Where to Go Camping in Wisconsin, USA

For a smorgasbord sample of Wisconsin’s core offerings – great golf, well-preserved wildlife areas, lakes and delicious cheese – Rubicon has it. With campsites close to both the shores of Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan, the links and the center of town itself, you’ll be well catered for wherever you end up.

New to camping or your first time trekking with a little one? This rustic cabin in the woods could be just the ticket. You’ll get all the thrills of camping, including a secluded location surrounded by woodland, cooking dinner in the stone firepit and experiencing the joys of a compost toilet. However, you’ll also get the comfort of a king-size bed, a wood stove to keep you warm at night and a solid roof over your head for when the weather turns bad.

With comfortable summer highs and cool winter lows, Neshkoro is prime for outdoor fun all year long. This small, friendly Marquette County village has an equally friendly population that’ll make you feel warm and welcome in the pubs around town. Head out into one of the many preserved natural areas, such as the White River Prairie or the Germania Marsh State Wildlife Area, and you’ll find campgrounds, snowmobile tours, hiking trails and fishing holes that’ll be just as hospitable.

Trees more than 100ft (30m) tall create a cozy canopy for campers at the Towering Pines campsite – a small, quiet space where you and seven others can admire the mature forest. The site shares a firepit and picnic table with the adjacent camp. As it’s a backcountry site, you’ll need to bring your full pack of gear, but you’ll be happy to know that the “world’s nicest outhouse” is nearby. Wifi is available for a few dollars.

Campers who like to go with the flow will find calm waters in Helena. The peaceful Wisconsin River winds through the high hills, tempting you to wade in and follow the current to one of the many wildlife areas. Planning on venturing into the forest during hunting season? Helena is next to Tower Hill State Park, home to the reconstructed Helena Shot Tower, and avid hunters in town will happily give you tips on where to find the best blinds.

If you have a tent and a pair of green thumbs, then you have all you need for a relaxing stay on this 7-acre (3ha) swathe of farmland. Walk over to its fruit stand in the harvest seasons for some homegrown organic produce, or have a hand in sowing and growing your own, which you can harvest the following year. Keep chickens? You’re welcome to bring a coop with you – for those farm-fresh eggs in the morning.

Lake Saint Croix may lie just to the west of Burkhardt, but you don’t need to drive to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border to spend the day on the water. Instead, follow the Willow River away from the village, and you’ll end up in Willow River State Park, known for its scenic Willow Falls and Little Falls Lake. This nearly 3,000-acre (1,214ha) park will keep you busy swimming and canoeing when you’re not warming up by the fire at your campsite.

With a vineyard and winery on-site, Camp Coulee is an easy sell for even the most reluctant of campers in your crew. This fantastic campsite also has a hobby farm, a pollinator habitat for bees and ample opportunities to stargaze and spot wildlife. Bring your own gear to this backcountry site, near the St Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers. The hosts live on the property and have created a safe and quiet space to lay your head for the night.

An arm’s length away from the Minnesota border, the town of Cutter is surrounded by diverse natural habitats – and camping spots. You’re a stone’s skip from the shore of Lake Superior, but if water sports aren’t your wave, you might prefer to take in the Superior Municipal Forest or Pokegama Carnegie Wetlands State Natural Area.

On the secluded south shore of Lake Superior, this magical boreal forest campsite really is superior. It comes fully equipped with pitched tents, cooking supplies, mattresses and more, meaning you’ll feel at home from the time your backpack hits the ground. Adventures on the lake or Amnicon River are available year-round, as are a host of activities. A guided rock climbing trip, beach cruiser bikes or produce from the organic garden are available for extra fees.