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

Kentuck Lake Campground

Early settlers from Kentucky gave the name to Kentuck Lake. Kentuck Lake Campground is located on the east lake shore of Kentuck Lake in a stand of maple. The 955-acre lake is popular with anglers and has abundant walleye, bass, crappies and panfish. Kentuck lake is connected to Spectacle Lake Campground by a scenic 2.5-mile-long hiking trail.

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 · big rigs in Wisconsin · pets allowed in Wisconsin

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Kentuck Boat LandingCampsite 24Campsite 22Campsite 2
Photos courtesy of Miller · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups15
Standard with electric13
Tent-only2
Host/management1
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.

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

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
01ElectricBack-in30GravelPartial20/30/50 ampLakefront8 / 4YesPrime
02ElectricBack-in35GravelPartial20/30/50 ampLakefront8 / 4YesPrime
03ElectricBack-in40GravelPartialNo8 / 4YesBasic
04ElectricBack-in40GravelPartialNoLakefront8 / 4YesPrime
05ElectricBack-in35GravelPartialNoLakefront8 / 4YesPrime
06ElectricBack-in40GravelPartialNoLakefront8 / 4YesPrime
08ElectricBack-in40GravelPartialNoLakefront8 / 4YesPrime
09ElectricBack-in40GravelPartialNo8 / 4YesBasic
10ElectricBack-in40GravelPartialNo8 / 4YesBasic
11ElectricBack-in40GravelPartialNo8 / 4YesBasic

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

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

The campground offers 31 single family campsites, available for tent or RV camping. The campground offers both first-come, first-served (13) campsites as well as sites which can be reserved in advance (18). Sites are equipped with tables and fire rings with grills. A pressurized water system is available for drinking water.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonMay 2 to November 30
ForestChequamegon-Nicolet NF
FeesIndividual campsite fee is $18, or $9 with the use of an Interagency pass (access or senior) for lakeside sites and $15, or $7.50 for non-lakeside sites.
RulesThe Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest specific restrictions can be found in the Occupancy and Use Restrictions for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. 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 Kentuck 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, 14 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 November 30.

Getting there

From Eagle River travel east 13.4 miles on STH 70 to FR2176 (Divide Road). Turn left (north) on FR2176 and continue 2.7 miles to the campground entrance on the left.

Nearest townEagle River, Wisconsin
Coordinates45.9912° N, 88.9761° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Bog

    49 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

Dump stationDump station ↗12 mi
Outdoor gearEagle Sports ↗13.9 mi

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

Explore

Video

Kentuck & Spectacle Lake Campground Tours in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

  • 0.3 mi
    Spectacle - Kentuck Lake
    2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 1.9 mi
    Spectacle-Kentuck Lake A
    under 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 3.9 mi
    Ninemile Creek Hwt ↗
    5.7 mi trail · hiking
  • 4.5 mi
    Howell Creek Hwt
    3.6 mi trail · hiking
  • 4.6 mi
    Franklin Nature ↗
    1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.7 mi
    Whispering Lake
    1.8 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.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Blackjack Springs Wilderness begins about 3.9 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 situated in a stand of maple, at an elevation of 1,730 feet. The adjacent Kentuck Lake is accessible by the boat landing which is located within the campground.

Recreation

The lake provides visitors with ample opportunities for boating and fishing. Anglers can expect a catch of musky, walleye, northern pike, large and smallmouth bass, crappie and perch. The lake is open to all types of boating, motorized and non-motorized. A trail linking the campground to the Spectacle Lake Campground begins near the boat landing and stretches 2.5 miles though mature upland hardwoods and lowland conifer areas. A variety of wildlife make its home in the area and visitors are encouraged to keep watch.

Nearby

The City of Eagle River is located about 17 miles west of the campground. A variety of services and activities are offered in Eagle River.

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 Kentuck 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 Kentuck Lake Campground?

Individual campsite fee is $18, or $9 with the use of an Interagency pass (access or senior) for lakeside sites and $15, or $7.50 for non-lakeside sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Kentuck Lake Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Kentuck Lake Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 2 to November 30.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Kentuck Lake Campground have?

31 sites, including 15 standard sites without power, 13 standard sites with power, and 2 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Kentuck 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

Does Kentuck Lake Campground have hookups?

Yes, electric hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Kentuck Lake Campground?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Kentuck 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

What is there to do at Kentuck Lake Campground?

The lake provides visitors with ample opportunities for boating and fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Kentuck Lake Campground?

Eagle River, Wisconsin. The City of Eagle River is located about 17 miles west of the campground.

Source: Getting there

What if Kentuck Lake Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Spectacle Lake Campground (Wisconsin) (2.2 mi, partly first-come), Franklin Lake (4.8 mi, partly first-come), and Anvil Lake Campground (5.6 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby