12 places to camp along water in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is home to 15,000 lakes and more than 84,000 miles of rivers. That's plenty of prime real estate for camping. 

It's not too difficult to find campgrounds close to water, from Kohler-Andrae and Harrington Beach in southeastern Wisconsin to Peninsula and Potawatomi in Door County. But it's more of a challenge to find sites that are directly on water.

Some of the best reservable spots get snatched up quickly in the summer, but for last-minute planners there are always walk-up or paddle-in sites, which are usually more remote and rustic.  

Here are 12 great waterfront campgrounds to try around Wisconsin.

DRIVE-UP SITES 

Brunet Island State Park 

Perched on an island between the Chippewa and Fisher Rivers, this quiet park is a paddler's paradise. Many of the park's campsites are located on the rivers or lagoons. The north campground's sites (25-69) are all non-electric, and most are right on the river or have direct access — choose this area for a quieter experience than the southern campground, where electric sites attract trailers and recreational vehicles.  

Laura Lake, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest 

Wisconsin's 1.5-million acre national forest has an abundance of campgrounds, and Laura Lake in Florence County is among the best. Situated between two pristine lakes, the campground is quintessential Northwoods: Loons call across serene Laura Lake, framed by maples, birches, hemlocks and spruces. Nearby Gordon Lake has a beach and picnic area; both have landings for the electric-motor-only boats. The campground has 41 sites, including some available for walk-ups. All are located near Laura Lake, some directly on the water. Many can accommodate 30-foot (or longer) campers, but there are no electric sites. 

Bagley Rapids, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest 

Bagley Rapids is another national forest campground gem, set along a series of picturesque rapids on the Oconto River in Oconto County. Fourteen of the campground's 30 sites are along the river, with social trails leading down to it. The roaring rapids can be heard throughout, and all sites are wooded with ample privacy. All sites are first-come, first-served.

Herbster Campground 

Campsites right alongside mighty Lake Superior's south shore are rare, but tiny Herbster on the Bayfield peninsula has 'em. The trade-off for uninterrupted views of the lake is less privacy — sites are close together, with no vegetation to offer privacy. But everybody's looking outward anyway, especially at dusk as the sun sets over the lake. Tent sites are reservable online. 

Buckhorn State Park 

Campsites are scattered throughout this large, 8,000-acre park, some hike-in sites (with carts for hauling gear), others drive-up, and some accessible via boat on Castle Rock Lake. The lakeside sites offer the most privacy and some even have their own sandy beaches. Site 8 is a walk-in site with paved access for campers with disabilities, and the park also has an accessible cabin with a fishing pier.  

PADDLE-IN SITES 

Lower Wisconsin State Riverway 

When water levels on the Lower Wisconsin River drop in the summer, sandbars pop up and offer some of the best free paddle-in camping in the state. No permits are required for camping on the bars, but get paddling early to snag one of the best ones, especially if you're traveling between Prairie du Sac and Spring Green. West of there the river is quieter. For its 90-mile journey to the Mississippi River, the Lower Wisconsin is a lovely, easy paddle, winding between undeveloped shoreline as it heads into Wisconsin's unglaciated Driftless Region. A few companies offer canoe rentals and shuttles for the popular Prairie du Sac to Spring Green stretch, doable in an overnight trip. 

Turtle-Flambeau Flowage 

Sometimes compared to Minnesota's Boundary Waters — on a much smaller scale, of course — the 37,000-acre Turtle-Flambeau delivers a wild and remote paddle and camping experience. Free, first-come, first-served rustic campsites are scattered on the shoreline and islands throughout. The eastern fifth of the flowage is a voluntary quiet area, with more slow-boating fishermen and paddlers than the busier western side that sees more powerboats. Launch from Murray's Landing off Highway 51 near Manitowish for a trip on the quiet side.

Willow Flowage 

Of the 73 miles of shoreline in this 30,000-acre scenic waters area in Oneida County, 95 percent is undeveloped. More than 30 rustic campsites are scattered throughout, available free on a first-come, first-served basis.  

St. Croix National Scenic Riverway 

The St. Croix and Namekagon rivers, both Wild and Scenic Rivers, make up the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and provide more than 200 miles of water for paddling. Dozens of primitive campsites dot the rivers' banks, offering a chance for a multi-day paddling trip. The stretch from the Highway 70 landing in Grantsburg to the dam at St. Croix Falls is one of the most popular, and powerboats will even putter upriver in the slower and wider river impoundment north of the dam. For a quieter experience, head north or east along the Namekagon. These sections are more wild and less developed, but there are also rapids to contend with in spots.

Kickapoo Valley Reserve 

The twisting, turning Kickapoo River winds through this 8,600-acre preserve, with 25 primitive campsites along its banks. Summer weekends can be busy with paddlers, thanks in part to the numerous outfitters in Ontario. But those outfitters also make it easy to arrange a shuttle, and with campsites spaced far apart it still makes for a rustic and beautiful outing. Be aware that the area is prone to flooding, and the Kickapoo can quickly become swift and dangerous in a downpour, so check the weather forecast before heading out.

HIKE-IN SITES 

Rock Island State Park 

It takes some work to get to Rock Island — a drive up the long finger of the Door County peninsula, a ferry to Washington Island, a trek across the island and another ferry to the park island — but the reward is one of the state's most remote parks with walk-in campsites along Lake Michigan. All campsites are reservable. Lettered sites (A through E) are the most remote, situated on a bluff on the east side of the island. The rest are on the island's southern end — some on the southeastern sandy shore, others on the southwestern rock-beach shore. Carts are available for moving gear from the ferry landing to sites, but be prepared to haul your stuff in case they're in use.

The park is open year-round, but the ferry only runs Memorial Day weekend through the second weekend in October. Some campers choose to kayak the one-mile strait that separates Washington and Rock islands, but Lake Michigan can be cold and unpredictable and should only be tackled by experienced paddlers.

Newport State Park 

Wisconsin's only wilderness and certified dark sky park has 16 hike-in campsites, all of which are reservable. Most are close to the park's 11 miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan. Site 16, on the northern end of the park, is a favorite, perched on a sand dune along the lake. Sites 14 and 15 are on the park's warmer inland body of water, Europe Lake.