Camping sites near Nashotah, Wisconsin cluster around the Kettle Moraine region with its distinctive glacial topography. The terrain features numerous kettle depressions, kames, and eskers formed 10,000 years ago during the last ice age. Mosquito activity peaks from June through August, with repellent essential during evening hours when temperatures cool to the 60s.
What to do
Swimming at Ottawa Lake: The lake at Ottawa Lake Campground features a clean, sandy beach with designated swimming areas. "The lake is very clean and the site are a good size. Gets very busy on the weekends!" notes camper Neysha R.
Spring water exploration: Hike to natural springs located near Ottawa Lake for a unique natural attraction. "Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!" shares Autumn S.
Archery practice: Muskego Park maintains a dedicated archery area where hunters can practice shooting from 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," explains Laura B.
Mini golf: Harnischfeger County Park offers a 9-hole mini golf course for $1 per person. "Has a 9 hole mini golf course that cost $1 a person. Has trails, disc golf, and rock river for kayaking," states Brittany R.
What campers like
Private, wooded sites: The quiet loop at Pinewoods Campground offers secluded camping with noise restrictions. "Stayed one night (Friday) and really enjoyed the location. We were in the quiet loop, Loop 1, which actually was very quiet. Everyone was respectful of the rules," reports Abbe W.
Native wildlife encounters: Many sites throughout Kettle Moraine offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. "Great landscape and wildlife. We were lucky enough to have a couple of Sandhill Cranes walk through our camp early one morning," mentions Abbe W. at Mukwonago Park.
Winter camping options: Several campgrounds remain open year-round with reduced services. "You can camp year around in this campground. Most recent 2 times were winter camping. No host so buying wood is an issue, but pick a site on the edge and there is more than enough free. Bring a saw," advises Tim H. about Ottawa Lake in winter.
Variety of terrain: Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit features diverse landscapes from prairie to forest. "I loved how secluded the site felt. There were great trails and natural beauty in the park. The bugs weren't bad, but beware of the poison ivy. The sites were very shaded, offering relief from the heat," comments Brendan E.
What you should know
Seasonal water conditions: Swimming areas can develop natural hazards during summer months. "Heed warnings of swimmers itch and know that the dog beach is very small, with no beach at all (just a place rest for your dog to go take a swim)," cautions Susan S. about Pike Lake.
Noise levels vary: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby highways or speedways. "Proximity to highway means more noise. Also close to Slinger Speedway, which on Sundays on the weekend can be loud with the races and they can run kinda late (about 10PM)," warns Eric S. about Pike Lake.
Shower facilities: Bathroom and shower quality varies significantly between campgrounds. "Pit toilets and metros desperately need to be cleaned more often. Very convenient that they drive through the Campground to sell/deliver firewood tho," notes Kim about Menomonee Park.
Reservation timing: Menomonee Park has special events that book far in advance. "The last weekend of September is FallFest and often books a year in advance," advises Lauren S. about Harnischfeger County Park.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Muskego Park offers family-friendly swimming in a spring-fed pond. "The best thing is probably the small man made pond. I believe it's stocked with fish and offers a very family friendly swimming area. There's a nice little concessions stand, a little sand area, and a small pier to jump off of," explains Darren L.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playground equipment near amenities. "The showers were clean and when we used them, available. There is a playground right next to them as well," mentions Wendy Z. about Kettle Moraine Southern Unit.
Bike-friendly options: Pike Lake Campground now connects to bike trails. "Bike trail now connects to the campground making biking to Pike Lake possible. The campground is on the opposite side of the park from the lake, so driving or biking are the options to get from the campground to the water," shares Sugar Maple S.
Educational trails: Some parks feature interpretive trails suited for children. "There is plenty of greenery between sites giving privacy. We could hear children playing but only saw them when they rode their bikes around the loop. 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," notes Art S. about Pinewoods.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When camping in larger vehicles, carefully research site access. "There is a TIGHT turn in the campground loop near site #17 to be aware of with longer trailers. Generally, the inner ring is electric (except #23) and the outer ring is non-electric," advises Sugar Maple S. about Pike Lake.
Limited hookup options: Most campgrounds near Nashotah offer electric only or no hookups. "Sites with letters are tent sites without water or electric, sites with numbers have water and 30 amp service, though there are plans to upgrade the sites to all have water and 50 amp service in the future," explains Lauren S. about Harnischfeger Park.
Seasonal access: RVers should note when full services are available. "We've been full time RVers for 4 years and this is a beautiful campground close to 'home'. We stay here a couple of times each year for doctor and dentist appointments, visiting family and friends, and general relaxation," shares Steve K. about Ottawa Lake.
