- Top Camp Lists
Looking for an unforgettable overnight summer camp for your kids or teens near Milwaukee for 2027? From old-school traditional camps to specialty adventure camps, we hand-picked ten of Wisconsin’s most incredible sleepaway camps within driving distance of Milwaukee that are sure to give your kids the best summer ever. Want more options? Browse all overnight camps in Wisconsin. 🧀
| Camp | Location | Age Range |
|---|---|---|
| Camp Timber-lee | East Troy, WI | 7-17 |
| Clearwater Camp for Girls | Minocqua, WI | 8-16 |
| Herzl Camp | Webster, WI | 7-17 |
| Camp Jorn YMCA | Manitowish Waters, WI | 8-16 |
| St John’s Northwestern Camp | Delafield, WI | 11-17 |
| Sugar Creek Bible Camp | Ferryville, WI | 6-18 |
| Camp Timberlane | Woodruff, WI | 8-15 |
| The Woods | Fredonia, WI | 8-17 |
| Camp Young Judaea Midwest | Waupaca, WI | 7-15 |
| North Star Camp | Hayward, WI | 8-15 |

Camp Timber-lee is a traditional coed Christian overnight camp set on 600 acres in the rolling hills of Southern Wisconsin, serving ages 7–17. Offering 3-day and full-week sessions, campers dive into ziplining, horseback riding, canoeing, archery, and a creation science center. With counselor-led small groups, daily chapel, and a vibrant community, Timber-lee builds confidence and faith in a fun, high-energy environment.
📍 ~50 minutes from Milwaukee

Clearwater Camp is a classic, non-competitive sleepaway camp for girls ages 8–16, located on the shores of Tomahawk Lake in the Wisconsin Northwoods. Operating since 1933, this screen-free retreat offers 2-, 3.5-, and 7-week sessions centered on community and outdoor adventure. Girls build lifelong confidence while choosing from sailing, English horseback riding, waterskiing, archery, and wilderness canoe trips.
📍 ~4 hours from Milwaukee

Herzl Camp is an independent, trans-denominational Jewish overnight camp for ages 8–17, set on Devils Lake in northwestern Wisconsin. Since 1946, Herzl has offered 1- to 4-week sessions filled with Jewish culture, Israeli spirit, and classic camp traditions. Campers build tight-knit cabin friendships while enjoying waterskiing, ropes courses, arts, sports, and spirited Shabbat celebrations.
📍 ~5.5 hours from Milwaukee

Camp Jorn YMCA is a coed resident camp set on a 70-acre peninsula along Rest Lake in the Northwoods. Offering 1- and 2-week sessions for ages 7–16, Camp Jorn emphasizes character development, outdoor skills, and independence. Campers customize their days with waterskiing, sailing, archery, creative arts, climbing, and wilderness canoe trips across the Manitowish Chain of Lakes.
📍 ~4 hours from Milwaukee

St. John’s Northwestern offers an action-packed Adventure Camp for boys and girls ages 11–17 on its historic military academy campus along Lake Nagawicka. Featuring 1-week sessions, campers step out of their comfort zones with a 43-foot rappelling tower, obstacle courses, scuba diving, archery, and private island water sports. Led by experienced mentors, it focuses on team-building, leadership, and outdoor grit.
📍 30 minutes from Milwaukee

Sugar Creek Bible Camp is a Christian resident camp set on over 600 acres of bluffs and valleys near the Mississippi River. Serving campers entering grades 1–12 with weeklong programs, Sugar Creek blends faith formation with outdoor fun. Activities include horseback riding, creek walks, swimming, archery, and wilderness canoe trips, creating an intentional, screen-free community where kids build lasting bonds.
📍 ~3.5 hours from Milwaukee

Camp Timberlane is an unplugged, non-competitive overnight camp for boys ages 8–15, located on a private, spring-fed lake in northern Wisconsin. With a low 3:1 camper-to-staff ratio, boys choose their daily schedule from extensive water sports, land games, climbing, and wilderness backpacking or canoe trips. Timberlane fosters self-reliance, sportsmanship, and lifelong brotherhood in a rustic setting.
📍 ~4 hours from Milwaukee

The Woods Camp is a non-denominational Christian overnight camp for ages 8–17, located near the Kettle Moraine forest. Operating for nearly 80 years with a “Christ First” mission, this high-energy camp features weeklong sessions packed with a floating aqua park, paintball, challenge courses, dodgeball, and cabin devotions. It’s an accessible retreat for kids to unplug, make lifelong friends, and deepen their faith.
📍 ~50 minutes from Milwaukee

Camp Young Judaea (CYJ) Midwest is a coed Jewish overnight camp for ages 7–15, situated on 80 wooded acres on Lake Stratton. Offering 1- to 4-week sessions, CYJ Midwest blends a passionate Zionistic atmosphere with classic camp activities. Campers enjoy tubing, zip-lining, sports, drama, and Israeli arts in a warm, family-style community where every kid feels connected.
📍 ~2 hours from Milwaukee

North Star Camp is a traditional boys’ sleepaway camp for ages 8–15, set on Spider Lake in the Northwoods. Offering 4- and 8-week sessions, North Star focuses on social-emotional growth, friendship, and non-competitive play. Campers build independence through an active wilderness tripping program, sailing, athletics, rock climbing, and water sports in a supportive environment.
📍 ~5.5 hours from Milwaukee
Browse all overnight summer camps in Wisconsin. Filter by activity, age, gender, and more to find the perfect fit for your kid or teen in summer 2027.
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