Great River Bluffs State Park Campground
Nice place
Nice campground sites are smaller & you will need to level. Nice clean flush toilets & showers. Can hear the highway below. Road in is gravel & narrow not for big rigs.
2 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Russell Memorial Park, East Arbutus Camp, and Hixton - Alma Center KOA provide distinctive glamping accommodations near Merrillan, Wisconsin. These sites feature premium canvas structures with comfortable bedding, electricity, and climate control systems that blend outdoor experiences with upscale comforts. "This campground has a lot of trees for plenty of shade," noted one guest about Russell Memorial Park, highlighting the natural setting that enhances the glamping experience. Lake Arbutus offers waterfront glamping with scenic views and private access points to the shoreline. The area's glamping options include unique features like fully-furnished canvas tents with real beds, wood-burning stoves for chilly nights, and private outdoor spaces for relaxing under the stars.
Wedges Creek Hideaway stands out with its rustic glamping cabins built with lumber from their on-site sawmill. One visitor described it as "a diamond in the rough - exactly what we wanted on our journey," praising its authentic woodland setting. The property features wood-fired pizza nights with homemade crust and occasional live music events. Hiking enthusiasts can explore 6 miles of private trails directly from their glamping accommodations. Seasonal activities include swimming at nearby Lake Arbutus, ATV trail access, and boating opportunities. Most glamping sites remain open from May through October, with some premium locations requiring advance bookings during peak summer weekends. The area's combination of forest settings, water access, and unique accommodations creates distinctive glamping experiences that connect visitors with Wisconsin's natural beauty.
"Loved our time at East Lake Arbutus. A warm shallow lake for swimming and boating, dog friendly, safe for kids."
"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."
"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."
"Office staff is super friendly. Our site is right on the water... so calm and peaceful. Family friendly. Nice and clean. We saw the sheriff’s deputy drive through a number of times at night."
"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."
"We were coming back from a koa in Minnesota and decided to stop for the night, nice clean campground and a beautiful heated pool. Definitely would go back again"
"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."
"They have good bathrooms lot of them or not just pit. They also have a few with showers. And the hole beach is sandy. They have ice and wood available. A nice playground as well"
"Our criteria - less than $100, pet friendly and rustic. "
"From the owner: Wedges Creek Hideaway is on a double dead end road with several miles of hiking trails, electric hook up, cabins, fully furnished houses, and lots of stars for your next stay in central"
Available this weekend
from $25 - $190 / night
"Situated within short distance of the Mississippi surrounded by trails and kayak friendly rivers."
"We were told to go straight to our site and setup and they will check on us later. By morning there was a marker on the pole."
"Nice beach that is a walkable distance from the sites. Lots of walking, biking and horse trails that are full of wild berries."
"The campsites are all private and secluded. We really enjoyed that it was all so unspoiled, yet all the areas/paths were well cared for and clean. We brought our dogs and they had a blast too."
Available this weekend
from $20 - $210 / night
"Getting ready to go over there this weekend we've been to this Campground many times in the past before it's grown into what it is today we used to have family reunions at this Campground we stopped doing"
from $18 - $746 / night
"The cart in sites all have a fire pit with a grill, picnic table, and are a short walk from the primitive toilets. There is a water spigot in the parking area."
"I enjoy camping away from the hub bub of the family campground and opting for the backpack or cart in sites. Luckily, Great River Bluffs has some of the nicest cart ins I have encountered."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $24 / night
Nice campground sites are smaller & you will need to level. Nice clean flush toilets & showers. Can hear the highway below. Road in is gravel & narrow not for big rigs.
I was a little skeptical after a negative review about the regular residents, so I watched for that dynamic. We were camping with another family so we had 8 kids between the two of us and I was worried all those kiddos would upset people. Quite the opposite experience from that review and it motivated me to leave this one to help provide a good picture. I have nothing bad to say about our camping experience. We did go a little out of season (September 12) so a lot of the campsites were empty. Most their sites are flat, and clean. The grass was well mowed and maintained. They had activities for the kids (Halloween). People that drove by were friendly and smiling, and waiving. We had people drop off candy for the kids asking parents first. We had people offer basketballs for our kids to use while they were away from their site. Me and my friend were about to haul ice bags and wood up a huge hill on foot and someone stopped their golf cart and emptied it of what they were carrying to give us a ride to our campsite. The kids tootled about on their bikes being kids with no negative experiences. There were a couple of kids on motor scooters whose engines were kind of obnoxious but that’s going to happen more and more at campgrounds, and it wasn’t during quiet hours. We had sites atop the “full Lakeview” and it was honestly surprising how beautiful it was up there. I think it can be difficult to get a view when you’re camping but those sites had it. We knew the full lake view sites were open so we took the cheaper ones across from them, but still saw the same view. There was a great amount of space between the sites we used. The only possible critique I might offer is in that specific row there weren’t many trees for shade, but the weather was cooler so it didn’t affect us, but if we went in the summer it might have been more uncomfortable without that natural shade. The bath houses and showers were great!!! I feel like a good bath house can make or break a campsite and we’ve been to some smaller ones that were quite lacking but this one was great. Very clean, not many bugs, spacious, real doors on the shower stalls. We did not arrive in season to utilize the pool area but it looked great from the other side of the gate ;) - the parks were well maintained and the kids loved them. there was a set of stairs that went from up the hill down to the office that looked a little sketchy but they were closed off for use. If you didn’t have a golf cart or couldn’t ride a bike, the trek from where we stayed to the office might be a challenge. Overall we loved it and would definitely consider going again. The sites were a little pricey but had on site sewer hookup which is fantastic.
Stayed hear on a very hot 90+degree day during a road trip, easy to reach from I90/94. Midweek, we were the only overnight guests. -Occasional loud noise from the road and train tracks. -At first was wary of paying for no showers and pit toilets for the price, but pit toilets were actually clean with no odor. -Spring fed swimming pond was good for a dip once you found a cool spot, but there are spots that felt like a hot tub. Beach is very nice sand, and there’s a playground for the kids. -Definitely check out the short hike up to Mill Bluff if you can tolerate steep rocky stairs, the view is beautiful. -Tried to check out the other trail near Camel Bluff but it was too overgrown to continue. -Electrical box is in the middle of the campsite near the picnic table, so power cables will need to be at least 30 feet long to comfortably reach your rig. -National Parks Pass is accepted for vehicle admission (separate from camping fee in WI) as this is part of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve! -Sites 20/21 are great for proximity to swimming pond and toilets
We wanted to visit family in the area at the last minute, and pulled up to see if they had any spot available. They gave us a list of available options, we drove through, and picked a site with the perfect spot to watch the sun set. Amenities are clean, theres a pool table and games in the office area.
A nice camping option with a more peaceful, spread-out lake feel. I like that it has camping, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking trails, a playground, concessions, and heated shower/restroom facilities all in one place. The boat launch and transient slips are a big plus if you’re bringing a boat. The only downside is that, like most lake campgrounds, summer weekends can get busy and its a bit of a drive to reach even a gas station so arrive prepared.
Overall, it’s a nice pick for a relaxed Wisconsin lake getaway. Recommended
It's hard to find using my car GPS. It doesn't work well here. But it's a very good place.
This state park is beautiful and well kept. They put in a new road 2 summers ago and have started doing some more forest maintenance. Campgrounds are usually clean and well maintained. Lots of invasive species around unfortunately.
Dog friendly, quiet and nice showers. The water sites enjoy a beautiful view across the 640 lake. You can pull your boat right up to many of the sandy beach campsites and swim right there too. Great campground for family groups.
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!
Located in Jackson County, Wisconsin, Merrillan sits at an elevation of 932 feet, surrounded by coniferous forests and wetland areas. Summer temperatures average 70-80°F with higher humidity, while winter camping requires preparation for temperatures that can drop below 10°F. The region's glacial terrain creates varied camping landscapes from wooded settings to lakefront sites with direct water access.
Hiking private trails: Wedges Creek Hideaway offers 6 miles of private hiking trails through woodland settings. "We took on the outdoors... on the hiking trails (6 miles) if you choose," notes one visitor to Wedges Creek Hideaway.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Arbutus provides popular fishing spots for anglers. "The lake is beautiful for fishing or relaxing. Right now the water is down, and there is no dock at the boat landing," according to a camper at West Arbutus County Park.
ATV trail access: Many campgrounds connect directly to regional ATV trail systems. "We stayed with a group for Memorial weekend. We have such a great time... Our site was a little hard to get into. We stayed at site 116 with a 40 ft 5th wheel," reports a visitor at Russell Memorial Park.
Paddle sports: Rent canoes or kayaks near East Arbutus Camp. "Nearby you can rent canoes and kayaks which will drop off and pick up right to your site," mentions one camper's review.
Private waterfront sites: East Arbutus Camp offers secluded lakeside camping options. "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," says a visitor at Jackson County East Arbutus Campground.
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept shower buildings and restrooms. "The shower and restrooms were clean. There are larger sites just not all waterfront," notes a camper at Russell Memorial Park.
Wood-fired pizza nights: Wedges Creek Hideaway features special dining events. "Even wood fired pizzas with homemade crust most nights of the week and sometimes live music!" shares an enthusiastic visitor.
Yurt camping options: For those interested in yurt camping near Merrillan, Wisconsin, Pine View Campground offers yurt accommodations. "You name it, they have it... can rent cabins as well," states one reviewer.
Cash requirements: Some campgrounds operate with limited payment options. "Make sure that you bring cash with if the office is closed people self-register campsites," advises a visitor to West Arbutus County Park.
Site selection considerations: Campsite layouts vary significantly across locations. "Some sites are tight, so make sure that you drive around the campground before picking a site," recommends a Russell Memorial camper.
Shower facilities: Expect basic amenities with occasional limitations. "There are showers, but it costs $0.50 for 4 minutes," notes a visitor to East Arbutus Camp.
Seasonal water levels: Lake conditions change throughout the camping season. "The hole beach is sandy. They have ice and wood available," reports a Jackson County East Arbutus camper.
Kid-friendly swimming: Several areas feature designated swimming areas. "A warm shallow lake for swimming and boating, dog friendly, safe for kids," reports a visitor to East Arbutus Camp.
Playgrounds and activities: Family-oriented campgrounds offer recreation options. "They have a nice playground as well," notes a Jackson County East Arbutus Campground visitor about the available facilities.
Weekend crowd management: Busier periods require planning. "This is a busy campground, a lot of people go there over the weekend," warns a camper at West Arbutus County Park.
Safety monitoring: Some campgrounds have security patrols. "We saw the sheriff's deputy drive through a number of times at night. Good to see them just making sure no one was causing any problems," shares a camper at Russell Memorial Park.
Site-specific challenges: Select RV sites carefully based on equipment 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," explains a visitor to East Arbutus Camp.
Dump station logistics: Plan for potential wait times when leaving. "Sunday checkout there's a line of campers waiting to dump," warns a visitor about East Arbutus Camp.
Electrical hookup locations: Not all waterfront sites have full hookups. "The waterfront has mostly electric only sites and run very close to size... There are a few full hookup in the center of the campground but not many," notes a Russell Memorial camper.
Leveling requirements: Some sites need additional equipment. "We had to use boards to level our rig," mentions a visitor at Hixton - Alma Center KOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Merrillan, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Merrillan, WI is East Arbutus Camp with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 23 glamping camping locations near Merrillan, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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