1) Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells is the hub of fun this summer with multiple waterparks, duck boat tours, and unique museum experiences. Many waterparks include hotel accommodations, but there are others where camping is a great option. One of the best places to camp near the Dells is the Wisconsin Dells KOA Holiday. It is only 1 mile from the downtown area and offers everything from deluxe cabin rentals to RV sites with patios to basic tent camping. The campground has a swimming pool, splash pad, playground, and family movies on the big screen. So much to do for a fun summer adventure!
2) The Apostle Islands
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore includes 21 of the 22 islands off the northern Bayfield Peninsula on Lake Superior. If you are ready for an adventure, this is one of the best places to camp in Wisconsin this summer. The sites can only be accessed by sea kayak, water taxi, motor boat, sailboat, or water shuttle, and even the mainland campsites are accessible by boat or a 6-mile hike. But the experience of remote camping on an island with many sites on the water is an amazing opportunity. The sites are also spread out, giving you more privacy than many other campgrounds. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, bear-resistant food locker, and a privy nearby. Did you know that Stockton Island has one of the largest concentrations of black bears? They can swim from island to island too! Be sure to keep all of your food locked up and review the safety guidelines for camping in bear country.
3) Door County: Peninsula State Park
Door County is the peninsula just north of Green Bay. Many parks are worth visiting with a shoreline that seems to go on forever. You can camp at one of the five campgrounds at Peninsula State Park and use that as your home base for exploring Door County. There is the Cave Point County Park, the Washington Island Ferry, and various wineries and restaurants. Don’t miss the Swedish restaurant with goats on the roof! The roof is made of sod, and the goats can be seen munching away while you enjoy your meal. If you take the ferry to Washington Island, you have a good chance of seeing some seagulls, warblers, and even blue herons. The campgrounds at Peninsula State Park have a variety of sites, including some near the sandy beach at Nicolet Bay. The details for each are listed below.
4) Harrington Beach State Park
For one of the best parks on the shores of Lake Michigan, you can’t go wrong with Harrington Beach State Park. This 715-acre park not only has a mile of beach along Lake Michigan, but it also has a limestone quarry lake and cedar swamp. One of the unique attractions at the park is the Jim and Gwen Plunkett Observatory which holds a 20-inch telescope and provides astronomy programming. You can hike around Quarry Lake or try surf fishing for trout and salmon. You might catch some dinner to fry up at your campsite if you are lucky. There are 69 campsites, with 31 sites supplying electricity.
5) Devil’s Lake State Park
You should visit Devil’s Lake State Park for some of the best hiking. Hike through the rocky bluffs and overlook the beautiful 360-acre Devil’s Lake. The outcrops and quartzite bluffs will surprise you with their unique formations, including the “Balanced Rock.” There are three campgrounds to choose from, including the Quartzite Campground, which is only 1/3 of a mile from the lake. You can swim, fish and paddle in the lake or relax at the beach. Fishing is good for Brown trout (stocked), walleye, smallmouth, and largemouth bass. A lot of options for enjoying Wisconsin outdoors.
