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Best Tent Camping near Trempealeau, WI

509 Reviews

The bluffs and river valleys surrounding Trempealeau, Wisconsin offer several tent-only and walk-in camping options within a 30-mile radius. Island Campground at Merrick State Park provides walk-in tent sites along the Mississippi River, just 15 miles north of Trempealeau. Sparta Campground along the Elroy-Sparta State Trail offers tent-specific sites for hikers and cyclists. Houston Nature Center in Minnesota, approximately 25 miles southeast, features a dedicated tent-only campground with walk-in sites at the trailhead of the Root River State Bike Trail. These locations provide varying levels of amenities and natural settings for primitive tent camping experiences.

Most tent campsites in the region feature level dirt or grass pads with minimal site preparation. Walk-in distances vary significantly, from the short 100-yard path at Gooseberry Glen Cart-in Campground to the 600-yard trail at Sparta Campground that can become muddy during rain. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at most established sites, though primitive areas in R.J.D. Memorial Hardwood State Forest may only offer basic fire rings. Water access ranges from potable drinking water at Houston Nature Center to no facilities at more remote locations. Campers should note that non-resident fees apply at Wisconsin state sites, with some locations charging up to double the resident rate.

Fall brings optimal conditions for tent camping near Trempealeau, with reduced crowds and vibrant foliage. According to reviews, Houston Nature Center provides "spacious, level, well-kept sites" with "spotless showers and bathrooms" that are particularly appealing to cyclists using the Root River Trail. Tent campers at Sparta Campground should be prepared for highway noise, as one visitor noted that "truck traffic was loud all night" on weekdays, though weekend stays were quieter. The cart-in sites at Whitewater State Park, though slightly farther from Trempealeau, offer a good balance of seclusion and accessibility, with campers reporting they "could see one neighbor but all we could hear was the stream." Backcountry tent camping options in state forests provide the greatest solitude but require more self-sufficiency.

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Detours Nearby

Frickson Family Farms LLC

Frickson Family Farms LLC

7 min away

Veterans Memorial Park & Campground

Veterans Memorial Park & Campground

18 min away

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Best Tent Sites Near Trempealeau, Wisconsin (17)

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33 Photos of 17 Trempealeau Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Trempealeau, WI

509 Reviews of 17 Trempealeau Campgrounds

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 31, 2024

    Minneiska Campground — Whitewater State Park

    Nice state park

    Stayed here for a couple nights on a mini state park road trip. Nice place, like most of the MN state parks. Spotty cell service. Hiked a trail with lots of steps. Fire ring and picnic table are provided at each site. Restroom with showers also available in campground. Site was large and easy to back into and offered some tree cover for shade during certain times of the day. Was unable to hang hammock in specific site we stayed at, but some of the sites looked like they would be suitable.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 23, 2019

    Prairie Island City Campground

    Great introductory campground

    Prairie Island has all of you basic amenities without being too far from town. This campground isn’t for everybody -- if you’re looking for extreme adventure and wilderness, this is not the place for you. If you’re interested in getting into camping and not investing the money into all the gear or having direct river access, this is the place for you! They seriously rent it all. Paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and dutch ovens. The camp store sells all of the basics and fishing supplies. The shower house has flush toilets and pit toilets are located throughout the campground.

    Personally, this campground is not the type that I like to stay at but it is really great for the type that wants to get into camping or the camper trailer type. Unfortunately, not enough activities to do besides boating on the river.

  • ERolf P.
    Aug. 29, 2016

    Perrot State Park Campground

    Group Camping, Hiking, and Water Sports

    Wonderful time in Perrot State Park. Camped in the group campground, site A. Plenty of room for many tents, and nice level ground to pitch tents on. Huge fire ring for large group fires, and both a large grill on the fire ring, and freestanding charcoal grill. Lots of options for hiking and walking in the park with more than 13 miles of trails. We did a 5 mile hike up and over two of the more popular bluffs. We also did a two-three hour canoe/kayak trip and had a blast.

    There is not a swimming beach at the park, so if you're into that, you'll have to leave the park, but there is more than enough to do at Perrot State Park.

  • Kim The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2020

    Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground

    Wonderful cart in sites

    The cart in sites are fantastic at Wildcat Mountain! Each site is spacious with most heavily treed for shade. Each site has a nice large flat pad for a tent or two, fire ring, bench and picnic table. Proximity to potable water, vault or modern toilets and designated parking are all within 400 yards of all sites. 

    The park is located in the Kickapoo valley area where the driftless area is amazing to hike. You can kayak or tube down the river that is flanked by high limestone bluffs. The hiking trails are well maintained. There is also extensive horse trails, a beautiful outdoor ampitheater for viewing sunsets and access to the river right in the park. 

    The campers were respectful and quiet. Our campsite was fairly clean when we arrived. Contactless registration due to covid 19. That made getting set up quick and easy!  The cart provided was fairly big for less trips. I would happily camp here again!

  • R
    Aug. 30, 2019

    Merrick State Park Campground

    Nice Walk-In site but bring your bug spray!

    Very nice walk-in site right on the river. LOTS of bugs to the point it was uncomfortable so make sure to bring bug spray. Tent pad, fire ring and picnic table available. Trees available that are good for those who hammock.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2018

    Houston Nature Center

    Great location!

    The Nature Center campsite is located at the trail head for the Root River State Bike Trail. Trail Head Park is a nice tent only campground with walk-in sites. A majority of the sites have picnic tables and fire pits. The Nature Center has clean bathrooms and free showers. They recommend donations for the use of the showers.

    $20 per night camping fee. You can pay inside the Nature Center or at the slot between the restroom mirrors. The sites are first come, first serve. Local firewood is available near the restrooms as well; take what you need and leave the center a donation.

    Trail Head Park has a 1 acre natural playground near the campsite. When I visited during the week, I only saw a small group of people using the playground. The playground has a zip line, tree house, small rock wall, and more. Inside the Nature Center, they have interactive and interesting displays. The highlight of this campground is the Root River State Bike Trail and the Owl Center in the town of Houston.

    I'd give the campsite 4/5 review. The location, the bluffs, the bike trail, and center get 5/5 review.

  • J
    Oct. 24, 2017

    Sylvan City Park

    Close to bike trail and downtown

    Stayed here in a tent while on a bicycle camping trip and it was adequate. It is located in a city park within a couple minutes walk of the downtown area. The bike trail crosses the south end of downtown so close to that too. This would not be a good place to camp if you'd like to be out in nature

    Biggest gripe is the slope of the tent sites. The majority of the tent sites are on an incline around a pond. There are also a lot of ducks that aren't very afraid of humans. None got into my gear though. There are fire rings at the tent sites. No picnic tables at the individual sites but there are some nearby in the park and there's also a covered picnic shelter. Hammocks would be difficult to impossible as the tent area is a strip of grass between pond and bluff, which has mostly brush or too whimpy of trees to hang from at the base. There are a couple huge oaks but none in pairs.

    Quarter showers and clean restrooms are available. $20/night/tent which seemed a bit steep to me considering how slanted the sites were and quarter showers. It is cheaper than the other places within immediate biking distance which were $25/night.

  • J
    Jun. 23, 2019

    Sparta Campground — Elroy-Sparta State Trail

    Good for light/bike camping

    This is a walk-in campground intended for very light camping, particularly for those biking the Elroy-Sparta or Lacrosse Trails, as it is right on the Elroy-Sparta trail and only a 10 minute bike ride into the town of Sparta. We are a family of 4 that camped from Friday through Sunday while we attended a swim meet in Sparta. We had site 3 (103 on the DNR campground map), which was about a 600 yard hike in from the parking lot, down a trail that can get quite muddy, especially during rain (which it did while we were breaking camp). Some of the sites are even further down the trail. The site was small, but we did manage to fit a 4-person tent, two 2-person tents, a screen-house, and 5 bikes. I was advised by our camp neighbor that their site was equally small. Water, trash, and bathroom access was great and clean. No noise from other campers, and there was even a boy scout troop on site while we were there. The most disappointing factor for me was the highway noise. I had read about that from another reviewer, and it was indeed bad, all weekend long. I had to wear noise-cancelling headphones to drown out the noise in order to sleep. So, it is a great site for someone biking in and/or carrying a very light load into the campsite and, I would say (only because of the highway noise), if there are no other camping options. I should mention that although there are no showers here, I saw that the Sparta Aquatic Center (10 minute bike ride) allows shower access for $3 (at time of this review). Also, the Sparta Family Restaurant is a great place to eat, having good food, service, and prices.

  • Ashley F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 2, 2023

    Castle Mound Campground — Black River State Forest

    Solid campground

    Camp sites were good. Plenty of room for multiple tents & some hammocks. Came with picnic table and fire pit. Fire wood was only $5 on site for a decent sized bundle. Campground was quiet and well kept. Vault toilets in most of the campground (smelly and not the cleanest but this is expected with vault toilets) there was a main shower/restroom area at the entrance to the campground which was very clean. Drinking water available by the showers. Added bonus - the hiking trail was within the campground and was very scenic. Cool rock formations and a decently easy hike.

Guide to Trempealeau

Tent camping near Trempealeau, Wisconsin places visitors in the heart of the Driftless Area, where steep bluffs rise 400-650 feet above river valleys. This unglaciated region features unique sandstone formations and diverse ecosystems not found elsewhere in the Upper Midwest. Summer humidity can make camping challenging in July and August, while winter camping options are limited to a handful of year-round sites.

What to do

Cycling the Root River Trail: The Houston Nature Center campground sits directly at the trailhead for this popular bike route. According to one camper, "The Nature Center campsite is located at the trail head for the Root River State Bike Trail" and "The highlight of this campground is the Root River State Bike Trail and the Owl Center in the town of Houston."

Explore local wildlife: Visit the International Owl Center near Houston Nature Center Campground. One visitor notes, "The International Owl Center was a welcome discovery" while another mentions "Owl center at office. Tent sites only and not many. Must make reservations but typically not many people here camping."

Farm animal interactions: Justin Trails Resort offers unique farm experiences. A reviewer states, "The llamas are fun to feed" and the property includes other activities like disc golf which "is busy here, in winter they have sledding hills."

What campers like

Secluded water sites: The cart-in sites at Whitewater State Park offer privacy and stream access. A camper reports, "We could see site 4 from our site, but all we could hear was the stream" and recommends "site 4 because it was the most private and right next to the water."

Clean facilities: Many campsites in the area maintain good facilities. At Houston Nature Center, a visitor noted "Spotless showers and bathrooms, access to drinking water" and called it the "Best tent campground on the Root River Trail."

Rural hobby farms: For a unique camping experience, Shady Rest Acres offers both tent sites and a cabin on a working farm. A reviewer describes it as "a little slice of awesome in the form of a hobby farm with campsites, a cabin, and oh ya...the remnants of an old brewery!"

What you should know

Highway noise concerns: Several campgrounds in the area experience road noise. At Sparta Campground, a reviewer warned that "truck traffic was loud all night" on weekdays, though weekend stays were quieter. Another mentioned it's "very near the interstate so not the quietest of places."

Non-resident fees: Wisconsin state campgrounds charge higher rates for out-of-state visitors. One camper noted the significant difference at Sparta Campground: "Non-resident upcharge ($30 vs. $15 plus fees)."

Limited availability: Some of the most desirable tent sites require advance planning. At Houston Nature Center, a reviewer mentioned "Tent sites only and not many. Must make reservations but typically not many people here camping."

Muddy access trails: Weather impacts some walk-in sites. A Sparta Campground visitor described "a 600 yard hike in from the parking lot, down a trail that can get quite muddy, especially during rain (which it did while we were breaking camp)."

Tips for camping with families

Natural playgrounds: Some area campgrounds offer kid-friendly features. Houston Nature Center has "a 1 acre natural playground near the campsite" where one visitor observed "a small group of people using the playground. The playground has a zip line, tree house, small rock wall, and more."

Easy cart-in options: For families new to tent camping, Gooseberry Glen Cart-in Campground provides an accessible introduction. A camper described: "Right when you park you see the push carts and it is a very short walk to the campsite."

Site selection for groups: Consider space requirements when booking. At Whitewater State Park, a visitor noted: "If we came with a larger group we would book site 2 (right on the water and very spacious)."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: RV camping near Trempealeau is restricted to a few locations with minimal amenities. At Northend Campground, a local observed "Small lil park that they allow people to camp in. I've seen RV's and tents here."

Alternative water recreation: RVers can find swimming options beyond the campgrounds. The same observer of Northend Campground mentioned "Nice sand bottom creek to swim in right behind campground, pool is a few blocks away."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Trempealeau, WI is Houston Nature Center with a 4.8-star rating from 5 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Trempealeau, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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