Best Tent Camping near Saukville, WI

Kettle Moraine State Forest provides several tent camping options within 30 miles of Saukville, Wisconsin. The Northern Unit Greenbush Group Camp offers tent-only sites surrounded by wooded terrain, operating from April through November. Waubedonia County Park in nearby Fredonia provides more accessible tent campsites along the Milwaukee River with basic amenities. For those seeking more seclusion, KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site offers primitive tent camping accessible only by hiking in, providing a true backcountry experience away from developed areas.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature unpaved surfaces ranging from packed dirt to forest floor. Greenbush Group Campground accommodates multiple tents per site, with Sites 2 and 9 large enough to fit over 20 backpacking tents simultaneously. Pit toilets are standard at most locations, though their condition varies. Drinking water availability differs by location, with Greenbush offering spigots near the parking area but not at individual sites. Campers should verify seasonal restrictions, as some areas implement fire bans during dry periods. Most tent sites include fire rings and picnic tables, though firewood collection policies vary by location.

Tent campers report varying levels of privacy between sites. According to reviews, KMSF Shelter 1 offers "very secluded" tent camping with "decent walk and terrain to get to the site," plus an open shelter where tents can be placed. The site includes a fire pit where campers can use gathered wood. At Greenbush Group Camp, visitors noted that while sites are "visually separated," noise carries between them, particularly on busy weekends. The grassy sites are "surrounded by trees with plenty for hammocks," making them suitable for larger groups. Waubedonia Park provides "inexpensive and comfortable" tent sites, though with fewer amenities than larger campgrounds. Most tent-only areas in the region offer access to hiking trails, with the Wild Goose State Trail connecting to Wild Goose City Park, providing tent campers with extended recreation options.

Best Tent Sites Near Saukville, Wisconsin (8)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Saukville, WI

1 Photos of 8 Saukville Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Saukville, WI

396 Reviews of 8 Saukville Campgrounds


  • Sara S.
    May. 27, 2019

    Mauthe Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit-Iansr

    GREAT beach!

    The campground and campsites are pretty standard.  Nice amount of space and privacy. 101 Walk in site was quite nice. Level ground, nice tree cover so it didnt feel too open. 

    Loved being close to the beach and playground area! The kids really appreciated it :) The beach was very clean and even though it was a warm, busy day we didnt feel like it was too crowded.  The earlier you arrive the better chances you have of getting a picnic table in the shade ;)  

    Enjoyed the walk around the lake, some parts are still a bit muddy, but overall it was a nice walk and the kids actually made it without too many complaints ;)  Nice variety of scenery!  Even caught a couple frogs.

    Definitely a place to visit again! 

    *checked out some of the trails near by which were really great as well!

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2022

    Mauthe Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit-Iansr

    Kettle moraine trail access here

    Mauthe lake is in the Kettle Moraine Northern Unit. It feels remote but we drove through a bunch of rural houses on the way in. The rustic roads made for good cycling. We passed quite a few pedaling up and down the hills.

    The campground itself sprawls along one side of the lake. With the loops for each group peeling off, it is easy to lose your way. The signs mark the direction well so go slow. It helps to know your site number.

    There was nobody at the entrance office. I’m not sure if it’s just today but make online reservations. It seems to be the 2022 way.

    There is a shower house but we made use of the more convenient vault toilets. Water is available in different ways - even a drinking fountain. There seems to be only one garbage collection site on the way out. This was less convenient since we have dog droppings to deal with.

    There is a nature trail that goes around the lake. By the beach and picnic area it’s paved. The rest is gravel or dirt. With recent rains we found a few puddles to walk through and mud to avoid. Our dog loved having the trail so close. Most of the trail is in the sun so bring water on hot days.

    Swimming isn’t allowed due to a blue algae bloom. This left plenty of empty space for us to sit with our dog under the trees. Folks did make good use of the fishing pier and playground. We also saw kayaks and stand up paddle boards on the lake.

  • Denise N.
    Jun. 28, 2018

    Kettle Moraine State Forest Long Lake Campground

    Long Lake Fun

    We've camped at Long Lake twice - both times with kids, and thoroughly enjoyed. The sites are spacious and clean. Each site comes with a fire pit, grate and picnic table. We have camped in the 800s but hope to get back for more variety in the future.

    Long Lake has two separate beaches and we much prefer the South Shore beach. North Shore is a little less populated, but the hike/stairs down into the beach area can be annoying with kids, toys, camp chairs, and a cooler full of food and beer. South Shore has a boat launch, clean restrooms and a picnic cabana that can be reserved. Both beaches are large and ample. We spread out with a pop-up canopy and did not feel crowded in or like we were imposing on others.

    Long Lake is big, so motorcraft are allowed. It's fun to sunbathe and watch waterskiiers and tubers fly by off in the distance.

  • 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.

  • Renee R.
    May. 9, 2025

    Ledge County Park

    Great park, decent camping

    The park is very pretty.  Walking along the trails, you can see where it gets its name!  Lots of cool ledges and rock outcrops.  We saw a moderate amount of birds and heard a bunch of critters (owls, a fox (?!)) one night.

    We camped at non-electric site J.  It was nice and big.  We originally were to be at site G but it was way too small to fit our cars, tents, etc.

    Pros:

    - Quiet and decently spaced sites.

    - Clean vault toilets.  Did not use the shower house/other facilities.  

    - The firepits are flush with the ground and have cooking grates.

    - Easy access to trails.

    Cons:

    - I'm not a trailer camper, but if I were I would not appreciate the vibes of the electric sites.  The sites are very close together and walking through it felt like going through a festival or circus more than a campground.

    - The firewood was a bit pricey compared to other parks.

  • N
    May. 30, 2022

    Harrington Beach State Park Campground

    Pros and Cons Here

    We mostly enjoyed our trip here over Memorial Day Weekend. It’s not too far away from our home and a nice gear testing first trip.

    Pros: Spacious grassy site. This one even had an attached smaller clearing perfect for our 7 year old to use for her own space where we set up a hammock for her.

    The campsites feel very private with a thick brush between each site. It’s not a huge campground.

    Bathrooms and showers are very cleans and actually closed from 11am-noon each day for complete cleaning.

    Gorgeous magnificent trails and right on Lake Michigan. Also a beautiful quarry lake with a trail all the way around and a cute pond full of turtles!

    Very nice, completely cleaned fire pits.

    Cheap bundle yourself firewood. Cons:

    Gorgeous hikes, but short. We prefer more distance.

    Maybe because of its proximity to the lake and Milwaukee or perhaps the holiday weekend but this was a louder campground. More of a party vibe than we really look for in state parks. A particular group was extremely loud and kept us up until 4 am the first night. No park ranger on duty. It’s nice when quiet hours are observed.

    No trees really on the campground and it is built on and surrounded by wetlands that are actively in restoration. At the height of summer this place is going to be sweltering and full of bugs. The mosquitoes will be especially terrible.

    Overall we have and love this park for a day trip but probably won’t return to camp.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.


Guide to Saukville

Tent campsites near Saukville, Wisconsin include several options within a 30-mile radius. The area features predominantly glacial terrain, with rolling hills and kettles formed during the last ice age, creating diverse camping environments at elevations ranging from 800-1,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F, with higher humidity levels from June through August when most campsites reach peak occupancy.

What to do

Hiking trails access: Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit-Iansr provides multiple trail systems for day hiking. "Large sites great for groups. Sites 2 and 9 are the largest," notes camper Amber R., mentioning these sites can accommodate over 20 backpacking tents simultaneously.

Biking opportunities: The Wild Goose City Park connects to the Wild Goose bike trail through Juneau. According to Kim L., "It's a good place to stop and have a break. There's a playground and public bathroom, drinking fountain. Plenty of space to spread out for a picnic when you're biking through."

Riverside activities: Many tent campsites near Saukville offer river access. Camping areas along waterways allow for fishing, kayaking, and swimming during summer months when water levels remain consistent. Local regulations may restrict certain water activities during high flow periods or drought conditions.

What campers like

Privacy levels: KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site offers secluded camping away from crowds. Camper Erin Z. describes it as "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... It's very secluded for privacy :) we will definitely be back."

Group accommodations: Northern Unit Greenbush Group Camp provides spacious sites for larger gatherings. Hilary S. reports, "We had six tents, but the site could easily have accommodated more," noting that while sites have visual separation, sound travels between them.

Affordability: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the reasonable rates at many campgrounds around Saukville. Most tent-only sites range from $15-30 per night, with group sites having higher base rates but lower per-person costs when divided among multiple campers.

What you should know

Water availability: Water access varies significantly between campgrounds. At Northern Unit Greenbush Group Camp, one camper noted, "Water is usually available, but more limited during the pandemic (spigot turned off by our campsite, but available near the parking lot at the entrance - a longer walk)."

Toilet facilities: Most tent camping areas offer basic pit toilets rather than flush facilities. Campers at KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site have mentioned the outhouse condition varies considerably throughout the season.

Reservation requirements: Waubedonia County Park and most other established campgrounds near Saukville require advance reservations during peak summer weekends. Kevin S. describes Waubedonia as "A nice little campgeound near the river in Fredonia, WI. The campsites are inexpensive and comfortable, though there aren't as many amenities that a larger campground would have."

Tips for camping with families

Playgrounds proximity: Select campsites near recreation areas when camping with children. Wild Goose City Park includes "a playground and public bathroom, drinking fountain," making it suitable for breaks during family outings.

Site selection for groups: When camping with multiple families, consider Northern Unit Greenbush Group Camp. The nine sites are "visually separated, but not far enough away from each other to block louder noise," allowing adults to monitor children across sites while maintaining some privacy.

Safety considerations: Little Turtle Lake and other water-adjacent sites require extra supervision for families with young children. The 5-site camping area requires parents to establish clear boundaries around water access points.

Tips from RVers

Accessibility limits: Most tent-focused campgrounds near Saukville have limited RV access. None of the primitive tent sites accommodate large rigs, and many require walk-in access only.

Alternative options: RV campers seeking sites with hookups should look beyond the tent-only areas. Campgrounds outside Kettle Moraine State Forest typically offer more RV-friendly amenities while still providing access to the region's recreational opportunities.

Seasonal considerations: RV camping near Saukville becomes significantly limited between late November and early April. Seasonal closures affect most campgrounds, with winter camping options reduced to specialized areas with maintained access roads.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Saukville, WI is Waubedonia County Park with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Saukville, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.