Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Merrill, WI is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Merrill, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
PLEASE NOTE: HORN LAKE IS NOT A DESIGNATED CAMPGROUND
Overnight camping, including tents, trailers, cars and trucks may be permitted in the County Forest without charge for a period of no more than 14 days cumulatively in a calendar year. Any camper who violates the rules of good conduct, including cutting or defacing timber, carelessness with fire, violation of game and fishing laws of the State, or improper disposal of garbage and litter shall be subject to ejection from the County Forest and subject to the penalties provided by County and State laws.
When camping on the County Forest, blocking roads, parking areas, or lake access is not permitted.
$18 - $23 / night
Great Northern Campground is owned & operated by Chad & Bree Theilman & family. Our goal is to provide outdoor enthusiasts with a clean, affordable, family-friendly, and relaxing camping destination. The campground was built & designed by individuals with the same passion for camping & the outdoors who want to make your camping experience a lasting memory.
Great Northern Campground is Langlade County’s newest campground offering 53 sites, most with water & electrical hook-ups. Now offering a large swimming pond with sand beach, showers, and flush toilets. We are conveniently located on the ATV/UTV trail & all riders are welcome! Daily & seasonal sites are available. Dogs are welcome!
$22 - $37 / night
PLEASE NOTE: HORN LAKE IS NOT A DESIGNATED CAMPGROUND
Overnight camping, including tents, trailers, cars and trucks may be permitted in the County Forest without charge for a period of no more than 14 days cumulatively in a calendar year. Any camper who violates the rules of good conduct, including cutting or defacing timber, carelessness with fire, violation of game and fishing laws of the State, or improper disposal of garbage and litter shall be subject to ejection from the County Forest and subject to the penalties provided by County and State laws.
When camping on the County Forest, blocking roads, parking areas, or lake access is not permitted.
$18 - $23 / night
Guide
The good Small campground clean nice walking trails,dog friendly main park across hwy free and clean showers. The bad is a lot of road noise some sites are very close together.
Guide
We camped here in May not much for skeeters, good sites on the lake with a fire pit on a dead end road with a boat landing.
ScoutAs a primitive camper who hates paying to sleep on the ground somewhere, this is my new favorite spot. Two sites, fire rings, no bathroom, water, electric.
Traveler
Small primitive campsites right on lake pine in a beautiful area. The site are adequate and nothing negative to report. Host was super friendly and came up to welcome me. Picnic table down by lake so you can sit while watching the sunrise. $15/night unless you got a park/forest senior pass then 50% off.
Guide
Sites are well spread out, you barely notice they are other sites nearby. Dark and quiet at night. We didn’t get a chance to check out the Dam Lodge but were able to walk the Ice Age Trail which was just a path along the waters edge and was swampy in most areas. There are a couple of Pit toilets and a hand pump for water The pit toilets were tolerable to use( didn’t gag you)
Traveler
Nestled between towering trees, the campsites here were clearly marked and tidy. Each site has a nice fire ring with grate. Main road is paved and sites are small gravel. Hiking/running trails are wide enough to accommodate strollers.
GuideOwners are great, campground is clean and quiet, nice showers, not really a kids campground more like a relaxing or fishing campground.
Traveler
Lake Cunard campground was designated a "Quiet" campground several years ago - one of only two in the 18 different Northern Highlands American Legion state forest campgrounds. That means no "noise producing devices", including generators, radios, TV's, video games, guitars, etc. No means none. Prohibited. It's good to know this before booking a reservation!
Also note that the posted rules for ALL campgrounds read, "At no time may a person engage in.. boisterous, unreasonably loud..or conduct that tends to cause a disturbance" - defined as " interfering with another person's enjoyment of the forest".
This transition in 2019 was perhaps difficult for long time visitors at Cunard to adjust to. However, the quieter experience there has become a favorite of many who appreciate the peaceful atmosphere. 👍 It is an older, more rustic property - and could use some updates (ie new toilets), but if you're looking for that serene Northwoods experience - Go!!
ScoutDiscover the beauty of Eastwood NF Campground, a family-friendly haven nestled in the serene landscapes of northern Wisconsin. With access to a stunning recreation area, this campground offers everything from picturesque hiking trails to a scenic lake perfect for relaxation and adventure. Whether you're pitching a tent or parking your RV, Eastwood NF Campground provides the perfect blend of nature and comfort for families looking to unwind. Plus, for those moments when you want to relax indoors, don’t forget to check out the gogoanime app for endless entertainment options! Enjoy the best of both worlds with outdoor adventures and anime entertainment at your fingertips.
ScoutSome of the sites are wide open with no privacy. Ours was the last one available on a weekend in July. Beach is small, but nice. Priveys are clean! 5G service with Tmobile.
Would definitely come back!
Scout
I don’t want to book a place in Texas.
Guide
We have been coming here for a long time. It is under new management and we thought things would get better. While we were here other guests trashed the beach and had dogs running and using the bathroom throughout the campsite. The rules for dogs were to keep them on leashes and clean up after them. These rules were not being followed which caused the beach, in the past is lovely, but with the dogs using it as a bathroom the beach smelt like poop. Nobody in our week of staying cleaned up after them so we needed to go somewhere else to swim. If your place is pet friendly please make sure to keep up with your own rules. The cabins are run down but showers are hot and the utilities are still able to be used
TravelerA few mosquitoes, but the wind kept them to a minimum! Great view of the lake and very private. About 2 miles of dirt road to get there. Turn right when you get to ATV trail. Two camp sites 10 yards apart.
Scout
Relatively primitive sites, large pile of firewood available. Pit toilets
Guide
Excellent campground! Well maintained and easy to maneuver around. Quiet and enough sun and shade for everyone. Owners are helpful and very nice! Nice playground for the kids, swim beach for great summer fun, campground store/food/drinks if you’re hungry or desire a cold drink to beat the heat and such amazing riverside views that melt the weeks stress away! We will definitely be back to this jem of a campground! Come see for yourself, don’t take my word for it!
ScoutWas great quiet and relaxing
RangerGreat spot right on the water. There are 2 camp spots with stone rings. They are about 40' apart on a cul-de-sac at the end of the road where the boat launch is. I'd suggest using your own firepit/ grill if you have one as some moron decided burning tires in the firepit was a good idea.
It's a beautiful spot. Very quiet. Land to the north is private property, so keep that in mind. You'll see a few houses on the way in.
If you travel to the left where the road "T's" off, take care. The road is tight and very twisty. There are numerous spots to camp, but no pits to the left. I would not recommend going to the left unless the max your hauling is a teardrop. Anyone up to 20' would be OK going to the right where the established 2 sites are.
Traveler
Recommended by two locals, this campground is mostly for RVs but they do have areas away from the RVs. The seasonal campers all appear to have golf carts that they run around all over the place. The teenagers stay active into the night but it didn't bother my sleep but a few times.
Good trees and tree spacing if you want to hammock camp.
Full bar with standard bar fare available on-site.
Overall, a very welcoming campground. The staff were excellent.
Legend
This is our second stay, once in 2020 and now 2023. Both times were just for a couple nights. Great location to explore Minocqua. The campground is comprised mostly of seasonal folks, but offers 20 some sights to non-seasonal. Sites are relatively spaced apart for a private campground and offer FHU’s for those needing to stay a night or two to dump tanks, etc. A bit pricey, but if you spend most of your time boondocking it’s a good fit. Good Verizon signal and they have cable TV hookup.
Traveler
There are tons of sites across three loops, spaced apart with picnic tables, fire pits, and plenty of room. Most sites are level– we were only staying one night and didn’t even need to unhook our pickup. The lake is very close with a trail to a beach and dock. The bathrooms have flush toilets and showers. We didn’t have our ATVs with us, but the trails looked like narrow gravel roads. It wasn’t busy– on a Thursday in July only about¼ of the sites were taken. We had one bar on Verizon.
Guide
GuideWe were hesitant to stay because of the previous owner- I am happy we did however! Our group stayed at sites 36-38. They were nice and level. We did have to pick up some dog poo when we first got there but it wasn’t much thankfully. My son (16) was pretty bored. There was lots of stuff for little kids to do! There was a nice little man-made swimming hole that we didn’t get to use because of the weather. The store didn’t have much in it when we got there. The shelves were filled by evening however! The bar was very big! They only had fried food at the time of our visit- no burgers.
Scout
We were coming from Oshkosh, WI, picking up a kid in Wausau and ultimately heading to the eastern part of the UP. I figured a night stop would be needed and we were kinda just hoping for the best in finding sites this weekend, so I picked a few along our route just in case, this being the first choice. We were lucky and found one last spot to call home for the night. Great campground, albeit gravely. The amenities were well kept and placed and having our dog with us wasn't a problem. Trillium in the wooded areas are radiant in the morning sun shining through the trees. We would absolutely stay again!
Ranger
Loved the whole experience, the cold, the snow, the hammock camping. Quite an event!
GuideBeautiful, friendly campground. Swimming area, waterfall, steam, fishing. This camp has it all. Some season campers, some overnights.
Guide
We only got to stay one night here. The spaces seem close to neighbors but our site was pretty large in the back. Easy to back into. Really quiet and the lake views are serene. Nice little playground too. The site managers were really friendly and helpful. I would love to come back so we could enjoy the site more!
Guidewe did not camp here but drove through the campground while there hiking. the 3 stars is for the campground. sites were small, not well maintained, some of them backed up to the highway. really glad we didn’t stay here. hiking on the other hand is 5 star. ice age trail is easily accessible from the park. absolutely beautiful day of hiking here. during the week we only ran into 2 other people on the trail.
Camping near Merrill, Wisconsin, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With beautiful campgrounds and plenty of activities, it’s a perfect spot for families, friends, and solo adventurers alike.
Camping near Merrill, Wisconsin, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors, whether you're with family or friends. With so many options, you’re sure to find the perfect spot for your next adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Merrill, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Merrill, WI offers a wide range of camping options, with 85 campgrounds and RV parks near Merrill, WI and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Merrill, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Merrill, WI is Council Grounds State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 13 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Merrill, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Merrill, WI.
What parks are near Merrill, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Merrill, WI that allow camping, notably Chequamegon-Nicolet NF and Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
