Campgrounds in Wisconsin provide a fantastic outdoors experience, whether you come alone, with family, or with a group of friends. Each season will give you a different camping character. From green and fresh scenery in the spring, warm and sunny summer, crisp and pleasant fall colors, to cold and snowy winters, you’ll find plenty of things to do. If you’re planning to go camp for your next holiday, we’ve compiled the 11 best camping Wisconsin for your reference.
Wisconsin boasts many stunning natural wonders and wild landscapes. It has 66 beautiful state park units consisting of state parks and recreation areas. Colorful meadows, rushing waterfalls, and limestone cliffs are the sought-after destination for adventurers and campers. Also, the state has two Great Lakes, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, that offer jaw-dropping scenery. You can’t go wrong with Wisconsin campgrounds located near or in these parks.
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Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
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Let’s start our best camping Wisconsin with Apostle Islands National Lakeshore list. It’s one of the most exciting outdoor areas in Wisconsin. The park offers spectacular views of hidden caves, rugged cliffs, and dense pine forests. These are among the reasons why National Lakeshore attracts thousands of campers, hikers, and kayakers every year.
Visitors come to this place mainly for kayaking along the islands’ shore. You’ll pass incredible thousands of years old’s sandstone formations. And you can hike out across the frozen lake in the winter.
The park consists of 21 islands in total, including the mainland. You’ll find campsites on its nineteen of the Apostle Islands. However, you couldn’t reach the campsites on any vehicle. You could only get there by hiking or kayaking. Please note that campsites throughout the Apostle Island National Lakeshore have various amenities from island to island.
Here, there are three campsites you can choose from. First is Individual Campsites that are spread across the islands. This campsite has basic camping amenities, such as a fire ring, vault toilets, and picnic table. There’s a Primitive Camping Zone that offers a backcountry area to camp without any amenities. The park also has nine group campsites on five islands (Sand, Oak, Basswood, Stockton, and Rocky).
High Cliff State Park
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If you’re looking for the best camping places in Wisconsin for your next trip, High Cliff State Parks can be your best choice. The park offers camping opportunities with a family campground that has 112 campsites. And pets are welcome in both family and group sites. The outdoor group camp is available for eight sites. There’s also an accessible cabin for people with disabilities.
You’ll find several amenities here, such as a flush toilet/shower building in the family campground. Some vault toilets are also available throughout the campground. Besides, all registered campers are free to use a recycling/garbage station and a sanitary dump station.
High Cliff State Park is located on the banks of Lake Winnebago in Sherwood, atop a very high cliff. The park offers a stunning view of Lake Winnebago while visitors hike, bike, horse riding, even ski during the winter. Don’t forget to take a picture of the Red Bird Statue when you’re visiting these best camping spots in Wisconsin!
Harrington Beach State Park
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Harrington Beach State Park, one of the best camping places in Wisconsin, offers plenty of things to do. Picnic, hiking, bird watching, fishing, sunbathing, biking, and camping are among the outdoor activities you can do. You also get to experience viewing the night sky using the telescope in the observatory.
The park sits on 715-acre (2,9 square kilometers; featuring grasslands, a scenic Lake Michigan, and white cedar forest. Also, the wide, sandy beaches of Lake Michigan are the perfect spot for beach exploration and swimming.
The park features a family-friendly campground with a group campsite. Besides, there are a kayak site, five walk-in sites, and an accessible cabin for people with disabilities. You’ll find a picnic table and fire pit at each campsite. Showers, flush toilets, and laundry facilities are available in the family campground during the warm weather season. What’s more, pets are allowed in the group campsite.
Lake Wissota State Park
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Located northeast of Chippewa Falls, Lake Wissota State Park offers a wide range of recreation opportunities. Canoeing, boating, kayaking, hiking, biking, and camping are among these. You’ll find 7 miles (11,2 km) of biking/hiking trails or 9 miles (14,5 km) horse/bike trails. There are also picnic and playground areas. This 6,300-acre (25,5 square kilometers) man-made lake becomes a favorite spot to enjoy water sports during summer.
The park also has family and group camping sites for tents and RVs, making it one of the best camping in Wisconsin. There is 116 family campsite which 58 of them have electricity. As for the amenities, you’ll find showers, flush toilets, and a dump station. You’ll also find a large play area in the middle of the campsites.
In the southern part of Lake Wissota State Park is a group campground. The campsite features two tents. Each tent can accommodate up to 100 people. We recommend making a reservation before your visit during summer as it can be so crowded. It’s no surprise because Lake Wissota State Park is one of the best camping spots in Wisconsin.
Newport State Park
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Located in Ellison Bay on a quiet Lake Michigan shoreline, Newport State Park is considered one of the best camping spots Wisconsin has to offer. It offers a scenic view and covers more than 2,300 acres (9,3 square kilometers) of forest. The park has 30 miles (48 km) of biking and hiking trails through meadows, forests, and wetlands.
There are 17 backpack campsites for visitors and one group site. Campers won’t find any carts available at the park, making the park the perfect spot for you to enjoy the wilderness in peace. You should hike or bike to get all your supplies and gear. The campsite offers few amenities, including a pit toilet (no shower facilities), a lockbox food, a bench, and a fire ring with a flip-up grill.
Whether you come in summer, winter, fall, or spring, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Newport State Park. You can go swimming or kayaking after hiking. Moreover, it’s the best place for stargazing since Newport State Park is part of the International Dark-Sky Association. It’s one of the main reasons Newport State Park is on our list of the best camping places in Wisconsin.
Wyalusing State Park
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Open all year round, Wyalusing State Park becomes one of the best camping spots Wisconsin has that you should visit. It offers outdoor activities for everyone. You have plenty of things to do, including boating, kayaking, fishing, canoeing, bird watching, hiking, biking, picnicking, and camping.
In Wyalusing State Park, you can choose from several campgrounds available. They’re family campgrounds, an outdoor group camp, and the Hugh Harper indoor group camp. That is why Wyalusing State Park is considered one of the best camping Wisconsin has. There is two family campground to choose from, The Homestead or Wisconsin Ridge. If you’re planning to bring your fur baby, both campsites welcome pets. Hence, don’t forget to bring your tent for camping with dogs!
The Homestead offers quiet, wooded, and large sites. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Ridge is perfect for those who want a fantastic view over the river, especially for the sunset. For group camp, you can choose either outdoor or indoor. Five outdoor campsites with a capacity of 130 persons are available. Hugh Harper can be the best option if you prefer an indoor group camp. It features complete and modern facilities, such as a kitchen, recreation room, and dining area.
There are four dormitories available with a capacity of 108 people. Each dormitory features two bathrooms with showers, sinks, and flush toilets. There’s a sand volleyball court and softball field adjacent to the lodge for recreation. Plus, you can use the large fire ring and amphitheater.
Fox Hill RV Park & Campground
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The 70 beautiful acres Fox Hill RV Park & Campground is located south of Wisconsin Dells. It offers numerous seasonal RV sites and a type of beautiful cabins that include basic or deluxe sleeping lodging options. The campground is suitable for all sizes of RVs. There are sewer sites with 20-30-50 amp service sever sites, tent sites, water, and electric sites with 20-30 amp services.
Here, great amenities are available, including a heated swimming pool, Wi-Fi, showers, nature trails, disc golf course, and laundry room. You’ll also find a camp store that sells snacks, souvenirs, and RV supplies. What’s more, the campground offers a playground, swimming pond, and game room for kids. If you plan to camp with your fur family, Fox Hill RV Park & Campground welcomes pets to stay with you.
Log cabins are equipped with AC, kitchenette, and bathroom. Meanwhile, the rustic sleeping cabins feature AC, refrigerator, and outdoor barbeque grill. If you prefer to camp in a tent, there’s a spacious wooded campsite. There are a picnic table and fire ring in each cabin and grounds. You’ll have a great experience in this one of the best camping places in Wisconsin.
Yellowstone Lake State Park
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Next on our list of the best camping Wisconsin has is Yellowstone Lake State Park. Located in southwestern Wisconsin, Yellowstone Lake State Park is known for its huge 455-acre (1,8 square kilometers) lake. Spanning over 1,000 acres (4 square kilometers), the park offers stunning panoramic views. Also, the park has 13 miles (21 km) of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Other activities include swimming, fishing, hunting, camping, and boating. You can also go snowmobiling and cross country skiing in the winter.
Here, there are a large family and group campground. The family campground has 128 individual sites, including 38 sites with electrical hookups. Check best tents for family camping if you need one for your next adventure. Amenities, such as drinking water and vault toilets, are available year-round. Meanwhile, showers, flush toilets, and dump stations are available seasonally.
We recommend campsites 42 and 49 since both have electricity. Also, these sites are accessible for visitors with disabilities. As for the group campground, it features five tent sites. It can accommodate 25 to 50 people per site. Some sites offer electrical hookups. If you need firewoods, they are available for sale at the park office.
Peninsula State Park
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If you’re looking for the best camping places in Wisconsin with plenty to do, Peninsula State Park is your best choice. Located in Green Bay, Door County, this third largest state park in Wisconsin features a historic lighthouse, Lake Michigan sandy beaches, summer theater, even 18 hole golf course. Besides, the park has biking and hiking trails.
What’s more, the park has a public boat and fishing piers. Also, there are kayak and boat rentals for you to rent. Go for a hike to one of many cliffs in the park at the end of the day to enjoy the beautiful sunset.
Sits on nearly 4,000 acres (16,2 square kilometers), the park has more than 450 sites with a type of amenities in five different campgrounds. Each campground has various amenities but mostly features hot water, shower, and flush toilet facilities. As one of the best camping spots Wisconsin has with more than one million visitors a year, you’ll want to make a reservation ahead.
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
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The 236,000 acres (955 square kilometers)Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest is located in Vilas, Oneida, and Iron counties. This large forest was built in 1925, and it’s home to the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area. Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest features many loop pathways, perfect for hiking or cycling.
This place features a variety of modern, group, rustic, and primitive campgrounds, making Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest is our favorite among all best camping spots Wisconsin has. Some campgrounds offer accessible sites with electricity, while others have shower facilities and accessible sites.
There are four modern family campgrounds with a total of 355 sites. These campgrounds have plenty of facilities, including showers, flush toilets, hand-pumped water, pit toilets, and paved roadways. Two of the campgrounds also have dump stations.
Aside from modern campgrounds, you’ll also find 14 rustic campgrounds, totaling 505 campsites. The amenities in the campgrounds include vault toilet buildings and hand pumps for drinking water. There are also separate trash and recycling dumpsters. But, each campground has different numbers of amenities. Some campgrounds even have boat launching with parking and a large area to access the water. Carrol Lake Campground and Indian Mounds Campground have a small swimming area and a large sandy beach.
The primitive campground is a perfect choice for those who want a more secluded experience of the best camping Wisconsin has. The facilities are limited to a tent clearing, picnic table, open-air toilet, fire ring, and box wilderness latrine. So, what are you waiting for! Pack your popcorn maker for camping to make the most of your adventure in nature!
Devil’s Lake State Park
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Devil’s Lake State Park offers the best camping Wisconsin experience with more than 27,000 acres of natural areas and parkland open to the public. Located in Baraboo, Sauk Country, Wisconsin, it’s the home to Devil’s Lake, one of the main attractions in the park. Devil’s Lake, also known as De Wakacak, is historically meant Spirit Lake.
As one of the oldest natural areas and largest parks in the state, you’ll find hundreds of miles of hiking and cycling trails overlooking Devil’s Lake’s vibrant blue color. The park also has beautiful sandy beaches and abundant wildlife with over 100 bird species. This popular park offers a natural attraction for outdoor adventurers with its beautiful and unique surroundings. Here, you can hike, swim, kayak, and camp.
The campsite is available both for tents and RVs with three different campgrounds. There’s a total of 400 campsites with electricity and non-electricity sites. Meanwhile, there are two grounds sites with RV electrical hookups and a dump station. Don’t worry about the amenities! In this one of the best camping places in Wisconsin, each campsite features modern amenities for visitors’ convenience. These include toilets, showers, an area for parking, a picnic table, and a metal fire pit. Within walking distance, you can get views of the lake or the shoreline.
