Glamping close to Sheboygan, Wisconsin offers opportunities to experience Lake Michigan's shoreline in comfort while exploring the area's unique ecosystem. The Sheboygan area features coastal sand dunes, wetlands, and forest habitats within a 30-mile radius of the city center. Winter temperatures can drop below 10°F, while summer camping typically sees daytime temperatures between 65-85°F with higher humidity near the lakeshore.
What to do
Beach exploration: Kohler-Andrae State Park provides direct access to miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. "Beautiful state park right on Lake Michigan. Sunrises so, so beautiful. This campground has everything! Trails, dunes, marshes, forests, and Lake Michigan," shares Kathie M.
Wildlife observation: The wetland ecosystem at Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park Campground offers excellent bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities. "There is an 18 hole disc golf course and a nine hole soccer ball course. Brand new play ground added," notes Jill G., who recommends checking whether the marsh is filled before visiting.
Historic sites: Explore the old mill at Devils River Campground. "It is fun to go down by the river and explore. One year we caught about 60 crayfish and cooked them on the campstove and ate them. Sometimes they also give a tour of the old mill that is on the grounds. There is a lot of history," explains a camper.
Caving adventures: Visit the nearby Maribel Caves, located one mile from Devils River Campground. "The New Hope Cave is only open to tour 1 weekend of the month. It is usually the 3rd Saturday of the month but there were scheduling conflicts and it was open on the 2nd Saturday in August," advises a visitor who recommends calling ahead to confirm open dates.
What campers like
Swimming options: Plymouth Rock Camping Resort offers multiple swimming facilities. "There's plenty to do 3 pools, Mimi golf, outdoor movies, the weekend we were there they had a band," notes Lauren P., though she mentions the sites lack privacy.
Diverse terrain: Visitors appreciate the varied landscapes at Kohler-Andrae State Park. "Grew up near Kohler-Andrae state park, and it was always a fun place to go. Right on Lake Michigan, had nice and clean beaches. Hiking trails are great, especially the ones through the dunes," says Elliot Q.
Evening activities: Family-friendly nighttime programming keeps campers entertained. "We truly enjoy camping at Kohler Andrae State Park. The facilities are well kept and there is a good variety of things to do at the park from the beach to the boardwalk," shares Sara S.
Tower viewing: Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park features an observation tower for panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness. The tower stands as one of the tallest wooden observation structures in Wisconsin, providing visitors with unobstructed views of the 14,000-acre wildlife area and its diverse ecosystem.
What you should know
Weather preparation: Lake Michigan creates unique weather patterns that can affect camping conditions. "I wasn't planning on it being that cool at night, I know better now," mentions a Kohler-Andrae camper, referring to the sometimes surprising temperature drops after sunset.
Seasonal availability: Most glamping options near Sheboygan operate on limited schedules. Plymouth Rock Camping Resort runs "from April 13 to October 15," while Lazy Days typically closes for winter.
Reservation requirements: Sites fill quickly during peak season. "We didn't have a reservation and showed up on a Tuesday and camped for a few nights. If you plan to camp for a weekend, you must make a reservation way in advance," advises Shanon P. about Kohler-Andrae.
Water conditions: The marsh at Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park experiences seasonal fluctuations. "Went to this campground to specifically use our kayaks but the marshes were drained to replicate drought conditions. Make sure you check if the marsh is filled when reserving this campground," warns Jill G.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Breezy Hill Campground offers specialized activities for children. "Family friendly campground. Plenty for the kids to do. Theres a fishing pond (catch and release) arcade, jumping pillow etc. Owners are friendly and helpful. Have events almost every weekend," shares Matthew J.
Beach activities: Kohler-Andrae's sandy shoreline provides natural entertainment. "Gorgeous place to camp! everything was beautiful, this park has it all... spacious campsites, sand dunes, trails, beach, gorgeous sunsets! plenty to do! there is a large open area and play area for kids to run around walkable from the camping," notes Kendra G.
Site selection: Choose locations away from potential hazards for younger children. At Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park, the unfenced pond areas require extra supervision, as campsites border water features without barriers.
Bathroom proximity: When glamping with small children, select sites near facilities. "Nice campground, we were in the non-electric 200's, not as many RV's in this area. Hiking is nice, there is a dune boardwalk trail that is good that runs parallel to Lake Michigan shoreline," recommends Shanon P.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many campgrounds in the area require minimal leveling. "Even though we were on a hill the campsight was level. We had plenty of room for rv and tow," reports Robert O. about Apple Creek Campground.
Hookup availability: Full hookups aren't universal at all sites. "We wanted septic and they didn't tell us that the septic is a guy in a truck who comes by one or two times a week. There is a dump station however," shares Ross C. about Apple Creek Campground.
Site spacing: Privacy levels vary significantly between campgrounds. "It is a nice campground, we didn't like our site no trees I felt like I was in my front yard," mentions Lauren P. about Plymouth Rock Camping Resort.
Access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging navigation. "The main campground (and amenities) were down the hill a bit. We liked being on the hill away from the pool etc.," notes Robert O., suggesting RV campers inquire about site location when booking.