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Wisconsin is home to thousands of lakes, miles of rivers and plenty of beautiful camping spots where you can unwind and be at one with nature. There are over 5,000 campsites across the Wisconsin State Park System. From rustic camping sites through to stunning islands where you can pitch your tent, we’ve rounded up the best places to go camping in Wisconsin:
1. Rock Island State Park
Rock Island State Park is located in Rock Island in Door County. To get to the state park and camping site, you’ll have to take two ferries, but the journey is well worth it. It’s a great site for tent camping and the state park offers spectacular scenery and woodland hikes. The park has 40 walk-in tent sites, two of which are group campsites. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring as well as being near to bathrooms.
2. Bonanza Camping Resort
Bonanza Camping Resort is known for its awesome location, close to Wisconsin Dells, the “Waterpark Capital of the World” thanks to its abundance of fun waterparks. The Bonanza campground area has picnic tables, fire rings, a swimming pool, bathrooms and a kids’ playground. It’s guaranteed fun for all!
3. Devil’s Lake State Park
Devil’s Lake State Park is one of the most popular places to go camping in Wisconsin. The lake is surrounded by 500-foot cliffs, offering spectacular views of the surrounding wilderness. The park is also home to several beautiful sandy beaches where you can kick back by the waves. Camping is very popular at Devil’s Lake State Park, with visitors reserving their spots up to 11 months ahead of time. There are three public camping areas located on the north shore of the lake, and nine group campsites on the lake’s south shore. Camping options include rustic log cabins through to spots to pitch your tent. Each campsite has its own unique atmosphere, check out an overview of the different Devil’s Lake State Park campsites available.
4. Copper Falls State Park
Copper Falls State Park, in Ashland County, is known for its cascading waterfalls, breathtaking gorges, and beautiful hiking trails. Across the park, there are 24 camping sites, including group camping sites. There are also backpack campsites, which are more remote and rustic, as you’ll have to walk through challenging terrain to get there.
5. Apostle Islands
For many, Apostle Islands is the best place to camp in Wisconsin and it’s easy to see why. It’s a group of 21 islands dotted across the shores of Lake Superior and you can camp on 19 of the islands. For water-lovers, you can indulge in your favorite watersports, such as kayaking and fishing. Visitors love hopping in a canoe or kayak and exploring the islands. It’s a truly spectacular setting and the islands are filled with sandy beaches, hiking trails and plenty of wildlife, including falcons, black bears, and bald eagles. Two of the islands, Sand Island and Raspberry Island, have 19th-century lighthouses visitors can explore.
6. Wyalusing State Park
At Wyalusing State Park you can camp 500-feet above the Wisconsin River. The park, which is one of Wisconsin’s oldest, is home to a beautiful woodland area where can spot plenty of wildlife. There are several camping opportunities, with two main family campgrounds and general group campsites where you can pitch your tent.