12 Best Private Campsites Near Watertown, WI, US 2026

Welcome to Hipcamp! If you're looking for private campgrounds near Watertown, Wisconsin, we've got you covered. With over 80 options available, you're sure to find the perfect spot to pitch your tent or park your RV. Looking for a unique camping experience? Check out Circle M Farm Stay Camp n Glamp, Goatland, or The Hill Family Camping, three top-rated campsites with rave reviews. Our private sites offer popular amenities like toilets, potable water, and campfires, so you can enjoy a comfortable camping experience. And with activities like biking, boating, and horseback riding nearby, there's something for everyone. Prices start as low as $28 per night, with an average price of $40 per night. So pack your gear and get ready for an unforgettable camping adventure near Watertown, Wisconsin!

99% (313)

Top-rated campgrounds near Watertown

Welcome to Hipcamp! If you're looking for private campgrounds near Watertown, Wisconsin, we've got you covered. With over 80 options available, you're sure to find the perfect spot to pitch your tent or park your RV. Looking for a unique camping experience? Check out Circle M Farm Stay Camp n Glamp, Goatland, or The Hill Family Camping, three top-rated campsites with rave reviews. Our private sites offer popular amenities like toilets, potable water, and campfires, so you can enjoy a comfortable camping experience. And with activities like biking, boating, and horseback riding nearby, there's something for everyone. Prices start as low as $28 per night, with an average price of $40 per night. So pack your gear and get ready for an unforgettable camping adventure near Watertown, Wisconsin!

99% (313)

Top-rated campgrounds near Watertown

1. Purplehaze Acres

98%

(955)

17mi from Watertown · 9 sites · Tents, Lodging

Purplehaze Acres is a 60-acre organic rustic farm in Rubicon, WI and resides at the beginning of the approx. 650-mile Niagara Escarpment--known locally as "The Ledge". We are in close proximity to the Ice Age Trail, and the natural treasures of the great Horicon Marsh, Lake Sinnissipi/Rock River with canoeing/kayaking/fishing, Ledges County Park, and the world-renowned Holy Hill Shrine. Nearby Hustisford ("Husti") offers unique shopping and dining experiences. Need a few organic groceries? Make sure to visit Back To The Best Organic grocer only 3 miles away, featuring food raised on local organic farms including Purplehaze Acres. We offer a variety of camping alternatives, with 7 tent sites, 1 group site, and a cabin. There is potable water, charcoal grills, firepit grates, eggs and, available for purchase, firewood. COMING SOON: Did you forget something? If so, check out our Camp Cupboard Store. Your approach via 1/2-mile dirt drive up the hills and through the woods . . . to not your grandmother's typical house you go. You'll find wonderful vistas, wildflowers, berries, trails up into the woods, a 900' grass runway for aviators on an overall great "peace" of earth. ☮

2. Cricket Ranch

99%

(344)

47mi from Watertown · 5 sites · Tents

We are honored to again be named one of the Best Hipcamps in Wisconsin for 2024. Thank you to our guests for your wonderful reviews and helpful suggestions! And a special thank you to one of our guests, Brandon "Da Garbage Disposal" Clark, for featuring Cricket Ranch in his YouTube series "Outdoors Unsupervised: Survival Season 6". Learn more about this land: Cricket Ranch is a crazy combo of Nature's past, present, and future. The property was a farm with 75% of it corn fields until 30 years ago. It has been virtually untouched since then and in just a few decades it has reinvented itself as a forest. Chambers Creek runs thru the west side of the property. As a headwater of the Milwaukee River, it is part of the Great Lakes Basin and a source for Lake Michigan. Wisconsin has identified Chambers Creek as an Exceptional Resource Water (ERWs), Less than 10% of Wisconsin waterways carry this designation. What we do (or don't do) now affects the Great Lakes later. And you'll find fossils in the rock walls of some of the earliest examples of complex life on Earth (from 460 mya, Ordovician, Cambrian). No digging required. Seriously. How they got there is a very long story in the making and involves ancient inland seas, plate tectonics, glaciers, German immigrants, and 19th-20th century farming. Off the Beaten Path @ Cricket Ranch provides a true back to nature environment for campers, sometimes called "backcountry camping". Located on 50 acres of private forest, field, and valley, our campsites are very secluded and separated by acres of woodland. Each layout is unique, embracing what nature has provided. Backpacking (or wagoning) to your camp from the parking area is necessary as the 5' wide paths do not accommodate cars/trucks. Hiking distance from parking area: (1) Camp Cricket is 600 Ft. (2) Haen Hollow is 250 ft. (3) Rocky Top is 700 ft. (4) Grapeline is 1000 ft.  Feel fee to explore the land! We are located near the Niagara Escarpment so, as previously mentioned, you might even find a 460 million year old fossil on one of the field rock walls. Keep it! So we can keep a count of how many are found, and out of an overabundance of curiosity, please let us know and send some pics of your find.   Chambers Creek provides a spot to cool your feet, stone step, or just listen to the relaxing sound of a babbling brook. The creek is overgrown with brush so access is limited but we do have a trail that follows the creek for about 300 yds. We intend to clear some more of the underbrush in the near future to allow for better enjoyment and management of this invaluable natural resource. Near by: Kettle Moraine National Forest is a 10 minute drive, boasting great hiking and the can't-miss-it view from atop Parnell Tower. Lake Ellen has a nice no-fee public boat landing just 2 miles away. The lake has clear water and is stocked periodically with Pike and Walleye. It is surprising how un-busy this lake is so bring your boat, kayak, paddle board, and/or assorted flotation devices and check it out. Our parking area can accommodate boat trailers during your stay.

3. Pearl Forge Conservancy

100%

(33)

25mi from Watertown · 2 sites · Tents, Lodging

This beautiful property is on the foothills of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. There are an abundance of natural areas such as a fen, creek, pond and walking trails. The camper site over looks the property with amazing panoramic views. The rustic campsite is tucked back on the property near a fishing pond and hiking trails. Snuggle up to a nice cozy campfire or take a nice nature walk though the woods. Guaranteed to be a memory to last a lifetime. Absolutely NO HUNTING!!!

4. Wisconsin River Sandbar Camping

100%

(17)

41mi from Watertown · 2 sites · Tents

Learn more about this land:Hi there! We are Wild Wisco Waters and we offer canoe overnight sandbar camping trips on the Wisconsin River near the Wisconsin Dells and Lake Wisconsin. Meet us at the Dekorra landing free parking lot in Poynette and we'll bring you upriver with all the paddling gear you'll need for your river adventure. Paddle downriver and find a sandbar to call your own for the night! Build a bonfire, set up your tent, and enjoy a night under the stars. In the morning pack up camp and paddle downriver to your take out where your car is waiting for your next journey. The initial price includes the Pine Island Overnight Trip Package ($100) that includes a two-day canoe rental, upriver shuttle, and all of your paddling equipment. Additional tickets include a two-day canoe rental priced per person ($25/person/day) with all of your paddling equipment.  We are a family-owned and operated outfitter that can create custom trips to fit our camper's unique needs. We also offer day paddle trips and guided fishing tours. We can accommodate large groups and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Call anytime! 608.617.0998We are dedicated to connecting people with the wonders of Wisconsin's beautiful waterways and are excited to help plan your next great summer adventure! 

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

The outside of the house and sitting area. Daryll has chairs there so we didn’t have to bring our! That was helpful as we have a Honda Fit!

M

Michelle

3 weeks ago

With pets

4 nights at Purplehaze Acres

I planned an impromptu getaway and Darryl was wonderful about the last minute notice. It WAS a little more “rustic” than I had planned but it was still great. A much needed peaceful and relaxing trip!

J

Jessica

December 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

Darryl is a fantastic host and we had so much fun camping here! The sites are perfect and we really enjoyed being able to grab some hot cocoa packets from the camp store! Would definitely like to come back!

Lottie

November 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

Super nice area! Spacious and lots of camp sites to offer. Staying in the cabin was really cozy. The stove and usb charging was really nice. Wood burning to stay warm, was something new that we enjoyed.

S

Shayna

November 2025

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

This was our second time staying at Darryl’s property and absolutely loved it. They provide all the perfect elements for a beautiful grounding get away.

A

Ashley

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Cricket Ranch

Clean, private, and spacious. Easy, wide walk in with wagons. Jay brought us a big haul of firewood. Would recommend.

A

Anne

October 2025

Weekend Trip to Pearl Forge Conservancy

Yet another great time at Peter's spot! (See prior review from Sept 2023). The spot was cozy and lovely, even in the rain! The hosts are good people; highly recommend as a go-to to enjoy the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine! See ya next year, guys!!!

Jess

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

Very cute site, so private and peaceful with a beautiful setting. Plenty of dry wood available for purchase, and love the little outdoor store. Thank you for sharing your space.

D

David

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

It was very nice, and very scenic. The camp areas are as advertised. I drive a mini-van, and we got rained out on our final morning, and driving out was a little dicey. I also wish that we had brought extra TP, as the outhouse ran out. But otherwise, quite a good deal.

D

Donald

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

This camp site was awesome and very accommodating. My family had a blast and we will definitely be coming back. The only problem, if you want to call it a problem was that we stayed at Twisted Elm and I was unaware that the entire camp site is on a hill. So when you put something on the picnic table it will slide off and tumble down the hill. I had my one year old with us who is learning how to walk and it was impossible for him to waddle around without tumbling toward the hill so we had the stress not letting him wander around. We also had to move our bed around a bit because it felt like we were gonna roll out of bed. Now we have a large 9 person tent. I think this campsite is better for smaller tents. Don’t get me wrong, the site was awesome, the hill was just a bit much for my family and next time we will pick a different site at purple haze. Maybe fallen tower. That looked sweet. Something more level.

Amy

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Cricket Ranch

Third annual camping trip to Grapeline, and every year it's a home run! We love the convenience of having the Bell tent up and ready to go when we arrive. This property is so close to so much great outdoor adventure we keep coming back year after year. See you in 2026!

M

Megan

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Cricket Ranch

Stayed at Rocky Top for one night, what a lovely, secluded campsite! Even though there were campers at other sites I barely heard or saw them. Nice sunset view and the creek was calming. The wagon was awesome amenity as the site is a little ways in and up a bit of a hill. The only minor con was a bit of road noise but it wasn’t too loud or distracting.

M

Mohan

October 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

We really loved staying at the Tiny house (cabin). My 3 year old son didn't want to leave. This was our 1st time camping at an off grid cabin and it was a cool experience. Everything inside the cabin worked. The lights, gas stove, wood stove and the water pump. Also, 1st time using a composting toilet. It worked out well. Outside, there's a fire pit, some chairs, picnic table, gas grill and a charcoal grill. We got to meet Darryl and Linda, and they were very welcoming.

Julia

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Cricket Ranch

Directions to get to the site were easy enough to follow. Portapotty was clean and well maintained. Firewood was available on site for $5 with a wagon which was helpful. We cooked our dinner over the fire grate provided & ate at the picnic table. Overall a lovely stay. We took a nature walk during sunset to scope out a bit of the land. Was cool to see the rock walls & get some history from The land owner. When we crawled into the tent for the evening we were awoken twice throughout the night from our dog barking at what seemed to be human footsteps through the fallen leaves on the path leading up to our site. We were quite spooked to say the very least… other than that, we heard truck noise from the road throughout the night which brought some comfort to us. The owner said he never heard of such a thing in the middle of the night.. Would recommend, just be aware & prepared as always when tent camping.

A

Andrew

October 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

Amazing campsite! Easy to find with directions and great access to bathroom and water spout.

P

Phillip

October 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

We had a men's retreat at Peace Camp. Darryl's place is incredible. Fantastic sight with great cooking amenities for a large group. Highly recommended! Great guy too! We enjoyed visiting with him.

A

Aral

October 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

Darryl has amazing campsites! We got in after dark and couldn't make it to solitude 6 but Darryl gave us free choice out of some other sites that were not being used! Solitude 6 is a good hike and not best for a lot of equipment but wagons are provided. Toilets are compost toilets so they are as you expect, but well maintained. Spigot is very nice to have. The oat fields next to our site shimmered with platinum in the moonlight. I would recommend purple haze acres and will likely come again. My biggest regret ia not offering Darryl a beer when he stopped by our site!

Rob

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Cricket Ranch

Great camping spot would recommend to others. We had a group of 6, 4 dogs and 3 tents and had plenty of space. Trashcan was full when we got there with trash on the ground and no wood was left in the precut bundle area. Can hear the traffic from the site but really wasn't a problem for us. Overall would go again.

S

Samantha

October 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

Staying at Peace Camp was an incredible experience! It was peaceful, beautiful, and well maintained. Great for a group!! Would highly recommend.

S

Stefan

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Purplehaze Acres

We were tent camping at Fallen tower and it was an amazing and peaceful time! Everything you need is only a short walk away in terms of firewood and anything you might’ve forgotten in the shop. The stars were amazing and there were some cats that stopped by plus a chicken.

B

Brenda

October 2025

Tent

2 nights at Cricket Ranch

Super nice property and host! We stayed at Grapeline and barely heard any traffic from the road. Would recommend!