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Best Tent Camping near Pearson, WI

327 Reviews

The Nicolet National Forest surrounding Pearson, Wisconsin offers several tent camping options with varying levels of amenities and seclusion. Ada Lake Recreation Area and Ada Lake NF Campground, both located near Wabeno, provide tent-only camping experiences with lakeside sites. Camp New Wood County Park in Merrill features seven tent campsites along the Ice Age Trail, while Old Veterans Lake County Park in Crivitz offers wooded tent sites with lake access. For those seeking more primitive tent camping, Oconto River off Mountain Lake Road provides dispersed sites with minimal facilities.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature dirt or gravel pads with basic amenities. Ada Lake campgrounds provide drinking water, fire rings, and vault toilets, but no showers or electrical hookups. Camp New Wood County Park has large fire rings and standalone grills but requires campers to bring their own water, as the nearest source requires "a bit of a hike down the trail," according to visitor reports. Access to some primitive tent sites can be challenging, particularly at Oconto River where one camper noted that "4x4 is recommended" as "2WD trucks couldn't make it easily." Bears are present in the area, so proper food storage is essential when backcountry tent camping.

Tent campers frequently mention the solitude and natural setting as highlights of the region. At Ada Lake, visitors report that "sites are relatively spread out" and "even mid-week, lakeside sites are readily available." The campgrounds remain peaceful even during busier periods, with one camper noting that "even with every other campsite occupied, it was still a very peaceful time." Walk-in tent sites at Three Johns Lake offer complete seclusion with "only one site on the lake" for $5 parking in the National Forest. Most tent-only areas restrict motorized boats to electric motors only, creating a quieter experience for shoreline campers. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most primitive tent camping locations in the area.

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Best Tent Sites Near Pearson, Wisconsin (22)

    1. Ada Lake Recreation Area

    4 Reviews
    Wabeno, WI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 276-6333

    "One was a multi-layer setup while others were more hidden as they moved further away from the lake. The picnic tables look very new and the vault toilets are well kept."

    "We arrived mid-week and had no problem getting a lakeside campsite. The sites are low compared to the water level, so it was an easy walk from our campsite to the water (no stairs to climb)."

    2. Ada Lake NF Campground

    2 Reviews
    Wabeno, WI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 276-3594

    "A nice little beach, quiet well spaced sites, and nearby snowmobile/hiking trails. The lake it small with a few lake cabins across the lake."

    "Trolling motors only on this lake. Good fishing and quite. Dirty and grave sites with no concrete pads. Great place to spend a week or two!"

    3. High Lake County Park

    Be the first to review!
    Deerbrook, WI
    6 miles
    +1 (715) 623-6214

    4. Oconto River off Mountain Lake Road

    4 Reviews
    Mountain, WI
    25 miles

    "Decent amount of off-road vehicle traffic. No service :)"

    "The entrance was doable for my sedan, but was tricky. I believe a camper could make it going slowly. The second campsite entrance may have an easier time in."

    5. Octonto River - South Branch

    1 Review
    Townsend, WI
    22 miles

    "There are 2 campsites at this trailhead, pretty well spaced apart. 

    The first has more of an opening if solar and Starlink matter to you."

    6. Moen Lake Campground & RV Park

    1 Review
    Rhinelander, WI
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (262) 893-2540

    "If you want a quiet, secluded campground where you can just sit back and enjoy being out in the woods(we had deer walk through the back of our campsite at night), then you will enjoy this campground."

    7. Pine Lake

    Be the first to review!
    Hiles, WI
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 479-6407

    8. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Backcountry Site

    1 Review
    Hiles, WI
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 479-2827

    "There is a sandy beach on a small lake full of fish. The Sam Cambell trail is right next door, it’s a nice walk to another tiny lake."

    9. Old Veterans Lake County Park

    4 Reviews
    Athelstane, WI
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 732-7530

    $17 / night

    "We did have someone ratted on us for using our generator to supply our CPAPs because there was no electricity or water.  We will be back."

    "This is a little campground a short drive down some narrow, twisty backroads from Governor Thompson State Park. We stayed at site 11 which had an awesome little trail to the lake."

    10. Marinette County Goodman Park

    1 Review
    Armstrong Creek, WI
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (715) 732-7530
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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Pearson, WI

12 Photos of 22 Pearson Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Pearson, WI

327 Reviews of 22 Pearson Campgrounds

  • Michael M.
    Oct. 3, 2017

    Dells of the Eau Claire Park Campground

    Nice views fishing not so great

    This campground is right on the Ice Age Trail and a nice place to stop off during an extended hike.

    There are not that many sites available here and most do supply electricity. More people tent camp here rather than RV camping. There are pit toilets but no shower house although there are water spigots for drinking water. The sites are closer together than some campgrounds but it's not like a city block of camps like some KOA's I have camped at. The night time temperatures dipped in the low 30's in the middle of May when I was there. The campground attendants were on site twice a day to sell firewood and collect camping fees. The DNR rangers do patrol the campgrounds on a regular basis. There is places all along the river to fish and I was told the fishing is good, however I did not have very much luck when I was there. The campground firepits with cooking grates were OK and the wooden picnic tables are worn, but there is level ground for pitching tents.

    The scenery and hiking along the river and on the Ice Age Trail is great. If you had better luck fishing than I did this would have been a great camping weekend. Bring warm cloths and a great sleeping bag.

  • Andrew D.
    Jun. 26, 2023

    Franklin Lake

    Great campsite

    Stayed one night on  a Sunday.  Mostly empty but you can see it is heavily booked for the Fourth of July weekend. They just added electric hook up to some sites in the South End.  Right now the price is the same for electric or non-electric sites.

    Sites are large and decent spacing between sites.  Heavy tree cover with mostly shade.

    The site was mostly gravel with nice fire ring and picnic table.

  • Kirsty G.
    May. 1, 2019

    Chequamegon National Forest Perch Lake Campground

    Short secluded hike in sites

    The hike to these sites is very short. We paid when we parked. It’s a great place to camp if you want to experience being in the woods for the first time. We stayed on the south loop which has 6 sites. The sites still feel very secluded and private. There is a fire ring and picnic table at each site. There is no bear box and there definitely are bears (during one camping trip some hunters treed and shot a bear in the early morning and we saw them carrying it while hiking out) so you’ll want to hang your food. There was access to the lake from our campsite.

  • Nancy May The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Franklin Lake

    Season's Best at Franklin Lake

    We have had an excellent camp-out this year here. Maybe because our site is only a yard away from the water, and with ample living space for multiple tents and a vehicle. A fire ring and a picnic table. A set of vault toilets nearby. We didn't expect to find flushing toilets in a campground anywhere, but, we have a choice here to drive up further and use the facility. The wood forest is nicely maintained. Falling off branches are taken care of off the roads right away. And, that's all we care about in enjoying the outdoors this year.

  • C
    Jun. 10, 2018

    Indian Mounds — Northern Highland State Forest

    Simplistic, secluded, and great for kids

    Nestled on Lake Tomahawk, this small campground is comprised of drive-in and walk-in sites. Walk-in sites being tent camp only, which is the option we took. There is a small beach on site, and a number of lake front sites to choose from. Oh, can't forget.. The sun sets over the lake! Paved roads made it easy for my children to navigate the grounds on their scooters. There are electric and non electric sites, a water pump, but no showers. Your park pass will give you access to Clear Lake campground (couple miles down the road), which does has showers, another beach, and also firewood sales. We meant to take the boat on multiple lakes, but the fishing on Lake Tomahawk was spectacular! Hiking the trails near our site, you really get a sense of being in the northwoods. We could hear the birds, frogs, found salamanders, seen an otter, musk rat, loons, and more.

    The nearest town is Lake Tomahawk, where you can fuel up, get bait, or grab a bite to eat(maybe an ice cream cone for the kids).

    As I said in the description, the grounds are simple. However, we booked three nights but felt the need at the end of our trip to book another. We'll be coming back. Safe travels.

  • hesselinkj@yahoo.com
    Sep. 11, 2024

    Wolf Lake Campsite

    Wolf lake campsite

    Small campsite along paved road,fire ring and picnic table ,wilderness toilet. Stayed two nights in September it was quiet fishing was so so. I had 8 foot pop up could fit a 20 footer easy or tent camp. Seen two fire ring along the right shore of lake accessable by water.

  • Lisa R.
    Aug. 7, 2018

    Bear Lake

    Love this place!

    We have been camping here twice this year & absolutely love it! Rustic with no electric hook-ups. There is a pump for drinking water. The sites are large & private with a few waterfront sites. Vault toilets are available. The lake has a swimming area & beautiful Sandy beach & is perfect for fishing, swimming and kayaking. Laona is just a short drive for gas, and food.

  • Dayton .
    Nov. 10, 2021

    Brule River Campground

    If you get the right campsite this place is great

    This is a great place for the love of camping. Running water, quiet, and can be very private depending on the site.

    Traditionally I camp out of my car. But this time I opten in for the 200meter walk in site and I pitched a tent. The site was very large with a firepit, bench, and picnic table. I also cant forget to mention right on the river.

    There are pit toilets, spot for water, and some hiking trails.

  • Kendra N.
    Sep. 7, 2021

    Camp New Wood County Park

    Nice FCFS

    We decided to hit the road on Labor Day Weekend and took a chance on not knowing where we'd stay the night. This first come first served campground with only 7 sites still had some available. The sites are a decent size and it's right on the Ice Age Trail with lots of hiking to be enjoyed right from your camp site. It was a bit tricky to find as its north of the park and not well identified. The water is a bit of a hike down the trail and through the woods so you might want to bring your own. The fire rings are quite large and hold a lot of fire wood. There are no grates for cooking over the fire ring but there are stand alone grills at each site that would require charcoal. The pit toilets are not in the best shape and have no lighting so bring a flashlight. There are no showers but that didn't bother us for the 2 nights we were there. Others we spoke to that stayed there before said its hardly ever full and you can easily get a spot. For $15 a night, it was a decent stay and we would go again if ever in the area.

Guide to Pearson

Tent camping near Pearson, Wisconsin offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure and relaxation.

Tips for tent camping near Pearson

  • The Ada Lake Recreation Area is a great choice for those traveling with pets, as it welcomes furry companions and provides a peaceful environment.
  • For a more rustic experience, consider the Ada Lake NF Campground, where you can enjoy well-spaced sites and nearby hiking trails.
  • If you're looking for a quiet spot, High Lake County Park offers a tranquil setting, perfect for unwinding away from the hustle and bustle.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • At Moen Lake Campground & RV Park, you'll find basic amenities like picnic tables and fire pits, along with friendly service from the campground owner.
  • The Marinette County Goodman Park features electric hookups and clean facilities, making it a comfortable choice for tent campers.
  • Enjoy the beauty of nature at Sevenmile Lake, where you can set up camp in a picturesque setting, although amenities are minimal.

Local activities to enhance your camping experience

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Pearson, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pearson, WI is Ada Lake Recreation Area with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Pearson, WI?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Pearson, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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