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April 01, 2025
By Brandon Butler
It doesn’t matter if you’re going on a fishing or hunting trip, a relaxing weekend getaway to hike and bike or into the backcountry in search of solitude, the adventure of camping out is central to the experience, and the Midwest is home to some of the best camping opportunities in the country. From the Great Lakes to grasslands to the Ozarks and the Black Hills, the diversity of camping options in the Midwest is seemingly endless.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Shutterstock photo Within the Superior National Forest of northeastern Minnesota is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). This bucket-list destination for serious paddlers is home to 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and 2,000 campsites. The area’s natural lakes offer excellent fishing for walleyes, smallmouth bass and northern pike in a picturesque environment of solitude. Campers sleep lakeside, on islands and on rocky outcrops. BWCAW is a water-and-land wilderness. Travel is by canoe or kayak along routes between campsites. A permit is always required to enter the BWCA Wilderness. During the Quota Season (May 1 to September 31), visitors must obtain a quota permit through recreation.gov. Self-Issued permits are also required for Day Use Motor visitors from October 1 to April 30. This trip requires some planning. Take advantage of the detailed trip planner on the Forest Service website.
Mammoth Cave National Park Shutterstock photo Mammoth Cave National Park is the gateway to world’s longest known cave system, Mammoth Cave. This park offers numerous guided caves tours. The Historic Tour is the classic Mammoth Cave experience, taking visitors through the Historic Entrance to the famed Rotunda and through many more mind-blowing geological features. Three campgrounds offer common amenities and close proximity to the cave tours. Maple Springs Group Campground allows horses, which many use to explore the 70 miles of backcountry trails. Mammoth Cave and Maple Springs are open March 1 to November 30. Houchin Ferry is open year-round. Backcountry sites are available and accessible year-round. All camping in the park requires a permit. Reservations are highly recommended in peak season.
Greene-Sullivan State Forest Indiana’s Greene-Sullivan State Forest (GSSF) is reclaimed mine land turned into a camping and panfishing paradise. It’s a crown jewel of strip-pit fishing. With 9,000 acres and 120 lakes of at least an acre in size, the GSSF has plenty of room for anglers and campers to spread out. There is limited use of gas motors and great fishing with little competition. These strip pits are perfect for your jon boat, canoe, kayak, inflatable pontoon or float tube, though fishing from the shore is difficult in most places. There’s an abundance of bluegills, bass, crappies, catfish and even a few holdover rainbow trout. Primitive camping is available throughout the forest at designated sites. Campsites are first-come, first-served. Payment is made at self-check-in stations. Nearby Shakamak State Park offers camping with full amenities.
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Niobrara National Scenic River Shutterstock photo The Niobrara National Scenic River courses through desolate, beautiful mixed-grass prairies and dunes of the Sandhills Region of north-central Nebraska. This popular floating river is an oasis of the plains, teeming with wildlife and stunning scenery. Just east of Valentine, the river flows through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, where floaters may see bison, elk, deer, turkey, prairie dogs and more along the river. Niobrara National Scenic River does not offer any campgrounds, lodging or concessions. Numerous privately owned campgrounds along river also offer canoe livery services. Scenic Smith Falls State Park, a popular camping spot along the river, is home to Nebraska’s highest waterfall.
Lighthouse Point at Cedar Point Shutterstock photo If location is key, then Lighthouse Point is the place for you when visiting the Sandusky area. This private campground is a family destination that covers all the bases. Situated right on the shores of Lake Erie, you’ll have some of the finest fishing in the Great Lakes right outside your camper door. Cedar Point Amusement Park is a childhood favorite of many Midwestern kids. Being onsite allows for easy access to the rides and waterpark. A short ferry ride delivers you to the Bass Islands. You’ll find island-life culture in Put-In-Bay, often referred to as the “Key West of the North.” Lighthouse Point has cottages, cabins and 145 RV campsites with modern amenities. The lakefront cottages offer scenic views of Lake Erie. Luxury RV sites feature patio sites with lake views. There is a private swimming pool and convenience store.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Shutterstock photo The rugged badlands of western North Dakota were Theodore Roosevelt’s escape. Today, his namesake national park reminds us of the fortitude found in wild places. The park’s visitor center is in Medora. Here you’ll learn of Roosevelt’s time in the badlands and tour his Maltese Cross Cabin. The park covers 70,446 acres, with 29,920 of those designated as wilderness, which is yours to wander. The South Unit’s scenic drive weaves 48 miles of roadway through wildlife-rich grasslands. Bison, elk, pronghorns, mule deer, bighorn sheep and badgers are often viewed by visitors. Hikers enjoy the park’s vast trail system. Juniper Campground in the North Unit and Cottonwood Campground in the South Unit offer sites by reservation and are first-come, first-served. All sites are suitable for tents; RVs fit in most, but there are no hookups. Roundup is the park’s horse campground, and is available to one group at a time. There are no developed backcountry campsites or facilities, but camping is allowed in the backcountry. A backcountry permit is required. Full-service private campgrounds are available in Medora.
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Copper Falls State Park Shutterstock photo Copper Falls State Park is a scenic camping destination in northern Wisconsin. The park is home to Loon Lake, with a sandy beach and carry-in launch for canoes and kayaks (electric motors only). Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available. Hike to the beautiful waterfalls the park is named for. The Bad River runs along the park, and Lake Superior and the Chequamegon National Forest are nearby. The area offers camping, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, foraging, hunting and more. Copper Falls has two campgrounds with shaded and forested sites. The North Campground has electric sites. The South Campground is all primitive and offers a few private walk-in campsites for added privacy. There is one group-tent camping area for up to 40 people. There are flush toilets and showers in the park. Reservations should be made for campsites through the Wisconsin State Park System.
Black Hills National Forest Shutterstock photo The Black Hills National Forest is a mountainous island rising from the vast grasslands of western South Dakota. Rich in Native American history, the Black Hills are home to many breathtaking scenic views. There’s fly fishing for trout in small creeks and 11 reservoirs in the Black Hills. Pactola, the largest reservoir at 800 acres, produces lake trout and kokanee salmon. Nearby attractions like Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave, the Crazy Horse Memorial and towns like Deadwood and Sturgis draw visitors to the region. The Black Hills National Forest has 30 campgrounds with 682 sites. All are primitive. You can use an interactive map on the Forest Service website to select a location and make a reservation. There are two scenic byways in the Black Hills. Hikers have more than 350 miles of trails to explore within the forest. The Norbeck Wildlife Preserve and the Black Elk Wilderness are favorite spots for wildlife watchers.
Council Grove Lake Shutterstock photo Council Grove Lake is your homebase for exploring the majestic grasslands of the famed Flint Hills. Hop on the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway and travel through tallgrass prairie, one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. Just to the south is the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, which explodes with wildflowers in the spring and fall. The 3,310-acre Council Grove Lake is a fishing and pleasure-boating destination. Catfish, crappies and walleyes are top targets. Visit where the Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail, then tour the country the trail passed through. Richey Cove Campground offers reservable campsites, including one group-camping area that can accommodate up to 40 guests. Electric hookups, flush toilets, showers and more amenities are provided in this modern campground. There is plenty of shade, and some sites are right on the water.
Echo Bluff State Park Shutterstock photo Located in the heart of the Ozark Scenic Riverways Region is a crown jewel of Missouri camping. Echo Bluff State Park is surrounded by public land teeming with wildlife. Hundreds of thousands of acres of Missouri Department of Conservation areas, the Mark Twain National Forest and the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) are open to hunting, fishing, hiking and camping. This is a premiere destination for float camping. The Current River and Jacks Fork River both offer the freedom to pitch a tent riverside anywhere in the OSNR. Echo Bluff is a modern property with all the amenities one could ask for. The park serves as the perfect homebase for exploring the area’s attractions like the elk herd at Peck Ranch, Rocky Falls, Devil’s Well and the area’s many giant cold-water springs. The campground offers a mix of full-hookup sites and walk-in tent sites. The impressive Betty Lea Lodge offers 20 state-of-the-art rooms. There are also 13 units in nine modern cabins. There is a general store inside the lodge, along with a first-class restaurant. Reservations are a must in the summer months at this popular state park.
