Campsites near Kenosha, Wisconsin span across both wetland and prairie terrain with elevations ranging from 580 to 750 feet above sea level. Most camping areas in this region experience moderate summer temperatures between 70-85°F with higher humidity levels in July and August. The camping season typically extends from mid-April through October, with many locations closing water systems after the first frost.
What to do
Kayaking accessible waterways: Chain O' Lakes State Park offers extensive paddling opportunities through connected lakes. "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 a visitor at Turner Lake South Camping Area.
Hiking through varied ecosystems: Multiple trail systems with crushed gravel surfaces accommodate different skill levels. A camper at Fox Den Campground shared: "If you go just past the entrance- pass by the playground- you will come to a stop sign. Keep going straight even though it will look like you are just walking into trees. A trail is there that was a nice place to explore. Even on multiple adventures, we did not pass anyone when we went hiking on it."
Wildlife watching: Wetland areas provide excellent opportunities for bird and animal observation. "We took a 5 mile hike through the park. It was absolutely beautiful. Lots of hills, forested areas, open prairies, and multiple water locations including next to the Fox River where our dog was able to cool off," explains a visitor to Prairie View Camping Area.
What campers like
Semi-private sites with natural buffers: Many campers appreciate sites cut into wooded areas. "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers (our site was protected on 3 sides by some fairly dens foliage and trees)," explains a camper at Fox Den.
Clean, accessible facilities: Well-maintained shower buildings receive positive mentions across most campgrounds. A visitor to Cliffside Park Campground commented: "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 (as some mornings during our visit were in the 40's)."
Affordable primitive options: Budget-conscious campers have several non-electric options. "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. There was electricity, however those sites are $25/night," notes a visitor to Turner Lake South.
What you should know
Campground location within parks: Some state parks have multiple camping areas spread over large properties. At Chain O' Lakes, "This is a BIG park, the campgrounds are two miles from the front gate, and it's a drive to the main boat launch at Maple Grove, where you have access to the Fox River and Grass lake."
Gate closure policies: Pay attention to park entrance restrictions. "An odd thing is that you can hear a Steam Train whistle quite often, this is from Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove. The gates close at 10:PM and there are tire shredders, you can get out but you can't get back in unless you want to walk 2+ miles in the dark."
Water access points: Not all sites have individual water hookups. At Sunrise Campground in Richard Bong State Recreation Area, "We stayed at site 114 and were very pleased with the size and layout. Overall flat and private. Showers and bathrooms were clean."
Reservation systems: Some campgrounds have specific booking requirements. "No online reservations were allowed and their phone systems were down but we only found a few sites that were available. We were only able to camp for the night. I would recommend looking into this a bit more before driving out."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Multiple playgrounds and water features keep children entertained. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, a camper reports: "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."
Bug protection strategies: Insect-proof setup is crucial in wetland areas. "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, but they literally fall out of the trees into people!"
Wildlife education opportunities: Turn animal encounters into learning experiences. "We saw several ticks/mosquitoes, decent bathrooms/showers. Sites seemed pretty close together," notes a Truly W. from Turner Lake South, while another visitor adds: "We've been RV camping here for 2 months now and love it. The bathrooms are older but still nice and cleaned daily. The pool is fantastic, lots of fun playgrounds around, and there's a neat walking trail in the woods."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Research campsite specifics before booking. At Happy Acres Kampground, an RVer suggested: "The sites are large, plenty of things for kids to do. I would definitely come back."
Electric hookup access: Some campgrounds have shared electric posts requiring longer cords. "This campground is within a couple hours of Chicago so it makes a nice getaway for the weekend. The campsites are a nice size and have electric hookups. Water was at central locations and a dump is on the way out."
Dump station timing: Plan for potential wait times during peak periods. "The second complaint was they didn't cut the grass so there was a mix of tall grass and dandelion stems. The third complaint was 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."
