Eagle River Ranks Among Midwest’s Top Camping Destinations

When a national campground booking platform ranks your hometown second-best in the entire Midwest for camping, it’s worth raising a coffee mug in celebration. Eagle River just earned that distinction on Campspot’s 2026 Togetherness Index, and for those of us who’ve spent summer evenings watching the sun dip behind the pines or winter mornings warming up beside a campfire, the recognition feels less like a surprise and more like validation of what we’ve always known: this place is special.

The ranking highlights two family-owned resorts — Peaceful Pines Resort and Chain O’ Lakes Camping Resort — but really, it’s a nod to the entire community’s commitment to keeping the Northwoods spirit alive. Chris Westfall, owner of Peaceful Pines, captured it perfectly when he told local media that Eagle River “is like the spirit of the Northwoods. It’s got a lot of activity, it’s alive!” That energy, combined with our lakes, forests, and genuine Wisconsinite warmth, creates something you can’t manufacture or replicate.

What Makes Eagle River a Camping Haven

Let’s talk geography for a moment. Eagle River sits at the heart of the world’s largest chain of 28 connected freshwater lakes, giving campers immediate access to over 28 miles of navigable waterways right from their campsite. Whether you’re paddling a kayak at sunrise, casting for musky in the afternoon, or taking the kids tubing behind the pontoon, the Chain of Lakes system turns every camping trip into a water-based adventure.

But the outdoor opportunities extend far beyond the shoreline. Vilas County’s location within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest means campers have access to over half a million acres of public land. That’s hiking trails that wind through old-growth forest, mountain biking routes that challenge even experienced riders, and wildlife viewing opportunities that bring foxes, deer, loons, and the occasional black bear into your camping stories. When Westfall mentions guests saying “there’s so much here,” he’s not exaggerating — the density of outdoor experiences within a ten-mile radius of Eagle River is genuinely remarkable.

The Family-Owned Resort Difference

Campspot’s methodology for their Togetherness Index focuses on booking trends and length of stay — essentially measuring where families choose to spend extended time together. According to Carolin Fuller, Campspot’s Director of Consumer Marketing, Eagle River succeeds because “it is genuinely easy to spend full days together, whether that is on the Chain of Lakes, out fishing and boating, or exploring nearby parks and trails.”

What that analysis doesn’t fully capture is the role family-owned resorts play in creating that togetherness. Places like Peaceful Pines and Chain O’ Lakes aren’t corporate operations running standardized experiences across multiple locations. They’re businesses where owners like Westfall greet returning families by name, remember that the Johnsons prefer the shaded site near the playground, and genuinely invest in making each visit memorable. “We strive for perfection to give our campers the experience,” Westfall explained, and that attention to detail shows up in everything from well-maintained facilities to local recommendations that only a longtime resident would know.

This personal touch matters in an era when many travelers are searching for authenticity. Fuller noted that Eagle River’s inclusion reinforces that “the destinations people are most drawn to are not always the biggest or flashiest.” In the Northwoods, we’ve never tried to be flashy — we’ve just focused on being genuine, and apparently, that resonates with families looking to disconnect from screens and reconnect with each other around a campfire.

Year-Round Appeal Beyond Summer Camping

While the Campspot ranking focuses on camping season, Eagle River’s appeal as an outdoor destination extends across all four seasons, and that versatility strengthens its position as a Midwest camping hub. Known as the Snowmobile Capital of the World, the community transforms in winter when hundreds of miles of groomed trails bring snowmobilers from across the region. The World Championship Snowmobile Derby each January draws crowds that rival summer tourist numbers.

Spring brings the fishing opener, when walleye and musky anglers descend on the Chain of Lakes with renewed optimism and fresh tackle. Fall offers a quieter beauty — cranberry harvests at local marshes, hiking trails painted in autumn colors, and those crisp mornings when the lake reflects the sky like polished glass. This seasonal diversity means campground owners can build sustainable businesses rather than cramming everything into three summer months, and it gives the community a year-round vibrancy that enhances the camping experience even during peak season.

Economic Ripple Effects for Vilas County

Recognition like the Campspot ranking delivers tangible benefits beyond bragging rights. For small, family-owned businesses operating on thin margins, increased visibility translates directly to bookings. When potential visitors research “best camping in the Midwest” and find Eagle River highlighted alongside major metropolitan areas, it puts our community in front of travelers who might never have considered Northern Wisconsin for their vacation.

Those camping visitors support the broader local economy in ways that compound quickly. Campers need groceries, fishing licenses, bait, restaurant meals, ice cream cones downtown, and souvenirs from local shops. They book guided fishing trips, rent pontoon boats from local marinas, and visit attractions like the Northwoods Children’s Museum on rainy days. The Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce estimates tourism drives the majority of local employment, making campground success a community-wide win.

There’s also an intangible benefit to recognition like this — it reinforces community pride. When national platforms acknowledge what locals have worked to preserve and share, it validates the choices we’ve made to prioritize natural resource protection, maintain trail systems, and invest in facilities that welcome visitors without overwhelming the landscape. As Westfall expressed his hope that the ranking would “bring even more people to enjoy Eagle River and the Northwoods,” he’s articulating a common sentiment: we want to share this place, and we want to do it right.

Looking Ahead: Balancing Growth and Preservation

The Campspot recognition arrives at an interesting moment for Northwoods tourism. Post-pandemic travel trends show sustained interest in outdoor destinations, particularly places where families can spend quality time away from urban environments. Eagle River is well-positioned to meet that demand, but growth always presents challenges for communities built around natural resources.

Maintaining the authenticity that makes Eagle River appealing requires intentional choices. Family-owned resorts like those featured in the Campspot ranking have inherent advantages here — they’re invested in long-term sustainability rather than short-term profit maximization, and they understand that environmental stewardship protects their business model. When lake water quality suffers or trails become overcrowded, campers notice and adjust their plans accordingly.

The good news is that Eagle River’s position within over 3,200 regional waterways and vast public forest lands provides natural capacity for visitor growth without the crowding that plagues smaller destinations. Strategic investments in campground infrastructure, continued trail maintenance, and thoughtful marketing that distributes visitors across seasons can help the community welcome more families while preserving the qualities that earned this recognition in the first place.

For now, though, we can simply appreciate what this ranking represents: a national acknowledgment that Eagle River has something special to offer families seeking connection, adventure, and the kind of memories that only form when you’re sitting around a campfire under a canopy of stars, surrounded by the sounds of the Northwoods. As Westfall noted, people come from all over and consistently say they “absolutely love it here.” Sometimes the best marketing is simply delivering an experience worth talking about — and worth returning to, year after year.