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Best Tent Camping near Wisconsin Rapids, WI

336 Reviews

Established tent campgrounds near Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin offer a variety of camping experiences ranging from primitive to moderately developed sites. Camp Wilderness provides tent sites with access to drinking water, toilets, and picnic tables, with multiple access options including drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in routes. Wazee Lake Recreation Area, located in Wisconsin Rapids, maintains year-round tent camping with basic amenities including drinking water and toilet facilities. Camp Shin-Go-Beek offers both tent and cabin accommodations with boat-in and walk-in access.

Most tent sites in the Wisconsin Rapids region feature pit toilets or vault facilities rather than modern restrooms. Camp Shin-Go-Beek provides drinking water spigots, pit toilets, and access to shower facilities, making it somewhat more developed than neighboring campgrounds. Fire rings are available at most established sites, with fires permitted at Camp Wilderness, Wazee Lake Recreation Area, and Camp Shin-Go-Beek. Visitors should confirm seasonal restrictions, as Wisconsin weather can impact tent camping conditions significantly. Many sites lack amenities such as electrical hookups or running water, creating genuine primitive tent camping experiences.

The backcountry feel of tent sites near Wisconsin Rapids appeals to campers seeking natural settings without extensive development. Camp Shin-Go-Beek offers semi-primitive camping with access to a private beach at the lake for swimming. One camper noted, "Incredibly peaceful with a ton of beautiful birds singing throughout the day, relatively private even with fellow campers in the area, and a short walk to the private beach at the lake." Wazee Lake Recreation Area attracts tent campers with what reviews describe as "the clearest and deepest inland lake in Wisconsin," though weekdays and off-season dates provide more peaceful experiences than summer weekends. Tent campers consistently mention the quality of fishing, swimming, and wildlife observation opportunities available from these primitive tent setups.

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Best Tent Sites Near Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin (7)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wisconsin Rapids, WI

5 Photos of 7 Wisconsin Rapids Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Wisconsin Rapids, WI

336 Reviews of 7 Wisconsin Rapids Campgrounds

  • Michael M.
    Oct. 3, 2017

    Dells of the Eau Claire Park Campground

    Nice views fishing not so great

    This campground is right on the Ice Age Trail and a nice place to stop off during an extended hike.

    There are not that many sites available here and most do supply electricity. More people tent camp here rather than RV camping. There are pit toilets but no shower house although there are water spigots for drinking water. The sites are closer together than some campgrounds but it's not like a city block of camps like some KOA's I have camped at. The night time temperatures dipped in the low 30's in the middle of May when I was there. The campground attendants were on site twice a day to sell firewood and collect camping fees. The DNR rangers do patrol the campgrounds on a regular basis. There is places all along the river to fish and I was told the fishing is good, however I did not have very much luck when I was there. The campground firepits with cooking grates were OK and the wooden picnic tables are worn, but there is level ground for pitching tents.

    The scenery and hiking along the river and on the Ice Age Trail is great. If you had better luck fishing than I did this would have been a great camping weekend. Bring warm cloths and a great sleeping bag.

  • Erin Z.
    Jul. 21, 2024

    Mill Bluff State Park Campground

    Secluded, but noisy.

    We were at site #9, great spot for tent. There were only trees behind us and our neighbors were far enough way we had privacy. There was no electricity, but we charged our phones and my son’s iPad at the ranger station. There was no running water so bring sanitizer. The swimming pond was great and not rocky. The hikes were good but lots of mosquitoes which made it hard to enjoy. Wish there was more to do in the area. No showers and no electricity in the bathroom near our site.

  • P
    Oct. 26, 2019

    Jordan Park

    Beautiful site on the water.

    Quiet little campground, I was in one of the three canoe/ walk in sights and they were right on the water. All three sights were separated from the rest of camp and are tent sites. All have a picnic table, grill, and fire ring and are big enough for 2-3 tents depending on the size of the tents. Set back from a county hwy and state hwy, however not too much traffic and the traffic that does exist was not very disruptive. 2 night minimum, 14 night maximum reservation.

  • Janet B.
    Jun. 3, 2023

    Buckhorn State Park Campground

    Pretty good one for the weekend

    Snagged a spot (#102) right before the Memorial Day weekend. Spacious site, somewhat private because of the surrounding trees. If you want to be surrounded by hammock-able trees, i suggest sites 94-99. Our site was both close to vaulted toilets/water and shower building, which was a plus. Shower head pressure was lovely and hot water was great! One downside was that people were loud and playing music till midnight but oh wells.

    Was worried about bugs but I think it was okay. Maybe we were there before it began. i did find some ticks on my camping chair though so beware.

    Though we didnt explore much of the Buckhorn SP, we chose this site because it was under an hour drive from Mirror Lake SP and Devils Lake SP. Making a day trip to those parks and Wisconsin Dells was a breeze.

  • Lesley R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2022

    Black River State Forest Outdoor Camp — Black River State Forest

    Low Ground

    This campground would be best for RVing IMO. The entire place is lifted from a swamp which means that it’s low, damp ground. They also must have used sand, as it drains very quickly. I describe the site as such because we spent the weekend in a tent and it literally rained the entire weekend. The site we were at turned into a lake four times, submerging our fire pit and picnic table. This made making a fire near impossible, let alone accessible, it was in the middle of a small lake! As we scrambled most of the fear to the car, we watched the water creep to the front door of the tent, from the highest ground. It’s a good thing we had a tarp under the tent, otherwise we would have been swimming in our tent. Anyway, busy place, near the road and a honky tonk. Not our preferred experience. Vault toilets, firewood, nice beach if the weather was nice.

  • Stephen T.
    Jun. 28, 2016

    Buckhorn State Park Campground

    Amazing camping on Castle Rock Lake

    I have camped here several times. I have hiked in, backed in, and camped lakefront. All are gorgeous. The trails are beautiful with some wooded areas and some prairie. The hike in is just shy of a mile. The lakefront is a simple walk in, but you can launch your kayak or canoe from your site, which I did. The fishing is fantastic with Striped, Largemouth, and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Musky, and all kinds of panfish. Many natural sites are within driving distance. Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, as well as the International Crane Foundation, many other fishing opportunities. Very minimal noise. Modern showers, fishing pier. Great for the family.

  • Liz M.
    Sep. 2, 2018

    Buckhorn State Park Campground

    First Camping Adventure for the nieces

    My husband and I picked this park because of it's friendliness towards kids. We took our 2 9 year old nieces on their first tent camping adventure. We chose site 28 because it was a walk in site and on the water. When we arrived and checked in we grabbed one of their pre-loaded GPS units for Geocaching; It's something the park offers for free. They give you a bag, GPS and information book on all the Geocaching sites. We drove to the site and started loading up the cart to walk in. We walked past a very open campsite that was right next to ours, could be bad if you have loud neighbors but ours were great. There are 2 other sites in this location but far enough away and they don't walk past your site to get to them. The site was spacious and has a great fire pit for cooking. There is a small trail leading to the water with an extremely small beach front but it was enough to keep the girls entertained. Set up camp and started our geocaching fun. We hiked to the kids fishing pond & the tower. Trails are easy and well groomed. Following hiking we made our way to the beach; unfortunately, the algae was in bloom so the water was caked green! However, it doesn't do any harm so we made our way out into the more clear portion of the water and had a blast! The beach area has showers and a great area to have a picnic. The evening presented itself with an amazing sunset from our beach and lots of crickets chirping. It made for a peaceful night. In the morning we took the girls fishing off the dock and then over to the kids pond; the park also offers free poles and tackle. We ventured into the campground area for fresh water. From what we saw the sites were spacious and fairly private. The shower area was well maintained and is also accessible for anyone with disabilities. We will be coming back to this park; it was great! We didn't run into any issues with mosquitoes or other bugs while there.

  • C
    Jun. 8, 2023

    Buckhorn State Park Campground

    Beautiful site, heavy mosquito activity

    We camped on site 22. It was an easy walk from the parking lot to the site with the help of the provided carts. It was peaceful and lovely! It seemed like a good spot for kayaks and canoes given the lake access; it appeared shallow and sandy at this site. The porta-potty was clean and located in the parking lot. There was a basic fire ring with grill grate and a picnic table. Fish were jumping frequently. We were able to set up our screen house and tent with plenty of room to spare. The only reason I gave this 4/5 stars is because the mosquitoes!!! I know, it's nature in all it's glory but we couldn't leave our tents until sun went down so it was a bummer. We will revisit earlier in the spring in hopes of avoiding the bugs.

  • Jen R.
    Jul. 16, 2019

    East Fork Campground

    Quiet rustic site right on the river

    We were able to reserve site 120, right on the river.  It was a lovely site with a nice view, but little shade.  The sunsets were amazing here.  This campground is small and quiet, with minimal amenities.  The vault toilets were clean.  We saw some interesting wildlife too.  We purchased firewood on site, it was a bit wet and challenging to get started.  The ranger was super friendly on check-in.

Guide to Wisconsin Rapids

Tent camping near Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from peaceful retreats to family-friendly environments, there's something for everyone.

Tent campers should check out Plover River Retreat

  • Experience the tranquility of the water right by your tent at Plover River Retreat, perfect for those seeking seclusion.
  • Enjoy the convenience of being close to town while still immersing yourself in nature at Camp Wilderness.
  • For a unique experience, visit Wazee Lake Rec Area, known for its clear waters and excellent fishing opportunities.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Families will appreciate the adventure-filled environment at Camp Wilderness, featuring trails, a lake, and an obstacle course.
  • Scuba diving and swimming are popular at Wazee Lake Rec Area, making it a great spot for water enthusiasts.
  • Enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature while camping at Plover River Retreat, where you can relax by the dam.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $20

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wisconsin Rapids, WI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wisconsin Rapids, WI is Camp Shin-Go-Beek with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Wisconsin Rapids, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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