About Franklin Lake
Number of accommodations: 43
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
Water Access
- Beach Access
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Rates, Sites & Availability
43 Sites Available
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Site Details
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43 Sites Available
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Reviews (306)
What Guests Are Saying
Franklin Lake is a beloved campground with spacious, well-maintained sites and beautiful surroundings, making it a favorite for many returning campers. Visitors appreciate the clean facilities, scenic hiking trails, and the tranquility of the lake, especially for families and young swimmers. Some concerns include the lack of showers and limited water access, but overall, the positive experiences and friendly hosts contribute to its charm.
What Guests Are Saying
Franklin Lake is a beloved campground with spacious, well-maintained sites and beautiful surroundings, making it a favorite for many returning campers. Visitors appreciate the clean facilities, scenic hiking trails, and the tranquility of the lake, especially for families and young swimmers. Some concerns include the lack of showers and limited water access, but overall, the positive experiences and friendly hosts contribute to its charm.
Review Summary
Phoebe S
VerifiedSeptember 9, 2024 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: South
Franklin is a great lake for young swimmers. Fairly shallow and calm.
Campsites are fairly private. Clean bathrooms.
Nice options for short or long hikes - but bring bug spray and a bug net for summer hiking on the Hidden Lakes trail!
Daniel K
VerifiedAugust 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 060, Loop: North
Beautiful location, nice flat camping area, there were a ton of rocks that were impossible to clear from the site, but with a decent sleeping pad they were not a factor. Super easy check in (literally just drive up to your site), and we were right on the lake. Definitely will camp here again.
Daniel K
VerifiedAugust 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 060, Loop: North
Beautiful location, nice flat camping area, there were a ton of rocks that were impossible to clear from the site, but with a decent sleeping pad they were not a factor. Super easy check in (literally just drive up to your site), and we were right on the lake. Definitely will camp here again.
Daniel K
VerifiedAugust 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 060, Loop: North
Beautiful location, nice flat camping area, there were a ton of rocks that were impossible to clear from the site, but with a decent sleeping pad they were not a factor. Super easy check in (literally just drive up to your site), and we were right on the lake. Definitely will camp here again.
Patrick S
VerifiedAugust 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 022, Loop: South
Alice G
VerifiedAugust 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 028, Loop: South
Truly the only thing keeping me from giving an Excellent rating is (and I gotta believe you've heard this over and over), the online ORDEAL of trying to get a site is AWFUL! For us tent campers who happen to need access to toilet facilities AND who stay for longer than a 3 or 4 day weekend, is getting to be very tenuous. The reserved sites are scattered into tiny blocks that make longer stays near impossible to obtain. This year we needed to leave a full week later than desired just to get an 11 or 12 day span. Forget getting sites close together; that option is null. I had hoped that the electric addition to sites 28 thru 40 would be for tent only. That puts us in proximity of a toilet. AND those sites are nice sized for tents. We're seeing larger and larger rigs coming in & utilizing those sites. What a shame. On a GREAT note, this year's volunteer hosts in this front section were PHENOMENAL! Bathrooms were unbelievable clean & well supplied throughout our visit. It also looked like the Forestry Service did a bit of clean up to the adjoining woods. Thanks to all.
Patrick S
VerifiedAugust 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 022, Loop: South
Alice G
VerifiedAugust 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 028, Loop: South
Truly the only thing keeping me from giving an Excellent rating is (and I gotta believe you've heard this over and over), the online ORDEAL of trying to get a site is AWFUL! For us tent campers who happen to need access to toilet facilities AND who stay for longer than a 3 or 4 day weekend, is getting to be very tenuous. The reserved sites are scattered into tiny blocks that make longer stays near impossible to obtain. This year we needed to leave a full week later than desired just to get an 11 or 12 day span. Forget getting sites close together; that option is null. I had hoped that the electric addition to sites 28 thru 40 would be for tent only. That puts us in proximity of a toilet. AND those sites are nice sized for tents. We're seeing larger and larger rigs coming in & utilizing those sites. What a shame. On a GREAT note, this year's volunteer hosts in this front section were PHENOMENAL! Bathrooms were unbelievable clean & well supplied throughout our visit. It also looked like the Forestry Service did a bit of clean up to the adjoining woods. Thanks to all.
Alice G
VerifiedAugust 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 028, Loop: South
Truly the only thing keeping me from giving an Excellent rating is (and I gotta believe you've heard this over and over), the online ORDEAL of trying to get a site is AWFUL! For us tent campers who happen to need access to toilet facilities AND who stay for longer than a 3 or 4 day weekend, is getting to be very tenuous. The reserved sites are scattered into tiny blocks that make longer stays near impossible to obtain. This year we needed to leave a full week later than desired just to get an 11 or 12 day span. Forget getting sites close together; that option is null. I had hoped that the electric addition to sites 28 thru 40 would be for tent only. That puts us in proximity of a toilet. AND those sites are nice sized for tents. We're seeing larger and larger rigs coming in & utilizing those sites. What a shame. On a GREAT note, this year's volunteer hosts in this front section were PHENOMENAL! Bathrooms were unbelievable clean & well supplied throughout our visit. It also looked like the Forestry Service did a bit of clean up to the adjoining woods. Thanks to all.
Patrick S
VerifiedAugust 23, 2024 • Stayed at: 022, Loop: South
Location Franklin Lake
Address:
U S D A Forest Service
Eagle River, WI, 54521
United States
Drive approximately 8 miles east from Eagle River on Highway 70. Turn south onto Military Road/Forest Road 2178 and continue about 2 miles, to Butternut Lake Road/Forest Road 2181, and continue approximately 4 miles to the campground.
Franklin Lake campground is accessible via Highway 70, approximately 8 miles west of Eagle River. There are no nearby interstates or freeways within 25 miles.
Latitude & Longitude: 45.9247 / -89.0081
Elevation: 529 feet
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Amenities
- Electricity is provided at certain campsites.
General
- Click here for more information on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Fires & fuel
- Firewood from outside the area is prohibited to protect against invasive pests.
Site types & loops
- Camping is limited to designated hardened areas only.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 5, 2026
