Glamping in Neillsville, Wisconsin offers distinctive rustic experiences in Wisconsin's central forest region, where the elevation ranges between 1,200-1,400 feet. The area's sandy loam soil supports diverse pine and hardwood forests, creating natural windbreaks around camping areas and maintaining cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowlands.
What to do
Water recreation at Lake Arbutus: Visitors to East Arbutus Camp enjoy access to shallow swimming areas with sandy beaches. "A warm shallow lake for swimming and boating, dog friendly, safe for kids... 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," notes camper Kim L.
ATV trail riding: The extensive trail network connects multiple campgrounds in the region. Russell Memorial Park offers dedicated ATV access points. "We stayed with a group for Memorial weekend. We have such a great time. Some of our group was tent camping and said the showers were nice and hot but tended to be a little muddy after awhile," shares Juliana R.
Hiking through diverse ecosystems: Miles of trails wind through the region's pine forests, grasslands, and wetlands. At West Arbutus County Park, "there's a lot of trails that you can just ride your bike on so it's fun," according to Owen H., who visits multiple times annually.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: The Neillsville region's campgrounds maintain natural vegetation between campsites. "The sites are big and the ones on the lake have beautiful views," reports Megan R. about East Arbutus Camp.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness stands out as a consistent positive across area campgrounds. "The bathroom/shower facilities were very clean and centrally located, pit toilets were provided at much closer intervals, and there were lots of water fountains located throughout the entire park," notes Julie P. about Lake Wissota State Park Campground.
Family-friendly atmosphere: Camping near Neillsville works well for family gatherings. "Lovely county park with lots of campsites. Office staff is super friendly. Our site is right on the water... so calm and peaceful. Family friendly. Nice and clean," writes Stacey N. about Russell Memorial Park.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Popular lakefront sites book quickly, especially during summer weekends. For Pine View Campground, "We called to make the reservation by phone and was taken care of very nicely. We were told to go straight to our site and setup and they will check on us later," explains Jesse M.
Shower facilities: Most campgrounds offer coin-operated showers costing $0.50-$1 for 4-8 minutes. At East Arbutus Camp, "There are showers, but it costs $0.50 for 4 minutes," reports Kim L.
Site variations: Campsite sizes and access vary considerably. At Russell Memorial Park, "Site said 25 ft but the picture had a 5'er on it so we booked it. The back sites are ATV/UTV site. They have good access to the trails. They seem a bit bigger. I've seen a few toy haulers back there," shares Robert W.
Tips for camping with families
Water safety preparation: Lake Arbutus offers gradual entry points suitable for children. "A warm shallow lake for swimming and boating, dog friendly, safe for kids," recommends Kim L. about East Arbutus Camp.
Playground access: Several campgrounds maintain dedicated play areas. Michael L. notes that Jackson County East Arbutus Campground has "a nice playground as well."
Security presence: Some campgrounds have regular security patrols. At Russell Memorial Park, "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," mentions Stacey N.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Many sites require leveling blocks. At Hixton - Alma Center KOA, "The sides are a little close together and our gravel. We had to use boards to level our rig," reports Cheryl W.
Water and electric hookup locations: Check utility placement before booking. At Russell Memorial Park, "Water filling stations are all over the campground. It was our first time and we thought the dump area was the water station. It was not," warns Juliana R.
Dump station access: Sunday checkout often creates lines at dump stations. At East Arbutus Camp, "Lots of electric sites, but no sites with water or sewer so Sunday checkout there's a line of campers waiting to dump," notes Kim L.
