The 7 best glamping spots for Wisconsin stargazing
From Wisconsin Dells to Wautoma, we’ve gathered Wisconsin’s best glamping spots for stargazing so you can take in the night sky in cushy style.
Glamping is the new camping, and it’s totally fetch. (Are we the only ones who’d like to see the “Mean Girls” crew go camping?)
If you aren’t familiar with the term, “glamping” is a combination of “glam” and “camping,” and it’s simply defined as a more cushy outdoors experience. This can mean different things to different people and venues, but it typically includes nixing traditional tents that can leave you hot and covered with bugs in favor of cabins, yurts, and other more comfortable lodging. These accommodations often include air conditioning, kitchen, cozy bedding, and outdoor amenities like fire pits.
Glamping venues are typically located in or near forests, and they’re also often next to rivers and hiking trails, so you’re never far from a relaxing day of fishing or an exciting day of exploration. Perhaps the best part, though, is that you can stargaze in style, taking in nature like never before. There are old sayings that recount the moon looking like a wheel of cheese, and we all know what Wisconsin produces en masse, after all.
If we’ve piqued your attention, look no further for inspiration, as we’ve gathered seven of the best glamping spots for stargazing in Wisconsin. After reading this list, you’ll never want to pitch a tent again.
1. Edenwood Ranch & Preserve (Wautoma)
Address: W5734 Chicago Ave, Wautoma, WI 54982
Description: We’ll start our journey in Wautoma, a peaceful town that’s perfect for slowing down. It also has a beach within close proximity, making it a particularly rejuvenating spot for a getaway. But just where should you look? We recommend Edenwood Ranch & Preserve, which offers both cabins — you can book a full cabin or a suite — and glamping tents to its guests.
Edenwood’s glamping tents aren’t your typical camp dwellings. Instead, they’re much larger and contain amenities like a gas stove, a refrigerator, a shower, robes, and more. The key difference between the tents and the cabins is that the cabins are naturally larger and the tents, despite being made of wood and other construction materials we associate with brick-and-mortar buildings, are shaped like traditional tents you camped with as a kid.
No matter what type of visit you choose, there’s no shortage of things to do at Edenwood Ranch. You can spend some time honing your archery skills, take a dip or read book at the beach, fish, do a spot of birdwatching, and even participate in a guided hunting tour. Oh, and don’t forget stargazing, which Edenwood Ranch actually recommends on its website.
All of this has led to excellent visitor experiences, with the facility having a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor. “The cabins and glamping tents were very spacious and well designed, by far, exceeded any of our expectations,” one reviewer wrote, while another called it a “corder of paradise.” Stargazing in a “corner of paradise” sounds ideal to us!
2. Coadys’ Point of View Lake Resort
Address: 3932 Point of Vw Trl, Phelps, WI 54554 (Phelps)
Description: Sometimes abbreviated as POV Lake Resort, Coadys’ Point of View Lake Resort is owned, of course, by the Coady family, and it’s a highly-rated glamping spot in Wisconsin. It’s a more secluded option for those who want a true getaway, offering the best of both North Twin Lake and Nicolet National Forest.
This means you can explore and swim — or kick back and relax — to your heart’s content. In fact, this resort’s cabins are spread out in a way that enables some guests to be close to the water and others to be surrounded by trees. It’s a real haven for those who want to curate their time to honor the land or the lake.
The POV Lake Resort offers three types of accommodations: luxury tents, vintage campers, and fully furnished and renovated cabins. Like with their scattered locations, this allows you to customize your trip and get the most out of it — and your money. In total, the resort has 28 types of rentals, and each comes with plenty of sitting area, whether you want a private picnic bench outside or room inside to stretch out.
What can you expect to pay? Well, the price range varies pretty widely based on building type. On the lower end, you can rent a spot to bring your own tent for $55 or rent one of the resort’s luxury tents for $115. On the higher end, you can fork over $300 for a three-bedroom log cabin. (Note: all prices are per night and before taxes and fees.)
To help you make the most out of your day, Coadys’ POV Lake Resort has access to fishing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling, and you’ll also have access to a WiFi, a general store, complimentary boats, and more. These are just a few reasons visitors love this destination, though.
On Tripadvisor, POV Lake Resort has a perfect 5-star rating, and reviewers say it’s “good for the soul.” Others even note that they’re been resort regulars for more than a decade and never have a bad time!
3. Camp Kettlewood (East Troy)
Address: W3524 WI-20, East Troy, WI 53120
Description: Described on the destination’s website as a “boutique campground,” Camp Kettlewood is more low-key than the resorts on this list but still provides an elevated experience that you simply couldn’t get from camping on your own. It does this through its three rental options: antique cabins, platform tents, and vintage trailers that look like they’re straight out of the ‘60s — just without any rust, wear, or damage you might associate with old-school airstreams.
Everything at Camp Kettlewood is hand-decorated, and the campground notes that it picks its decor out at local antique markets and the like, so you’re guaranteed a one-of-a-kind experience. Oh, and the platform tents come in two options — traditional tents and more glamorous ones — so you can customize your trip a little.
Camp Kettlewood is full of activities, so you’re never going to find yourself bored while waiting for the sun to set to settle down into an evening of stargazing. You can do a spot of hiking, fishing, swimming, and more, and there are flea markets, museums, and other attractions nearby if you want to hit the town during the daytime. Then, once night settles in, you’ll have no problem finding space to stargaze, seeing as Camp Kettlewood has about 80 acres of land to its name. It mentions that this has also been helpful throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as social distancing was easy thanks to this space. This same philosophy can apply to stargazing.
Based on what we’ve seen, we’re not surprised that Camp Kettlewood has a 4.9-star rating on Google. “This place is the cutest, cleanest campgrounds I’ve ever stayed at,” one reviewer wrote of their experience. “Our stay at Camp Kettlewood was remarkable. The sites are rustic, spacious, and wonderful. … The place beat my expectations!” another said. Many reviewers also remark that the facilities, including the bathrooms, are particularly clean, making for a pretty smooth stay.
4. Dells Camping Resort (Wisconsin Dells)
Address: 1130 Freedom Ct, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Description: Dells Camping Resort is lauded as both being a great family vacation spot and a place where you’re treated like family by the staff. At least that’s what Tripadvisor reviewers say, giving the resort a cumulative 4-star rating. Though this isn’t as high of a rating as other resorts on this list, Dells Camping Resort still seems to be a solid option, especially for those who have kids. “We picked this campground specifically because it had all of the kids activities. They loved the pool, bounce pillow, bubble area, arcade, and movie night,” one reviewer shared.
These are precisely some of the amenities that set Dells Camping Resort apart from traditional camping. Another key difference is that you won’t be pitching a tent here. Instead, you can either bring your camper and park it to enjoy your stay or rent one of the resort’s dwellings. More specifically, there are two types of buildings: six-person cottages and more traditional log cabins that are a little smaller.
In either case, you can expect to have a functioning kitchen area, a hot shower, a fire pit, a picnic table, and more. Plus, whether you’re at the common area (where the pool and other amenities are) or at your own camper or cabin, there’s no shortage of visible sky. There are trees around, but not enough to block your chances of stargazing.
One of the only downsides of Dells Camping Resort is its seasonal availability. For example, its 2024 season runs from April 11 to October 20, so if you don’t visit before then, you’ll need to wait until next spring. Still, the per-night prices aren’t too shabby, with rates only passing $200 on holidays.
5. Pride of America Camping Resort (Pardeeville)
Address: W7520 W Bush Rd, Pardeeville, WI 53954
Description: Want a kid-friendly glamping venue during peak stargazing season but don’t live near Wisconsin Dells? Don’t worry. Further east, you’ll find Pardeeville’s resident glamping hot spot, Pride of America Camping Resort.
This resort covers a lot more ground, and with that comes more camping options. Namely, you can rent a full five-bedroom house, a smaller cabin, a spot for your camper, or a cottage, so you can bring the whole crew — friends and family alike — and never run out of room. Need we mention that these buildings have TVs, washers and dryers, air conditioning and heat, and more?
Now, we know you’re here for stargazing, and there’s certainly plenty of space to lie under the night sky and try to scope out your favorite constellation. In fact, this resort sits on Lake George, so you not only don’t have to worry about trees blocking your view but you’ll also get beautiful nighttime reflections in the water, creating even more of a memorable experience.
That said, don’t forget to check out this venue’s daytime activities, too. Pride of America has something for everyone: an arcade room, a stunning pool, lakeside activities, sand volleyball, fishing piers, laser tag, bounce houses — the list goes on (and on). You have near countless options to tucker yourself out before collapsing under the moon to stargaze.
At the time of writing, the most expensive dwelling — the Beach Cottage — seems to cap out at $230 per night, so the prices remain pretty affordable, especially if splitting it among friends and family. “My family loves this place. We go yearly. Highly recommend if you have kids!” one Google reviewer wrote of their trip, adding to the resort’s cumulative 4.5-star rating. Meanwhile, on Tripadvisor, where the resort has 4 stars, one visitor mentioned that this venue is “[v]ery affordable compared to other campgrounds in the area.” Most visitor complaints seem to stem from overcrowdedness, but if you don’t mind a bustling resort, this might be your favorite spot.
6. Silver Springs Campground (Rio)
Address: N5048 Ludwig Rd, Rio, WI 53960
Description: Rio’s Silver Springs Campground is a water lover’s dream. It sits on a spring-fed pond that delivers ample fun from swimming and water sports, but it also has a decently big heated pool for those who don’t like swimming in natural bodies of water or for days when the pond is simply too chilly to be entered.
Other amenities include volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, playgrounds, fishing, a game room, and so much more. You can even rent paddle boats and canoes to take out onto the pond. But this is only the list of staple amenities — Silver Springs also provides consistent events and entertainment, including craft sessions for full-family fun and DJs for live music. Don’t forget the Snack Shack, either. Poolside dining has never been so easy!
Because of its positioning on the lake, Silver Springs Campground is a perfect venue for stargazing. You’ll have an unfiltered view of the sky, which is even more true if you choose to stay on the campsites, where the venue provides electric and water hookups. However, you don’t have to own a camper to enjoy Silver Springs — it has cabins and cottages, too! These buildings all have air conditioning, heat, refrigerators, ceiling fans, and other glamping godsends, and they can fit up to six people, though this varies by building.
Prices for the cabins and cottages range from $95 to $190 per night depending on the level of luxury you choose and the day of the week and year you choose to stay.
“Awesome family campground!!! Our family was very impressed,” one Google reviewer wrote of Silver Springs Campground. Many reviewers further note that the grounds are kept very clean, tidy, and maintenance, leading guests to rarely have issues. According to one Tripadvisor reviewer, this glamping destination is “[p]erfect for all kinds of campers,” and its overall 4-star rating seems to back that claim up. Some don’t like the overcrowdedness, but like with the other venus on this list, Silver Springs might just be for you if you don’t mind being around others.
7. Indian Shores RV Resort (Woodruff)
Address: 7750 Indian Shrs Rd, Woodruff, WI 54568
Description: Indian Shores RV Resort is Woodruff’s premier year-round destination that provides its guests with myriad activities to ensure there’s never an ounce of boredom in sight.
In the warmer months, Lake Tomahawk sets a beautiful backdrop for water fun of all kinds, including swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and more, while the resort also offers volleyball, mini golf, and other sports and games. Then, once winter rears its head, ice fishing and snowmobiling become the activities du jour. Luckily, the facility’s on-site restaurant remains open year-round, too, so a hot meal is never more than a few moments away, no matter if you’ve been in the snow for hours or need to rejuvenate after a long day under the summer sun. Of course, this lake atmosphere, as with other resorts on this list, means stargazing at Indian Shores is a breeze.
When it comes to lodging, Indian Shores has four central options: campsites, cottages, park models, and camper rentals. The campsites come in a variety of settings — lakefront or surrounded by trees, for instance — and the rental campers sleep up to four people in their 32-feet-long space. Meanwhile, the cottages have full kitchens, queen and twin-sized beds, comfy linens, decks, picnic tables, grills, and so much more. Finally, the park models have similar amenities to the cottages but are only one bedroom, though they have an attached sunroom for maximum leisure (and enclosed stargazing).
In general, folks have a good time at Indian Shores, as evidenced by online reviews. On Google, the venue has a 4.1-star rating, with reviewers calling it a “gem” and saying things like, “This is a beautiful campground, and so much more!” Some reviewers mention that areas like the frisbee golf course could use some maintenance, but overall, visitors tend to have a good time. Just take it from a third reviewer, who called it the “[b]est campground ever!”
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