Wisconsin State Parks and Forests
Camping Tips and Rules

Reservations

Reservations for regular (family) campsites generally must be for at least two days. Exceptions are:

• A reservation must be for at least three days during the holiday weekends of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day when the holiday occurs on a Monday or Friday.
• One-day reservations may be made during the period May 15 through October 31 for any time between those dates within the same calendar year.

Registration, Self-registration

All campers must register when they arrive at the park. You'll do this at the park entrance station or office. If the office is not open, use a self-registration station. The self-registration station or directions to it will be near the office.

Occupying the site

By popular demand, beginning in 2006, campers who do not check in and occupy their reserved site before 3 p.m. the day after the scheduled arrival date will forfeit the site.

Also beginning in 2006, campers on first-come, first-served sites must occupy the site the first night and any consecutive nights for which they have registered.

Camping Party

A site may not be occupied by more than a “non-family group” of six persons or a “family” of parent(s) with their dependent children and not more than 2 guests. (Designated group sites allow more occupants.)

Length of Stay

No one may camp or leave a camping unit in a family campground for more than 14 days in any 21-day period.

Extending a Stay

For reservations with arrival dates between Memorial Day and Labor Day, customers may not extend the departure date of a reservation until they have checked in at the park. Extensions will be made at the park, if the site is available. Campsite extensions must be made through the office no later than the day before your scheduled departure.

Leaving Early

No refund will be given for the current night after the 3 p.m. checkout time.

Hours

The parks are closed to non-campers between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. All visitors must leave the park by 11 p.m. During closed hours, campers must be in or be enroute to their registered campsite. No camping party may set up or take down a camping unit between the 11p.m. and 6 a.m.

Noise

At no time may the noise on a campsite create a disturbance or interfere in any manner with other people's enjoyment of the park. More...

Firewood

Firewood from more than 50 miles away or from other states may not be brought into Wisconsin state parks and forests. If you bring it, it will be confiscated. More...

Recycling and Refuse

Plan your camping to produce as little trash as possible.

Campsites, buildings, and picnic areas, do not have trash cans. However, there are some dumpsters in the campgrounds for your use if necessary. Bins are also available for recyclable items of glass, plastic, aluminum and tin.

Switching sites

Campers may not switch sites without prior approval.

Vehicles

Motor vehicles are restricted to the designated parking area on each campsite. No more than two motor vehicles (except as many as six motorcycles) are allowed per campsite.

Waste water

Please collect and dispose of dish and hand washing water at the sanitary dumping station or in campground toilets. It is against health and safety rules to dump this "gray water" on the ground.

Checkout time

Campsites must be vacated by 3 p.m. on the last day of the permit period.

Note: Violation of any state law or Department of Natural Resources rules by any member or guest of the camping party is cause for revocation of the camping permit and eviction from the property.

For more information on this topic see the questions and answers page , e-mail Wisconsin State Parks or call (608) 266-2181.