Camping spots near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin range from densely wooded public campgrounds to open fairground areas with varied terrain. The region sits at approximately 900 feet above sea level with glacial landforms creating the rolling topography seen throughout Walworth County. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F while spring and fall camping can see overnight lows dip below 45°F.
What to do
Hiking at Kettle Moraine: The Ottawa Lake Campground within Kettle Moraine State Forest offers extensive trail systems. "The campground was close to our intended hiking trail — the Scuppernong section of the Ice Age Trail. It's absolutely gorgeous and will be why we come back again," noted one visitor to Ottawa Lake Campground.
Kayaking through Chain O'Lakes: Multiple connected lakes and channels make this area ideal for paddling. "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," shares a visitor to Turner Lake South.
Bird watching opportunities: The wetland areas attract diverse bird species. "Got bird watching on your mind? Well, you're in luck, because here at Rock Cut SP you can spot an amazing array of foul including bald eagles, American robins, northern cardinals, barn owls, mourning doves, indigo buntings, eastern bluebirds, Canadian geese, red-bellied woodpeckers, brown thrashers and many others," reports a camper at Rock Cut State Park.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers value secluded spots. "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 visitor to Fox Den Campground.
Close proximity to towns: The convenience of nearby amenities appeals to many campers. "This is an small campground in the Walworth County fairgrounds. Not many frills but quiet and within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn," notes a visitor to Elkhorn Campgrounds.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Natural settings around Lake Geneva provide animal sightings. "We stayed in the Turner lake south loop, which has nice and private sites. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by," explains a camper at Turner Lake South.
What you should know
Seasonal changes affect facilities: Winter camping options exist but with limitations. "No showers in winter but awesome," notes a visitor to Ottawa Lake Campground about off-season camping.
Campground location affects noise levels: Sites closer to highways experience more disruption. "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," explains a camper at Ottawa Lake Campground.
Bathroom facilities vary significantly: Cleanliness and amenities differ between campgrounds. "The bathrooms/showers are always clean and have hot water. The only downfall that I can see is that they are not consistent with cleaning the outhouses," notes a visitor to Turner Lake South.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and beaches: Several campgrounds feature kid-friendly recreation areas. "We live near Chicagoland so staying at Big Foot Beach State Park is an easy option for a short weekend get away," one visitor mentioned, highlighting its accessibility from urban areas.
Wildlife education opportunities: Nature programs engage children. "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," shares a visitor to Sunrise Campground.
Tick prevention essential: Parents should prepare for insects. "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, but they literally fall out of the trees into people!" warns a camper at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup variations: Power options differ significantly between sites. "We have a 30 amp trailer. When we got there, the electricity wasn't working. It was 93° on a Saturday. We called the Rangers and asked them to look at our site breaker since it kept tripping," notes a visitor to Rock Cut State Park regarding infrastructure challenges.
Dump station congestion: Plan for potential wait times. "The dump station was near the entrance to the camping loop and had potable water. It was also very busy and we had to wait when filling up and again when dumping," shares a visitor to Honeysuckle Hollow.
Site dimensions vary: Research specific site dimensions before booking. "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 a visitor to Honeysuckle Hollow regarding their RV experience.
