73 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options around Germantown, Wisconsin center on the Kettle Moraine State Forest system, which offers several developed campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. The Pike Lake Campground in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit provides wooded sites with electrical hookups, drinking water, and modern restroom facilities. Several county parks supplement these state offerings, including Menomonee Park in Menomonee Falls, which features tent sites, RV spots, and glamping options from April through November. Most established campgrounds in the region accommodate both tent and RV camping, with varying levels of hookups and amenities.
Seasonal considerations play a significant role in camping near Germantown, with most campgrounds operating from early April through late October. The Pike Lake Campground typically opens in early April and closes after the third weekend in October, while Menomonee Park runs from April to November 10. Winter camping options are limited, though Ottawa Lake Campground in the southern Kettle Moraine unit remains open year-round. Many sites require advance reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays. The region experiences typical Midwestern seasonal variations, with humid summers and cold winters. According to one camper, "Mid to Late October is great Fall camping in Southern Wisconsin. Cool nights range from lower 30's to upper 40's. Day time temps can exceed 60."
The Kettle Moraine forests provide a natural backdrop for camping experiences, with glacial topography creating unique landscapes. Campers frequently mention privacy as a key feature at many sites. At Pike Lake, "Wooded lots make you feel overall secluded," while at Mauthe Lake in the Northern Kettle Moraine unit, "Sites are fairly wooded and private. Most of them seemed to be a decent size." Water features enhance many camping experiences in the region, with several campgrounds offering swimming beaches, fishing piers, or boat launches. Many campers appreciate the hiking opportunities throughout the Kettle Moraine system, particularly along the Ice Age Trail which connects several campgrounds. Proximity to Milwaukee (approximately 30 minutes) makes these campgrounds popular weekend destinations for urban residents seeking natural surroundings.
"North Kettle Moraine, Pike Lake Unit was an easy choice given it's proximity to the city- about 40 minutes."
"A last minute decision to camp for a night led my son and I to the often visited Pike Lake unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Its a beautiful park and within 30 minutes of our home."
from $23 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Live nearby. We go there a lot over the summer. Fun park to ride bikes through. Many trails to walk or hike. The pond has a great beach for kids."
"There are miles of nice hiking trails, a nice beach, pavilions to rent, horse riding trails, archery range and I’m sure I’m missing more."
from $25 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Mauthe Lake Campground is located in the Northern Kettle Moraine Forest in East/Centreal Wisconsin."
"Wonderful trail around the lake and a variety of different campsites. Plenty of space, very rural. Very wisconsin!"
from $23 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Site was spacious but very close to your neighbors. Lots to do in the area. Bathrooms and showers were clean. The beach was not clean and very hard to walk on, very rocky."
"Red Trail, Paradise Trail,Rice Lake are all great hikes. Great views of Lake Ottawa. The close by town of Oconomowoc has a nice place to eat, Burkes Lakeside."
from $23 - $38 / night
Check Availability"So we just use that because no one was there. 1.7 miles on bike path to Brewer Baseball field. It was raining to we used Uber to the game and walked back for an afternoon game."
"They work with you every step of the way and show you around the area if you wanted! Plus they have a dump station and water fill up station even if you’re not staying here or book here."
from $55 / night
Check Availability"It is close to the Ice Age trail and the Scuppernong trail, and a short drive from Ottawa Lake. Nearby is some excellent mountain biking in hilly terrain at the Emma Carlin and John Muir trails. "
"Pinewoods Campground is part of the southern Kettle Morraine State Forest in Wisconsin. The campground is secluded and most sites are private and shaded."
from $23 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Nestled in the heart of lake country (Waukesha County) and accessible from the Lake Country Trail and Ice Age Trail, this county park is perfect for those just passing through or families looking for a"
"Very windy weekend but I imagine during the summer it’s a great spot to camp near their big beach and lake access."
from $25 - $80 / night
Check Availability"This was our first time camping in Wisconsin and we got to say we absolutely love this park. Most of the sites are pretty secluded so if you enjoy your privacy I will love this place."
"There is something deeply calming about waking up just steps from Lake Michigan at the Harrington Beach State Park Family Campground, where our little crew found the perfect balance of nature and comfort"
from $23 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Swimming lake was very warm and clean. Fishing was available. Very affordable canoe kayak rentals. Mini golf and a little store where if you need it they have it."
from $31 - $43 / night
Check Availability
ScoutNothing special but a nice spot if you need somewhere to park your camper and stay. Electric and water hookups, decent showers and bathrooms. Septic on site. We stayed here for an event at the fairgrounds but there were also several others staying here while they were in town for work.
GuideOur friends have a permanent camper here so we joined them for the weekend. I’ve never experienced a place like this. It’s not what I would consider camping. It’s basically people’s second trailer park home. The frog pond that was turned into a swimming hole with ridiculous inflatables completely ruined the peaceful atmosphere in that area of the park. If you enjoy being surrounded by people, noise, and teens cruising in golf carts, you’ll love this place. We do have fun when we are with our friends here, but it is definitely not a typical peaceful camp.
TravelerThis park has always been a go to for me. As a full time RVer, I come here a lot. The scenery is beautiful, beach right next door, fishing holes not far from here. The people who come are all very friendly and the park rangers are very welcoming and always have firewood for the visitors. Highly recommend this spot for everyone.
TravelerFirst time RV’ing with my wife and we were able to navigate pretty easily in our rented 30’. Arrived on a Monday, and as posted, there was no one so we checked in online(they sent an email to check in). Simple camp site with tons of space(almost double our RV), a long wood picnic table and a fire pit. Everything was great until we left. Dumping was straight forward, but the person in front of me was taking a little while to dump. They had came up to my RV and let me know the dump tank was backing up, which I had also experienced when I tried dumping. I called to ask for assistance on Thursday and they said they would send a ranger out. 45 minutes of waiting and a couple other RV’s after us and we ended up giving up and going to another site closer to home to dump. Great experience otherwise.
TravelerI love staying here from time to time. As a full time RVer, I book here frequently. Not only do they have all types of hookups stays, but they full men and women’s locker rooms with showers, and restrooms, including a laundry facility on site, shop is inside the office and ice available. The customer service is by far the best! They work with you every step of the way and show you around the area if you wanted! Plus they have a dump station and water fill up station even if you’re not staying here or book here. I recommend this site to anyone and everyone!
GuideWe stayed here one night and had a great experience! The restroom/bathhouse is super clean, conveniently located, and NEW. A refreshing thing after roughing it. We took a trail down to the trussle bridge that goes across the river. Nice nature view. Fishing was good too, near the bridge at the entrance to the park. My son was there maybe 5 min and hooked a decent sized pike. We brought our two dogs and they enjoyed the quiet of the park and the trails. Only complaint I had was that someone previously had left dog poop at our site, but sometimes people don't clean up after their pets. Our site had electric, only 30 amp hookup but we had a 50 amp adapter and it worked well. We would definitely stay again.
ScoutFriendly camp hosts. Nice large sites with even and level grass. There are padded FHU sites available. Immaculate bathrooms and showers. Fresh, clean water at hookups. Very quiet despite being on major roadway. Good value. Would stop again.
TravelerLove this quaint smaller campground, close to home although you feel like you're way up north! Clean restrooms showers! Walking trails with preservation.
TravelerVery enjoyable campground.
I don't remember the site number but the kids had a great time. Lots of things to do.
Many campgrounds near Germantown, Wisconsin contain heavily wooded sites with varying degrees of privacy. The area sits on glacial terrain formed during the last ice age, creating a unique landscape with hills, ridges, and kettle lakes. Most campgrounds near Germantown permit leashed pets, but specific rules vary regarding leash length, pet-friendly areas, and breed restrictions.
Hike the Ice Age Trail: At Pike Lake Campground, the iconic Ice Age Trail runs directly through the backpacking sites. "For my five-year-old son's first backpacking experience, we hiked about 3 miles on the Ice Age Trail, into Pike Lake campground. We camping on one of the backpacking sites right off the trail," shares one visitor who appreciates the convenience of trail access.
Visit Scuppernong Springs: Located near Ottawa Lake, this natural spring area offers approximately 2 miles of hiking trails suitable for families. "Scuppernong Springs was a treat for the kiddos although I highly recommended planning for a solid 2 mile hike if you're with kids," notes a camper who found the springs worth the effort.
Beach activities: Multiple campgrounds feature swimming areas for summer recreation. At Mauthe Lake Campground, "Nice beach/swimming area, bike path, and playground for the kids. Also the most beautiful sunset over the lake and pines in July," according to one visitor who enjoyed the water amenities.
Seclusion in wooded sites: Pinewoods Campground offers heavily wooded sites with natural separation. "The site was actually really lovely and I appreciated the thick brush creating some real seclusion," mentions one camper who valued the privacy at this Kettle Moraine campground.
Escape proximity: Campers appreciate how quickly they can reach wilderness from urban areas. One visitor noted about Harrington Beach State Park, "Most of the sites are pretty secluded so if you enjoy your privacy I will love this place. Everything was clean and updated including the bathrooms." This park provides beach access on Lake Michigan within a reasonable drive from Germantown.
Off-season camping: Several campers mention the appeal of fall camping in the region. At Ottawa Lake Campground, one reviewer highlighted, "Great for winter camping. No showers in winter but awesome." This campground operates year-round, unlike many seasonal options in the area.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. For Menomonee Park, a local camper advised, "We have been to Menomonee park several times. It is one of the kids favorites. The sites are just about all wooded. Not huge but a good size for a country park."
Water quality considerations: Some campgrounds experience water issues during certain seasons. At Ottawa Lake, "the lake is great for swimming, though they do have e coli warnings frequently in the heat of summer."
Limited urban camping options: For those requiring full hookups close to Milwaukee, options are limited. Wisconsin State Fair RV Park offers "nice clean facilities, but it is basically a large parking lot with a band of grass on the far right as you enter." While not scenic, it provides convenient access to urban attractions.
Quarry swimming: Menomonee Park offers a unique swimming experience in its quarry. "The quarry is good for swimming, kayaking, or canoeing. There is a beach with life guards," reports a family camper who found multiple activities available.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playgrounds for children. At Naga-Waukee Park, "There are very large group camping sites as well as a small number of family sites. The family sites are small - and there are only toilets available - but there is a main building down a steep hill to get to nicer facilities and showers."
Kid-friendly hiking: Choose shorter trail loops with diverse features. "The park has a lot of trails for hiking, biking and some horse trails. The quarry is good for swimming, kayaking, or canoeing," notes a parent who visited Menomonee Park with children.
Site selection considerations: At Ottawa Lake Campground, "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."
Electrical hookups: Several campgrounds offer limited electrical sites. Pike Lake Campground has specific sites with amenities: "Each of the 32 sites is unique in their own way. Some are large and flat perfect for a class A (#2 #4, #29 #31 is okay, but smaller), some incorporate the geography into the site."
Dump station access: Many campgrounds have limited dumping facilities. An RVer at Ottawa Lake mentioned, "We've been full time RVers for 4 years and this is a beautiful campground close to 'home'. We stay here a couple of times each year for doctor and dentist appointments, visiting family and friends, and general relaxation."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Germantown, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Germantown, WI is Pike Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Pike Lake Unit with a 4.3-star rating from 18 reviews.
Keep Exploring
