Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits
Camping within Apostle Island National Lakeshore is strictly tent camping. There is no car or RV camping within the park. All campsites within the national lakeshore must be reached by boat or sea kayak, except for the Mainland 1, 2, and 3 campsites, which can be accessed by kayak or by hiking in only. Mainland camping for car & RV camping: There are a variety of state parks and private campgrounds with facilities for car and RV camping in the Bayfield area on the mainland and on Madeline Island.
More like this: reservable in Wisconsin · tent only in Wisconsin · pets allowed in Wisconsin · group sites in Wisconsin
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 56 |
| zone | 24 |
| Group sites | 9 |
| Hike-in | 3 |
| anchorage | 1 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
90 sites in 19 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basswood 1 | Basswood | Standard | 7 / – | Yes | ||
| Basswood 2 | Basswood | Standard | 7 / – | Yes | ||
| Basswood 3 | Basswood | Standard | 7 / – | Yes | ||
| Basswood 4 | Basswood | Standard | 7 / – | Yes | ||
| Basswood 5 | Basswood | Standard | 7 / – | Yes | ||
| Basswood 6 | Basswood | Standard | 7 / – | Yes | ||
| Basswood Site A | Basswood | Group | 21 / – | Yes | ||
| Basswood Primitive Zone | Basswood | Zone | 5 / – | |||
| Bear Primitive Zone | Bear | Anchorage | 5 / – | |||
| Cat 1 | Cat | Standard | 7 / – | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Group Camping Use Fee (Nightly): $30.00. Individual Site Camping Use Fee (Nightly): $15.00. Primitive Camping Zone Use Fee (Nightly): $15.00. Change fee: $15.00 |
| Accessibility | Sites Sand 3, Sand Site C, Stockton 1, Stockton Site A and 1 more are listed accessible |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Camping within Apostle Island National Lakeshore is strictly tent camping. There is no car or RV camping within the park and no campsites that you can drive to. All campsites within the national lakeshore must be reached by boat or sea kayak, except for the Mainland 1, 2, and 3 campsites, which can be accessed by kayak or hiking in only.
| Nearest town | Bayfield, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 46.8132° N, 90.8203° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Madeline Island is not part of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
- Visitors who choose to visit the islands and sleep in their personal self-contained vessel do not need a camping reservation.
- Be sure to download the Recreation.gov mobile app on your mobile device before you visit so that you can complete payment for overnight docking Advance reservations for camping permits are required fo
- Primitive zone camping is not a specific site but provides the option of choosing a backcountry area to camp.
Charges and cancellations
Cancellations made prior to the reservation start date will be given a 50% refund of the use fees. Changes to the reservation will be charged a $15.00 change fee. There is a $10 reservation fee for each permit made. The $10 reservation fee is non-refundable.
Fire nearby
- WildfireRedhouse
37 mi from the campground · 22 acres
- WildfireCamp 4 Grade
45 mi from the campground · 16 acres
- WildfireBlack River
50 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- WildfireBlack River
50 mi from the campground · 382 acres · 60% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Madeline Island Sanitary Dump Station ↗ | 3.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Lost Creek Adventures ↗ | 13.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Apostle Island Area Campground Review + Drive Through - Bayfield Wisconsin - National Lake
Worth a stop
- 0.1 miBayfield Headquarters ↗Visitor center
- 9.8 miLittle Sand Bay Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
- 11.5 miMeyers Beach Parking ↗Swimming
Public land it sits in
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest begins about 6.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 6.7 miChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,005,629 acres
- 10 miGaylord Nelson Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 33,500 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Old Bayfield County CourthouseBuilding · Bayfield · 0 mi
- Christ Episcopal ChurchBuilding · Bayfield · 0.1 mi
- Frank Boutin Jr., HouseBuilding · Bayfield · 0.3 mi
Guidebooks for Wisconsin
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits?
Sites at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits?
Group Camping Use Fee (Nightly): $30.00. Individual Site Camping Use Fee (Nightly): $15.00. Primitive Camping Zone Use Fee (Nightly): $15.00.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits?
Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits have?
95 sites, including 56 standard sites without power, 24 zone, 9 group sites, and 3 hike-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits?
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits?
Yes, pets are allowed at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits?
Sites Sand 3, Sand Site C, Stockton 1, and Stockton Site A are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 5 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the nearest town to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits?
Bayfield, Wisconsin.
Source: Getting there
What if Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Birch Grove (14.4 mi), Bah1 (28.8 mi), and Bah2 (28.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits in?
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Camping Permits is a Apostle Islands National Lakeshore campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.