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Best Tent Camping near Racine, WI

425 Reviews

Tent campsites near Racine, Wisconsin offer both lakefront views and secluded forest experiences within reasonable driving distance. Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake in Delavan provides developed tent sites on a tiered layout overlooking the water, while the more remote KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site offers a primitive camping experience in the Kettle Moraine State Forest region. Most tent-focused campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from May through mid-October, with varying accessibility based on weather conditions.

The KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site requires a hike-in approach with moderate terrain, making it suitable for campers seeking more isolated primitive tent setups. The site includes a basic shelter structure, fire pit, picnic table, and a vault toilet. Campers must pack in their own water as drinking water is not available. In contrast, Snug Harbor provides more amenities for tent campers, including drinking water, showers, flush toilets, and picnic tables. Many walk-in tent locations in the region have fire restrictions during dry summer months, so checking current regulations before arrival is essential.

Tent camping experiences in this region vary significantly based on location and site type. The backpacking sites offer greater privacy and a more authentic wilderness experience. One camper noted, "Great backpack camp site with decent walk and terrain to get to the site. It's very secluded for privacy." This seclusion comes with the responsibility of being self-sufficient, as most primitive tent sites require campers to bring all necessary supplies. At developed tent campgrounds like Snug Harbor, sites are arranged to maximize views while maintaining reasonable separation between campers. The terraced layout ensures most tent sites have decent views of Turtle Lake below, though the experience includes being near RV camping areas. Weekend reservations are recommended during summer months as the limited number of dedicated tent campgrounds near Racine fill quickly, especially those with water access or scenic views.

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Best Tent Sites Near Racine, Wisconsin (3)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Racine, WI

425 Reviews of 3 Racine Campgrounds

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 12, 2020

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Well maintained and clean

    Very impressed with this state park! It was huge, almost 3 miles just to our site! The showers were clean. The spots were large and wooded with nice fire ring set ups. The staff was very helpful answering any questions and giving recommendations. We stayed on a primitive/wilderness site for $12 with no electric. They will allow anyone on these sites-we even saw huge RV'S and 5th wheels on primitive sites.

    There are amazing trails through park for people to hike, bike, or ride horse on.

    Spring Grove is a tiny town nearby with a little corner bar called “The Grove”. They serve amazing food with great service. Very clean! I recommend checking it out if you’re looking for some good food.

  • Josh F.
    Dec. 3, 2020

    Hebron Campground

    Small, Tidy with Lots of Waterworks

    This is a relatively small, private campground mostly for RVs though there are some very nice sites that would be lovely for tents. There are a dozen tent sites that back up to a very charming river, each one has a picnic table and fire pit. The view of the river from these sites is lovely. Adding to the waterworks, there is a cute pond with a charming fountain in the center of the RV sites, and a nice horseshoes pit. There are a number of RV sites with full hookups. 

    I spoke with the owner and they did not have tent camping in 2020. They were worried about people in too close proximity in the restroom. In 2020 they only allowed RVs that had their own restroom facilities. The owner told me that maybe there will be tent camping in 2021.

  • Meg
    Jun. 12, 2022

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Good For families, a few downsides

    *** reviewing as a baby/toddler camp family on the go :-) we chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms… avoid the first 2 sites from either end as the ones closest to the main loop aren’t very deep. Closer to the center of this row is best.

    Pros- easy pull in sites and lots of walk-in availability. Sites are almost all flat thankfully, so no weird slopes to sleep on and easy for babies/toddlers to stay safe. Also seemed pretty respectful in the evenings with people toning down the noise.

    Lots of electric sites, deep enough for 2 tents, 2 cars (although close to neighbors and no trees between sites), picnic table and fire pit.

    Bathroom shower houses were decent (we usually just have toddler use her travel potty, but this one was fine).

    Multiple playgrounds, access to launch sites for kayaks, little store to buy ice cream or snacks.

    Cons - SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Luckily our screen house pop up on a tarp that was sprayed ahead for tick repellent plus a blanket on top of that did the trick, but they literally fall out of the trees into people! Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair.

    Also - the raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it’s dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched. So basically, eat dinner and do s’mores early, then everything must be packed into cars for the night and all surfaces wiped down.

  • Mel C.
    Jul. 9, 2019

    Pike Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit

    Great lake and hiking

    We had a great time swimming and hiking At Pike Lake State Park. There is a nice observation tower with beautiful views of Holy Hill. The beach is large and there is a designated area for dogs, which we loved. Our campsite was large and grassy and had good privacy. The only issue we had was that our site was in a divot and had lots of low spots and therefore flooded badly, like 3 inches in our tent bad. Overall great camping, just watch for low sites in the non-electric area.

  • Josh F.
    Sep. 25, 2020

    Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake

    RV campground with lake access

    I did not stay here, but I spend some time walking through to get a feel for the place.

    This is primarily an RV/mobile home campground, but there are some nicely tucked away tent camp sites that I'll recommend later in this review. Gravel roads connect the three loops and the landscaping is well kept and maintained. The campground sells ice, firewood and rents boats.

    There is a very clean bathroom and bathhouse, freshwater for campers, and some electric tent campsites. The property is basically terraced along a slope down to the lake, with the RV and mobile home sites closer to the lake. The tent sites are above it all with decent views of the lake below (and the RVs). 

    The Galapagos tent campsite is elevated and a short distance from the loop road, and has a nice view of the lake. The Box Turtle site is also a bit elevated above the main driveway as is Snapper 7, though I am not sure where you are supposed to put your tent in that site.

    Now, Snapper 4, 5,6 and 7 would be nice for group camping because they are all very close to one another and a bit more private, set away from the rest of the campsites. There are lots of electrical sites for campers and RVs, most of which look like they are quite permanently in place.

  • Robert K.
    Mar. 21, 2018

    Ottawa Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit

    Cold night, but a pleasant park

    Made my first visit to Ottawa Lake on a mid-March weekend. The facilities were still under their winter setup (only vault toilet, no shower available, pay in an envelope). It was a very nice campsite that I stayed at. The grounds were quiet, however there were only a handful of people staying there at the time. The sites look to have enough space between the to make you feel a little more spread out and not sitting on top of each other. It got cold (cloudless late winter nights in Wisconsin can do that), but nothing you can’t prepare for. The proximity to the Ice Age Trail is a bonus, because it made for an easy activity without much fuss. Will visit again when warmer.

  • R
    Jun. 29, 2022

    Honeysuckle Hollow — Chain O' Lakes State Park

    Nice little get away

    Large sites with plenty of room to spread out. Plenty of birds and other wildlife for the kids to see. No alcohol is allowed so it made for a great family weekend. Short walk to bathhouse. Pit toilet for emergencies.

  • C
    Apr. 8, 2018

    Pike Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit

    Fall Camping at Pike Lake

    Mid to Late October is great Fall camping in Southern Wisconsin. Cool nights range from lower 30's to upper 40's. Day time temps can exceed 60.

    Pike Lake State Park is part of the northern Kettle Moraine glacial deposit. This park offers fantastic hiking for many skill levels.

    The Land:

    Overnight camping has standard primitive sites (all wooded sites) scattered around single paved campground loop. Sites at beginning of loop are on hillside with leved pads for your tent. Sites at bottom of loop (near bathrooms) are flatter. However sites at bottom are closer together, than at the top.

    Pike Lake also has 3 (relatively new) hike in sites. I believe at least 1 of the hike in sites is non-reservable. All 3 sites have trail access from a parking lot (about 3/4 mile north from standard camp ground).

    Camping:

    This campground is our go to during the school year. Practically walking distance to our house, this campground is generally nice. Wooded lots make you feel overall secluded. I tend to book sites close to the bathrooms (young kids). However sites on the top of the loop are nice too. When the kids stay home, the hike in sites are very nice.

    Biggest disadvantage is the campground proximity to the rest of the park. One of the biggest draws to the park is the lake / beach. The camping is on the opposite side of the park to the beach. Certainly not a deal breaker, but when you have little ones, you just have to plan accordingly.

  • A
    Feb. 20, 2021

    Big Foot Beach State Park Campground

    Not what you’d expect

    More of a yard style, open camping. No privacy. Lots of kids everywhere. No alcohol allowed. Packed during the day at the beach. Ok trails.

Guide to Racine

Tent camping near Racine, Wisconsin provides access to both inland lakes and state forest land with seasonal weather patterns. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with higher humidity, while spring and fall camping offers cooler temperatures between 45-65°F with less crowding. Winter camping is limited to a few year-round sites that require advanced preparation for below-freezing temperatures.

What to do

Water recreation on Turtle Lake: Snug Harbor Inn Campground offers boat rentals directly on site for exploring the 139-acre lake. "The campground sells ice, firewood and rents boats," notes reviewer Josh F., making it convenient for campers wanting to fish or paddle without hauling their own equipment.

Hiking the Kettle Moraine trails: The backpacking sites in KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site connect to the extensive trail system through glacial terrain. "Decent walk and terrain to get to the site," mentions Erin Z., with the shelter site serving as an excellent base camp for day hikes through the moraine landscape.

Seasonal festivals: Several local communities host summer events within driving distance of camping areas. "We went into town to grab all those things we forgot, like coffee and cups," explains James W. at Snug Harbor Inn Campground, highlighting the convenience of nearby Delavan for supplies and entertainment.

What campers like

Tiered campsite layouts: The elevation changes at lakefront properties provide superior views. "Great three tiered camping spot. Full hookup, and great views," writes Alix M., appreciating how the terraced design at Snug Harbor allows multiple campers to enjoy lake vistas simultaneously.

Quiet atmosphere: Despite popularity during holiday weekends, campgrounds maintain peaceful environments. "Great campground. Full weekend but very quiet and relaxing," reports Jeffery S. about his Labor Day experience, noting how site spacing and layout contribute to noise reduction.

Privacy at backpacking sites: For those willing to hike in, secluded camping awaits at Kishwaukee Valley Farms and similar backcountry locations. "There is an open shelter to put your tent if you prefer to outside. It's very secluded for privacy," explains Erin Z. about her experience at a forest shelter site.

What you should know

Seasonal operation: Most tent camping facilities operate between May and mid-October, with limited options during shoulder seasons. "I can not tell you how many times I've been here. This season there will be new owners so I hope they keep some of the annual activities," mentions Kevin C. about ownership changes at Snug Harbor.

Limited facilities at backcountry sites: Pack appropriate supplies for primitive camping locations. "There is an outhouse, but I wouldn't recommend using it," warns Erin Z. about facilities at shelter sites, suggesting campers prepare alternative solutions for bathroom needs.

Insect activity: Summer camping may involve encounters with stinging insects, particularly near water. "My husband got stung twice when we went to plug-in our electric. But the staff came out immediately to spray and remove the nest," reports Carole X. at Melody Park Campground, highlighting both the issue and responsive management.

Tips for camping with families

Bring firewood cutting tools: While fires are permitted at most sites, gathering suitable wood requires preparation. "There is a fire pit, but we found our own wood around the site. (Bring a small axe)," recommends Erin Z., noting the necessity of proper tools for processing fallen wood at backcountry sites.

Reserve lakeside spots early: Premium family-friendly locations book quickly, especially for summer weekends. "Wanted someplace close to home. Familiar with the Delavan area so was excited to find Snug Harbor," writes James W., mentioning how proximity to urban areas makes these sites particularly desirable for family outings.

Consider on-site dining options: Some developed campgrounds feature food service, reducing meal planning needs. "Has a pub/restaurant with good food. Lots to do!" notes Alix M. about the convenience of having prepared food available after a day of outdoor activities.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: The region's glacial topography creates uneven terrain at many campgrounds. "Staff was great, helped me back in," shares James W. about his "Maiden Voyage" at Woodland Melody Park, highlighting the importance of assistance for new RV owners navigating sloped sites.

Weather preparedness: Seasonal storms can impact camping experiences even at developed sites. "Will come back again, hopefully no rain next time!" mentions Carole X., indicating how proper awnings and site drainage become important considerations for extended stays during unpredictable weather patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Racine, WI is KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Racine, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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