U.S. Forest Service · Chequamegon-Nicolet NF · Medford, WI

Chippewa

Chippewa Campground sits on the eastern shores of the Chequamegon Waters Flowage, where the bass fishing is spectacular. Its location provides visitors of any age with access to a variety of recreation opportunities, including fishing, water sports, and more. Chippewa Campground offers 78 campsties, 41 of which can be reserved.

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: electric hookups in Wisconsin · first-come in Wisconsin · reservable in Wisconsin · pets allowed in Wisconsin · group sites in Wisconsin

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
BeachChippewa campsiteAccessible fishing pierParking lot for boat landing and ATV trailhead
Photos courtesy of Roxann Ebert/USDA Forest Service · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups46
Standard with electric17
Group sites10
Host/management3
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 65 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

73 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
P37BASSElectricBack-in39GravelPartial50 ampNo / –Lakefront8 / 4Yes
P39BASSElectricBack-in40GravelPartial50 ampNo / –Lakefront8 / 4Yes
P42BASSElectricBack-in55GravelPartial50 ampNo / –Lakefront8 / 4Yes
P43BASSElectricBack-in42GravelPartial50 ampNo / –Lakefront8 / 4Yes
S31BASSElectricBack-in40GravelPartial50 ampNo / –8 / 4Yes
S32BASSElectricBack-in43GravelPartial50 ampNo / –8 / 4Yes
S33BASSElectricBack-in33GravelPartial50 ampNo / –8 / 4Yes
S35BASSElectricBack-in45GravelPartial50 ampNo / –8 / 4Yes
S36BASSElectricBack-in35GravelNone50 ampNo / –8 / 4Yes
S38BASSElectricBack-in40GravelPartial50 ampNo / –8 / 4Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground offers dozens of single and double campsites for tent and RV camping. Electric is available at sites 31-49, other utility hookups are not available. However, the campground is equipped with a dump station and an RV fill-up near the campground entrance. All roads are paved. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible flush toilets and showers are available for sites 1 through 60. Accessible vault toilets are available for sites 61 through 78. Drinking water is provided throughout the campground.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonMay 20 to September 30
ForestChequamegon-Nicolet NF
BookingThis campground mixes first-come, first-serve, and reservable sites. For reservation information, visit www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-677 (TDD 877-833-6777).
Fees$15 per night for a single standard site or $7.50 with use of Interagency Pass. $18 per night for a single premium site or $9 with use of Interagency Pass. Premium sites either have lake access or a paved surface. $30 a night for a double standard site.
RulesCampsite Capacity Single sites have a maximum capacity of eight people and four vehicles. Double sites have a maximum capacity of 16 people and six vehicles. Vehicle capacity includes vehicles, wheeled camping units, and trailers. Pets and Animals Pets must be crated, caged, or on a leash less than 6’ in length while in developed recreation areas.

Chequamegon-Nicolet NF recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Chippewa10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.07 inches of precipitation, 17.2 inches of snowFebruary: 1.03 inches of precipitation, 13.7 inches of snowMarch: 1.68 inches of precipitation, 11.0 inches of snowApril: 3.34 inches of precipitation, 3.9 inches of snowMay: 3.91 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowJune: 5.03 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.84 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 4.21 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 4.08 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowOctober: 3.21 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowNovember: 2.01 inches of precipitation, 6.2 inches of snowDecember: 1.34 inches of precipitation, 17.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 12.9°F averageFebruary: 16.9°F averageMarch: 29.2°F averageApril: 42.6°F averageMay: 54.9°F averageJune: 63.5°F averageJuly: 67.3°F averageAugust: 65.2°F averageSeptember: 57.5°F averageOctober: 45.4°F averageNovember: 31.3°F averageDecember: 19.2°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Jump Rvr 3E, 9 miles from the campground at 1,265 feet, station USC00474080 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 35 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 70 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, May 20 to September 30.

Getting there

From Medford, Wisconsin, travel north on State Highway 13 for 4 miles. Turn left onto County Road M and continue for about 24 miles then turn left onto Forest Road 1417.

Nearest townMedford, Wisconsin
Coordinates45.2225° N, 90.7053° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Ritchie

    36 mi from the campground · 13 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗24.1 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗43.6 mi
Outdoor gearRod & Gun Sport Shop ↗46.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Lake Chippewa Campground - Hayward Wisconsin - RV Park Review - RV Life! - RV Living - Ful

  • 0.7 mi
    Perkinstown Motorized ↗
    15.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 1.9 mi
    Yellow River Hwt
    2.4 mi trail · hiking
  • 2.1 mi
    Bayview Watchable Wildlife
    0.2 mi trail · hiking
  • 3.1 mi
    Perkinstown Motorized Loop A ↗
    4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 3.1 mi
    Yellow River a Hwt
    1.4 mi trail · hiking
  • 3.7 mi
    Beaver Creek Hwt
    3.6 mi trail · hiking

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The 1,020-foot elevation campground is situated in northwestern Wisconsin, adjacent to the 2,714-acre lake, under a heavy canopy of mixed hardwood and pine trees.

Recreation

The campground offers a beach, a playground and a walking trail to access other loops in the campground. Boating and fishing are popular activities on the lake, and a boat ramp is available. Anglers can expect to find plentiful populations of largemouth bass, pike and bluegill, among other species. A fish cleaning station is available near the entrance of the campground. The 20-mile Perkinstown Motorized Trail is a two-way trail, developed for off-road vehicles and motorcycles. It is also popular for snowmobiling during the winter months. The trail winds through rolling terrain, woodlands and wetlands as well as over wooden bridges. A great variety of wildlife and vegetation can be found along the trail.

Guidebooks for Wisconsin

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Wisconsin
    Kevin Revolinski and Johnny Molloy, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Hikes Madison, Wisconsin
    Johnny Molloy, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails Michigan & Wisconsin
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Chippewa?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Chippewa?

$15 per night for a single standard site or $7.50 with use of Interagency Pass. $18 per night for a single premium site or $9 with use of Interagency Pass. Premium sites either have lake access or a paved surface.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Chippewa?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Chippewa open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 20 to September 30.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Chippewa have?

76 sites, including 46 standard sites without power, 17 standard sites with power, and 10 group sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Chippewa?

Chippewa is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Does Chippewa have hookups?

Yes, electric hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Chippewa?

However, the campground is equipped with a dump station and an RV fill-up near the campground entrance.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Chippewa?

Yes, pets are allowed at Chippewa. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Chippewa?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Campsite Capacity Single sites have a maximum capacity of eight people and four vehicles.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Chippewa?

The campground offers a beach, a playground and a walking trail to access other loops in the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Chippewa?

Medford, Wisconsin.

Source: Getting there