Wisconsin State Park camps have been popular on summer weekends, and sites are booked infrequently as soon as reservations open, 11 months in advance.
The camps have been even more popular this year as the coronavirus pandemic has led others to look for outdoor getaways and closer to home. Occupancy rates have increased by 12% since 2019, according to Missy VanLanduyt, head of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Recreation Associations Section. Two weeks before Labor Day weekend, 85% of Wisconsin State Park System camps were booked for the weekend, adding all the electrical sites.
Growing popularity has led some new campers to wonder if the camp booking formula is damaged when it shows no place for a weekend, VanLanduyt said.
The formula is not broken, just busy. And if the occupancy rate hovers around 95% on weekends, the plots are still available per week, with an overall occupancy rate of 65% in August.
“Camping sites are also available in September, and a camping spot can become a perfect workplace for the home or a virtual classroom,” VanLanduyt said.
While there seem to be no sites available in state parks, there are features to locate a last-minute camp. Here are some tactics to locate a place to camp for the rest of summer and fall, adding Labor Day weekend (September 4-7).
All camps in southern state parks, recreation spaces and forests require reservations this year, however last year, the MNR introduced a program that allows campers to make same-day camp reservations. If you’re lucky, you could possibly get a reservation the same day if someone had to cancel yours. Check availability at wisconsin.goingtocamp.com or by calling (888) 947-2757.
Please note that all state parks require an annual vehicle intake sticker to access this year. Day passes should not be had and annual passes cannot be purchased at the properties. They charge $28 for Wisconsin license plates and can be obtained online at yourpassnow.com/ParkPass/wi or by calling (888) 305-0398 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Life.
Some forests and overflows in northern Wisconsin, such as the North American Highland Legion State Forest, have camps that cannot yet be re-kept and must be held on a first-come, first-served (FF) basis. It’s a riskier option, especially if you’re driving from southern Wisconsin, however, you can check calling assets before leaving to see if there are sites available, and heading thursday to increase your chances of getting a site.
NHAL has six FF camps (one of which, East Star Lake, is recently closed due to typhoon damage). For more information and availability, call (715) 356-9739.
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin has camps in forty-five recreation areas, repositionable sites and FF sites that are less difficult to download than state park sites.
Many national forest camps with non-bookable plots are more rustic, have drinking water and vaulted bathrooms, but do not have a shower or bathroom.
The largest camp (and closest to Milwaukee) is Boulder Lake, near Langlade, which has 89 trendy locations and facilities, adding 3 showers. Camping is popular in summer, and all resealable pitches are already reserved for September, however, there are 11 FF locations available for Labor Day weekend and even more for the rest of the fall.
As of August 17, 12 CNNF camps still had resealable sites for Labor Day weekend.
For up-to-date availability, Recreation.gov and search the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The online page allows you to clean camps through amenities and will provide availability of nearby national forest camps in Minnesota (including the Upper National Forest) and the Upper Michigan Peninsula (including the Ottawa National Forest).
For more information about CNNF, fs.usda.gov/cnnf.
Many county parks have camps that are overlooked in favor of state parks.
In southeastern Wisconsin, Waukesha County has camps in Menomonee, Mukwonago, Naga-Waukee and Muskego parks. Muskego Park camp was modernized this summer and now includes electrical sites and available through ADA. For more information and to book, visit waukeshacounty.gov/camping.
Marinette County, the capital of Wisconsin’s waterfalls, has six camps, some of which have sites that can be reopened and come with waterfalls. Visit marinettecounty.com/parks.
This summer, Rusk County introduced a new online booking formula for its 4 camps that includes images of individual sites. See Parks.ruskcounty.org/parks/camping.
Other counties with public camps include Dodge, Lincoln, Marathon, Marquette and Racine.
There are many personal camps in Wisconsin, from franchises like KOA and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park to family camps. Choose any popular tourist area, such as Dells County or Door County, and you’ll probably find a handful of options. Use the Travel Wisconsin (travelwisconsin.com) online page to search for camps in the state.
KOA has camps in Dells and Door County, as well as Glenbeulah, Hayward, Alma Center, De Forest, Milton and Oakdale. All of them also rent cottages with bathrooms (and some with full kitchen). See koa.com.
There are six Jellystone camps in Wisconsin – all of which also rent cabins – in Caledonia, Fremont, Fort Atkinson, Sturgeon Bay, Warrens and Wisconsin Dells. See campjellystone.com.
If you’re in a position to face the challenges, there are public lands in Wisconsin where you can set up a tent anywhere, called scattered camps or indoors.
CNNF allows scattered camping 150 feet from any path or path and two hundred feet from a water fountain. There are also unofficial sites in the forest, adding shelters along the North Country Trail between Drummond and Mellen. You do not want a camping permit, however, some forest parking lots are charged. You can also park along the shoulder of maximum forest roads, unless you block traffic, damage grass surfaces, or are prohibited by national or local law. For more information about camps scattered throughout the forest, see fs.usda.gov/cnnf.
Scattered camping in the Black River State Forest is also allowed, at least 1 mile from your car and a hundred yards from a designated trail or path. Free permissions are required and can be obtained on the MNR website.
The Northern Highland Legion State Forest also allows camping indoors. You will need to be at least a mile from your car and not in sight of a trail or a water frame. Free permissions are required and can be obtained on the MNR website.
Camping without a permit is allowed on open sandbanks on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, which protects the Lower Wisconsin River from Prairie from the Bag to the confluence of the River with the Mississippi River in Prairie du Chien. You can have more sandbanks when the river is declining and you’ll want a canoe, kayak or other boat to get there (camping along the shore is not allowed). If you don’t have your own boat, some clothing stores work in the area, adding Wisconsin Canoe Company at Spring Green (608-432-5058, thebestcanoecompanyever.com) and WI River Outings in Boscobel (608-375-5300, canoe -camping.com).
Contact Chelsey Lewis at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter on @chelseylew and @TravelMJS and Facebook at the Journal Sentinel Travel.
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