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.

To self-register for a campsite:

1. Get a camping self-registration envelope at the self-registration pay station.
2. Fill in the form and post the white copy at any untagged nonreservable site. Do not set up on any campsite before paying.
3. Immediately return to the self-registration pay station. Put your payment in the envelope and deposit it in the slot.

Occupying the site

If you do not check in and occupy your reserved site before 3 p.m. the day after the scheduled arrival date and remain for the duration of the reservation, you will forfeit the site. .

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...

Fireworks are illegal. Anything that flies or explodes is considered a firework. "Snakes" and sparklers are allowed. Always ask a ranger before using anything that may be questionable. More...

Fires and Firewood

Fires are allowed in fire rings and grills only. Do not leave fires unattended, and put out all fires before leaving. Do not burn garbage, plastic, glass, cans or other recyclable items.

Firewood from more than 50 miles away, quarantined areas, or 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

Campsite check in / check out time is 3 p.m. You may set up earlier if the site was not occupied the night before. If you are unable to leave by 3 p.m., contact the park or forest staff immediately.

Note: If you or any member or guest of your camping party violate any state law or Department of Natural Resources rules, you may be evicted from the park, have your camping permit revoked, and lose any fees you have paid.

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