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Richard Bong State Recreation Area provides pet-friendly camping in both Sunrise and Sunset campgrounds, where leashed dogs are welcomed throughout the park. Sites are generally spacious with good tree coverage for privacy, especially in the Sunset loop where sites 312, 314, 327, 328, 329, and 333 offer excellent shade and flat terrain. Dogs must remain on leash at all times while exploring the recreation area's extensive trail system. The campgrounds feature clean restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. Most campers find the park rangers vigilant about enforcing rules, particularly regarding pets and quiet hours.
The recreation area spans thousands of acres with multiple hiking trails ideal for dog walking through prairie and wooded areas. Many trails are relatively flat and appropriate for all skill levels. The park includes Wolf Lake, where dogs can cool off near shorelines though swimming restrictions may apply. Campers with pets should be prepared for mosquitoes, particularly after rainfall, and ticks during warmer months. Basic insect repellent and regular tick checks are recommended for both humans and pets. Nearby Burlington provides veterinary services and pet supplies if needed. The park's diverse ecosystem offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, though pet owners should keep dogs leashed to prevent wildlife disturbances or encounters with local fauna.
"I would recommend this for anyone for starting to step out of the comfort zone for the outdoors. very simple, many paths to walk, jog, or ride a bike. a small lake is near the further parking lot. dogs"
"Pros: great hiking trails, nice lake to kayak on, family friendly beach and picnic areas Cons: Not great fishing, no dog friendly swim area, the beach/fishing pier/boat launch are all pretty far from"
"I grew up in Burlington and used to visit this place often. This place has a little of everything except mountains. You can fish, hunt, hit the trail in your boots, or on your ORV."
"Rocket launch (bring your own,) atv (no rentals-bring your own), water fowl hunting (during season), fishing, wildlife watching, swimming at the beach, playground for kids, and my favorite- nice trails"
"We love private campsites, far enough away from other campers, yet close enough to amenities. We chose a walk in site #16 which was nice but I wish we chose one a bit further in."
"Nice large sites. gravel spot for arc/trailer. fire pit and picnic table. trails for hiking are nice, but the overall camping area isn’t very big. 100 sites only. 30 with electric. this was the first time"
"Huge beach area, dog park, fishing as well. Shop to buy items you may need and absolutely wonderful place. Open all year round"
"Some have a beautiful view of lake. Some water fountains did not work, however sinks were always working. So many little trails all throughout the campsite."
"Petting zoo, camp store, pool, lake/pond for swimming and fishing. Cell signal for ATT just one bar. No internet. Lots of full time residents. Lots of activities for kids. Pet friendly."
"we’ve been RV camping here for 2 months now and love it. the bathrooms are older but still nice and cleaned daily. the pool is fantastic, lots of fun playgrounds around, and there’s a neat walking trail"
"*** reviewing as a baby/toddler camp family on the go :-) 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"
"Campsite is nice, we're pretty close to our neighbors but not as bad as other places I've been. Walking distance to a fishing dock!"
"They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly."
"Driving into rural northern IL felt like leaving the craziness behind. I brought my dog to an animal-friendly area of the beach, which was small and secluded."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"No radios or pets allowed. I'm not sure about children!"
"I've stayed here twice, both times in August (of different years), both times in Loop 1 which is the quiet loop (no pets, no radios or other noise, 24 hours a day)."
from $18 - $30 / night
"In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60& 61."
"You can hear whatever highway is nearby pretty clearly and constantly. But if you’re not looking for something super remote then it’s fine!"
"It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "
"However there is plenty of space around to find a spot on your own. The campsites are a nice size and have electric hookups. Water was at central locations and a dump is on the way out."
GuideWe love private campsites, far enough away from other campers, yet close enough to amenities. We chose a walk in site #16 which was nice but I wish we chose one a bit further in. Bathrooms where very clean. Trails are great. Pet friendly - we brought our small, quiet dogs. Dog friendly restaurant right next to the camp site.
TravelerJust became KOA met local campers that love this park! Good sites, trash pickup at side! They even have a snack bar and deliver to your campsite! No enclosed dog park but plenty of area to walk your dog!
GuideAbsolutely beautiful, reasonable prices, electric available. Tons of restrooms, showers, laundry, and wonderful camp hosts. Huge beach area, dog park, fishing as well. Shop to buy items you may need and absolutely wonderful place. Open all year round
TravelerGreat park with swimming beach, trails, dog park, and archery range. Campsites were ok, not much separation or privacy at all. Pit toilets and metros desperately need to be cleaned more often. We had very noisy neighbors that did not respect the quiet hours rule and park staff did nothing to intervene. Very convenient that they drive through the Campground to sell/deliver firewood tho. I'd stay here again because the park overall is great, but I would try to choose a better site. #9 looked alright, and in the 20#s looked a bit more tree lined and bigger.
LegendMy first impression when I first arrived here was the overwhelming scent of a newly minted campground, what with the freshly laid gravel, the mint condition security gates, finely manicured and recently raked greenery (as it was October when we visited, it might be better described as brownery) surrounded by a fairly decent gated enclosure lined with perfectly pruned tall towering oaks. Upon arrival, you’ll find what looks to be a brand-spanking new log cabin office on the right after passing a seemingly freshly-minted activities center / community lodge complete with in-ground heated swimming pool and jacuzzi on the left.
Amenities? As you could guess, this pet-friendly 60-acre RV resort has all the attractions in spades from pickleball, playgrounds, volleyball, log pergola patio, full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water & sewage), picnic tables, fire pits, BBQ grills, wagon rides, river access, picnic areas, bathhouses w/ showers & restrooms, cable TV WiFi (pretty poor connection though), gaga ball, game room, community room, billiards table, playground, wet bar, tabletop shuffleboard, community living room with large screen TV, DVD player w/ DVD library, clubhouse, dog park, horseshoes, hot tub, covered pavilions with picnic tables, catch & release ponds, inflatable water toys, jumping pillow, laundr-O-mat, propane refueling station and dump station.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) This place isn’t EZ to find – for some reason, if you plug the campground into your GPS, you’ll literally be on the wrong side of the tracks, where you will arrive at a dead end with a sign that says you are in the wrong place and that you’ll need to double-back, cross the train tracks heading north and turn right just before arriving to High Road School of Belvidere (so if you see a school, you’ve gone too far); (2) You will want to take note that yes, you actually cross train tracks to get to this campground, so if you’re sharp, you’re going to want to ensure you haven’t booked a site right next to where trains will shoot through every few hours, this specifically means avoiding sites #E1-#E5 and #FS23-#FS36 as well as #FE1-#FE20; (3) If you’re a tent camper, you can certainly stay here, but you will want to note that this is very much an RV outpost; (4) The best sites IMHO are those on the northernmost perimeter, as far away from the train tracks as you can get and that also border the Kishwaukee River with sites #S9-#S20 being excellent, as well as #S25-#S81, which are equally amazing; (5) If you are planning on using that amazing pool that you saw as you came in, make sure you call management a good day or two before you come in to ensure that they turn on the heater – when we were there for 2 days, by the time we left, the pool was still too cold to go for a dip; and (6) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up a meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler and want to venture out to try some local fare, just a short walk into the nearby town is Garden Prairie Café, which has a very simple menu offering no shortage of fried everything (fish, shrimp, chicken, etc.) and then there’s Pleasant Street Tavern, but that’s mostly cheap national beers and frozen pizza fare, so if you want something a bit more substantive, head west of here to Miles Bar N’ Grill that serves up typical Midwestern fare like cheese curds, pork tenderloin, Italian beef and a variety of fried fish like blue gill, cod and catfish.
Happy Camping!
RangerI was here for three months this time as i get to business completed. The park was still kept up very nicely and this time I was here long enough to be able to see how. The grass is mowed every week. There is patroling at all hours for security. The laundry machines are great the dryers ore good. The dog park is clean and secure. The lake is natural and kept free of litter and garbage. The park is much bigger than i thought it was last year. The store has many items you may need. The showers are cleaned and work great. The camp water is high in Iron. The pot roads need service as thay do have a lot of pot holes. Good thing for the 5mph speed limit.
ScoutStaff was polite and helpful. They escort you to your spot. They hand out activity sheets for the weekend. Petting zoo, camp store, pool, lake/pond for swimming and fishing. Cell signal for ATT just one bar. No internet. Lots of full time residents. Lots of activities for kids. Pet friendly. They charge extra if you have visitors.
ScoutWe love camping here. It truly feels rural. Small shower house but water pressure is amazing. It’s always quiet and the view is beautiful. Bugs were awful this stay. They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly.
ScoutSo much good about this campground! Great management, really great food at the bar & grill. Clean sites, friendly people, great mix of full and part time residents. Holiday weekends get a little crazy, in both good and bad ways. WiFi was great in some areas, Non-existent in others. No cell carrier works well here at all, so non-functional WiFi areas can be a deal-breaker for connected campers unless you get a spot where WiFi is really good. There are several areas of great coverage, the dead spots just need some work. Starlink works in many areas, though the heavily wooded sites will need an elevated “dishy” to make it work. So many amenities. Horseshoes, bags pavilion, craft areas, fantastic pool and water slides, outdoor bar and ice cream shop. Don’t forget the lake and floating obstacle course. Dog park, baseball field, the list goes on.
The dump station lanes need some attention, more than gravel would be great. Andy being honest, there needs to be a few longer term sites with sewer hookups or a reasonable pump out service option.
For the list of pluses at this campground, the nits seem trivial. But those few details would put this location from 4 to 5 stars in a heartbeat if addressed.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area spans over 4,500 acres of varied terrain near Burlington, Wisconsin, with elevations ranging from 740 to 800 feet above sea level. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter temperatures often dropping below freezing. The recreation area's location in southeastern Wisconsin creates a transitional ecosystem between northern forest and southern prairie landscapes, resulting in diverse wildlife habitats throughout the property.
Fishing opportunities: At Ottawa Lake Campground, visitors can enjoy fishing in the clean lake that also hosts triathlons. "The lake is very clean and the site are a good size. Gets very busy on the weekends!" notes Neysha R., highlighting the popularity of water activities.
Kayaking and canoeing: Water enthusiasts appreciate Turner Lake South for its accessible waterways. As Cora M. explains, "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."
ATV riding: For those seeking more rugged activities, the ATV track at Sunrise Campground provides an outlet for motorized recreation. "We went for the ATV track. We took our bikes down by the pond and park. They have flush toilets and showers," reports Katie D., emphasizing the amenities that complement outdoor activities.
Natural spring water: Hikers at Kettle Moraine enjoy discovering natural springs. One visitor at Ottawa Lake shared, "Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!" This unique feature provides both recreation and refreshment.
Wildlife observation: Sunset Campground offers exceptional wildlife viewing. Tim H. reports, "It was pretty hot a couple days while we were there and to take a break from the heat, we enjoyed the ac in the car and drove around the recreation area and the campgrounds. I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw."
Private campsites: Many campers appreciate the layout at Sunset Campground. "What drew me to this campground was how private the individual sites were. Each campsite is cut back into the trees so that most are at least semi-private," explains Tim H., describing a feature that enhances the camping experience.
Seasonal considerations: Pinewoods Campground varies considerably by season. Jack D. notes, "We stayed in loop 3 site 273 as we were camping in the early season and loops 1-2 were closed." This highlights the importance of checking seasonal closures.
Bug preparation: Insect populations can be significant throughout the area. One camper at Sunset Campground warns, "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it." Prepare accordingly with proper repellents and protective clothing.
Campground access: Some properties like Chain O' Lakes State Park have significant distances between areas. One visitor observed, "This is a BIG park, the campgrounds are two miles from the front gate, and it's a drive to the main boat launch at Maple Grove."
Campsite selection: When reserving at dog-friendly campgrounds near Burlington, select carefully. Art S. advises, "Firstly- don't reserve a spot in loop 1 if you have a dog. It was easy enough to change but now we know to aim for loop 2 or 3."
Playground access: Fox Den Campground offers family-friendly facilities. As one camper notes, "There is a playground too but the diverse hiking and woodsy sites make this one to return to."
Child-safe terrain: When camping with young children, terrain matters. At Pinewoods Campground, site selection can enhance safety. "Our site (22) was relatively flat, felt secluded, had good tree coverage with some filtered sunlight," shares Abbe W.
Educational programs: Many Burlington area pet-friendly campgrounds offer nature programs. At Big Foot Beach State Park, one visitor mentioned, "The Weekend we were here they had a free Kids fishing weekend and John the naturalist was amazing!! There is a ton to do at this park the nature center has activities all weekend long."
Tick prevention: For families camping with children or pets, tick management is crucial. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks," warns one camper, suggesting tick checks become a regular routine.
Electric hookup locations: At various dog-friendly campgrounds near Burlington, electric hookup placement varies significantly. As a camper at Chain O' Lakes noted, "These sites share an electric box. Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad... Moved to 50 one of the nicest spots."
Site spacing considerations: RVers appreciate the spacing at sites like those in Fox Den. "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post... Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees."
Gate closure timing: RVers should note that many parks enforce strict gate closure times. At Chain O' Lakes State Park, "the gates close at 10 PM and there are tire shredders, you can leave but you can't get back in... unless you want to walk 2+ miles in the dark."
Dump station timing: Holiday weekends create congestion at dump stations. One RVer at a nearby campground advised planning ahead: "Since there's no full hookup, they needed someone to control the traffic that comes from two different directions going to the dual dump stations."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Burlington, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Burlington, WI is Sunset Campground — Richard Bong State Recreation Area with a 4.2-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Burlington, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 71 dog-friendly camping locations near Burlington, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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