The 10 Prettiest Places to Camp in the Midwestern US

What’s unique about the best places to camp in the Midwest?

Generally, compared to the iconic national parks of the Mountain West or the easier-to-reach parks of the East Coast, camping in the Midwest is often less competitive. You’re less likely to encounter the same level of crowds and probably won’t have to book sites months in advance (though you’ll still have do some planning).

Compared to camping in states farther west, you’ll find less backcountry camping in the Midwest — but still much more than on the East Coast. You can camp anywhere you like, within reason, in many midwestern national forests and state parks. However, those regions are sometimes smaller and less publicized than in the West, and require more research to discover. In general, backcountry experiences will be less about long-distance treks and more about shorter, more intimate experiences in the woods.

One way that the best places to camp in the Midwest truly shine is when it comes to finding space to yourself. Because campgrounds are often less crowded and sites are spread out, you’re more likely to find privacy. You can often find a quiet corner of the woods or a secluded spot by a lake where you can truly relax and enjoy the peace and quiet without seeing other campers for days. This feeling of spaciousness is a real highlight of the Midwest camping experience, and also means you’re more likely to have luck with last-minute and first-come, first-served campsites.

The 10 best places to camp in the Midwest

In partnership with our friends at The Dyrt, we’ve highlighted 10 places to camp in the Midwest that display the diverse beauty of the region. Lakes reign supreme in the Midwest, and there are plenty of places to pitch a tent on a site only accessible by kayak. But the Midwest also offers opportunities to find peaceful seclusion in the woods, or even camp overlooking massive plains filled with everything from herds of bison to migrating sandhill cranes.

Jump to:

Oak Island, WI | Presque Isle Rustic Campground, MI | The Wall, SD | North Manitou Island, MI | Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, NE | Lower Wisconsin Riverway, WI | South Bass Island State Park, OH | The Peninsula Trail, IN | Cottonwood Campground, ND | Frontcountry Camping in Voyageurs National Park, MN

---

Oak Island

• Location: La Pointe, Wisconsin
• Campground type: Boat-in
• Facilities: Primitive
• View: Lake Superior and other Apostles Islands

Of the 21 islands that comprise Wisconsin’s Apostles Island National Lakeshore, 18 allow camping. One is Oak Island, the highest point in the Apostles. Oak Island has five individual camp sites and two group sites spread around the coast on the south end, east side, and north end of the island. Sites two, three, and six have the best views of the water, though they’re all surrounded by lush, tall trees and have excellent access to the island’s hiking trails. Reservations are required for camping anywhere in Apostles Islands National Lakeshore, and you may want to reserve your transportation in advance, too. Either take the water taxi, or rent kayaks or canoes to paddle yourself.

Presque Isle Rustic Campground

• Location: Ontonagon, Michigan
• Campground type: Car camping
• Facilities: Basic
• View: Great lakes and remote Yoop landscapes

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (The UP, or Yoop) is one of the prettiest parts of the Midwest, and Presque Isle Campground sits smack in the middle of one of the Yoop’s prettiest protected areas: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Campsites are on Lake Superior’s shoreline and several have direct views of the river and surrounding old-growth forest. Sites 13, 15, and 17 sit closest to the water and are the most removed from the other campsites for the most privacy. Reservations are available, but not required.

Badlands Overlook (The Wall)

• Location: Wall, South Dakota
• Campground type: Car camping
• Facilities: Primitive
• View: Rock formations and valleys around Badlands National Park

“The Wall” is one of the most unofficial areas to camp in the Midwest on this list. Despite that, it’s well-known in South Dakota for being one of the most scenic. It sits about eight miles south of the town of Wall, and offers camping on cliffside pulloffs overlooking the sweeping expanses of the otherworldly landscapes of Badlands National Park. It’s on BLM land and has absolutely no facilities, so make sure you have everything you need. It’s popular with RVers, so you may encounter some vehicle noise if you’re in a tent in the area on busy weekends. As you’d expect, no reservations are available.

North Manitou Island

• Location: Leland, Michigan
• Campground type: Boat-in, then walk to sites
• Facilities: Both primitive and basic sites
• View: Rolling dunes and islands on Lake Michigan

North Manitou Island, in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, is the rare backcountry place to camp in the Midwest. The island allows dispersed camping, meaning campers can select their own secluded sites. Some of the most sought-after are those atop the sandy bluffs on the northwest side, as the elevated sites offer panoramic views of Lake Michigan’s turquoise waters (and provide stunning sunrises and sunsets). Campers who want easier access to the water should stay closer to Swenson’s Barn, on the west part of the island, and if you want a designated camping area head to the Village Campground. Reservations aren’t required, but you’ll need to get a backcountry permit at the Sleeping Bear Dunes ranger office before heading out. It also helps to reserve your spot on the ferry to the island in advance.

Fort Kearny State Recreation Area

• Location: Gibbon, Nebraska
• Campground type: Car camping
• Facilities: Developed
• View: Thousands of snow-white cranes

Nebraska may not be the first place you’d think of for gorgeous camping — that is, unless you’re a birding enthusiast. From the campground in Fort Kearny State Recreation Area in Nebraska, campers can witness the annual sandhill crane migration that turns the nearby Platte River into a gathering point for thousands of sandhill cranes each spring. Tent sites are spread out under massive cottonwood trees, providing plenty of shade, and the marshy ponds around the site ensure you don’t have to walk far to see feathered friends. Reservations are available only between mid-April and mid-October; it’s first-come, first-served the rest of the year.

Lower Wisconsin Riverway

• Location: Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
• Campground type: Various
• Facilities: Various
• View: Bald eagles, river bluffs, and epic sunsets

Camping along Wisconsin’s Lower Wisconsin State Riverway is a chance for campers to pitch their tents on the river’s numerous sandbars and islands. The natural clearings mean campers have unobstructed views of the surrounding waterway, plus wooded bluffs and scenic limestone and sandstone outcroppings. The sunsets are as pretty as you’d imagine, and birdlife, including bald eagles, are a common sight. Visitors can camp in designated areas like Tower Hill or Wyalusing state parks, or just choose whatever sandbar or island clearing strikes their fancy. Reservations are available for the official campgrounds. Read more at The Dyrt.

South Bass Island State Park

• Location: Put-in-Bay, Ohio
• Campground type: Boat-in (then walk to sites)
• Facilities: Developed
• View: Lake Erie and surrounding islands

Campsites on this island in Lake Erie are clearings on limestone cliffs on the southern edge of South Bass Island State Park. From the sites, campers have sweeping views of Lake Erie, and behind them, dense trees and park’s unique rock formations. The combination of dramatic cliffside settings and panoramic lake views makes camping here a picturesque experience. Reservations are required, and sites 100 to 135 are arguably the best, as they’re on the lake. You can also reserve your ferry tickets in advance (though you don’t need to), as reaching the sites involves taking a boat to the island, then walking to your site.

The Peninsula Trail

• Location: Bloomington, Indiana
• Campground type: Walk-in
• Facilities: Primitive
• View: Hardwood forest and peaceful views of Lake Monroe

The Peninsula Trail begins in Charles C. Deam Wilderness in Hosier National Forest, about two hours south of Indianapolis. It’s a wildly popular place to camp, and with just about a dozen designated camp areas on the peninsula itself, there’s no guarantee that you’ll find a spot. But if you do, you’ll be treated to a sense of seclusion on the wooded landmass jutting into Monroe Lake. The established campsites are tucked into the trees under rich green foliage, with views of the sparkling lake peaking through the trees. But if they’re taken, you can still camp nearby, provided you follow the posted rules, such as not camping within 100 feet of the water line, among others. Read more at The Dyrt.

Cottonwood Campground

• Location: Medora, North Dakota
• Campground type: Car camping
• Facilities: Basic
• View: Sprawling badlands and roaming bison

Cottonwood Campground in Theodore Roosevelt National Park isn’t about plush amenities — it’s about complete immersion in the North Dakota badlands. The views from the campsites look out onto a landscape sculpted by time and erosion. Campers are surrounded by layered rock formations rising in fantastical, almost alien-like shapes, sweeping panoramas of the badlands, and even the occasional herd of roaming bison. (Give them plenty of space, obviously.) Be sure to look carefully at the images of campsites on the reservations page, as some have partial foliage while others are entirely exposed to sun and wind. Half the sites are available to reserve in advance, while the other are first-come, first-served.

Frontcountry Camping in Voyageurs National Park

• Location: Minnesota
• Campground type: Boat-in
• Facilities: Primitive
• View: Northwoods wilderness, glassy bays, and quiet coves

Frontcountry camping on Rainy Lake is about being surrounded by water, sky, and the untamed beauty of Voyageurs National Park. Frontcountry camping sites are boat-in only, and the sites along Rainy Lake offer some of the easiest paddles. All campsites are on the shoreline, though some are beneath towering pines while others are more open to the sun and wind. From just about every campsite, you’ll look out over the vast, island-dotted expanse of Rainy Lake, where dense boreal forest ends at rocky shorelines that give way to shimmering blue water. Reservations are required for both campsites and boat rentals (which can’t be rented through the park), so be sure to read all the details on Recreation.gov before making your plans. Note that the park also has a few hike-in sites that don’t require boat access, as well the ability for unique lakeside camping on houseboats.