Chicago

The Midwest’s Best Campsites, Revealed

Hipcamp: your new source for the escape

By The Editors / July 20, 2015 9:00 am

Every guy — no matter how busy — has time to decamp.

To exercise his right to freedom and wilderness.

But finding a spot worthy of your decamping?

That’s time better spent, well … out there.

Enter Hipcamp, a new online source for locating and booking your next rustic getaway, now serving Chicago.

On offer: just shy of 2,000 campsites across the Midwest, enough to keep an enterprising woodsman busy for the rest of his merry days.

Plus comprehensive details and practical info you’ll need for the road.

Maps. Amenities. Ease of use. In other words: a government-run website this is not.

And to help you get out there even quicker, we scoured the site for three campgrounds you should not miss:

Governor Dodge State Park — Dodgeville, WI
A hiker’s paradise, Governor Dodge State Park is located in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area — a region rife with rolling hills and verdent valleys. Might make you feel small. But that’s a good thing. Hike the Lost Canyon trail to Stephens Falls. Adventure seekers take note: there are caves to explore — ya just gotta find ’em.

Devil’s Lake State Park — Baraboo, WI
A favorite around these parts, Devil’s Lake needs almost no introduction. There are bluffs. You should climb them. There are trails. You should hike them. There are views. You should survey them. Pack a camera, you’re gonna wanna snap some.

Holland Campground — Holland, MI
Two ample campgrounds and a beach with a killer view of Lake Michigan. Walk along the pier here and watch the sun set over the sailboats that frequent the area or head over to the campsite and cook up some grub by the lake.

So, we’ve got your spots.

Pitching a tent? That’s all you.