44 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area's pet-friendly Sunset Campground offers tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables. Cliffside Park Campground in Caledonia welcomes pets at all 92 sites from April to October, providing water hookups, showers, and sanitary dump stations. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Caledonia permits pets in tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and glamping accommodations with full hookups available. Happy Acres Kampground allows dogs throughout their property including cabin areas, with sites featuring water, sewer, and electric connections. Campground staff at most locations enforce leash requirements, with several reviewers noting the importance of keeping dogs secured due to wildlife and other campers. Sites are generally spacious enough for dogs to relax comfortably without disturbing neighbors.
Hiking trails throughout the area provide excellent exercise opportunities for dogs, with the Kettle Moraine State Forest trails particularly noted for their pet accessibility. Ottawa Lake Campground in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit features numerous small trails throughout the campsite perfect for dog walks. Big Foot Beach State Park restricts dogs from the beach area and certain sections of the park, which has disappointed some campers expecting full pet access. Most campgrounds provide garbage facilities for pet waste disposal, though dedicated pet waste stations are limited. Campers report varying experiences with enforcement of quiet hours regarding barking dogs, with some locations strictly monitoring noise levels while others are more relaxed. Water access for dogs varies significantly between locations, with some offering designated swimming areas while others restrict pets from beaches entirely.
"They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly."
"Driving into rural northern IL felt like leaving the craziness behind. I brought my dog to an animal-friendly area of the beach, which was small and secluded."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"We took our dogs on all the trails (oops) but saw other people doing the same. Short drive to local attractions and all the normal things you need."
"The campground is located about 8 miles from I-41/94 so while it is a little distance from the interstate, the drive was worth it because the park was very quiet and made for a nice restful evening. "
from $32 - $35 / 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"
"Pros: great hiking trails, nice lake to kayak on, family friendly beach and picnic areas Cons: Not great fishing, no dog friendly swim area, the beach/fishing pier/boat launch are all pretty far from"
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"This location did not dissapoint. We have not gone to this location during the warmer months but looks to be a great campground"
"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."
"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"
"Huge beach area, dog park, fishing as well. Shop to buy items you may need and absolutely wonderful place. Open all year round"
"Some have a beautiful view of lake. Some water fountains did not work, however sinks were always working. So many little trails all throughout the campsite."
from $23 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Trails that took you through woods and then prairie and then up a decent elevation for an amazing view of the surrounding area."
"I did not stay at this park, but did drive and walk through it to get a feel for it. There are a number of sites I'd love to tent camp in. This park is bounded by a lake with a nice beach."
from $25 - $80 / night
Check Availability"*** 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"
"Campsite is nice, we're pretty close to our neighbors but not as bad as other places I've been. Walking distance to a fishing dock!"
"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!"
GuideWe love private campsites, far enough away from other campers, yet close enough to amenities. We chose a walk in site #16 which was nice but I wish we chose one a bit further in. Bathrooms where very clean. Trails are great. Pet friendly - we brought our small, quiet dogs. Dog friendly restaurant right next to the camp site.
GuideAbsolutely beautiful, reasonable prices, electric available. Tons of restrooms, showers, laundry, and wonderful camp hosts. Huge beach area, dog park, fishing as well. Shop to buy items you may need and absolutely wonderful place. Open all year round
TravelerGreat park with swimming beach, trails, dog park, and archery range. Campsites were ok, not much separation or privacy at all. Pit toilets and metros desperately need to be cleaned more often. We had very noisy neighbors that did not respect the quiet hours rule and park staff did nothing to intervene. Very convenient that they drive through the Campground to sell/deliver firewood tho. I'd stay here again because the park overall is great, but I would try to choose a better site. #9 looked alright, and in the 20#s looked a bit more tree lined and bigger.
ScoutStaff was polite and helpful. They escort you to your spot. They hand out activity sheets for the weekend. 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. They charge extra if you have visitors.
ScoutWe love camping here. It truly feels rural. Small shower house but water pressure is amazing. It’s always quiet and the view is beautiful. Bugs were awful this stay. They are busy but spots are large and neighbors are not close by. Lots of kids. Great for families and pet friendly.
TravelerWe liked this site because it was on the "quiet loop." No radios or pets allowed. I'm not sure about children! :) The sites are fairly close together and the trees are sparse, but it was a beautiful site and wonderfully quiet for the long weekend over the 4th of July 2017.
You can walk over to an area that has hiking trails right out of the campsite. State park mountain biking trails are also close by, but you would need to drive to them. The showers were clean and when we used them, available. There is a playground right next to them as well.
The campsite itself had a good log-stopper so you wouldn't drive too far into the woods, great fire ring, and picnic table. We had nice flat areas for our tents.
I am not so sure I would have enjoyed myself if I'd been in another loop. The quiet was perfect!
GuideCampsites are kept up and quite clean. Some have a beautiful view of lake. Some water fountains did not work, however sinks were always working. So many little trails all throughout the campsite. Family friendly (parks, beach, pet friendly)
ScoutI reserved 5 nights, paid in full. After just one night, management cancelled my stay because my service dogs(Maltese) supposedly barked. I was fully cooperative, kept them quiet, and even documented this in emails. There was a stray cat near my RV that caused the issue, but instead of solving it, they forced me to leave. No refund for 4 nights. This is unfair, discriminatory, and against ADA law.
GuideI've stayed here twice, both times in August (of different years), both times in Loop 1 which is the quiet loop (no pets, no radios or other noise, 24 hours a day). There are a few walk-in sites (site 16 isn't a very far walk), but most are drive-in. Most sites have hammock-able trees and are quite shady. Pit toilets are available in loop 1, otherwise you can walk to the other loop to have running water.
Note that check-in is at Ottawa Lake - I arrived too late for check-in to be open this year (not sure if it ever was due to the pandemic), but had no issues just going to the site I'd reserved online.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area encompasses 4,515 acres of former farmland with terrain ranging from flat to rolling hills. Located near Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, this state park sits at an elevation of approximately 800 feet above sea level and features a mix of wetlands, prairie, and forested areas. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F, while spring and fall camping often sees 45-65°F with higher chances of rainfall.
Kayaking at Chain O' Lakes: Turner Lake South camping area provides access to multiple connected lakes and tributaries for paddlers. "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," reports Cora M. from Turner Lake South.
Archery practice: Muskego Park offers dedicated archery facilities including elevated blinds. "The park has a lot of amenities including a beachy pond area and an archery area where you can practice shooting from a blind above - great for hunters looking to brush up skills before the season starts," notes Laura B. who visited the park.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple stocked ponds and lakes provide fishing access for campers. At Muskego Park, Josh F. observed, "This park is bounded by a lake with a nice beach. There are nicely-groomed volleyball courts, picnic shelters and abundant picnic tables."
Nature center activities: Participate in educational programs run by park naturalists. "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 Jill G. about her stay at Sunrise Campground.
Semi-private campsites: At Cliffside Park Campground, campers appreciate the generous spacing. "Went on our maiden voyage with a new trailer and loved this place. Flat sites, some shade in the center sections. Outer sites backed to woods for most sites... so much space between sites it didn't feel like we were crowded," reported Peggy A.
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Sunrise Campground receives high marks for maintenance. "Showers and bathrooms were clean. Overall flat and private," noted Phillip J. about his experience camping at site 114.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Fox Den Campground offers excellent bird and animal watching. "We chose Chain O Lakes because we enjoy kayaking and with 7 lakes connected by small tributaries this fit the bill... Rangers were helpful and delivered firewood to our site daily," shared Aida K. about her experience.
Seasonal events: Many campgrounds host themed weekends throughout the season. "We booked a site here for Halloween and had a great time. My kids love Halloween Weekend camping at the various JellyStone Campgrounds. This location did not dissapoint," wrote Marc W. about Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Caledonia.
Insect preparation is essential: Multiple campgrounds report high mosquito and tick populations. At Sunset Campground, Tim H. warns: "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it. If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go... I have seldom been around so many all at once. Thankfully we had a pop-up screened gazebo."
Alcohol policies vary by location: Illinois state parks enforce strict no-alcohol rules. "The only big minus is the full hook ups fill up fast no spur of the moment camping unless it is early or late in the season. The other thing is ALL Illinois State Parks are now enforcing a no alcohol policy even if you are on your own site," notes Jeanne M. about Fox Den Campground.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "Chain O Lakes is one of the busiest waterways in Illinois, with motorboats everywhere in the height of the summer season... An odd thing is that you can hear a Steam Train whistle quite often, this is from Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove," explains Brian O.
Limited late-night access: Some parks enforce strict gate closing policies. "One last thing, the gates close at 10:PM and there are tire shredders, you can leave but you can't get back in... unless you want to walk 2+ miles in the dark," warns Brian O. about Chain O' Lakes State Park.
Screened shelters recommended: For pet-friendly camping near Mount Pleasant with kids, extra protection from insects helps. "While pretty busy it still felt private and quiet aside from nearby sites playing music most of the day and early night. Nothing too rowdy especially since no alcohol is allowed," reports Matt K. about Turner Lake South.
Kid-friendly water features: Several parks offer swimming beaches with varying amenities. "The grounds are well maintained. Bathrooms are clean. Wood is available for purchase," says Bradley about Cliffside Park, making it a popular option for pet-friendly camping near Mount Pleasant.
Playgrounds and recreation: Multiple play areas keep children entertained. At Jellystone Park Caledonia, Ginny B. reports, "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."
Wildlife education opportunities: Nature centers offer structured learning activities. "We visited this fall and were happy. I always forget that the sites in the 340's are awesome. There was some flooding but it didn't effect our trip," shares Ashley J. about Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park.
Site selection strategy: For pet owners with RVs, certain campground loops offer better experiences. "Fox Den is superior to Honeysuckle Hollows because each site has an individual electric post. Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts to far from parking pad. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees," advises Debra M.
Electric hookup considerations: Pay attention to power access when booking. "Level sites with electric and water at each site. Well taken care of grounds. Nice bathrooms with clean showers," notes Nancy S. about Cliffside Park Campground.
Dump station timing: Plan for potential delays at busy dump stations when leaving. "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," explains Tina about her week-long stay at Honeysuckle Hollow.
Water access planning: Not all sites have convenient water hookups. "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," advises Nancy W. about accommodations at Cliffside Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mount Pleasant, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mount Pleasant, WI is Adeline Jay-Geo Karis Illinois Beach State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 67 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Mount Pleasant, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 44 dog-friendly camping locations near Mount Pleasant, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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