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Best Campgrounds near Merrillan, WI

403 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Campgrounds around Merrillan, Wisconsin provide numerous options for outdoor recreation, particularly along Lake Arbutus and the Black River. Jackson County manages several developed facilities including Russell Memorial Park, East Arbutus Campground, and West Arbutus County Park, all offering amenities for tent and RV camping. The Black River State Forest contains additional camping areas with East Fork Campground providing riverside sites in a more natural setting. Accommodation types range from basic tent sites to full-hookup RV spots, with some campgrounds like Hixton-Alma Center KOA offering cabin rentals and glamping options.

The camping season in this region typically runs from May through October, with some facilities remaining open year-round. Most developed campgrounds provide electrical hookups, drinking water, and toilet facilities, while shower availability varies by location. Reservations are recommended during peak summer months, especially for waterfront sites which tend to fill quickly. During off-season periods, self-registration may be available at some locations. Campers should be prepared for insects, particularly near water bodies. A visitor noted, "The mosquitos were horrendous. Try early in the season for best experience."

Waterfront locations consistently receive positive reviews, with Lake Arbutus sites being especially popular. Campers appreciate the spacious, well-separated sites at East Arbutus, where one reviewer mentioned "We really like how spacious and spread out the camp sites are. With big pine trees everywhere, there are lots of options for tents and campers to place their site." ATV enthusiasts will find the area particularly appealing as many campgrounds provide direct access to trail systems. The Black River State Forest offers quieter, more rustic camping experiences with one camper describing East Fork Campground as "the quietest we've ever been to" during October visits. Family-friendly amenities include playgrounds, swimming areas, and fishing opportunities, making these campgrounds suitable for various outdoor interests throughout the camping season.

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Best Camping Sites Near Merrillan, Wisconsin (117)

    1. East Fork Campground

    7 Reviews
    Merrillan, WI
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 284-4103

    $50 / night

    "The camp site was right up against a swamp area so it was kind of buggy, but it was a beautiful area with access to lots of hiking trails and fishing. The vault toilets were well maintained."

    "The campsite is close to lots of hiking trails too!"

    2. Castle Mound Campground — Black River State Forest

    10 Reviews
    Black River Falls, WI
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 284-4103

    $45 / night

    "Vault toilets throughout the campground and one building with showers and flush toilets near the visitor center with plenty of parking."

    "You need a Wisconsin State Forest pass to camp here - an extra fee if you don’t have one already. The sites are varied. Some are closer together with less vegetation between them."

    3. Russell Memorial Park

    4 Reviews
    Merrillan, WI
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 333-7948

    "The waterfront has mostly electric only sites and run very close to size. We have a 28 5th wheel and we're snug. Site said 25 ft but the picture had a 5'er on it so we booked it."

    "Some sites are tight, so make sure that you drive around the campground before picking a site. ATV parking is at the front."

    4. West Arbutus County Park

    4 Reviews
    Merrillan, WI
    6 miles
    Website

    "I go there at least two or three times every year and it’s so fun there’s a lot of trails that you can just ride your bike on so it’s fun."

    "The lake is beautiful for fishing or relaxing. Right now the water is down, and there is no dock at the boat landing."

    5. East Arbutus Camp

    4 Reviews
    Merrillan, WI
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 284-8475

    "Right on the lake so bring water toys. Nearby you can rent canoes and kayaks which will drop off and pick up right to your site. Hiking trails and fourwheeler trails too. Full shower areas as well."

    "Loved our time at East Lake Arbutus. A warm shallow lake for swimming and boating, dog friendly, safe for kids."

    6. Wildcat Mound County Park

    3 Reviews
    Humbird, WI
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 743-5140

    $7 / night

    7. Hixton - Alma Center KOA

    3 Reviews
    Merrillan, WI
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 964-2508

    "The sides are a little close to together and our gravel. We had to use boards to level our rig. There’s a swimming pool and a store and two bath houses."

    8. Jackson County East Arbutus Campground

    2 Reviews
    Merrillan, WI
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 333-5832

    9. Coon Fork Campground

    14 Reviews
    Augusta, WI
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 975-0000

    $17 - $20 / night

    "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."

    "Spacious campsites, surrounded by trees. Try to get a lake side site, they are amazing! Hot showers, flush toilets, firewood available for purchase. Great campsite for tent or rv camping."

    10. Stoney Creek RV Resort

    13 Reviews
    Augusta, WI
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 597-2102

    $80 / night

    "This is a very well kept and very clean Campground they have activities all the time recording one where they hide painted Stones around the campground and if you find The Rock they have prizes such as"

    "The lots are nice sites in a variety of settings, I prefer the wooded sites that are close to where the laser tag is."

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Recent Camping Photos near Merrillan, WI

119 Photos of 117 Merrillan Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Merrillan, WI

403 Reviews of 117 Merrillan Campgrounds

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    Perrot State Park Campground

    WI State Park with access to the Mississippi

    Beautiful park located near the river. There are many sites and a few have water views. There are a variety of sites available as well from primitive to drive through and even a few “twin”sites where family or friends can camp right next to each other. Some sites are a bit more isolated than others as well for a variety of preferences.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    South Campground — Merrick State Park

    Nice River campground

    This campground offers many nice sites. Some are more off by themselves and some are right next to each other. There is drive in, cart in, and pull in sites. There is nice ground for renting as well. Many of the sites are on the river. Nice state park! Open year round.

  • Crystal B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2025

    Island Campground — Merrick State Park

    Nice large “hike-in” sites on the river

    These sites are in 1 of 3 campgrounds in the State Park. They are technically “hike-in” or “cart-in” but have a very short hike to get to. They are large and have a fire ring and picnic table at each of the on the water sites. Very nice in my opinion!

  • Anne P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Blueberry Fields Forever

    Great little spot

    Second time I’ve stayed up on Peach Peak. I’ve never had an issue driving up the hill. Great views of the stars. Plenty of deer this last time! It seems very secluded, but I did hear music from nearby one of the nights on my last trip.

  • Ken B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Great River Bluffs State Park Campground

    Very nice

    I arrived late in the day and the office was closed but they have all the instructions and QR codes for an online reservation and check in. Very clean including the showers and bathroom. View of the Mississippi is amazing!

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Kennedy County Park

    Great price for a little campground

    Not the most elaborate campground or the best I stayed at, but the price was right for what you get. The sites are large. You could add a tent or RV to any of them, but some are tighter to get into than others because of the road and how it turns.

    There's a little playground and lots of open space. Each site has a fire pit, but I don't believe there's firewood available for purchase. There are some vault toilets here.

    Cost is only $15 cash and it's first come first serve. No reservations.

    I believe that they raised the rate on April 1st. It's now $15, but in this day and age of price gouging that's actually a bargain for a campsite. It's primitive, but it's nicely kept.

    A little train noise from the distance, but if you like the sound of a train horn, it's very soothing.

  • Cynthia K.
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Oakdale KOA

    Shady trees

    KOA Journey. We didn't feel like tackling Illinois at the end of the day, so we planned a stop here. 

    Check in was pleasant. We were in the back by the bathroom, which was my request. Lots of shady trees. This is a well established campground. As others have noted there is Interstate noise. It's easy on- easy off though.

     There's a Loves nearby.

  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Castle Mound Campground — Black River State Forest

    Really beautiful state campground

    Beautiful, clean, peaceful, wooded campground. Its mid-week and there's only a few other campers here. Most are super respectful with the exception of one group that has the occasional outburst but they were mostly quiet otherwise. We saw some bunnies, birds and raccoons. Heard squirrels, owls and other birds. Vault toilets throughout the campground and one building with showers and flush toilets near the visitor center with plenty of parking. Water fill and dump station located at the front near the visitor station as well. We got here around 6pm yesterday and no one was at the check in so we used the kiosk to get the park pass. A bit steep for out of state visitors @ $16 but they seem to keep the park in great shape so for once it was worth it. Lots of space and shade in all spots. Many sites with electric and some without. Plenty of spots can accommodate mid-large campers. Its about half and half pull-thru or back-in/pull-in. We have a 26 foot travel trailer and had no issues. Mostly level spots as well. A lot of trees are close to the road and made it slightly challenging to maneuver the road but nothing too crazy...just pay attention if you have a larger camper. We dont make it though wisconsin a lot but we'd definitely come back here again. Easy and quick to get to from 94 and less than a mile from Walmart. Plenty of stores/restaurants nearby. Really the only complaint besides the high entrance fee for out of state is that it is close to the town and you can definitely hear traffic. It's not too bad considering the surrounding woods definitely deaden the noise. Wish we could have stayed longer to explore the park better.

  • Derek G.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Oakdale KOA

    KOA Oakdale

    The park rangers are very kind and extremely helpful. This park is very well maintained with bathrooms and showers that were up kept as well as my own home. Very nice place

Guide to Merrillan

The Merrillan area in west-central Wisconsin offers a range of camping options clustered around Lake Arbutus and the Black River State Forest. Developed campgrounds like East Fork and Castle Mound provide established sites within the state forest system, while county parks including Russell Memorial Park and East Arbutus Camp feature lakeside sites with varying amenities. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several locations also offering cabin rentals or glamping options. The region's camping areas typically provide access to water recreation on Lake Arbutus or the Black River, making it popular for paddling, fishing, and swimming activities.

Seasonal considerations vary across camping areas near Merrillan, with most campgrounds operating from May through October. Russell Memorial Park, East Arbutus Camp, and West Arbutus County Park tend to close by November, while a few facilities like Castle Mound Campground and Jackson County East Arbutus Campground remain open year-round. The terrain primarily consists of wooded areas surrounding lakes and rivers, with moderate temperatures in summer and potential for significant bugs near water. Many campsites require advance reservations during peak summer months. A camper at East Fork noted: "The sites on the river were really pretty but full of mosquitoes. The sites on the other side are also nice and have a much smaller bug presence."

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers visiting the Merrillan region. Lake Arbutus campgrounds receive consistently positive reviews for their spacious waterfront sites and swimming opportunities. Several visitors highlighted the water-based recreation options available, particularly at East Arbutus Camp. "We really like how spacious and spread out the camp sites are. With big pine trees everywhere, there are lots of options for tents and campers to place their site. Many have lake views," reported one visitor. ATV trail access serves as another notable feature at several campgrounds including Russell Memorial Park, which visitors praise for its convenient trail connections. The area's developed campgrounds generally offer electric hookups, with some providing full services including water and sewer connections, while maintaining a natural setting with ample shade and privacy between sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Merrillan, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Merrillan, WI is East Fork Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.

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