks.

    All sites have very clean fire rings, picnic table and a bench next to the fire pit.

    There is a totally separate loop (Loop D) for units that are self contained.

    If you don't make it before the office closes, there is self check in. A total of 108 spaces with about 30 that are first come.

    Very little road noise here… Pretty far off the road. I did have noisy radio neighbors the second night I stayed, but it happens sometimes.That did not reflect on the campground itself.

    Raccoons frequent the park, hence the name, so they will give you trash bags at check in to keep them at bay. That's a great way to help control the problem.

  • M
    Jun. 21, 2022

    Brunet Island State Park Campground

    Beautiful quiet campground on island with forest and river surrounding it.

    This is one of our favorite Wisconsin state parks. It is quiet and shady, next to the Chippewa River. You can kayak on the river and in-between the islands where the water is very calm and full of lily pads and wildlife. There is a paved bike trail, Old Abe, that connects to the park and is 20 miles long to Chippewa Falls. It's an easy bike ride, a few miles, into Cornell for ice cream at one of 2 shops that have it! One camground loop has electric and bathroom with showers and flush toilets. The other loop has no electric and pit toilets and has many sites next to the water. Campsites are roomy and shaded.

  • Krissy G.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Jan. 21, 2022

    Connors Lake Campground — Flambeau River State Forest

    Beautiful & Quiet State Forrest

    This was our first camping trip into the beautiful Flambeau River State Forest. It was stunning. Plenty to do and see at this campground. It’s the true north woods experience. Large, wooded sites. Secluded from neighbors. Only 7 electric sites right now. There were no showers on site, so we had to drive to the ranger station in order to shower, just a quick 5 min drive. The hiking in the area is amazing, and I would highly recommend taking in the beauty at the falls.


Guide to Medford

Tent camping near Medford, Wisconsin offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of amenities and activities. With several well-reviewed campgrounds in the area, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to set up their tents.

Tent campers should check out Picnic Point Campground

  • Located in the scenic Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Picnic Point Campground features reservable sites and allows campfires, making it ideal for group gatherings.
  • This campground is pet-friendly, so you can bring your furry friends along for the adventure.
  • Enjoy the peaceful surroundings with picnic tables available for your outdoor meals.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities at Northside Lake Eleven Campsite

  • The Northside Lake Eleven Campsite is a backcountry site that offers a unique hiking experience along the Ice Age Trail, perfect for those looking to explore.
  • With no fees for camping, this site allows for a budget-friendly getaway while enjoying the beauty of nature.
  • The campsite is equipped with a stone fire pit and ample space for hammock camping, providing a cozy atmosphere for relaxation.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $15

  • At Sailor Creek Campsite, you can camp for free while enjoying a backcountry experience surrounded by hemlocks and close to a water source.
  • The North Twin Lake Recreation Area offers a peaceful environment with a low-cost camping option, perfect for families looking to escape the hustle and bustle.
  • For a more developed experience, Camp New Wood County Park charges around $15 per night and provides access to the Ice Age Trail along with basic amenities.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Medford, WI is Picnic Point Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Medford, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.