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Wisconsin Free Camping Rank and Rules

Wisconsin ranks #21 of 50 for free camping

Wisconsin ranks #21 of 50 for free camping, with 9.0 known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi.

Data as of

Wisconsin free camping in numbers

Wisconsin ranks #21 of 50 for free camping, with 9.0 known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi.

Rank
#21
Known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi
9.0
Known dispersed sites
486
Land area
54,158 sq mi
Developed campgrounds
507
State-land rule
Permit required
Forest restrictions tracked
0

Dispersed camping in Wisconsin

Can you camp on Wisconsin state land?

Permit required. No open camping on state land. What exists is marked, permitted "remote camping" on four northern state forests. (Wis. Admin. Code NR 45) Wildlife, fishery, and natural areas ban camping by rule. Every state, with the rule behind each answer: dispersed camping on state land, state by state.

Where is dispersed camping restricted in Wisconsin?

Our records hold no National Forest restriction on dispersed camping in Wisconsin. That is not the same as having none, so check the forest's own alerts page before you camp.

Each restriction, cited and dated: where dispersed camping is restricted.

How the rank works

We divide the known dispersed campsites in a state by its land area, in square miles, and multiply by 1,000. The rules above sit beside the rank but never change it. The count includes only sites that public sources map, so mapping effort affects the result. Roadside camping corridors and the points we place inside state wildlife and forest areas are not counted.