Best Tent Camping near Ripon, WI

Recent Tent Reviews near Ripon, Wisconsin

493 Reviews of 10 Ripon Campgrounds

• 

  Mel C.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 9, 2019

  Timber Trail Campground

  Nice campground right in our backyard!

  I have camped here many times as a kid and always loved it. We recently came here with a large group and tent camped at one of the large tent sites. I believe there are only 2 non-electric tent sites but the large huge and grassy with excellent privacy. The managers/owners of the camp are really nice and laid back. There is a small fishing pond off the back side of the non-electric sites and there is a nice outdoor pool and indoor jacuzzi next to a large rec room/bar. I haven't seen it personally but I know they have live music and summer events. We love that this place is so close, we get to get away without the long drive!

• 

  Lesley R.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 29, 2022

  Northern Unit New Prospect Horseriders Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit-Iansr

  Excellent Experience

  Open tent sites and well designed riggings and beyond excellent, well-maintained trails, accommodations and hospitality. This was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, so if you’re looking for this kind of experience, don’t pass it up. In one of the most lush forests in the SE corner of Wisconsin near Milwaukee.

• T

  Tom

  Scout

  

  Jun. 20, 2022

  Lake Emily Park

  Emily lake south

  Nice campground. hiking, fishing, bike trails. Tent sites 19.00 per night electric sites 25.00 no full Hookup.

• 

  Tracey S.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 1, 2021

  Madison KOA Campground

  Great overnight stop stay

  This KOA, bought by new owners, was a great overnight! Clean bathrooms/showers, nice pool, long-level gravel sites, full hook ups, nice town, nice camp store, super nice owner! Would absolutely stay again! Even have a few tent camping sites

• 

  Jeff G.

  Ranger

  

  May. 22, 2019

  Rocky Arbor State Park Campground

  Nice little park

  A basic state park, mostly for tent camping. Clean bathrooms with showers. Pretty quiet and lots of trees. The first time we stayed they had a terrible gypsy moth infestation that had denuded all the deciduous trees. There was a carpet of caterpillars on the ground as well as caterpillar poop falling from above. Not as bad as it sounds. Ok, it was.... It proximity to The Wisconsin Dells is one of the attractions to this campground as it is about 5 miles north of town. An inexpensive way to stay near an expensive destination.

• J

  Jeri B.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 27, 2020

  Fond du Lac East / Kettle Moraine KOA

  Beautiful campground, not great for tents

  If you are looking for a place to camp with an RV or rent a cabin, this is your place! Three pools, mini golf, and a great atmosphere! However, we were tent camping and our site was gravel and right on the main road. It was very small and our tent was too close to the road for my comfort. Hiking trails weren’t very well kept, but was still a beautiful hike! If you have kids and camper I would absolutely recommend this place! Also very dog friendly!

• 

  Christian A.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 8, 2021

  Holiday Shores Campground

  Building Family Traditions

  My gf family has been camping at this resort for years as a summer tradition and it has now become part of our summers. Pros:

  • Big Campground with lots of tent sites
  • Watersports store with boat rentals
  • Great Pool
  • Campground Activites on weekends
  • Awesome Donuts and Ice Cream

  Cons:

  • Rentals are a bit pricey
  • Bathrooms by the pool arent cleaned as often
• 

  Michael L.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 19, 2021

  Astico County Park

  First time this year

  This a dodge county campground we have been to 3 out of the 4. So fare Astico is are more favorable. There are 3 areas. River witch are electric. Point tent camping only upper, Danville are electric. There are pit toilets also a main shower bathrooms. Camp hostess are great. They help with camp wood with they ask if you want bundles or lose choose loose. They also have canoes and kayaks to rent. We will be going back.

• L

  Layla R.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 5, 2022

  High Cliff State Park Campground

  Beautiful Park but Lots of Raccoons

  The park itself is beautiful, and the trails are nice. The tent sites were on the smaller side and kind of close together. The park ranger was good-natured and patient when we accidentally set up on the wrong site.

  Make sure to store your food correctly! The two sites beside us were ransacked by raccoons all night long because they left their supplies out. Three raccoons came to smell around our picnic table as soon as we zipped up inside the tents but left quickly after not finding food.

• C

  Charles E.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 4, 2024

  Hartman Creek State Park Campground

  Expensive if your non-resident .

  Campground is adequate, it has a functioning shower house and private spots. I used a primitive campsite and it cost me $30 ($15 if your from WI). That was on top of the $11 non resident park entrance fee. So $41 for a primitive tent site, $47.50 if you count the bundle of firewood I bought from them. So yeah, keep that in mind if coming here as a non resident. I’m sure there are cheaper places nearby.

• 

  Kenneth H.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 30, 2021

  Wisconsin Dells KOA

  Cramped, but friendly

  I was just there for a night, but as I drove to my spot, I had to dodge and weave around cars parked on the road, as the tent sites looked like Burning Man had a baby with a homeless shanty town in Hawaii. Tons of tents, packed in side-by-side, so only space for cars was on the one-way roads. Outside of the feeling that at any moment a kid was going to come flying out of nowhere, they had good facilities, friendly staff, and decent Internet connection.

• 

  David K.

  Ranger

  

  May. 1, 2020

  Camp Wilderness

  Good for Kids

  If you have kids looking for adventure, this is a great place to be. The camp is primarily used for a program similar to Boy Scouts called Royal Rangers. There's primarily tent sites with trails, a lake, an obstacle course and more right nearby. Camp Wilderness is a good place to initiate your kids with the outdoors and teach them fun skills. I last visited in July and look forward to the day when my kids are old enough to fully engage.

• 

  Chuck W.

  Scout

  

  May. 27, 2022

  Coloma Camperland

  Clean & Safe

  Located Within 1.5 miles of I-39 with easy access on & off I-39. Diesel fuel & gas also available at the exit. Campground has 3 pull through sites, big rig friendly, sewer, water, electric, level with easy in & out as well as multiple back in sites for overnight stay or longer. Tent camping available. LP refill onsite, firewood, & Dump station on site available to non guests for $10 fee. Free Wi-Fi, Bar with very good food and pool also on site. VERY CLEAN showers & restrooms. Very safe area for a good night's rest.

• M

  Matthew V.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 18, 2022

  Wisconsin Dells KOA

  Quiet, peaceful, and clean.

  The campground is well-kept, and the restrooms are clean. Some bath houses have full baths with toilets, sinks, and showers. Other bathhouses has restrooms separated from showers. The campground is kid friendly, with a playground and a pool. I am tenting. The sites are a reasonable size that you can park on. They are mostly flat, but not all of them. All the tent sites are shaded, have electricity, and access to shared water. There are dishwashing stations around the campground as well. If you have an RV, the sites look relatively easy to get into, with many pull throughs

• 

  Emily M.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 7, 2021

  Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park Campground

  Bizarre Experience

  This was the strangest camping experience I've ever had. It was early June and there were maybe two or three other sites set up in the entire campground. I made my reservations online for a tent site and nothing indicated that the site I selected was an overflow site. These "overflow" sites were scantly numbered, and there were fewer fire pits and picnic tables than indicated online. All of these tent sites were scattered in a grass field among the frisbee golf. We were glad no one was playing frisbee golf because it was intermixed with where the tents would be, so people would be getting hit with frisbees.

  My friend and I pitched our tent closest to the bathroom because we could not find the actual spot we reserved online. We could not find anyone to ask about our site other than the waitresses at the restaurant who were very busy. We ate at the restaurant too and were unimpressed. Unless you get the day's special, it is very overpriced and the portions are small.

  The bathrooms were clean (because no one else was at the campground), but there was no drinking water. We were on a bike tour and had to bike over 10 miles in the morning to find some good drinking water. I don't believe I paid $25 for something that was barely a campsite and had no drinking water.

  I might of enjoyed it more if I had time to explore the area and the tower, but just dropping in for the night was not a great experience. It felt the campground only came to be because somebody wanted to open a restaurant and his buddy thought it would be a genius idea to let people camp there too.

• 

  Annie C.

  Legend

  

  May. 1, 2020

  Sky High Camping Resort

  Resort camping in the clouds

  Took a tour of Sky Haven on a whim. Talk about full service camping! They have everything here- tent sites, RV sites, cabins, nightly, weekly, and long term rates. Frisbee golf, mini golf, a "mining" site, go carts, game room, showers, laundry. It was pretty overwhelming as I don't camp this way. But for a family gathering or reunion, or a big trip, this could be just right for you. Rates were reasonable for all the services you get. I liked the views since the place is up on top of a "mountain".  The staff was really friendly and welcoming and answered every silly question of mine with a smile. Not my camping jam, but definitely nice.

• L

  Lauren S.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 18, 2023

  Harnischfeger County Park

  A hidden gem

  We booked a week here in 2022 and ended up staying for two summers as camp hosts. The park is quiet, family orientated, and the park caretaker John is a national treasure. He’s been with the park since before it was county owned and knows every nook and cranny, critter and creature, and appreciates each and every guest who comes to the park. His one rule is to enjoy the park and let the staff know if you have any ideas to help to “keep it fresh”. Sites with letters are tent sites without water or electric, sites with numbers have water and 30 amp service, though there are plans to upgrade the sites to all have water and 50 amp service in the future. The last weekend of September is FallFest and often books a year in advance.

• L

  Lula L.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 31, 2019

  Fremont RV Campground

  Very family oriented

  Place is filled w activities for kids, heated swimming pool large large pool, water slide, free movies on fri night cartoons sat morning, the tent sites are on a mowed grass area w porta potties, but free showers and restrooms are in park, very crowded on weekends.  Many rentals available pass for water slide includes free mini golf, arcade free games for kids to participate in.

  Staff does well to keep up with the crowds, holiday weekends usually live music in pavillion.  Its a place to have fun and enjoy others, not a quiet place, just depends what you are looking for.

  It is on lake partridge for fishing and boating activities, also connected to the Waupaca chain of lakes, fishing pond w in park, canoe rental.  They  added a newer section for campers a few years ago, there is one trail for walks but along the lake shore swampy and tooo tooo many mosquitoes.

• 

  Charles M.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 27, 2021

  Fond du Lac East / Kettle Moraine KOA

  Cabin Camping for the Family

  I decided to give this campsite a try to get some of my family members ate not up for tent camping. With real beds, running water and AC I figured that this would do the trick.

  The cabin itself was roomy enough for five with a bunk bed, queen bed and sofa bed. Any more than that would get a little tight.

  Amenities: Camp store, mini golf, three swimming pools, trails, basketball court, volleyball court, snack bar, and saloon. My kids had a blast so I would really recommend for a family who wanted to some form of cabin camping. Oh, there were goats as well!

  I love campfire cooking which I was able to since there was a fire pit out back.

  Also, this place has activities for family members, even a movie night. I saw groups of kids playing basketball or just hanging out and having fun. Oh, and there’s an arcade. At the saloon there was a karaoke night.

  If you are more of a traditionalist then you may not like this type of camping. But, if you want to get out for the weekend with you family for a family oriented atypical getaway then this is for you!

  We’ll be back.

• 

  Scott M.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 29, 2020

  Rocky Arbor State Park Campground

  Ideal for someone to get away from the crowds

  There is not a lot of frill with this campground, but the sites are nice and secluded from one another with great foliage and tree cover. We came during a downpour but were able to move our camper into the trees to keep us a bit drier. It is a smaller campground that is a little bit further away from the craziness of the dells. 

  The closer you get to the interstate the louder it gets and one of the loops backs right up to the interstate. So be aware if you are booking the loop it will be a constant hum. 

  The shower building and pit toilets were kept clean and clearly marked when they would be cleaned during the day. I was surprised that they were being cleaned at 530 am as well as another time in the afternoon. 

  Most of the campground is ideal for tent campground and smaller RVs.

• S

  Sugar Maple S.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 19, 2020

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

  Feels Like Home

  After an extended time at Pike Lake campground, we've come to feel like this is home.

  Each of the 32 sites is unique in their own way. Some are large and flat perfect for a class A (#2 #4, #29 #31 is okay, but smaller), some incorporate the geography into the site (#23 & #17 - very much tent sites, #15 great for a small trailer, #7NE, #9NE). There is a TIGHT turn in the campground loop near site #17 to be aware of with longer trailers. Generally, the inner ring is electric (except #23) and the outer ring is non-electric. Flush bathrooms and clean showers. Three backpacking sites off the IAT - one prairie, two wooded. B2 and B3 are large. 

  Hiking is great beginner trails within the park and connects to the IAT (Ice Age Trail). Bike trail now connects to the campground making biking to Pike Lake possible. The campground is on the opposite side of the park from the lake, so driving or biking are the options to get from the campground to the water. 

  Close to all of the troubleshooting options for new campers (Walmart, grocery, fast food, vegan grocery store & coffee shop).

• 

  Annie C.

  Legend

  

  May. 1, 2019

  Smokey Hollow Campground

  Party resort camping

  This is a private “resort” type campground with something for everyone, except peace and quiet and privacy. This is a mostly RV campground with a handful of tent sites wedged in almost as an afterthought. I stopped in and talked with the campground personnel for a while before getting a tour of grounds. There are several loops with lots of long term campers/RVers. There were some cute cabins and even yurts. Behind the office was a large pond with a sand beach, lots of blow up pool toys, a bar, and volleyball, plus there are trikes and bikes available after you play mini-golf. There was an extensive calendar of events for the campers to enjoy including a chili cook-off and activities just for the kiddos (including a water ballon filling station!). This is the place to go if you are looking for a party type campground. Be careful when you arrive and drive to your site as kids are running around and riding their bikes everywhere! The campground has several bath houses scattered between the loops and all were kept very clean.

• C

  Christian S.

  Scout

  

  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.

• 

  Matthew J.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 2, 2019

  Pearl Lake RV Campground

  Amazing campground!

  This campground has been my favorite so far this year! Great customer service and the other campers were the best. The seasonals were all friendly and welcoming. The other weekenders were all friendly and respectful as well. Upon arriving we were checking in and the owner was explaining where our site was. She asked if we ever have been there before, I told her no. She said she had a last minute cancellation and moved us to a different site just down the road from the store/bar/game room. She said its a better site, the site was amazing! Big and spacious, had tree coverage. It was a corner site so it had busy traffic, we were ok with that as we met many new people and it was close to everything for our kids. There were plenty of activities for the kids and adults. Theres a man made swimming pond, filtered and aerated. Like i mentioned before an arcade for the kids and a onsite store with all the basic necessities if you forgot something. Bar served food if you didnt want to cook. Everyone was respectful and quiet at a decent time. They had motion activated street lights to light up the roads at night when needed without staying on all night. They have water/elec sites. As well as rustic tent sites. You wont be disappointed with this place! Definitely will be going here again.

• 

  Lauren J.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 1, 2023

  Rocky Arbor State Park Campground

  Camping here was better than expected, but not my favorite

  We stayed in site #59 for memorial day weekend. 

  The campground is pretty close to the freeway, but you can avoid the noise if you stay on the opposite side. The freeway travels along the outer ring of campsites in the #70's.  I included a google maps picture of where the freeway is in relation to the campground. We tent camped at campsite 59 and it was just a bit loud, if it was louder I would maybe not have enjoyed our stay. After a couple minutes, it just became background noise and we didn't really notice it. If you are looking for the absolute farthest sites from the freeway, they would probably be anything in or near the sites in the 20's. 

  Our campsite was very nice and spacious. It was well shaded near the firepit and mostly hidden from next-door neighbors. The site is just across the road on a diagonal from some vault toilets. The toilets were surprisingly very nice, always clean and no smells. However there were a lot of mosquitos in this park. So many that we drove to Walmart and picked up some 2 Thermacell Patio Shield Mosquito Repeller, they actually worked great. 

  All in all, I was a bit nervous that camping in the dells was going to be undesirable, but it ended up being a great weekend. We really enjoyed that you can drive anywhere in downtown dells in less than 10 minutes. I was shocked that the strip was so close to the campground because after getting off the freeway and to get to the park, you felt like you were almost in the middle of no where.

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 18, 2025

  Sleepy Hollow Farms

  Convenient to the highway

  General: There is both a north and a south part to this campground with a total of 178 sites. The sites in the south part are all on a grassy field and there is a small man-made lake with an inflatable play area. The sites in the north part are a mix of full hook-up and tent sites. There are also small cabins (only one of which has a bathroom) and three “condos”. These all had air-conditioners, but I did not see the inside of them. The north unit features a pond, which I was disappointed to discover was algae-filled and completely green. 

  Site Quality: Some are pull-through and some back-in. Some sites have electric and water hookups, some have picnic tables, and some have fire rings (but not all sites have all of these amenities). Only a handful have concrete pads; the rest are all on grass. 

  Our impression of Sleepy Hollow was influenced in part by the fact that it poured rain for much of our overnight stay. The roads were all dirt and with the rain, became very muddy along with the campsites as well. When leaving the next day, we had some challenges backing out of our site with the amount of mud. There is no clear delineation between the sites other than where the electric and water hookups are placed. 

  Bathhouse: Was very clean (in both the north and south units of the campground). Showers are available for a fee (five minutes for$1.00) but we did not use them so cannot comment on how well they worked. 

  Activities/Amenities: In the south unit, there is a small manmade lake with an inflatable play structure and plenty of life jackets. The color is a beautiful Caribbean blue, but it did not look natural, and I was not sure of the source of the color. We were there on a weekday in September, and no one was using the lake. There is a small bar and grill (in the north section) and a concession (south unit) on-site, but both were closed when we were there. Firewood was available (15 pieces for $10); we asked and were granted permission to use the golf cart to bring the wood to our site. Other than the lake, there really is nothing offered for recreation. 

  We chose this campground for its location; it is very close to Highway 41 in Oshkosh (you will hear road noise) and we were meeting family there. We checked in online the day before and arrived at 3:30 pm. No one was in the office when we arrived but the family members we were meeting had arranged for us to camp in the site next to them (not the original one we had selected). This campground is VERY close to EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association), and I imagine it would be completely full during the annual EAA convention. For us, it was a convenient location but aside from spending time with our family, the reason we chose this campground.

• 

  Kim L.

  Ranger

  

  May. 29, 2020

  Wisconsin Dells KOA

  Close to the Dells action but jam packed in summer

  Camping the in Wisconsin Dells area is always a challenge because there are such big crowds in the summer heading to the waterparks. If you are looking to stay in your camper while enjoying the Wisconsin Dells tourism, this KOA is fine. The lots are very small, but overall paved and level so you will have a quick set up. You are on top of your neighbor and your fire pit is close (too close) to all your stuff. There is a pool, but is was crazy crowded with obnoxious campers. If you have a camper (travel trailer, motorhome, pop-up) you should have everything you need for an in-town stay at the Dells. If you're in a tent, I wouldn't chose this campground and would stay further away from the main strip.