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Developed campgrounds are found throughout the area near Lyons, Wisconsin, primarily within state parks and recreation areas. Big Foot Beach State Park Campground offers tent, RV, glamping and yurt options with access to Lake Geneva's shoreline. Richard Bong State Recreation Area provides two campground options – Sunset and Sunrise – with amenities for both tent and RV camping. Kettle Moraine State Forest's Southern Unit features Ottawa Lake and Pinewoods campgrounds with year-round and seasonal availability. Most campgrounds in the region maintain electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities.
Campsites in this area typically require reservations, particularly during summer months when Lake Geneva becomes a popular destination. Most campgrounds operate seasonally with prime availability between May and October, though Ottawa Lake in Kettle Moraine State Forest remains open year-round. The developed facilities often include modern bathrooms, shower buildings, and sanitary dump stations for RVs. Sites vary in size and privacy levels, with some campgrounds offering more secluded options than others. A camper noted, "Sites are narrow and long. Nice for camping with a few families in adjacent sites. Well kept and newer shower house. Some trails for hiking."
Family-friendly amenities characterize most campgrounds in the area, with many offering picnic tables, fire pits, and access to hiking trails. Proximity to Lake Geneva is a major draw, though campers should be aware that beach areas can become crowded, especially on summer weekends. Several visitors mentioned that Big Foot Beach State Park provides convenient access to Lake Geneva's attractions while offering more affordable accommodations than downtown hotels. A review highlighted, "Within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn, EAHS, and the horse arena. You might even be able to catch a show or two on site at the fair grounds, depending on the time of year." Campers seeking more natural settings might prefer the Kettle Moraine State Forest campgrounds, which offer greater tree coverage and hiking opportunities compared to the more developed, social atmosphere of Big Foot Beach.
"We stayed at site 98- just barely big enough to fit our travel trailer in and right next to the showers and bathrooms. Not a great location, but fine."
"This is one of the most popular State Parks in Wisconsin because it's on Lake Geneva. In fact, it's the only state park within town's limits."
from $18 - $36 / night
Check Availability"I would recommend this for anyone for starting to step out of the comfort zone for the outdoors. very simple, many paths to walk, jog, or ride a bike. a small lake is near the further parking lot. dogs"
"Had some cool amenities like the off road park and multiple fishing spots. Has a winery and cool dive bars all within 10 min. Only downside is all the noise from the road and the drag strip near by."
from $20 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Rocket launch (bring your own,) atv (no rentals-bring your own), water fowl hunting (during season), fishing, wildlife watching, swimming at the beach, playground for kids, and my favorite- nice trails"
"Plenty of space & foliage between sites and a nice network of trails surrounding the campground. Close to some small towns and the interstate as well, but not close enough to hear traffic."
from $20 - $110 / 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 $20 - $38 / night
Check Availability"The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore"
"*** reviewing as a baby/toddler camp family on the go :-) we chose the loop 11 was on because it was close to the path to the playgrounds and lakes plus bathrooms… avoid the first 2 sites from either end"
"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 $20 - $90 / night
Check Availability"In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60& 61."
"You can hear whatever highway is nearby pretty clearly and constantly. But if you’re not looking for something super remote then it’s fine!"
"It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "
"However there is plenty of space around to find a spot on your own. The campsites are a nice size and have electric hookups. Water was at central locations and a dump is on the way out."
"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"
"Petting zoo, camp store, pool, lake/pond for swimming and fishing. Cell signal for ATT just one bar. No internet. Lots of full time residents. Lots of activities for kids. Pet friendly."
"Easy access to electric and/or water. If unsure, contact office. Site, restrooms, and showers were clean. There are a lot of sites but still felt like there was ample space."
"Not many frills but quiet and within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn."
ScoutThis campground charges both a site reservation fee ($33 for a primitive mosquito infested tent site) AND an additional day use fee on top of that - a $16 fee on top of that! $49????? For a no hook up single tent site???? Of course the fees aren’t actually published anywhere so you have to reserve it to actually know what you’ll be paying. It’s nothing special so these fees aren’t actually warranted for this place. 👎
TravelerWe got a campsite with a concrete pad. Electricity 30 amp site. There is a dump station close to the registration office. Boat ramp available for campers. One cabin for rental overlooking the Pierce Lake $50/night for Illinois resident. Beautiful setting. Wild turkeys roaming through our campground.
ScoutThe park is beautiful. The water is beautiful. They say it's a gated community, but it's open to the public 9 to 5 daily. At twenty five dollars per person. And then on friday and saturday night, the locals that park here for the summer start their party central including karaoke at the camper next door, and several others. I've never had a camcround with that loud of parties. And it's a weekend event. I like hearing and seeing people having fun but when the manager extends the curfew for the parties she's at (they kind of party hop), it starts to affect the enjoyment of the park. If we had to stay, we'd stay in the S## sites in the back, where you don't hear so much of the partying. And then during the day, the rules began. Kind of like the soup nazi.
TravelerThere’s a lot of things to do out here. We did some hiking with our boy. The site we were at was maintained. It’s a nice place to go camping.
LegendThere’s something wonderfully EZ about camping where the kids can wander down toward the water and suddenly the whole weekend seems to slow down ... and that’s the entire charm of Honeysuckle Hollow. Here at Chain O’Lakes State Park, Honeysuckle Hollow is the largest and most wide open of the park’s camping areas, with electric sites geared particularly well toward RV families, although the tradeoff is noticeably less shade and almost zero privacy between nearly every campsite, compared with neighboring Fox Den, which offers up much more seclusion and shade. The greatest asset here is undoubtedly the direct access to Turner Lake (although you could also have direct access over at Turner Lake South), giving families an EZ place to fish, paddle or simply explore the shoreline, while electric hookups, picnic tables, grills and a nearby restroom/shower building keep the actual camping comfortably simple. We especially loved those unhurried moments when the boys could wander toward the lake while dinner was getting started and everyone seemed perfectly happy just being outside together. The shower facility here is convenient, although we found it just slightly more dilapidated conditions than the bathhouse located closer to Fox Den. From what we saw, I’d choose one of the better-spaced sites toward the Turner Lake side of the campground, where EZ water access helps compensate for Honeysuckle’s limited privacy. I’d recommend Honeysuckle for families who value electricity, lake access and a lively campground atmosphere, particularly if having Turner Lake practically in your backyard matters more than having your neighbors hidden behind the trees. One point to note is that the pier was in an advanced state of disrepair and so we were not able to fully maximize this particular amenity - so if accessing Turner Lake is important to you and your family, we would recommend calling ahead to verify the condition of the pier.
GuideWe are traveling mid week in September so did not make advanced reservations. The registration booth attendant assigned us site 506. (We were not permitted to drive through to pick our own location before registering). Our site was grassy and a bit muddy after some significant rains, but it was cozy with trees and tall brush on all sides. Pit toilets at each loop with a shower building just 5 minute walk away. You can hear the din of the highway about .5 miles away, but an easy place to stay if you are traveling through. Electricity on site, water spigots nearby and dump station near the entrance.
GuideLast minute online reservation...They only have. 4 or 5 RV sites...full hook ups...about $60+-...right near gas pumps but any noise did not bother us weary travelers...Only downside was showers were not included....For the price certainly an included shower should be part of the deal...easy check in and check out.,..We used the Love's site due to its location to visit family and the fact that electric was available...We have medical equipment that requires a recharge at night plus it's just nice to have the AC if needed.
TravelerSimple campsite. We should have brought some leveling blocks, But otherwise my wife and I enjoyed the site for our rental RV. Short 10 minute walk to Lake Michigan. The camp store is fairly robust with friendly people working there. I appreciate that there are 2 lanes for dump/fill stations. My wife and I would absolutely stay here again.
LegendWe had a truly enjoyable stay and would’ve stayed an extra day if our travel schedule would’ve allowed. David was a wonderful host. Greeted us with a smile and escorted us to our site. We had our choice of 2 spots, both lovely. Picnic table and plenty of FREE firewood to keep us cozy. Wild turkeys roamed the grounds as well as the friendly ducks. All in all, a very peaceful evening and a special place.
Camping near Lyons, Wisconsin offers a mix of seasonal campgrounds set amid the distinct glacial formations of southeastern Wisconsin. The area sits within the Kettle Moraine region, characterized by rolling hills, depressions, and small kettle lakes formed by retreating glaciers. Most campgrounds in the region operate from May through October, though Ottawa Lake maintains year-round accessibility for winter camping enthusiasts.
Hiking through kettle formations: At Pinewoods Campground, access to trails is convenient and scenic. "There is a central shower building with vault toilets in the camping loops. We asked the ranger about hiking and she gave us a map to a trail system that connects to this campground between the group sites and loop 3. We enjoyed a 4 mile hike from camp to the observation trail," shares a camper from Pinewoods Campground.
Water recreation beyond beaches: Chain O' Lakes State Park offers multiple water access points beyond the main beach areas. "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 to Turner Lake South Campground.
Visit natural springs: The Scuppernong Springs area provides a unique water feature experience near Ottawa Lake. "If your in Wisconsin this is a must stay! Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!" reports an enthusiastic camper.
Wildlife observation opportunities: The less developed areas provide excellent wildlife viewing. "It was pretty hot a couple days while we were there and to take a break from the heat, we enjoyed the ac in the car and drove around the recreation area and the campgrounds. 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."
Privacy levels between sites: Site selection can significantly impact privacy. "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," notes a camper at Sunset Campground.
Lower cost alternatives to Lake Geneva lodging: Camping provides budget-friendly accommodations near expensive tourist areas. "Such a great little place to escape to or visit if you're just passing through. Nothing crazy fancy but hook-ups and fire pits available if needed. Within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn, EAHS, and the horse arena," mentions a visitor to Elkhorn Campgrounds.
Less crowded camping loops: Some campgrounds offer quieter alternatives to the main camping areas. "We stayed in the Turner lake south loop, which has nice and private sites. This is in contrast to Honeysuckle hollow which is open and row after row of RV sites. Fox den and Prairie view loops are nice as well with mostly primitive sites."
Off-season camping benefits: Visiting during weekdays or shoulder seasons provides a different experience. "We were there during the week and had the place to ourselves. All in all it was a fun stop on our way to Colorado," notes a camper at Fox Den.
Road noise variations: Highway proximity affects some campsites more than others. "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. Although it didn't disturb our sleep, certain loud vehicles were more noticeable throughout the day and night," notes a visitor at Ottawa Lake Campground.
Wildlife management considerations: Several campgrounds report active wildlife. "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!"
Dog restrictions: Pet policies vary significantly between parks. "So this place is much less dog friendly than is advertised. Dogs aren't allowed in large swaths of the park nor on the (tiny tiny, bordered by loud highway) beach."
Campground map limitations: Some reservation systems don't show all facilities. "Be aware that the map on www.ExloreMoreIL,com (where you make your reservations) doesn't show where the restrooms are. In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60 & 61."
Choose family-specific loops: Some campgrounds designate specific areas for family camping. "Was a pretty spacious site with a longer driveway. Lots of Pine, hence the name. There are 3 separate loops, 1 quiet zone, one group, one family. Pit and flush toilets, showers, only 2 electric sites within Pinewoods."
Assess playground equipment conditions: Playground facilities vary widely in age and maintenance. "The playground equipment is questionable and the pond (for swimming?) is a very disconcerting color. There is also a pool but we were there in spring and also I probably would not have gone in that either."
Consider off-site activities: The region offers family-friendly destinations within short driving distances. "We were able to grab a nonelectric site and transfer to an electric site when one cancelled last minute. 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."
Evening wildlife awareness: Prepare for nocturnal visitors. "The raccoons at night here are no joke. The second it's dusky, they come scavenging for absolutely anything food has touched. So basically, eat dinner and do s'mores early, then everything must be packed into cars for the night and all surfaces wiped down."
Electrical hookup configurations: Some campgrounds have shared electrical hookups between sites. "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts too far from parking pad. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees," notes an RV camper at Fox Den Campground.
Dump station timing strategy: Plan for busy periods when using sanitary facilities. "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."
Winter camping accommodations: Some campgrounds remain open with limited services during colder months. "No showers in winter but awesome," shares a winter camper at Ottawa Lake, which remains open year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Lyons, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lyons, WI is Big Foot Beach State Park Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 24 reviews.
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