Ottawa Lake Campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest offers camping options with electric hookups and basic amenities for visitors seeking glamping close to Bristol, Wisconsin. The campground maintains multiple bathroom and shower buildings throughout the property, providing convenient access for campers. Sites are typically level and well-maintained with fire rings and picnic tables. Winter camping is available for those prepared for colder temperatures, though with limited facilities. The campground connects to numerous hiking and biking trails throughout the forest.
What to do
Kayaking on multiple connected lakes: Chain O' Lakes State Park provides an extensive waterway system with seven connected lakes. "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I enjoy this route for the wildlife and nature scenery. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far," reports a visitor to Turner Lake South Camping Area.
Horseback riding and archery: Several parks offer equestrian trails and archery ranges. "There is so much to do at this campground. Horseback riding, archery, hiking, boating, fishing. There is also a park for the kids in several areas," notes a camper who stayed at Turner Lake South.
Winter exploration: For off-season adventures, consider winter camping in the area. "No showers in winter but awesome," writes a visitor about Ottawa Lake Campground, indicating the campground remains accessible during colder months with limited facilities.
Hiking varied terrain: The region offers trails through woods, prairies, and around lakes. "We enjoyed the most was the variety of hiking trails. They aren't the longest but we were able to vary the route up to keep it fresh for our dog to sniff out her adventure. Some of grass and others were dirt," shares a visitor to Thomas Woods Campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers value the spacing between camping spots. "The campsites are a nice size and have electric hookups. Water was at central locations and a dump is on the way out. Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post," explains a visitor to Fox Den Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and showers rate highly in camper reviews. "Bathroom/shower houses were decent (we usually just have toddler use her travel potty, but this one was fine)," notes a family camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Affordable camping options: Budget-conscious visitors appreciate reasonable rates at some locations. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night," reports a visitor to Turner Lake South.
Lakefront access: Direct water access adds appeal to many campsites. "We stayed in one of the tent sites across the road from the lakefront sites. There are about 8 tent/pop up sites and the rest of the campground is for RVs. I recommend the lakefront tent sites, they are spacious and you can fish right from your site!" shares a camper at Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.
What you should know
Wildlife encounters: Both beneficial and challenging wildlife interactions are common. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Also - the raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched," warns a visitor to Honeysuckle Hollow.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience significant traffic noise or weekend crowds. "The road noise is absolutely noticeable. It was incredibly loud when we drove through the loop closest to the highway and was significantly better even just one section over," reports a camper at Ottawa Lake.
Limited dispersed camping: Despite listings suggesting otherwise, true backcountry camping is restricted. "I've camped here in the cabin option, which was fine and relatively quiet a few years ago, but wanted to find a place more secluded to do dispersed camping. I called to verify and they do NOT allow any dispersed camping unless if you have a group of 40 or more people for boy scouts/girl scouts," clarifies a visitor to Fox Den Campground.
Seasonal operation: Most glamping facilities near Bristol close during winter months. "This is a great campground. The bathroom facilities have a bit to be desired but still very functional. If you like to kayak or canoe this is a great place to be," notes a visitor to Honeysuckle Hollow.
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated activity areas: Family-friendly campgrounds offer specific features for children. "Plenty for the little kids to do, and the text message communication was great with regards to weather updates or any goings on around the campground," shares a visitor to Chicago Northwest KOA.
Choose sites near playgrounds: Strategic site selection helps with families. "We chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms... avoid the first 2 sites from either end as the ones closest to the main loop aren't very deep," advises a family camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Set up protected play spaces: Plan for insects and weather. "Plan for toddlers and babies to have a contained covered screen house and have them wear hats or a wagon shade on walks so nothing lands in their hair," suggests a family who camped at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Consider tent placement carefully: Finding level ground matters for family comfort. "Sites had gravel and roots so tent spot took some searching and clearing to find," reports a camper at Turner Lake South.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup placement: Check site details before booking. "Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts too far from parking pad. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees," explains an RVer who visited Fox Den Campground.
Weekend vs. weekday stays: Timing affects the camping experience significantly. "The campground was really busy during the weekend, but cleared out Sunday and we nearly had the whole loop to ourselves during the week," notes an RV camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Dump station access: Plan for potentially busy facilities. "The dump station was near the entrance to the camping loop and had potable water. It was also very busy and we had to wait when filling up and again when dumping," shares an RV camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Check site dimensions: Some sites have specific limitations. "A lot of the spaces are also crowded together. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance. We originally booked 96 but could not extend our slide because of large trees on either side of the pad," advises an experienced RVer.
