Camping options around Greenfield, Wisconsin range from rustic county parks to full-service private campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. The area sits at approximately 800 feet above sea level in the glaciated region of southeastern Wisconsin, characterized by kettles, moraines and drumlins formed during the last ice age. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms in July and August.
What to do
Hiking on extensive trail systems: Kettle Moraine State Forest offers multiple interconnected trails accessible from Ottawa Lake Campground. "20 minute drive to the awesome Kettle Moraine biking trails. Yee haw!" notes camper Heather H. The Ice Age Trail runs through the forest with segments of varying difficulty.
Beach swimming in spring-fed waters: The quarry at Menomonee Park provides a supervised swimming area from Memorial Day through Labor Day. "The quarry is good for swimming, kayaking, or canoeing. There is a beach with life guards," reports Matt N. Rentals for paddlecraft are available at $10/hour.
Wildlife observation: Multiple campgrounds near Greenfield support abundant wildlife viewing. At Sunset Campground, one camper observed, "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."
What campers like
Spacious wooded sites: Cliffside Park Campground offers larger-than-average sites with natural separation. "Generously sized sites in wooded surroundings," writes Judy W. Another camper notes, "All sites are spacious with their own power and water. Sites 1-41 are available for first come if not previously reserved."
Clean facilities: Consistently maintained facilities are a highlight at many campgrounds. At Pinewoods Campground, campers appreciate the well-kept amenities: "The sites in Loop 1 are varied as far as tree coverage, seclusion, and terrain. Our site (22) was relatively flat, felt secluded, had good tree coverage with some filtered sunlight. The pit toilets are about 3 sites away, a short walk."
Privacy between sites: Campers value the separation between sites at several dog friendly campgrounds near Greenfield. One reviewer at Sunset Campground noted: "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. This was a nice feature given that many other campgrounds you are stacked in like cord wood."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the area have varying reservation policies. At Cliffside Park, "The fee is $30/night plus $12 if you choose to reserve a site." Wisconsin state parks and forests require vehicle stickers ($38 annual) in addition to camping fees.
Noise considerations: Traffic noise affects some campgrounds significantly. One camper described Wisconsin State Fair RV Park as "really a parking lot for RV camping off an interstate. Very loud and not family place but good for overnight." Similarly, at Sunset Campground, "the downside is all the noise from the road and the drag strip near by."
Bug protection: Mosquito activity is particularly high at certain campgrounds. "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it," reports one Sunset Campground visitor. "Couldn't even sit outside at the site really. It would be better if they could cut back some."
Tips for camping with families
Beach and playground access: Naga-Waukee Park offers excellent facilities for children. "The beach on the shores of Lake Nagawicka is well-groomed, clean, has a seasonal lifeguard and a playground within earshot," says one reviewer. The beach house provides indoor plumbing and showers.
Weekday camping for quieter experience: Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Greenfield become significantly less crowded midweek. At Muskego Park, weekday camping provides a more relaxed atmosphere with fewer campers competing for beach and trail access from June through August.
Organized activities: Jellystone Park at Caledonia schedules regular family programming. "Great campground for families! Tons to do!" writes Carol W. Another reviewer mentions, "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."
Tips from RVers
Site selection at fairgrounds: The Wisconsin State Fair RV Park serves primarily as a base for Milwaukee exploration rather than a destination campground. "Well located to Milwaukee, nice clean facilities, but it is basically a large parking lot with a band of grass on the far right as you enter. We took an electric only site on the far right and were backed up against a band of grass. Full hookup sites are all blacktop."
Hose length at county parks: Water access varies significantly between campgrounds. At Cliffside Park, "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."
Dump station elevation: Wisconsin State Fair RV Park has an unusual sewage system. "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."
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