Cabin camping near Greendale, Wisconsin offers options within 30 miles of the city in state parks and private campgrounds. The region features glacial terrain with kettles, moraines, and drumlins formed during the Wisconsin glaciation period. Winter cabin camping is available at several locations, with temperatures often dropping below freezing from December through February.
What to do
Kayaking and fishing: Access to multiple lakes at Chain O' Lakes State Park, where "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," notes one visitor about Turner Lake South.
Winter camping: Ottawa Lake Campground stays open year-round, providing a unique off-season cabin experience. "You can camp year around in this campground. Most recent 2 times were winter camping. No host so buying wood is an issue, but pick a site on the edge and there is more than enough free. Bring a saw," advises one winter camper.
Astronomy viewing: Dark skies at Richard Bong State Recreation Area allow for stargazing from your cabin site. "Our first night there, we left the rain fly off of the tent and just enjoyed the stars and the satellites streaking across the sky," mentions a camper at Sunset Campground.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Kettle Moraine Southern Unit offers secluded cabin areas. "I loved how secluded the site felt. There were great trails and natural beauty in the park. The bugs weren't bad, but beware of the poison ivy. The sites were very shaded, offering relief from the heat," shares one visitor.
Affordable pricing: Budget-conscious options available near lakes. At Turner Lake South, one camper notes, "These campsites are as low as $12/night!! One of my favorite spots to test new gear. Family friendly. There's some small trails around as well that are beginner."
Beach access: Harrington Beach State Park provides Lake Michigan shoreline near cabin sites. "The huge sandy beach spans the entire length of the park - which features plenty of trails, a quarry, and a historical element. The campsites are clean, well-groomed and set apart from the rest of the park," comments one visitor.
What you should know
Off-season facilities: Limited services during winter months. At Ottawa Lake, "No showers in winter but awesome," reports one winter camper, highlighting the tradeoff for solitude.
Wildlife considerations: Prepare for local fauna encounters. "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it. If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go," explains a camper at Richard Bong State Recreation Area.
Reservation requirements: Book well ahead for holiday weekends. "We booked a site here for Halloween and had a great time. My kids love Halloween Weekend camping at the various JellyStone Campgrounds," notes one visitor about seasonal events.
Tips for camping with families
Children's activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park specializes in kid-friendly programming. "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," reports a family visitor.
Safer swimming areas: Quarry lakes offer alternatives to rivers. One Harrington Beach visitor mentioned, "The lake is very clean and 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."
Playground access: Multiple play areas at several campgrounds. "There are a ton of activities here to include two bouncy pillows, three play grounds, a pool, water slides, a kids water activity area, beach, water obstacle course, inflatable slide, RC car track, laser tag, mini golf, giant chess, and I'm sure I'm missing something," reports a Jellystone visitor.
Tips for RVers
Site selection considerations: Avoid highway-adjacent sites for quieter overnight stays. "There was a small trail between the two sites that made it very convenient for walking back and forth," notes a camper about the accessibility between adjoining sites at Kettle Moraine South Camping.
Dump station timing: Plan for potential waits during peak checkout periods. At Happy Acres Kampground, one RVer noted, "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. There's no honor system, especially on a holiday weekend."
Electric hookup locations: Check site diagrams before booking. "These sites share an electric box. Some spaces the box is further than 30 feet from the pad. A lot of the spaces are also crowded together. Recommend sites 23 to 46 for spacing and electric distance," advises one camper about placement considerations.
