Camping in Wisconsin: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Wisconsin's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from May to October, with average highs of 60 to 82 F and lows of 42 to 62 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from October to May, most often in January, when they average 29.3 a month. State park sites are booked through Wisconsin State Park System camping reservations, up to eleven months ahead.
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The best months for camping in Wisconsin
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Wisconsin is mild May to October. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan28° / 13°Freezing nights
- Feb31° / 16°Freezing nights
- Mar43° / 26°Freezing nights
- Apr55° / 36°Freezing nights
- May68° / 47°Freezing nights
- Jun78° / 57°Mild
- Jul82° / 62°Mild
- Aug80° / 61°Mild
- Sep73° / 52°Mild
- Oct60° / 42°Freezing nights
- Nov46° / 30°Freezing nights
- Dec33° / 20°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Green Bayelevation 682 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26 F | 11 F | 29.8 |
| February | 29 F | 13 F | 26.7 |
| March | 40 F | 24 F | 25.2 |
| April | 54 F | 35 F | 12.1 |
| May (mild) | 67 F | 46 F | 1.3 |
| June (mild) | 77 F | 56 F | 0 |
| July (mild) | 81 F | 60 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 79 F | 58 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 72 F | 50 F | 0.6 |
| October | 58 F | 40 F | 7.7 |
| November | 44 F | 29 F | 20.5 |
| December | 31 F | 18 F | 28.4 |
Madisonelevation 866 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27 F | 12 F | 29.7 |
| February | 31 F | 15 F | 26.6 |
| March | 44 F | 25 F | 23.3 |
| April | 57 F | 36 F | 10.4 |
| May (mild) | 69 F | 47 F | 1.5 |
| June (mild) | 79 F | 57 F | 0 |
| July (mild) | 82 F | 62 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 80 F | 60 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 73 F | 51 F | 0.5 |
| October (mild) | 60 F | 40 F | 7.2 |
| November | 45 F | 29 F | 19.7 |
| December | 32 F | 18 F | 28.1 |
Milwaukeeelevation 670 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 F | 17 F | 28.4 |
| February | 34 F | 20 F | 25.2 |
| March | 44 F | 29 F | 21 |
| April | 55 F | 38 F | 6.1 |
| May (mild) | 67 F | 48 F | 0.2 |
| June (mild) | 77 F | 58 F | 0 |
| July (mild) | 82 F | 65 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 80 F | 64 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 74 F | 56 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 61 F | 45 F | 1.9 |
| November | 48 F | 33 F | 14.5 |
| December | 36 F | 23 F | 25.4 |
How to book a state park campsite in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (State Park System) takes reservations through Wisconsin State Park System camping reservations. The longest advance booking its page states is eleven months.
How far ahead you can book
Camping reservations are required and can be made up to 11 months in advance of your planned date of occupancy.Wisconsin DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
First come, first served sites
Standard campsites at all state parks, forests and recreation areas are completely reservable. There are no non-reservable (first-come, first-served) standard campsites.Wisconsin DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
How many sites
Spend the night with nature in one of more than 6,000 campsites in the Wisconsin State Park System.Wisconsin DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Cancellations
If you cancel no later than 3 p.m. Central Time two days before the reservation day, you'll be credited a full refund of camping fees, but not the reservation or cancellation fees.Wisconsin DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (State Park System) pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in Wisconsin
Occupancy is limited to 21 days at the same site within a 28 day period, one road mile away from previous site.Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (USFS), read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in Wisconsin
Campfires in state parks and forests
Fires are allowed in fire rings and grills only. Do not leave fires unattended, and put out all fires before leaving.Wisconsin DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Whether you need a permit
State regulations allow fires for cooking, ceremonies or recreation, except when Emergency Burning Restrictions are in effect. A DNR wildfire prevention burning permit is not needed for these types of fires.Wisconsin DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
What the quote says: no permit is required.
Campfires on national forest and BLM land
In dry conditions, campfires may be banned in the general forest, but still allowed in campgrounds.Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (USFS), read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
After 9 a.m. on the day you wish to burn, check the daily burning restrictions and select the county where you plan to burn.Wisconsin DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: Wisconsin DNR Forest Fire Protection.
Wisconsin camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Wisconsin. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.