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Tennison Bay Campground

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Tennison Bay Campground, near Fish Creek, Wisconsin, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in the beauty of Peninsula State Park. With spacious and private sites, you can enjoy a serene camping experience while being surrounded by nature.

This campground is a hit for its easy access to a kayak launch and numerous hiking and biking trails. Visitors rave about the stunning views and the variety of activities available, from exploring the nature center to catching a show at the outdoor amphitheater. One camper noted, “Beautiful sunsets and amazing trails here. 3 beaches within biking distance! Love it!”

Amenities like clean showers and a dump station make your stay comfortable. Campers appreciate the well-maintained facilities, and the picnic tables and fire rings at each site are perfect for evening gatherings. As one reviewer put it, “This place always makes me so happy. Being in those trees, right in the lake is just a different type of feeling.”

If you’re up for some adventure, you’re just a short walk from Nicolet Beach, where you can rent equipment or grab a bite to eat. With its blend of natural beauty and recreational opportunities, Tennison Bay Campground is a great choice for your next outdoor getaway.

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Location

Tennison Bay Campground is located in Wisconsin

Detail location of campground

Address

9462 Shore Rd
Fish Creek, WI 54212

Coordinates

45.16085011 N
87.23283218 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Fair
  • T-Mobile
    Available

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

12 Reviews

Reviewed Nov. 8, 2023

Nice but expensive!

Beautiful large but serene campground in the Peninsula State Park. Each site is very private and nicely spaced from the neighbor. Levelness is variable between sites. Some sites have 50 and 30 amp electric, and some have no hookups. There is a dump station and water fill near this campground, which serves all the campground in the state park. There are a ton of dump holes and lanes, it’s like a costco gas station. 

This campground has a kayak launch right at the campground, AND it’s an easy walk from this campground to the Nature Center and to the Northern Sky Theater, as well as several walking and biking trails that wind around through this park. It’s also not too far of a walk to Nicolet Beach where there is a boat ramp and a store and equipment rentals. 

Cell service is minimal here, both for Verizon and ATT, service would come in and out, very unreliable, though some texts would eventually go through. We got really lucky and got a spot on a Saturday in August- the entire park (all campgrounds within the park) were completely booked, but right before we pulled up to ask if there was any availability, someone had just vacated their site a night early so we were able to snag it. It’s too pricey at $42/night, PLUS the state park fee of $13/day or $38/year (good through the end of that year, not for 12 months). 

Showers were nice and free. Wisconsin is great with recycling and there are mixed recycling bins that take everything, even glass (no plastic bags though).

Site410
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Laura M., November 8, 2023
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Laura M., November 8, 2023
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Laura M., November 8, 2023
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Oct. 30, 2022

Beautiful

This is a great campground! We went in late October and despite it being a little cold and rainy we enjoyed hiking and exploring. There are so many hiking trails and the views are amazing. We stayed in Tenneson Bay and the sites were plenty big and private.

Site321
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Gregory  K., October 30, 2022
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Gregory  K., October 30, 2022
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Gregory  K., October 30, 2022
Reviewed Jul. 15, 2022

Had so much fun

Great park we had a blast exploring and walking our dogs

Site319
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Aug. 29, 2021

One of my FAVORITE places on earth!

We try to go camping here as much as possible. We have family reunions at the campsite. This place always makes me so happy. Being in those trees, right in the lake is just a different type of feeling.

Site632
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Grace B., August 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Grace B., August 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Grace B., August 29, 2021
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2021

Beautiful views with variety of activities

Beautiful state park with plenty of activities for all ages. We booked a same-day campsite over the weekend in August. That in itself in Wisconsin almost deserves five stars. Absolutely stunning views with miles and miles of hiking and biking trails, surrounded by beautiful lake Michigan coast line. Activities such as golf, plays and musicals at a rustic amphitheater, lighthouse lookout, gorgeous skywalk and a nice beach with incredibly large portions of ice cream for the kiddos.

2 star loss goes against the overhead trees not being groomed for a class A, plenty of tree knocks and scratches getting in and out of the camping area and even the main road. All the amenities restricted RV parking so as we were leaving the grounds we could not enjoy new discoveries found.

I would give Peninsula state park a 4 because of the beauty and awesome amenities; maybe even a 5 if We were tent camping; however there was overwhelming evidence that our Class A was an after thought so a solid 3 is my final review.

Site329
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 29, 2021

Nice bike/hike trails!

Beautiful sunsets and amazing trails here. 3 beaches within biking distance! Love it!

Site317
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Jennifer , July 29, 2021
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Jennifer , July 29, 2021
Reviewed Sep. 13, 2020

Cold and wet still fun fun fun

We had a cold wet week but still so much to do. In the park and all around Door County. Quaint towns many winery and distilleries. Lots of shops and orchards.

  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Sherry M., September 13, 2020
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Sherry M., September 13, 2020
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Sherry M., September 13, 2020
Reviewed Sep. 1, 2020

Door County has it all

Walk to the water to watch a sunset or hop on a trail 10 mins nearby or kayak, wine and dine... door county has it all and Tennison Bay (peninsula state park) is a great place to stay. Watch out for poison oak and the raccoons though! Great place to camp, but the water is cold so might not be best for swimming - go kayaking!

  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Laura B., September 1, 2020
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Laura B., September 1, 2020
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Laura B., September 1, 2020
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2020

Welcome to Valhalla

Seriously, I've died and went to heaven…at least a heaven filled with Vikings, beer, grassy rooftops, a beautiful, freeways lined with flowers, and campsites with shower stalls that are better than yours. 

I feel that the description above, although precise, still does not describe the beauty of this place. Surrounded by small quaint towns, Peninsula State Park is nothing less than a Mecca for all sorts of camping enthusiasts. 

The grounds are manicured to a T with plenty of bathrooms AND shower stalls, 100s of camping sites, some of the best fire rings I've ever used, near a beach in Lake Michigan, and with plenty of activities. This location will certainly please even the most,"roughing it is not having room service" people. 

The outskirts of the park is lined with incredible vistas, beaches, and a golf course. Kayaking, horseback riding, and amazing hikes are some of the immediate activities. If that's not really your pace, you can head out to one of the many towns that surround the area and that will open up infinite possibilities, including:

1. Scuba diving

2. Cliff jumping

3. More hiking

4. Kayaking tours

5. Sailing and/or Parasailing 

Of course, after doing all of the above, you'll need to eat. Don't fret as this piece of heaven on earth has some of the best food on the planet, seriously! 

My number one recommendation is the Wickman House in Ellison Bay. Prices may vary BUT, my buddy and I had:

1. 1 Old Fashioned(each)

2. 1 bottle of wine

3. Oysters

4. Corn salad

5. Brisket

6. Dessert(the best I've ever had in a restaurant, Golden Beets Pannacotta, with cubed red beats, caramelized orange rinds and mint of the side) 

All of that costed us around$120, TOTAL. The place is open from 1700-2100, Friday through Monday. Please DO NOT wait and try to walk in. Get there between 1500-1600 and make a reservation for the night, trust me. 

Another fun spot is Fred and Fuzzy's. A bar on the edge of Lake Michigan serving great local foods and drinks. Oh, you want to make this fun? Okay…Go to the beach in Sister Bay, rent a kayak, and paddle there. It’s a quick trip, just make sure to go left when you get going. 

And this is all I can mustard. There are so many things to do here. One trip will not be enough to truly experience this amazing place. 

Pro tip: At a time of COVID, you can reserve a spot for around$700 and stay for a month…it's all about that telecommuting perk!

Site794
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Lucas  M., August 23, 2020
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Lucas  M., August 23, 2020
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Lucas  M., August 23, 2020
  • (17) View All
Reviewed Apr. 27, 2019

Disneyland of Wisconsin Camping

If you're looking for bells and whistles, lots of amenities and lots of friendly neighbors in close proximity, this is the place to go! We stayed in south nicolet bay and had a cute little path that gave us direct access to the bay. We did lots of hiking, explored the nature center, swam, enjoyed a show at their outdoor amphitheater, visited the historic lighthouse, and rented bikes with a burley trailer for my two year. They had both adult and kid helmets too. The snack shack by the main swimming area had lots of meal and snack options for when I didn't feel like cooking. The water by our campsite was rocky but the main beach area was sandy and shallow for a ways out. The campsites are close together but the people are so nice and campsites and bathrooms kept clean. There were both flushing bathrooms with showers and smaller more frequent outhouses with pit toilets. We hiked the minnehaha trail from our campsite and did the eagle trail loop which while rated difficult was really manageable for most of the trail and my two year who hikes frequently with hike it baby enjoyed doing many sections of the trail on his own two feet. I did bring my soft structured carrier as well. There area a couple steep inclines, and one area of scrambling over boulders but tons of impressive views and an easy to follow trail. There was some poison ivy by our campsite but plenty of signs to warn campers where to expect it. There was a nice size campfire pit and picnic table at our site as well. The campsites on weekends get booked up months in advance and even on weekdays there are slim pickings for last minute camping adventures in the summer months. It's a very popular Wisconsin destination!

SiteSite 846
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Amanda P., April 27, 2019
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Amanda P., April 27, 2019
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Amanda P., April 27, 2019
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Jul. 8, 2018

Quiet yet filled with scenic adventure

This campground is HUGE! Definitely take a map if you’re offered one or find one. It is so beautiful, lots of shoreline and so many things to do from biking and hiking trails, to a lighthouse & museum and much more. Located in Door County, the peninsula also offers lots to do from Mini Golf to Shipwreck kayak tours. I could have spent a month here and still have more things to try out.

Do beware of raccoons though! Be sure to put all food in your vehicles at night or if you leave the campsite. The showers weren’t amazing, but I did get to shower with a tree frog, so that’s an experience.

I also suggest bringing an air mat or sleeping pad if you're tenting. The ground is really quite hard. We had a tough time getting our tent stakes into the ground and ended up tying the tent to trees in a couple spots instead!

Visited June 2018

Site640
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Amanda L., July 8, 2018
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Amanda L., July 8, 2018
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Amanda L., July 8, 2018
  • (4) View All
Reviewed May. 20, 2018

must see!

My husband and I absolutely love this park! It fills up really quickly and unless you book almost 11 months out, you will likely only get a walk up site. Other than that, this park is family friendly, clean, well maintained, and has more to do than you can cover in one weeked; all while being close to great shopping and restaurants. Take the time and head to this park, even if its just for a day of exploring!

SiteTennison Bay
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Tennison Bay Campground by Holly W., May 20, 2018

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Tennison Bay Campground have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Tennison Bay Campground has water hookups and sewer hookups.

  • What is the elevation of Tennison Bay Campground?

    Tennison Bay Campground is located at 604 feet.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Tennison Bay Campground?

    Tennison Bay Campground allows vehicles up to 50 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Tennison Bay Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Tennison Bay Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Tennison Bay Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Tennison Bay Campground does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Tennison Bay Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is fair, and T-Mobile is available.