2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Hayward KOA and Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park feature upscale glamping accommodations near Mellen, Wisconsin. The Hayward KOA offers family-friendly yurt rentals with comfortable beds, electricity, and climate control systems that provide a perfect balance between outdoor adventure and indoor comfort. At Presque Isle, canvas glamping tents sit perched along the Lake Superior shoreline, providing stunning sunset views with the convenience of proper bedding, wooden floors, and private decks. Both locations maintain a rustic aesthetic while delivering essential amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to clean bathroom facilities. "This is a great base camp for exploring the Apostle islands with comfortable accommodations that let you enjoy nature without roughing it," noted one visitor about the glamping options.
Glamping guests enjoy direct access to numerous outdoor activities including hiking trails along the Presque Isle River with its multiple waterfalls, Lake Superior swimming and paddling opportunities, and wildlife viewing. The Hayward KOA supplements natural attractions with family amenities including a heated pool, mini golf course, and organized weekend activities during peak season. Visitors can easily access nearby attractions like the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore for kayaking excursions or the Porcupine Mountains for day hikes with spectacular views. Local restaurants and markets in Bayfield and Hayward provide convenient dining options within a short drive. According to a camper, "The campground was small, but not crowded. The sites were spaced far enough apart to not feel like you were camping with your neighbors. The views here are just breathtaking between Lake Superior and the waterfalls."
"Very nice park with several new lots that are all grass with water and electric. Several lots are full hookup."
"The bar & grill have a decent menu and the thin crust pizza was yummy."
"If you are looking for real out door experience with no common amenities except running water this is the place for you. Enjoy amazing waterfalls, rugged camping and gorgeous lake Superior sunsets..."
"Great location, and has the basics for the camping. I was in site 44, and most of the sites in the "middle" were more of an open field with a couple of trees. "
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 / night
"It is close to the ferry dock, restaurants, parks and beaches. All sites are electric and water and some are full hook up. There are cabins and tent sites as well. "
"There is bike rental at Howl bike shop which is walking distance. Howl also has a brewery with outside seating. The camp ground itself is quiet and clean."
Available this weekend
from $15 - $30 / night
"This is a perfect small sized campground with trail access to UTV /Atv trails. If you are coming here to ride I would recommend going west on the trail. North a lot of the trails were closed."
"There are trails starting right by camp. They even have an atv washing station - first I’ve seen. With no Verizon cell service, this is a nice night’s stopover for us."
"Arrived on Sunday with out reservations. Plenty of sites to choose from the first come first served. Plus you can use an unoccupied site until its reservation date."
"A few friends of mine got together one weekend to camp at Porcupine Lake Wilderness. Overall, it was a beautiful place to camp."
"Willow River State Park in Wisconsin is an amazing camp site and since it's in a state park the rates are quite reasonable as well. There are tons of hiking trails that start right In the campground."
"Utv trails to Wisconsin can be accessed right here. There are waterfalls nearby that are off the beaten path. Can't beat it if your looking to explore and have an adventure."
from $20 - $40 / night
"Lost Land Lake offers good fishing and boating. Kevin and Elise were welcoming and even provided parts to fix a major RV plumbing issue. We stayed in camp site 5. It was a large, pull through site."
"Cheap boat and pontoon rental, very friendly and kind staff. I plan on going back and possibly purchasing for permanent site."
"We stayed in site 36 and found it to be spacious and close enough to the playground and bathrooms for our kids to run down on their own. The staff was kind and helpful."
"Staff really friendly and helpful. Nice trees around sites. Sites were close but we still found it pretty quiet. Good location to go in to town. Would definitely return."
from $25 - $35 / night
"Right off the highway so you will get some road noise even at night. But if you're lucky to have a site farther from the road you really can't hear much!"
"We enjoyed having all the amenities on-site. The staff were friendly and professional, the concession restaurant was good and affordable."
"Laundry and market in Ironwood are decent."
"There is a trash dumpster here, and even a recycling bin, a nice surprise. There is potable water at the campground (per note at spigot water is safe to drink but will leave rust residue)."
TravelerBeautiful, quiet campground with a true wilderness feel. The three nearby waterfalls are a must-see, and make sure to spend some time exploring the riverbed around them—it was one of the highlights of our stay. Great location for hiking, scenery, and enjoying the natural side of the Porcupine Mountains.
ScoutNice campground
LegendQuiet spot but no drinking water. Had to go back to Bessemer but found a spring to get water. A local showed me after asking at ace hardware. Great hiking to some waterfalls but some were closed.
TravelerWe had two nights here in two different spots. Price is a little high but it does include utilities which is nice. Most spots are 2 night minimum unless you’re filling a gap between reservations which is what we did and it was great. Staff really friendly and helpful. Nice trees around sites. Sites were close but we still found it pretty quiet. Good location to go in to town. Would definitely return.
TravelerThis campground was very clean and beautiful. It's a great place to stay with a family. We stayed in site 36 and found it to be spacious and close enough to the playground and bathrooms for our kids to run down on their own. The staff was kind and helpful.
GuideArrived on Sunday with out reservations. Plenty of sites to choose from the first come first served. Plus you can use an unoccupied site until its reservation date. All sites have fire ring & a picnic table. Lake side sites offer lake views when sitting up due to the foliage. Vault toilets are clean & well maintained. The 4 mile trail around the lake needs work. Generators are allowed from 6am to 10 pm. There are 3- walk in sites. 24 sites for trailers, two group sites.
GuideThe sites are fairly close but most offer privacy. Laundry and market in Ironwood are decent.
GuideThis is a nice enough campground but I am honestly disappointed. The website describes lots of amenities, which is why I booked this campground, however, everything is extra cost in addition to nightly rate— including mini-golf. The entire campground is in the side of a mountain and there are no flat roads, which makes biking and walking a workout rather than leisure. We will check out Buffalo Bay next time.
GuideGreat campground with swimming hole & great access to Bayside for island ferry’s! Complaints: Park is located on the side of a hill—Spots are small but level, roads are all at a slope. Not a great campground for kiddos to ride their bikes, and not super fun to walk uphill in every direction. The campground also charges you $5-7 per person to play mini-golf… which is odd, since it is advertised as a campground amenity on the website.
Camping options near Mellen, Wisconsin range from rustic tent sites to fully equipped RV hookups across the Chequamegon National Forest and surrounding lakes region. Located in Ashland County at 1,250 feet elevation, the area experiences cold winters with heavy lake effect snow and moderate summer temperatures rarely exceeding 85°F. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October, with limited winter access during snowmobile season.
Waterfall hikes: 4-mile trail at Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park follows the Presque Isle River with multiple waterfalls. "The hiking throughout this park is unparalleled in its beauty. The campground is close to the Presque Isle river trail which is waterfall after waterfall," notes Stacia R.
Lake Superior beaches: 15-minute walk from Black River Harbor Campground provides access to quiet Lake Superior shoreline. "A beautiful harbor on Lake Superior surrounded with by a cornucopia of natural beauty. Five named waterfalls that are simply amazing, each awe inspiring along with several hidden un-named falls," writes Thomas F.
Winter ski attractions: 20-minute drive to Copper Peak ski flying facility, the only one in North America. "Not too far away is Copper Peak, the only ski flying facility in North America. In the summer you can ride up to the top to see pretty far. It's not for the faint of heart," explains Annie C.
UTV/ATV trail access: Direct from campsite at Schomberg Park. "This is a perfect small sized campground with trail access to UTV/ATV trails. If you are coming here to ride I would recommend going west on the trail," advises Juliana R.
Lake views from elevated sites: Apostle Islands Area Campground provides strategic access to island ferry services. "Great area near all there is to do in Bayfield," says Katherine O., while another camper adds, "I highly recommend doing some sort of tour of the Apostle Islands by boat and taking the ferry to Madeline Island."
Secluded tent camping: Densely wooded sites provide privacy at some campgrounds. "We camped at Presque Isle in the Porkies for a long weekend in October. The color change was amazing! This campground is rustic with only vault toilets and no hookups... Spacing is nice and provides some privacy," reports Stacia R.
Yurt accommodations: Year-round options for yurt camping near Mellen, Wisconsin allow for four-season experiences. According to Jen W., Presque Isle offers "Yurts and Cabins available. Definitely Seasonal. The road is not plowed completely in winter."
River access: Multiple campgrounds feature water proximity. "Very wooded, big lots not at all over crowded and quiet!! Cheap boat and pontoon rental, very friendly and kind staff," writes Eve about Reel Livin Resort and Campground.
Generator restrictions: Designated zones at some campgrounds separate generator and non-generator users. "There are 50 sites, with generator and non-generator sites clearly separated... On the non-generator side sites on the outside of the loop back to either the woods or the lake and have great hammocking options," explains Annie C.
Accessibility challenges: Steep terrain at certain campgrounds affects mobility. "Park is located on the side of a hill—Spots are small but level, roads are all at a slope. Not a great campground for kiddos to ride their bikes, and not super fun to walk uphill in every direction," warns Nick & Allyssa S.
Cell service limitations: Spotty coverage throughout region. "No cellar coverage, and the Rangers do not answer knocks on the door at their offices about 20 miles away. You are on your own," cautions Jim W.
Seasonal facility closures: Some campgrounds reduce services after Labor Day. A camper noted, "It was very quiet even though it was close to Labor Day weekend, and for the size of the campground."
Recreational activities: Multiple options at Hayward KOA keep children engaged. "Awesome spot for kids! Lots for them to do. Sites are kinda close but landscape is great," says Gwen C., while another visitor mentions, "Great campground to stay with family! Campground was kept very clean, even though it is an older campground."
Water recreation: Check availability as amenities vary seasonally. "Pool, waterslide, mini golf, playgrounds and so much more! They also have themed weekends for the kids, and plenty of activites!" Lynn N. reports about Hayward KOA.
Adventure camping: Wilderness options for experienced families. "A few friends of mine got together one weekend to camp at Porcupine Lake Wilderness. Overall, it was a beautiful place to camp. This particular weekend, it snowed and words could not describe how amazing it was," shares Joshua S.
Proximity to services: Plan for distance from major retail. One camper advised, "Not super spacious but the place is clean and the people are friendly. The bar & grill have a decent menu and the thin crust pizza was yummy."
Site limitations: Space constraints at Frontier RV Park and Campground affect larger vehicles. "Very nice park with several new lots that are all grass with water and electric. Several lots are full hookup. There is not a true dump station, only a spot near the bathroom that you can pull up to dump, but then you have to back out of it," Jim M. notes.
Tree clearance: Older campgrounds present navigation challenges. "Love all this campsite has to offer with amenities! Beautiful area as well. But there are alot of trees that make it very challenging for larger rigs. There are a handful of sites that would be easy to access, I recommend calling first," advises Sheila H. about Hayward KOA.
Full hookup availability: Limited options in more remote areas. "We were told the toilets didn't work because there was a piece on order for over 2 weeks, the sinks weren't working so we couldn't use those either, but you could get a hot shower for a $0.25," reports Karen B.
Winter accessibility: Most campgrounds close or reduce services October through April. According to visitor reports, roads remain unplowed in many areas, though yurt camping near Mellen, Wisconsin continues year-round at select locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Mellen, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Mellen, WI is Frontier RV Park and Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Mellen, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 glamping camping locations near Mellen, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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