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

Laurel Lake Campground

Laurel Lake is part of the 28 lake Three Lakes and Eagle River Chain of Lakes giving the visitor water access to nearly 11,500 acres of water and 174 miles of shoreline. The campground is located in a stand of grand old pines and young oaks.

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

More like this: first-come in Wisconsin · reservable in Wisconsin · big rigs in Wisconsin · pets allowed in Wisconsin

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Laurel Lake CampgroundLAUREL LAKE CAMPGROUNDLAUREL LAKE CAMPGROUNDLAUREL LAKE CAMPGROUND
Photos courtesy of Miller · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups12
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 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

12 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
001Back-in35GravelPartial8 / 4YesStandard
002Back-in40GravelPartialLakefront8 / 4YesStandard
003Back-in30GravelPartial8 / 4YesStandard
004Back-in25GravelPartialLakefront8 / 4YesStandard
005Back-in25GravelPartialLakefront8 / 4YesStandard
006Back-in35GravelPartialLakefront8 / 4YesStandard
007Back-in30GravelPartialLakefront8 / 4YesStandard
008Back-in25GravelPartial8 / 4YesStandard
009Back-in25GravelPartialLakefront8 / 4YesStandard
010Back-in25GravelPartialLakefront8 / 4YesStandard

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 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Tent padsYes

The campground offers 12 single family campsites, available for tent or RV camping. The campground is split between Area 1 which consists of eight sites and Area 2 which consists of four sites. The campground offers both first-come, first-served campsites (5) as well as sites which can be reserved in advance (7). Sites are equipped with tables and fire rings with grills. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided at the campground.

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

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMay 2 to October 15
ForestChequamegon-Nicolet NF
FeesIndividual campsite fee is $15, or $7.50 with the use of an Interagency pass (access or senior). The interagency pass applies only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder, not to any additional fees or campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass holder's party.
RulesThe Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest specific restrictions can be found in the Occupancy and Use Restrictions for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Campsite Capacity Maximum of 8 people and 4 vehicles at each camp site.

Chequamegon-Nicolet NF recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Laurel Lake Campground10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.26 inches of precipitation, 15.2 inches of snowFebruary: 1.06 inches of precipitation, 14.1 inches of snowMarch: 1.61 inches of precipitation, 10.0 inches of snowApril: 2.78 inches of precipitation, 7.7 inches of snowMay: 3.51 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowJune: 4.06 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 4.01 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.20 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.61 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.55 inches of precipitation, 2.1 inches of snowNovember: 1.92 inches of precipitation, 9.5 inches of snowDecember: 1.56 inches of precipitation, 17.6 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 11.7°F averageFebruary: 14.5°F averageMarch: 25.2°F averageApril: 38.2°F averageMay: 52.3°F averageJune: 62.4°F averageJuly: 66.0°F averageAugust: 63.7°F averageSeptember: 55.9°F averageOctober: 42.8°F averageNovember: 29.6°F averageDecember: 18.0°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Eagle Rvr, 10 miles from the campground at 1,623 feet, station USC00472314 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 32 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 77 inches a year on the same inches scale. The shaded span is the published season, May 2 to October 15.

Getting there

From Three Lakes travel 4 miles east on STH 32 to Chicken in the Woods Road. Turn left (north) and continue 1.2 miles turning left (north) on Fourmile Road. Travel 0.2 miles, turn left (west) on Leatzow Road and continue 1.2 miles to the campground.

Nearest townEagle River, Wisconsin
Coordinates45.8163° N, 89.1099° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Bog

    47 mi from the campground · 94 acres

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

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearEagle Sports ↗9.3 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗21.1 mi

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

Explore

Video

Driving around Laurel lake campground

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

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Headwaters Wilderness begins about 4.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is nestled in a stand of towering pines and young oak trees, at an elevation of 1,630 feet. Laurel Lake is one of 28 lakes which extend from Three Lakes to Eagle River and form the largest inland freshwater chain of lakes in the world, offering endless miles of boating and fishing opportunities, which can be access from the boat landing offered within the campground.

Recreation

The chain of lakes provides ample opportunity for boating, fishing and swimming. Anglers can expect a catch of musky, walleye, northern pike, large and smallmouth bass, rock bass, perch, crappie and other panfish. The lakes are open to all types of boating, motorized and non-motorized. The campground does not offer a beach area so any swimming to be done will have to take place from your boat.

Nearby

The Town of Three Lakes, once named "America's Best Town" is located seven miles from the campground. Three Lakes offers a variety of services and activities.

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 Laurel Lake Campground?

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 Laurel Lake Campground?

Individual campsite fee is $15, or $7.50 with the use of an Interagency pass (access or senior). The interagency pass applies only to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass holder, not to any additional fees or campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass holder's party.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Laurel Lake Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Laurel Lake Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 2 to October 15.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Laurel Lake Campground have?

12 sites, including 12 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Laurel Lake Campground?

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Laurel Lake Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Laurel Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Laurel Lake Campground?

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. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest specific restrictions can be found in the Occupancy and Use Restrictions for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Source: Fire nearby

Is there cell service at Laurel Lake Campground?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Laurel Lake Campground?

The chain of lakes provides ample opportunity for boating, fishing and swimming. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Laurel Lake Campground?

Eagle River, Wisconsin. The Town of Three Lakes, once named "America's Best Town" is located seven miles from the campground.

Source: Getting there

What if Laurel Lake Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Anvil Lake Campground (8.6 mi, partly first-come), Luna White Deer Campground (8.9 mi, partly first-come), and Franklin Lake (8.9 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby