Best Campgrounds near Manitowoc, WI

General: There is both a north and a south part to this campground with a total of 178 sites. The sites in the south part are all on a grassy field and there is a small man-made lake with an inflatable play area. The sites in the north part are a mix of full hook-up and tent sites. There are also small cabins (only one of which has a bathroom) and three “condos”. These all had air-conditioners, but I did not see the inside of them. The north unit features a pond, which I was disappointed to discover was algae-filled and completely green. 

Site Quality: Some are pull-through and some back-in. Some sites have electric and water hookups, some have picnic tables, and some have fire rings (but not all sites have all of these amenities). Only a handful have concrete pads; the rest are all on grass. 

Our impression of Sleepy Hollow was influenced in part by the fact that it poured rain for much of our overnight stay. The roads were all dirt and with the rain, became very muddy along with the campsites as well. When leaving the next day, we had some challenges backing out of our site with the amount of mud. There is no clear delineation between the sites other than where the electric and water hookups are placed. 

Bathhouse: Was very clean (in both the north and south units of the campground). Showers are available for a fee (five minutes for$1.00) but we did not use them so cannot comment on how well they worked. 

Activities/Amenities: In the south unit, there is a small manmade lake with an inflatable play structure and plenty of life jackets. The color is a beautiful Caribbean blue, but it did not look natural, and I was not sure of the source of the color. We were there on a weekday in September, and no one was using the lake. There is a small bar and grill (in the north section) and a concession (south unit) on-site, but both were closed when we were there. Firewood was available (15 pieces for $10); we asked and were granted permission to use the golf cart to bring the wood to our site. Other than the lake, there really is nothing offered for recreation. 

We chose this campground for its location; it is very close to Highway 41 in Oshkosh (you will hear road noise) and we were meeting family there. We checked in online the day before and arrived at 3:30 pm. No one was in the office when we arrived but the family members we were meeting had arranged for us to camp in the site next to them (not the original one we had selected). This campground is VERY close to EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association), and I imagine it would be completely full during the annual EAA convention. For us, it was a convenient location but aside from spending time with our family, the reason we chose this campground.

Very nice and and quite! Bathroom only has cold water but shower house has nice hot water. We are here on a Monday and it made us pay for 2 nights so that’s my biggest complaint but this is a very secluded and clean park so I’d stay here again!

We stayed in the primitive area which wasn't crowded at all just after labor day.  The sites were nice and wooded with lots of privacy.  It rained most of the time we were there so we didn't get to explore much.  Tried to walk down to the lake from our site, but just got to the top of the cliffs on the lake.

The automated pay system insisted we pay for 2 nights since they considered Thursday to be a weekend night.  This is just silly.  Thursday is NOT a weekend night.  

We only spent one night due to the rain.

Great campground my family loves. Can't wait to go back

We rented a camper for the first time and decided to go here. We appreciated the facilities and the fact that there was help available if necessary.

The campground is big with lots of sites. Some are in a big field that was really crowded. I’m glad we asked for a wooded site.

The biggest downside was noise. We were there over the 4th of July. There were golf carts that circled the campgrounds blaring loud music on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of July. I get celebrating the 4th but this was pretty annoying.

But overall this was good. It helped me realize I prefer more remote camping. I’m not sure the resort feel of this KOA is for me, but that is a preference. There is a lot to like and a lot to do here.

The campground is clean and organized well, with each space separated by trees/bush/woods. The drinking water is not good so be sure to pack enough. The beaches are very clean and great for walking at different points in the day. Site 28 was a bit small.

We enjoyed our stay it was beautiful and clean and quiet we enjoyed the sunsets and the little store was nice very friendly staff

Huge campground, and I guess we were lucky to snag a site mid week in August, as there were only two sites left when we arrived in the early afternoon. 

You get a choice of electric or non electric. We paid $25 for a non-electric site (weekends are higher rate). You also have to pay the Wisconsin state park entry fee at $13/day for non residents, or $38 for an annual pass. 

The dump station gets really backed up at the end of the weekend, so heads up. 

Also, a portion of the beach is dog friendly, so if that’s important to you then try and get a site close to the dog friendly portion (south of the lighthouse), otherwise it’s a good mile walk from the other end of the campground to the dog area. Leashes required at all times, except for when the dog is actively frolicking in the water. 

The concession stand here looks really nice, like a full service restaurant. Showers are nice and free. Water spigots throughout campground, or there’s a water fill at the dump station. There’s a little free library here too:)

Campground will be closed until May 24, 2024 for maintenance on the waterlines.

Another beautiful Wisconsin State Park. We’ve stayed in several of these now, and have found them to be consistently well maintained, clean, free showers (this one has a handle where you can actually adjust the temperature), with dumpsters, recycling, and a dump station and water fill.  

We paid $40/night for an electric (30amp) site because we needed to run the a/c, but otherwise that’s far too expensive and we’d much rather pay $25 for a non-power site. There’s also the $13/day or $38 annual state park fee (residents pay a few dollars less), which we’re seeing more and more of at state parks now. 

Rangers and hosts are super friendly and helpful as well. There are nice trails around the campground, and some of them even allow dogs. Only a portion of the beach allows dogs, so watch for that. Sites vary in levelness and amount of privacy from your neighbor. 

There’s also laundry here, such a nice perk for full timers like us! Laundry day at the laundromat is such an unpleasant chore. 

ATT had good service and Verizon had weak service.

Unfortunate ownership of what could be a great campground.

NO WIFI.......at all!!!!!

I would not stay there again since there are so many much nicer and more user friendly campgrounds in the surrounding area.

Rude attitudes along with made to feel like an imposition and outsider if you don't take part in their whatever you want to call it.

Can't count on your tanks being cleared by their in-house "service" allegedly on Monday and Thursday or maybe Tues or maybe Friday......you get the drift.

The constant speeding of golf carts but yet there is reprimands for going a little faster than 5mph all the way in from the outer access road along with inconsistencies to dogs being on leads.

To me......Lake Random or any of the other RV campgrounds will be my pick next year.

All the other campgrounds in OshKosh are near the airport, which makes sense since the biggest event each year is the EVAA air show. None of them have trees.
Hickory Oaks has it's own airfield and lots and lots of trees. They even have a mini-lake (4 acres).
There are all types of RV sites, tenting/primitive sites and group sites, some small cabins as well. We camped in site 60 because we arrived after dark, and Cindy suggested that our first choice, #67 might be too hard to find at night. There is only one street light, and it's by site #1 and the swim area.
The map doesn't really convey what an oasis of trees this place is. To the West is the runway and beyond that, a large grassy hill (it's actually landfill). To the east in a rural road running along the lake. To the north, in the distance is a prison.  That all sounds worse than it is, it's a lovely campground.
 There are a few things for sale in the office, but you're so close to town you can get everything there. Cindy the operator is extremely nice and helpful.
Fire pits are 30" rings with no grate, Tables seem smaller than average.
If you're visiting in the summer, be sure to visit the Farmer's Market , Saturdays on Main Street, also Wagner's Market for the best meats, deli and beverages.  The Paine museum & gardens and the city museum are both worth visits as well.

Owner emailed site numbers, water and electric hook up good shape. Maintained, some equipment storage on one end of property but organized. Owner friendly and checked on us later in day. Road noise minimal, occasional airplane taking off. Stayed 2 nights in 35' class A coach easy access, long sites. Big rig friendly.

We love this place! We were on the water in the W area, a spacious site with firewood prepaid and waiting for us when we arrived. Pit toilets are within a short walk and are among the cleanest I’ve seen anywhere. The only drawback is the showers. Coin operators is OK, but no temperature control. Fortunately, the water is hot! Staff is awesome, as always.

Very clean, and well cared for! Nice playground and aesthetically pleasing! Our site had own fire pit, and owners were extremely nice! Enjoyed the stay!

Great spot that is cheaper than most places nearby. Scott was really nice and got us checked in without any issues. Great location and near to fishing,restaurants and the beach.

This campground is situated across from Lake Michigan, with access to trails, sand-ridged beaches and a lighthouse (the lighthouse cannot be toured, but can be admired from the outside).  There is nice lodge and camp store right on the lake, complete with a quaint restaurant where we got breakfast on the weekend as well as ice cream.

We stayed on site 13.  Not super secluded from neighboring sites, but it had nice tree cover.  A three minute walk to the beach.  The shower house and flush toilets were a bit of a hike from our campsite, but pit toilets were nearby.

We camped in late-May and there were no mosquitos and we didn't see any ticks (not to say there weren't any).  The area has some interesting natural features, including some wetland-prone areas with frogs, salamanders, etc.

All-in-all everyone in our party agreed that we would stay here again.  Happy camping!

Site we got was not the best, but worked out OK. Site was behind the main y coming in to camp, so lots of traffic. Other than that, nothing to complain about. Nice pool, friendly staff.