Camping in Caledonia, Wisconsin is accessible throughout southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. The area sits within the Great Lakes region with elevations around 630-680 feet above sea level, experiencing humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, while summer camping season brings average highs in the mid-80s with moderate humidity.
What to do
Beach swimming: Lake Michigan access through Illinois Beach State Park offers clean shorelines with sunrise views. "Beautiful views and amazing sunrises but it is quite littered with trash and broken glass. Very busy in the summer and can get wild with people partying," notes one camper about the lake access.
Hiking: Ice Age Trail sections near Ottawa Lake Campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest provide glacial terrain exploration. "Scuppernong Springs was also a treat for the kiddos although I highly recommended planning for a solid 2 mile hike if you're with kids," advises a recent visitor to the area.
Fishing: Multiple ponds and lakes around Richard Bong State Recreation Area support various species. A visitor to Sunset Campground explains: "A small lake is near the further parking lot. Dogs are welcomed on leash."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Cliffside Park Campground receives praise for its layout. "The sites are spacious with their own power and water. Sites 1-41 are available for first come if not previously reserved," states a camper, while another mentions "Lots of room between sites."
Clean facilities: Muskego Park maintains proper upkeep according to campers. One reviewer notes: "The park was really well-maintained with a camp host on site. The grass was mowed, there was no trash, and the restrooms were super clean and heated."
Natural settings: Sunrise Campground at Richard Bong Recreation Area offers abundant wildlife viewing. "If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go. I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two," reports one visitor.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "The fee is $30/night plus $12 if you choose to reserve a site," notes a Cliffside Park visitor. Wisconsin State Parks also require entrance stickers ($38 annual at time of writing).
Site privacy varies: Campground design affects seclusion levels. A visitor to Muskego Park shares: "Each site has water but in order to reach some of the spigots you would need more than a 50' water hose so choose your site with that in mind." Another notes: "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."
Weather considerations: The region experiences frequent summer storms. "I couldn't even sit outside at the site really. It would be better if they could cut back some," warns a camper about mosquito populations after rain at Bong Recreation Area.
Tips for camping with families
Activity options: Jellystone Park offers extensive kid-focused amenities. A parent shares: "Plenty of things to do all day with the rec dept staff and lots of sightings of Yogi, Boo Boo, and Cindy Bear! Pool and Bear Paw beach are both nice, the kids had a blast at both."
Budget planning: Family-friendly campgrounds often charge premium rates. "We've been to other campgrounds for Halloween, including 2 last year. We gave up standing reservations we've had for about 10 years now to spend Halloween at Jellystone only," reports one family who finds the value worth the cost.
Weekday visits: Many family-friendly campgrounds are significantly quieter Monday-Thursday. "We did a group camp and had a great site. There were 3 families and had plenty of room," notes a visitor to Muskego Park who appreciated the ample space during their stay.
Tips from RVers
Utility hookups: Most campgrounds offer electric but limited full-hookup sites. At Wisconsin State Fair RV Park, "The sewage system is strange at this park. We couldn't reach ours during our stay and a camper had blocked the dump station so we pulled through in a vacant spot to dump. The pipe is highly elevated, making the process more hands-on than one would like."
Urban access: Year-round camping options with city proximity exist. "Perfect campground for what it is! Big paved parking lot with full hookups. Very close to downtown, right off of interstate. Clean facilities. We were visiting family downtown and it was very convenient," notes a State Fair RV Park camper.
Site selection: Some RV sites have significant limitations. "The sites in the 340's are awesome," advises an Illinois Beach State Park visitor, while another cautions: "We reserved site 349 and had no idea it would be on asphalt. There are plenty of other sites that on grass with trees."
