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Big Foot Beach State Park Campground welcomes pets throughout its camping areas, though dogs are restricted from many sections of the park and the small beach along Lake Geneva. The campground features 100 sites, including 30 with electric hookups, accommodating tents, RVs, and walk-in campers. All sites include fire pits and picnic tables, with a modern, clean bathhouse facility providing showers and restrooms. The park maintains several hiking trails where leashed dogs are permitted. Sites vary considerably in size and privacy, with those numbered 27, 32, and 74 offering better shade and seclusion according to visitors. Several other pet-friendly campgrounds exist nearby, including Elkhorn Campgrounds in downtown Elkhorn and Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake, both providing full hookups for RV campers with pets.
Visitors camping with dogs should note Big Foot Beach State Park's limited pet-friendly areas despite its "pets allowed" designation. Many reviewers express disappointment that dogs aren't permitted in large portions of the park, including the small beach that borders a busy highway. For alternative dog-friendly water access, nearby Kettle Moraine State Forest's Ottawa Lake Campground allows pets and offers boat-in camping options. Most campgrounds in the region enforce standard leash requirements. The Lake Geneva area primarily caters to visitors without pets, with several reviewers noting neighboring campers often leave dogs at their RVs where barking becomes problematic. Campsites near town experience noise from events at the local high school despite appearing secluded, something to consider when camping with noise-sensitive pets.
"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"
from $19 - $37 / night
Check Availability"It pays to drive through the camp ground and note a couple sites that you are interested in and then book your site at the entrance during walk in days. "
"For us it's close to home, shopping and an RV dealership so it's pefect to "shake out" the camper and we can easily get anything we forgot or get stuff to repair anything that's not working."
from $12 - $50 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $21 - $39 / night
Check Availability"Love this spot for proximity to my home so I can get out more frequently than a longer drive into Wisconsin and other more popular camping locales."
"Our site had the usual picnic table and a short walk to the restrooms and water. What we enjoyed the most was the variety of hiking trails."
from $20 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Easy access to electric and/or water. If unsure, contact office. Site, restrooms, and showers were clean. There are a lot of sites but still felt like there was ample space."
"Not many frills but quiet and within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn."
"I did not stay here, but I spend some time walking through to get a feel for the place."
"Wanted someplace close to home. Familiar with the Delavan area so was excited to find Snug Harbor. Set up went well, didn’t blow anything up! Yea! Staff was great, helped me back in."
from $15 - $45 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $21 - $39 / night
Check Availability"The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore"
"*** 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"
"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"
"Plenty of space & foliage between sites and a nice network of trails surrounding the campground. Close to some small towns and the interstate as well, but not close enough to hear traffic."
from $21 - $110 / night
Check Availability"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!"
ScoutThis campground charges both a site reservation fee ($33 for a primitive mosquito infested tent site) AND an additional day use fee on top of that - a $16 fee on top of that! $49????? For a no hook up single tent site???? Of course the fees aren’t actually published anywhere so you have to reserve it to actually know what you’ll be paying. It’s nothing special so these fees aren’t actually warranted for this place. 👎
TravelerWe got a campsite with a concrete pad. Electricity 30 amp site. There is a dump station close to the registration office. Boat ramp available for campers. One cabin for rental overlooking the Pierce Lake $50/night for Illinois resident. Beautiful setting. Wild turkeys roaming through our campground.
ScoutThe park is beautiful. The water is beautiful. They say it's a gated community, but it's open to the public 9 to 5 daily. At twenty five dollars per person. And then on friday and saturday night, the locals that park here for the summer start their party central including karaoke at the camper next door, and several others. I've never had a camcround with that loud of parties. And it's a weekend event. I like hearing and seeing people having fun but when the manager extends the curfew for the parties she's at (they kind of party hop), it starts to affect the enjoyment of the park. If we had to stay, we'd stay in the S## sites in the back, where you don't hear so much of the partying. And then during the day, the rules began. Kind of like the soup nazi.
TravelerThere’s a lot of things to do out here. We did some hiking with our boy. The site we were at was maintained. It’s a nice place to go camping.
LegendThere’s something wonderfully EZ about camping where the kids can wander down toward the water and suddenly the whole weekend seems to slow down ... and that’s the entire charm of Honeysuckle Hollow. Here at Chain O’Lakes State Park, Honeysuckle Hollow is the largest and most wide open of the park’s camping areas, with electric sites geared particularly well toward RV families, although the tradeoff is noticeably less shade and almost zero privacy between nearly every campsite, compared with neighboring Fox Den, which offers up much more seclusion and shade. The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore the shoreline, while electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and a nearby restroom/shower building keep the actual camping comfortably simple. We especially loved those unhurried moments when the boys could wander toward the lake while dinner was getting started and everyone seemed perfectly happy just being outside together. The shower facility here is convenient, although we found it just slightly more dilapidated conditions than the bathhouse located closer to Fox Den. From what we saw, I’d choose one of the better-spaced sites toward the Turner Lake side of the campground, where EZ water access helps compensate for Honeysuckle’s limited privacy. I’d recommend Honeysuckle for families who value electricity, lake access and a lively campground atmosphere, particularly if having Turner Lake practically in your backyard matters more than having your neighbors hidden behind the trees. One point to note is that the pier was in an advanced state of disrepair and so we were not able to fully maximize this particular amenity - so if accessing Turner Lake is important to you and your family, we would recommend calling ahead to verify the condition of the pier.
GuideWe are traveling mid week in September so did not make advanced reservations. The registration booth attendant assigned us site 506. (We were not permitted to drive through to pick our own location before registering). Our site was grassy and a bit muddy after some significant rains, but it was cozy with trees and tall brush on all sides. Pit toilets at each loop with a shower building just 5 minute walk away. You can hear the din of the highway about .5 miles away, but an easy place to stay if you are traveling through. Electricity on site, water spigots nearby and dump station near the entrance.
GuideLast minute online reservation...They only have. 4 or 5 RV sites...full hook ups...about $60+-...right near gas pumps but any noise did not bother us weary travelers...Only downside was showers were not included....For the price certainly an included shower should be part of the deal...easy check in and check out.,..We used the Love's site due to its location to visit family and the fact that electric was available...We have medical equipment that requires a recharge at night plus it's just nice to have the AC if needed.
TravelerSimple campsite. We should have brought some leveling blocks, But otherwise my wife and I enjoyed the site for our rental RV. Short 10 minute walk to Lake Michigan. The camp store is fairly robust with friendly people working there. I appreciate that there are 2 lanes for dump/fill stations. My wife and I would absolutely stay here again.
LegendWe had a truly enjoyable stay and would’ve stayed an extra day if our travel schedule would’ve allowed. David was a wonderful host. Greeted us with a smile and escorted us to our site. We had our choice of 2 spots, both lovely. Picnic table and plenty of FREE firewood to keep us cozy. Wild turkeys roamed the grounds as well as the friendly ducks. All in all, a very peaceful evening and a special place.
Big Foot Beach State Park Campground sits on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva at an elevation of 860 feet, providing access to natural terrain within minutes of downtown Lake Geneva. The park covers 271 acres with both wooded and open camping areas, though sites vary significantly in size and shade coverage. Campers seeking pet friendly camping near Fontana-on-Geneva Lake will find several options with different amenities and restrictions throughout the region.
Kayaking on Turtle Lake: At Snug Harbor Inn Campground, visitors can enjoy a peaceful paddle with lake views. "Beautiful views overlooking Turtle Lake. Friendly and helpful staff," notes Carole X. The campground features a terraced design that gives most sites water views, regardless of their location.
Fishing at Chain O' Lakes: Turner Lake South camping area offers multiple fishing opportunities for anglers. "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," says Cora M.
Winter camping: Ottawa Lake Campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest remains open year-round for those wanting to experience the area during colder months. "No showers in winter but awesome," reports David H., making it a good option for more rugged winter camping experiences near Fontana-on-Geneva Lake.
Private campsites: Thomas Woods Campground offers more secluded camping options. "Have stayed here a few times tent camping. Smaller campground in McHenry county. Good staff. Other campers relatively friendly and quiet. County police make a presence in the camp ground," notes Doug. The campground provides both drive-in and hike-in sites.
Affordable options: Campers appreciate the budget-friendly sites at some locations. "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly," shares Addison G. about Turner Lake South, making it an economical choice for pet-friendly camping near Fontana-on-Geneva Lake.
Clean facilities: Rock Cut State Park maintains well-kept shower buildings and restrooms. "State park offers some good hiking and all season activities. Camp ground was quiet and clean," Tyler S. comments. While some shower buildings are older, they remain functional and regularly maintained.
Raccoon activity: Be prepared for nighttime wildlife visitors at several campgrounds. "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched. So basically, eat dinner and do s'mores early, then everything must be packed into cars for the night and all surfaces wiped down," warns Meg at Chain O' Lakes.
Site locations matter: At Richard Bong State Recreation Area, road noise can impact certain campsites. "Sites are super tight and wooded, so expect to be breakfast, lunch, and dinner for an army full mosquitos. Couldn't even sit outside at the site really. It would be better if they could cut back some," advises Stefanie B. Campsites further from highways offer better sound insulation.
Gate closures: Some parks enforce strict entrance rules. "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:)" notes Brian O. at Turner Lake South. Plan evening activities accordingly if staying at state parks with similar restrictions.
Playground access: When selecting sites with children, consider proximity to play areas. "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. Closer to the center of this row is best," recommends Meg about Honeysuckle Hollow.
Bug preparation: Ticks and mosquitoes can be problematic, especially with young children. "SO many ticks. With a baby crawling that needed to be set free, we were constantly doing checks. Luckily our screen house pop up on a tarp that was sprayed ahead for tick repellent plus a blanket on top of that did the trick," shares Meg about her experience at Honeysuckle Hollow Camping Area.
Affordable activities: Look for campgrounds with built-in recreation options. "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," notes Jill G. about Sunrise Campground at Richard Bong State Recreation Area.
Site selection for larger rigs: At Elkhorn Campgrounds, RVers can find suitable sites for various sizes. "Campsite 65- Rita, the mgr/owner, returned call to assist in selecting a site. The outer lanes had shade, while our site was in the middle open area. Easy access to electric and/or water. If unsure, contact office," advises Dan W.
Power concerns: Electrical service varies widely between campgrounds. "We have a 30 amp trailer. When we got there, the electricity wasn't working. It was 93° on a Saturday... Wasted about 30 hours of our trip over their electrical not being updated and they knew that," Rebecca C. warns about Rock Cut State Park. Carrying adapters and extension cords helps address potential hookup challenges.
Campground layout: Understanding the configuration helps with pet management. "The campground is set up nicely. Our site had the usual picnic table and a short walk to the restrooms and water. What 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," shares Art S. about Thomas Woods Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI is Big Foot Beach State Park Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 86 dog-friendly camping locations near Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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