Looking for an adventure where you can explore Wisconsin and then fall asleep in your tent? Find the best information on tent camping in Wisconsin, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. These scenic and easy to access Wisconsin campsites are perfect for tent campers.
Newport's wilderness experience offers over 2,300 acres of forest on 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, 30 miles of hiking trails, and backpack camping as a quiet alternative to bustling Door County. At the far end of the Door Peninsula, Newport is also designated as a Dark Sky Park, a perfect destination for stargazing.
Newport State Park offers rustic, backpack camping for visitors. Camping is allowed in designated campsites only.
Newport has 17 backpack (hike-in) campsites, including one group site. All sites can be reserved. Campers must hike or bike in all gear and supplies. There are no carts available at the park. There are a few amenities at the sites, including a pit toilet, fire ring with flip-up grill, a lock box for food and a bench or two. Water is available at the park office or at a solar pump near the picnic shelter by Lot 3 (seasonally). There are no shower facilities at the park. All garbage must be carried out of all campsites.
$20 / night
$17 - $20 / night
$15 - $25 / night
$10 / night
$20 - $22 / night
Snug Harbor is the place to be for Campgrounds in Wisconsin. At Snug Harbor you’ll find excellent fishing, boating and swimming on a private, clean, sandy beach.
Our campgrounds offer three different options for today’s camping enthusiasts: Tent Sites, RV Sites, and Manufactured Housing. We have all the modern conveniences while allowing you to relax and enjoy majestic views from every site. Amenities include full hookup, laundromat, ice, firewood, bait, candy, and some fishing supplies. Rent one of our rowboats or canoes for a relaxing day on the lake, or join in a pick-up game of volleyball or horseshoes. Additionally, our RV sites have 30 and 50 AMP electric service and full sewer hookups.
Campsite rentals include sewer hookup. Reservations are recommended. Boat slips are available for a fee. We offer affordable rates for RVs and tent campers. We also have reasonable rates for pier rental, visitors, and our four-legged friends.
$15 - $45 / night
If you’re traveling with a larger group, family, or organization, Devil’s Lake State Park has you covered with their Group Campsites located on the South Shore. There are 8 sites available that can accommodate 20 to 60 campers, depending on the site.
The park’s group camp facilities feature modern showers and restrooms, and the location is conveniently located about a 15-minute walk via the Group Camp Trail to the South Shore day-use area and beach. Climbing groups will also appreciate the location, which is situated at the head of the CCC trail.
Ada Lake Recreation Area is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of some of the more popular recreation sites on the Lakewood-Laona District. It has many amenities of the other recreation areas, just not all the crowds. There are plenty of sites to see on the district and Ada Lake Recreation area can serve as a home base. Clear water, a sandy beach, and a blue sky are all it takes for many to have a memorable camping experience. Ada Lake Campground offers this and more. The exceptionally clear water makes it great for swimming, and the lake contains northern pike, bass, rainbow trout, and panfish. Another nice feature is the boat landing which makes the lake easily accessible to non-motorized boats. The Ada Lake Recreation Area is near popular local site-seeing spots Quartz Hill, Jone’s Springs Area, Cathedral Pines and Knowles Creek Interpretive Trail. So, if you like to camp, swim, boat and fish then the Ada Lake Recreation Area is the place for you, conveniently located just 5 minutes southwest of Wabeno. Ada Lake is one of our dog friendly recreation areas.
Traveler
My family and I enjoy the rural setting but its close proximity to several communities. With smaller children having resources available was nice. Astico provides us the camping experience with access to amenities for a young family. It is one of our favorites for a quick get a way.
Legend
Great place to stay! Big rig friendly! Gravel pads and each site comes with a picnic table and fire pit. Bathrooms in the campground were clean and I believe there were showers.
Legend
General: There is both a north and a south part to this campground with a total of 178 sites. The sites in the south part are all on a grassy field and there is a small man-made lake with an inflatable play area. The sites in the north part are a mix of full hook-up and tent sites. There are also small cabins (only one of which has a bathroom) and three “condos”. These all had air-conditioners, but I did not see the inside of them. The north unit features a pond, which I was disappointed to discover was algae-filled and completely green.
Site Quality: Some are pull-through and some back-in. Some sites have electric and water hookups, some have picnic tables, and some have fire rings (but not all sites have all of these amenities). Only a handful have concrete pads; the rest are all on grass.
Our impression of Sleepy Hollow was influenced in part by the fact that it poured rain for much of our overnight stay. The roads were all dirt and with the rain, became very muddy along with the campsites as well. When leaving the next day, we had some challenges backing out of our site with the amount of mud. There is no clear delineation between the sites other than where the electric and water hookups are placed.
Bathhouse: Was very clean (in both the north and south units of the campground). Showers are available for a fee (five minutes for$1.00) but we did not use them so cannot comment on how well they worked.
Activities/Amenities: In the south unit, there is a small manmade lake with an inflatable play structure and plenty of life jackets. The color is a beautiful Caribbean blue, but it did not look natural, and I was not sure of the source of the color. We were there on a weekday in September, and no one was using the lake. There is a small bar and grill (in the north section) and a concession (south unit) on-site, but both were closed when we were there. Firewood was available (15 pieces for $10); we asked and were granted permission to use the golf cart to bring the wood to our site. Other than the lake, there really is nothing offered for recreation.
We chose this campground for its location; it is very close to Highway 41 in Oshkosh (you will hear road noise) and we were meeting family there. We checked in online the day before and arrived at 3:30 pm. No one was in the office when we arrived but the family members we were meeting had arranged for us to camp in the site next to them (not the original one we had selected). This campground is VERY close to EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association), and I imagine it would be completely full during the annual EAA convention. For us, it was a convenient location but aside from spending time with our family, the reason we chose this campground.
Guide
I spent three trips here for a total of two months in 2024. I started the season in April for two weeks, did two weeks in June, and finished my season from September until the end of October. I loved the space of my rv sites, the sounds of frogs and owls at night, the frequent wildlife sightings, and the crazy amount of turtles. There is plenty of flat hiking, much access to the water, open spaces to play and kite fly, woods to hike in, roads to bike or scooter on, and beautiful views across a Mississippi valley. Staff are fantastic. The store is stocked well. The grounds are well maintained; although this sometimes means morning noise. The facilities are clean, and I have never had to wait for a shower. I plan my rv dumping times and have never had to wait in line. Fire wood is easy to acquire. WiFi works great. T-Mobile service is full. There is quick and easy access to civilization if you want it. There is tons and tons of water as a buffer between you and the rest of the world. Eagles, geese, pelicans, barred owls, ducks, deer, rabbits, raccoon, possum, etc. are abundant. During the week the grounds are super quiet. Weekend partying happens, but quiet time quickly puts an end to the noise. I love these grounds and expect to make it a regular addition to the start and end of my camping seasons. Note, I was there for the Aurora and it was incredible.
Legend
General: There is a main campground and a bonus sites section; we stayed in the Main campground and this review is based on that. There are approximately 90 sites laid out in typical RV park fashion with the sites close together and no physical privacy between sites.
Site Quality: Sites tend to be very long and could accommodate even large-size Class A rigs. The “driveways” are a mix of grass and gravel and were not very well defined. Each site has a picnic table on a concrete pad. Our site had water and electric hookups. Our challenge was that we arrived after dark, and the site numbers were posted at the back end of the sites, necessitating a sleuthing operation with my flashlight to find our site. Only a few sites had fire rings that I could see.
Bathhouse: The women’s area had three “all-in-ones” with a toilet, sink, and shower. They were very clean with hooks, soap, and paper towels. The entire bathhouse appeared to be in a state of remodeling, and it wasn’t clear what was going to happen with the remainder of the space (plumbed but not completed when we were there). Did not use the shower so cannot comment on that.
We arrived after dark and left the next morning but our stay on a Friday in August was quiet except for the loud trains running along the Mississippi. We heard two around 10 pm and either there were no more until the next morning, or we mercifully slept through them! This RV Park is located in the small town of Nelson and accessed through a residential neighborhood. Although not our preferred camp stay, we chose it since we knew we wanted to eat at Stone Barn Pizza (a must if you are in the area!) which is why we arrived after dark!
Legend
General/Site Quality: Small (35-site) campground on the west shore of the Bay of Green Bay; some have water and electricity, and some just have electricity. Sites 14-23 are on grass while the others have paved camper pads. All are level and very generous in size. While they don’t necessarily have a physical separation between them, sites are spaced a good distance apart from each other. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. In the center of the loop, there are some nice mature trees.
Bath/Shower: At one end of the loop, there is a two-stall, one-sink restroom for each gender plus two showers; at the other end of the loop there are two vault toilets. All were clean.
Activities/Amenities: There is quite a bit to do here. Fishing, boating (separate fee for the boat launch), swimming, kayaking (but you need to bring your own – although the literature says there are boat rentals, I did not see this). There is a nice playground and a smaller swing set; both are in different locations behind campsites, making it a bit awkward to access. In the day-use area, there is a fish cleaning station, a basketball hoop, and a somewhat dated playground. There used to be a volleyball area, but the net was no longer there. Self-serve firewood is available. There is a dump station.
The fee of $20 per night was very reasonable and our stay was very quiet and peaceful for a campground that was about 2/3 full on a Monday after Father’s Day.
Legend
General: Smallish (38 sites plus four walk-in sites) Army Corps of Engineers campground. Some (see below) have electric hookups but no water or sewer hookups, however, there is a dump station.
Site Quality: All sites are gravel/dirt (except for the ADA-accessible site), and most are very generous in size. Our site (7) sloped down but leveled out with plenty of room for our campervan at the bottom. All sites are wooded with trees providing separation/privacy between sites. Completing the site are a metal picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hook.
Bath/Shower House: Sites 28-38 only have vault toilets (but you could trek to the other campground loop). Sites 1—27 have flush toilets and showers. They were very clean, and I especially appreciated the fact that they were cleaned daily before 6 am, a shout out to the camp host! The shower was great– warm water and great flow, although our friends (who arrived two days before we did) had cold showers when the campground was full.
Activities: Several short hiking trails. I give this campground 4 stars instead of 5 because Eau Galle Reservoir (Lake George) is about a 10-minute drive from the campground. Most Corps of Engineers campgrounds are located right on the water. There are no amenities (rentals, etc.) offered at the lake but it is small and beautiful, and we enjoyed a peaceful paddle. We saw a couple of people fishing on the lake and there is a small swimming area. At the campground, there was an interpretive center, but it was locked when we were there. There is also a nice, modern playground.
Aside from the plentiful bugs (in August), we enjoyed our two-night stay at this campground!
Guide
Winter camped here, was a nice spot pic nik table, fire ring, wilderness toilet. There is hiking trail access from campsite,but no water access to butternut lake or it would have been 5 star. There is access down the road.Did get one bar of cell (cricket) full with 20 foot ant. Note I've been through here in summer and the road is gravel very dusty from traffic.
Traveler
From the owner: Wedges Creek Hideaway is on a double dead end road with several miles of hiking trails, electric hook up, cabins, fully furnished houses, and lots of stars for your next stay in central Wisconsin! We host weddings and family events along with our popular brick oven pizza and live music weekends in the summer. Check our our schedule, book ahead and come unwind with us!
LegendThis is a diamond in the rough - exactly what we wanted on our journey. Our criteria - less than $100, pet friendly and rustic.
This is a sawmill that has it all - they run the mill when needed, but also have primitive cabins (where we stayed), full cabins with in house bath, electric RV/tent camping and more. Even wood fired pizzas with homemade crust most nights of the week and sometimes live music!
We were in cabin #3 - rustic. Yes - it did have heat! A little ceramic heater had it so toasty when it was 30 degrees outside we actually turned it off - so it's sure to please on chilly nights. The interior was amazing - lumber that I'm sure came from the mill and ceiling planks that were gorgeous - left over planks from many years ago, stored in a shed and re-purposed for the cabin. The bed was very comfortable with clean sheets and squishy (in a good way) pillows. A small covered front porch and we just parked in front.
Bathroom - if you are in a cabin without a bath, it's very nearby. One of the largest, cleanest bathrooms I've seen. He built it himself. Women's had 2 sinks with a large vanity area, about 3 stalls (very large - you don't have to squish into them) and two very large shower stalls with full doors - not shower curtains. Heated as well.
Pets - easy pet policy. Just let the owner know and it's no problem as long as you are responsible, pick up after them and leash them when necessary. Just a small charge for them and they were very welcomed here.
He even has event space indoors (heated) and outdoors for weddings and such. And hiking trails (6 miles) if you choose to take on the outdoors.
The owner plans on adding saunas and a hot tub in the near future - so this would be the place to drop for a while if you want something out of the norm, peaceful, rustic and relaxing. It's off the main road, behind a field in Amish Country. Lovely place to stay for the night. Very quiet.
Traveler
Whether you're in a tent, popup, tow-behind, or 5th wheel, this campground has a site for you! 2 beautiful sand beaches with large grassy picnic areas, hiking, a boat launch, and a reservable pavilion.
Guide
Washington Island is a fun family oriented island. There are beaches all around, a very unique limestone beach that only exists in a few parts of the world and several different activities geared towards families. Everything is on Island time, meaning, life seems to slow down. Chill, relax, lay in the sun on the beach, go for a swim, walk among the millions of lavender flowers, attend a church service on Sunday. Washington Island seems to have a little bit of everything, even some fossils!
The campground available to us was just ok. The showers seemed a long walk, there are pit toilets near the camping spots but if you want running water you have to go to the club-house. The "mini-golf" course was in disarray, the "playground" was old and falling apart, and a lot of the camp ground spots were right on top of the other so do your research before reserving a spot. We stayed in site 12 and it felt like it was a little more private and larger.
The weather was great at the end of Aug; not too hot and not chilly, very comfortable for tent camping. The Ferry ride over was an unforgettable experience that my 6 year old thoroughly enjoyed. I will say that we were able to pretty much do everything the Island has to offer in 3 days and I don't know if I can justify coming back here again, but we had fun slowing down and that's what matters.
Guide
Took my 5 year old son camping here in early April of 2024 and it was fun. We were at site #125 which has fantastic views of the river and surrounding area's, but the wind is stronger at this spot because it's open. The entire campground is situated on top of a bluff so this compounded our wind issue. I also need to note that the majority of these campgrounds don't have much privacy or lack it entirely. This site was very open and I would opt for a little more tree coverage in the future.
There's some really nice trails and cool rock formations, couple this with the playground and nice bathrooms it makes for an ideal campground for families with younger children. Just keep in mind that it's on a bluff so there are some steep drop-off points that children could take a pretty nasty fall from. Cellphone coverage wasn't a problem either.
It was a Colder night as we camped in 30 degree weather and freezing rain came into our campground. This along with the wind made our situation feel pretty cold and we left early in April. We would stay here again but probably opt for a slightly more warm month. Over-all it's a good campground for the area.
On a side note, I bet this place looks tremendous in the fall with the changing colors.
Traveler
Big Lake Campground is a great spot if you’re looking for a simple and peaceful camping experience. The facilities are very basic—vault toilets and no showers—but they are clean and well-maintained. Firewood is available for sale on-site, which is super convenient.
The real highlight is the beautiful natural surroundings. The campground is nestled in a quiet, wooded area, perfect for relaxing and disconnecting. There are some really nice hiking trails nearby, offering scenic views and opportunities to spot wildlife.
If you’re okay with minimal amenities and want to enjoy nature, this is a great spot. Perfect for tent campers and anyone looking for a rustic getaway!
Traveler
Copper Falls State Park is a fantastic destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The hiking trails are well-maintained and offer beautiful scenic views, making for an enjoyable trek through nature. The campsites are spacious and provide a good amount of privacy, allowing for a peaceful camping experience. The bathrooms are quite basic but sufficient for a state park. Most sites have plenty of shade, which is a plus during hot days. Additionally, there are some nice walk-in sites available, perfect for those who prefer a bit more seclusion. Overall, a wonderful place to camp and hike!
Ranger
Yukon Trails Campground offers a charming woodland escape with cozy sites nestled among tall pines. The family-friendly atmosphere includes activities like mini golf, a playground, and seasonal events, making it ideal for campers with kids. The sites are well-maintained, though some may find them a bit tight for larger rigs. With friendly staff and proximity to the Wisconsin Dells, it’s a convenient spot for both relaxation and adventure.
Check out the local state parks while you’re here and consider doing a cruise down the Wisconsin River.
Guide
Small city park. Just a field for tent camping. A few RV spots. Easy on-and-off if you are looking for a quick overnight.
Legend
shower and restroom facility in the campground. Site had electricity. Campground has a boat launch for kayaks and canoes. Big rig friendly with a gravel pad. Dump station with potable water fill up station as well.
Legend
Recently camped here while visiting some family in the Racine area. Was nice and close to them and was a nice place to stay!
Lost of campsites between the two campgrounds. Sunset offered electric or non-electric sites. Shower building, flush toilets, vault toilets, dump station, playground. Firewood sold at the visitor center via a vending machine, card only.
Guide
We were happy to find a view site for our 25' RV on the lower loop. Our site had good separation from others. Nice and quiet except for the guy who had to run his toy car up and down the campground road. We were able to walk to town easily and enjoyed exploring Bayfield and the Apostle Island Lakeshore. Electric at the site, water accessible at 2 points within the campground.
Guide
Did some fall camping with friends, and there were 4 family’s. 3 of them stayed in these three sites which were fairly wide open and kind of looked over the lake. They would be great sites to book as a group, but I wouldn’t recommend them to book individually as you wouldn’t have much privacy, more so in the middle site. These three sites are E, F, and G. Bit if a corner site and you are next to some private homes.
GuideI have came here a couple times with friends for fall camping. The campground doesn’t have a lot of extra amenities, but still a nice simple campground to be in. There are a mix of sites that have a little more privacy, and others that are wide open which would be better for group setups.
Guide
I just stayed here one night because I was passing through the area. It worked out really well. I entered the campground late in the day. It was almost dark. They had a QR code that I used to make a reservation on the spot. I had a great night there. There's a hiking trail that completely goes around the campground. So I was able to walk my dog on that. I'm not sure how it would have been to stay as a vacation Target spot. Probably pretty fine. But it certainly was great on the shoulder season for a stopover.
Guide
The good Small campground clean nice walking trails,dog friendly main park across hwy free and clean showers. The bad is a lot of road noise some sites are very close together.
Guide
Stayed here in September for a few days, and occupied site 1 and 2. Sites are good sized and clean. Our two sites were great, but if I didn't care about being near the lake, I would look at the new sites they put in the wooded area. They were a little more "remote", The clientele mostly consisted of fisherman and bird hunters when I was here, so it seems to attract the more long term stays and not overnighters. The bathroom / shower combination is adequate and is reminiscent of my younger days at summer camp. They have some playground equipment both at the main loop and the wooded loop, this proved to be a lifesaver for my 4 year old. I also found, since this is further from town, it is very dark here and great for star gazing.
Guide
As of this writing, 2024, they have recently installed new showers and flush bathrooms. I live near this campground, so I have stayed at almost every site in the park. If you cant have or don't want a lake site, site #4 is the largest. It is almost 35 yards across the front. Trees are growing back, but not many mature trees on the East of the park. There is a really nice beach area adjacent to, but not in the campground. It is a nice short walk. Each site has electric hookup, and some sites have more than one box. Not much ambient light in this park, so it is great for viewing stars and Northern Lights. This park also is situated near the ATV trail, and has access to the 160 mile Blue Ox trail system.
Traveler
I ended up here because I was going to a music festival in the area, and they turned me away because I have a service animal. I wasn't going to do all that work for nothing and just go home, so I decided to look up my nearest campground and it was KOA in Milton. they made me feel welcome. they understood my dilemma. it was a wonderful weekend. lots of amenities and I just absolutely can't wait to go back next year. I'm going to try to make it a couple times. so much fun, just me and my dog. And one last the thing, my fellow campers were more than hospitable and very nice and I appreciate that very much.
Tent camping in Wisconsin offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure and tranquility.
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