Best Tent Camping near Middleton, WI
Tent campsites near Middleton, Wisconsin range from established state park grounds to more secluded walk-in sites within a short drive. New Glarus State Park Campground offers both drive-in and walk-in tent sites with varying levels of privacy, while Governor Dodge State Park provides backpacking campsites that require a half-mile to one-mile hike from parking areas. Devils Lake State Park Group Campground, approximately 30 miles north of Middleton, features heavily wooded group sites suitable for tent camping.
Most tent camping areas provide basic amenities including fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary significantly between locations. New Glarus Woods features vault toilets centrally located among its walk-in sites, with water spigots available but no showers. The walk-in tent sites require campers to transport gear from parking areas, with distances ranging from 40 to 1,000 feet at New Glarus. Sandhill Station State Campground offers a more primitive experience with carry-in only sites located 100-500 yards from the parking area. Road noise can be an issue at some locations, particularly at New Glarus where highway traffic is audible from many campsites.
The wooded settings of most tent campgrounds provide natural shade and privacy between sites. At Devils Lake, group sites are well-spaced with pit toilets and full bathroom facilities within walking distance. Governor Dodge State Park's backpacking sites serve as excellent base camps for exploring the park's extensive trail system and two lakes. Sites at New Glarus Woods on the east side of the trail offer more seclusion but become less level the further you get from the parking lot. According to one visitor, "The sites on the west side of the trail are more level but closer to the trail, so you have less privacy from passers-by." Seasonal considerations affect the camping experience, with one camper noting that Sandhill Station's sites near stagnant water become mosquito-heavy during summer months.