Zach G.
Traveler
TravelerBlue Mound State Park Campground
Great place. Camped here in summer. Sites are a bit close but still offer privacy. There are tent pads.
Tent Camping near Oregon, WI
2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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The tent camping options surrounding Oregon, Wisconsin include established sites within state parks as well as more secluded walk-in tent areas. New Glarus Woods State Park Campground offers designated tent camping areas with both drive-in and walk-in options. Several miles northwest, Governor Dodge State Park provides backpack tent campsites with more privacy and natural settings, while Devils Lake State Park features group camping accommodations specifically suited for tent campers.
Most tent sites in the region feature dirt or forest floor surfaces with minimal leveling. Walk-in tent sites at New Glarus Woods require campers to transport gear from parking areas to sites located along trails, with distances ranging from 40 to 1,000 feet. Vault toilets are standard at most primitive tent areas, though shower facilities are available at certain developed campgrounds. Many campsites include fire rings and picnic tables, though road noise can be a factor at some locations. Water access varies significantly between campgrounds - New Glarus has centrally located water spigots for the walk-in sites, while more remote backcountry areas may require carrying in all water supplies.
The tent camping experience around Oregon offers varied levels of seclusion based on location and site selection. The backpacking sites at Governor Dodge State Park provide greater privacy with sites situated 1/2 to 1 mile from parking areas along hiking trails. Sites surrounded by oak savanna or forest offer partial to full shade depending on the season. According to one visitor, "The backpack sites are great base camps with good views, plenty of privacy and relatively easy hiking access." For those seeking more accessible camping, the tent sites at Devils Lake provide closer amenities while still offering wooded surroundings. Many tent campers appreciate the spacious walk-in sites at New Glarus Woods, which a reviewer noted "are spaced out well and heavily wooded, perfect for a quick escape from city life."
Best Tent Campgrounds near Oregon (12)
1. New Glarus State Park Campground
"We have camped at several of the walk-in sites."
"Smaller campground with decent sized campsites with picnic table and fire ring pit. Although my site and quite a bit of unleveled ground which made for limit options to pitch a tent."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $70 / night
2. Scheidegger Forest (Dane County Parks)
Check Availabilityfrom $65 / night
3. Blackhawk Memorial Park
"Pit toilets/shelter/playground near the entrance. Two boat launches.
Variable availability for firewood; the Cenex on the west end of Argyle reliably sells it if there isn't any at the park."
"We saw so much wildlife and really enjoyed the songs of the many species of birds in the area."
4. Sandhill Station State Campground
"Sandill Station is right outside Lake Mills, WI, right off the Glacial Drumlin bike trail. It features 15 campsites and 1 group campsite in an oak savanna, with varying degrees of shade."
Check AvailabilityCampground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $18 - $70 / night
5. Devils Lake State Park Group Campground — Devils Lake State Park
"Great location! I was in the upper ice age campground at site 416 and really enjoyed it. The sites are fairly close together, but in May the foliage is dense enough to block out most of the noise."
"Adequate size site with a tent pad, shade and privacy. Trees for a hammock. Clean shower house. Lovely hiking. Decent cell reception."
Check Availabilityfrom $90 - $130 / night
6. Hickory Ridge Group Camp — Governor Dodge State Park
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $90 / night
7. Backpack Sites — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit
"You can rent backpacking shelters, at the ranger station in Eagle. The shelter is basically a barn without a front door. It comes with a fire ring, table, and an outhouse!"
"Reservable backpacking sites about 45-60min away from nearest parking. Fire pit, shelter, and picnic table at site.
Really enjoyed the hike through forest to get to this site."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
8. Equestrian Campground - Rock Cut State Park
"If your family's perfect camping trip includes saddling up and exploring miles of wooded trails together, the Equestrian Campground at Rock Cut State Park offers a wonderfully peaceful place to spend a"
9. KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site
"Great backpack camp site. Decent walk and terrain to get to the site. There is an open shelter to put your tent if you prefer to outside."
10. Wild Goose City Park
Drive Time
- 12 min from Madison, WI
- 34 min from Janesville, WI
- 1 hr 4 min from Rockford, IL
- 1 hr 12 min from Milwaukee, WI
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Oregon, WI
10 Photos of 12 Oregon Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Oregon, WI
927 Reviews of 12 Oregon Campgrounds
Vincent S.
RangerWild Goose City Park
$20. 2 day stay limit. Bathroom/shower/trash can/fire pit/pavilion. It’s not really a campground though. Stopped here in November passing through. Called to ask if it was a campground, they told me it was free since it’s out of Wisconsin Camping season, so that was nice of them.
- CCharles T.
ScoutWalnut Grove Campground - Apple River Canyon
Really enjoyed this park. Beautiful river, bluffs, and hilly country. Only downside to this specific campsite is the road is very close. I also had a blast exploring and fly fishing.
Stuart K.
LegendPrairie View Campground - Rock Cut State Park
Nice Shaded Camping Alcove With Plenty of P&Q
Prairie View CG is the very first camping oasis you will come across after entering Rock Cut SP from its northernmost entrance, with Highway 173 to the west and Harlem Road to the east. Once you enter the park, you will follow the long winding nicely paved two-lane circuit until you begin seeing the signs highlighting where to go for the various campgrounds. Once you access this road, you’ll come across a small building with a ranger where you will check in, after which, you will pass by a designated dump station before coming around a small bend where you will take your first left.
The sites begin with #500 and as you circumnavigate the simple circular loop, you will pass by about 2 dozen or so slots that are nice flat paved slots perfect sized for just about any RV or 5th Wheel. There is a single his / her restroom along with trash area at the beginning of the loop just past sites #503 and #504. To access the shower, you will need to go back to the main road and hike it down the road with your towel and toiletries, which I have to admit, is the biggest bummer about this particular campground. If having close access to shower facilities is important to you, then you may want to contemplate staying at other campgrounds here at Rock Cut SP like Staghorn and White Oak, which offer closer proximity.
One of the greatest assets here at Rock Cut SP is the very massive Pierce Lake, which is great for fishing, boating, kayaking and swimming. To launch your watercraft, you’ll head south to Hickory Hills campground where on the eastern side of this area you’ll be able to find the boat launch. In the Prairie View campground, in addition to restroom and waste disposal, you’ll also have access to running water spigots at each site along with running electric. The small community amphitheather is located centrally just past the campstore and before reaching the Hickory Hills campground. There is an excellent camp store in the middle of Rock Cut SP that offers up ice, firewood, ice cream, snacks, games, limited groceries and a number of other sundries you might need while camping. Additionally, there are 5 shelters that have electricity, with water and restrooms nearby and each shelter available through a reservation system. Two of the shelters (Red Oak and Puri Crest) also have children’s playgrounds nearby.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) IMHO the best sites here at Prairie View CG are those that are located furthest from the main road, for attaining the maximum camping bliss trifecta of less traffic, little noise and more privacy. As such, look at sites #512, #514, #516 and #518, which are all located on the exterior of the circle, thus providing the greatest amount of intimate nature experience; (2) Once you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your cooler, fret not, and just head out of the park where you will find a handful of dining options: Tom& Jerry’s, Fresh Start Café, Waffle Shop, Golden Chopsticks Buffet, Sunrise Family Restaurant, Beef-A-Roo (in fact, there’s like 4 of these that the park is surrounded by), but one of my absolute favorites is Green Fire, which is a really nice farm-to-table joint; (3) Got bird watching on your mind? Well, you’re in luck, because here at Rock Cut SP you can spot an amazing array of winged adventurers including bald eagles, American robins, northern cardinals, barn owls, mourning doves, indigo buntings, eastern bluebirds, Canadian geese, red-bellied woodpeckers, brown thrashers and many others; (4) Tired of nature and just want to get some really cool culture in you? Then head just due south of Rock Cut SP to explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House, which is simply amazing; and (5) If you come bearing watercraft like canoe or kayak, while Lake Pierce is wonderful and great for fishing, if you want something a bit more challenging, then head due west to the Rock River, where you can drop in from a number of launch sites, however I strongly recommend Atwood Homestead Forest Preserve.
Happy Camping!
Kevin K.TravelerSky High Camping Resort
It’s a great place to stay they have lots of activities for the kids, it helps that they are year around and their prices aren’t bad.
- KKevin D.Scout
Lake Kegonsa State Park Campground
This campground charges both a site reservation fee ($33 for a primitive mosquito infested tent site) AND an additional day use fee on top of that - a $16 fee on top of that! $49????? For a no hook up single tent site???? Of course the fees aren’t actually published anywhere so you have to reserve it to actually know what you’ll be paying. It’s nothing special so these fees aren’t actually warranted for this place. 👎
- Zach G.Traveler
New Glarus State Park Campground
Smaller campground with decent sized campsites with picnic table and fire ring pit. Although my site and quite a bit of unleveled ground which made for limit options to pitch a tent. Pretty good cell service with T- mobile.
- GGladys L.Traveler
Plum Grove Campground - Rock Cut State Park
Rock Cut State Park in Rockford , Illinois
We got a campsite with a concrete pad. Electricity 30 amp site. There is a dump station close to the registration office. Boat ramp available for campers. One cabin for rental overlooking the Pierce Lake $50/night for Illinois resident. Beautiful setting. Wild turkeys roaming through our campground.
- Zach G.Traveler
Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park
Great campground nice drive.
Campground is nice spacious and we’re well divided. The drive from the entrance of Governor Dodge to cox hollow was a good 2-3 miles but was very scenic.
Guide to Oregon
Tent camping options near Oregon, Wisconsin offer a range of experiences from primitive backpacking sites to accessible family campgrounds. Located in the glacial terrain of southern Wisconsin, campers can find sites situated between 800-1,200 feet elevation, with temperature ranges from 40°F in spring to mid-80s during summer months. Many campsites feature oak and hickory forest cover, providing habitat for whitetail deer and wild turkeys frequently spotted by campers.
What to do
Brewery visits from camp: New Glarus Brewery is accessible by bike or foot from New Glarus Woods State Park Campground. "It's proximity to the brewery and the restaurants, shops, and bars of New Glarus, can't be beat. Also on the Sugar River Trail so bring your bike!" notes Kate B. The park is about a mile and half from the brewery, making it an easy day trip.
Paddle sports on Turtle Lake: Snug Harbor Inn Campground provides direct lake access with boat rentals. "The campground sells ice, firewood and rents boats," explains Josh F., who walked through the property. The terraced campground design allows most sites to enjoy lake views, with RV sites positioned closer to the water.
Trail exploration: Governor Dodge State Park Backpack Campsites connect to an extensive trail network. "Great hike threw out the state park. 2 main lakes with great fishing is a plus. Lots to do for the whole family," reports Nick C. The Lost Canyon Trail features bluffs and a small waterfall, making it a highlight for many hikers.
What campers like
Private backpacking sites: The backpack campsites at Governor Dodge State Park provide secluded experiences. "Great backpack base camp! Great views, plenty of privacy and an easy hike. We stayed at 806," writes Erin Z. These sites require a half-mile to one-mile hike from parking areas.
Wooded walk-in sites: New Glarus Woods offers walk-in sites with more privacy than drive-up options. "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. Our personal favorite site is #19. It is the closest site to the parking lot on the east side of the trail, but you have to take a short foot-path off the main trail to get to the site," explains Sarah W., noting it's very quiet and private.
Rustic shelters: Kettle Moraine State Forest's Shelter 1 Backpack Site provides true backcountry camping. "There is an open shelter to put your tent if you prefer to outside. There is a fire pit, but we found our own wood around the site. (Bring a small axe). There is an outhouse, but I wouldn't recommend using it," advises Erin Z. The site's remote location ensures complete privacy.
What you should know
Highway noise factors: Tent sites at New Glarus Woods experience road noise from nearby highways. "These sites are right next to the highway and (at least during the week) are subject to continuous, round the clock highway noise. The highway seems to be a regular truck route, with lots of semis driving by at all hours," warns Katie K., who found weekday camping particularly noisy.
Seasonal bug considerations: Insect activity varies dramatically by season. "The sites are really near some stagnant water, though, so WAY too many mosquitoes, even with the really intense bug spray. We were there in mid-June on one of the hottest weekends of the year... and we were massacred the second we walked into the site," shares Tawnie T. about Sandhill Station State Campground.
Water access limitations: Most primitive sites require carrying water from central locations. At Devils Lake State Park Group Campground, "Next to the bathrooms is a water pump where you can collect water and haul it back to your site," explains Sarah F. Some backcountry sites have no water access, requiring campers to pack in all supplies.
Tips for camping with families
Group camping options: Devils Lake State Park Group Campground offers spacious areas for multiple families. "Reserved the group camp for three families, cost was $40 a night for a secluded, spacious, clean group site," shares Jon D., adding "The birds near the group camp are cool, but can also sound like a large pack of dinosaurs squawking at each other...very loud."
Bathroom accessibility: Campgrounds vary widely in bathroom facilities. "There is a very clean bathroom and bathhouse, freshwater for campers, and some electric tent campsites," Josh F. notes about Snug Harbor Inn Campground. Some primitive sites offer only pit toilets, while others provide shower facilities.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playground equipment for children. "The playground was great. We spent the day exploring our Swiss heritage in New Glarus," mentions Kay K. about her stay at New Glarus Woods State Park.
Tips from RVers
Tiered campsite layouts: Snug Harbor Inn Campground features a terraced design for optimal views. "Great three tiered camping spot. Full hookup, and great views. Has a pub/restaurant with good food. Lots to do!" explains Alix M. The design allows both RVs and tent campers to enjoy lake views from different elevations.
RV size limitations: Most campgrounds near Oregon have limited space for larger rigs. "This is primarily an RV/mobile home campground, but there are some nicely tucked away tent camp sites," explains Josh F. about Snug Harbor, noting that many sites appear to have semi-permanent setups.
Hookup variations: Electric and water hookups vary significantly between campgrounds. At New Glarus Woods, according to Dana B., "The sites are clean, each with a fire ring and a table. Some have gravel, some dont." RVers should verify specific amenities when booking, as even electric sites may have limited amperage.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Oregon, WI?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Oregon, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Oregon, WI is New Glarus State Park Campground with a 3.8-star rating from 22 reviews.
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What is the best site to find tent camping near Oregon, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Oregon, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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