Ottawa Lake Campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest offers secluded campsites within 20 miles of New Berlin, Wisconsin. The area features glacier-formed hills and kettles across 30,000 acres of mixed hardwood forest. Winter temperatures typically range from 10°F to 25°F, while summer temperatures average 70-85°F with moderate humidity.
What to do
Hiking natural springs: Take the trail across from Ottawa Lake Campground to experience freshwater springs. "We've stayed here twice. Nice, clean, well-run campground with some electric sites and several bathroom/shower buildings if needed. Nice little lake to swim or paddle on. 20 minute drive to the awesome Kettle Moraine biking trails," notes Heather H.
Winter camping: Enjoy cold-weather camping at Ottawa Lake when crowds thin out. "No showers in winter but awesome," reports David H., who found the campground particularly suited for winter visits.
Family swimming: Naga-Waukee Park provides a well-maintained beach on Lake Nagawicka. "Nice quiet place to take kids to swim. Beach is clean and there are trees for shade and grills to cook," mentions Sheri J.
Kayaking chain of lakes: Fox Den Campground connects to seven interconnected lakes via small tributaries. "We chose Chain O Lakes because we enjoy kayaking and with 7 lakes connected by small tributaries this fit the bill," shares Aida K.
What campers like
Proximity to Milwaukee: Menomonee Park provides a quick escape close to metropolitan areas. "I would say sites are average size for a county park. All sorts are mostly wooded and offer good shade. There are miles of nice hiking trails, a nice beach, pavilions to rent, horse riding trails, archery range and I'm sure I'm missing more," writes Matt N.
Yurt camping options: Big Foot Beach State Park near Lake Geneva features yurt accommodations for those seeking alternative lodging near New Berlin. "Nice large sites. gravel spot for arc/trailer. fire pit and picnic table. trails for hiking are nice, but the overall camping area isn't very big. 100 sites only. 30 with electric," explains Melissa B.
Drinking spring water: At Ottawa Lake, campers can experience natural spring water directly from the source. "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!" shares Autumn S.
Modern bathroom facilities: Campgrounds in the area generally maintain clean facilities. "The site was spacious and clean, complete with the basics (fire ring, flushing toilets, showers, drinking water). Shower house #2 was clean although a bit older (paint was peeling off the walls due to humidity) but the water pressure was fine and as hot as I needed it to be," reports Linda N.
What you should know
Seasonal noise levels: Ottawa Lake experiences varying crowd levels throughout the year. "Nicely nestled in the kettle moraine but busy in the summer. Bring bug spray," advises Adam, highlighting the peak season challenges.
Transportation noise: Naga-Waukee Park sits close to roads and highways. "It is quite nice and pretty out here. A lot of amenities you'll find at other campgrounds. It is very close to main roads as I heard traffic all day and sometimes sirens. But honestly pretty good spot," explains Corbin P.
Road access considerations: Turner Lake South has specific entry restrictions. "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.
Wildlife awareness: Expect active wildlife, particularly at night. "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," advises Meg.
Tips for camping with families
Backpack camp options: Shelter 1 in Kettle Moraine offers a more adventurous camping experience. "Great backpack camp site. Decent walk and terrain to get to the site. There is an open shelter to put your tent if you prefer to outside. There is a fire pit, but we found our own wood around the site. (Bring a small axe)," recommends Erin Z.
Tick prevention: At Turner Lake South, prepare for ticks if camping with young children. "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," shares Meg.
Activity planning: Many area campgrounds offer structured activities for children. "We stayed here for a week over the summer in 2021. We had a back-in site on the north side of the campground. We had 50 amp, but no water/sewer, although there was a water spigot next to our site that we could use to fill up jugs of water," notes Tina.
Holiday events: Campgrounds like Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park host seasonal activities. "We go at least once a year to see the Christmas lights. A great little after work trip on a Friday to cure the kiddos cabin fever a bit," mentions Darren L.
Tips from RVers
Pull-through accessibility: Check specific site dimensions before booking at Fox Den Campground. "Chain O'Lakes State Park in IL has two electric campgrounds, 2 non-electric campgrounds and one group site. 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," explains Debra M.
Shuttle services: Elkhorn Campgrounds provides convenient transportation options for events. "Great location to visit Lake Geneva (~8mi.) or see a concert at Alpine Valley (~20 min). There's a shuttle from the campground (outer sites near racetrack.). You pay for the shuttle through Lakeshore shuttle," shares Dan W.
Electrical hookup considerations: Confirm access before setting up. "We had full hookup which was nice. Plenty of things to keep kids busy. Store has lots of stuff and necessities. Was alittle more expensive than some other places but they had a large variety within," advises Kim Z.
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