101 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Palmyra, Wisconsin centers around the glacial landscapes of Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit, which provides a mix of wooded campsites, lakeside recreation, and extensive trail systems. The area features several established campgrounds including Ottawa Lake Campground, Pinewoods Campground, and the Southern Unit Horseriders Campground, which caters specifically to equestrian campers. Tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and some cabins are available throughout the region. The Ice Age Trail passes through the forest, offering hikers direct access from several campgrounds. According to reviews, "The campsites are large with lots of foliage for privacy" at Kettle Moraine, making it particularly appealing for those seeking more secluded sites.
The camping season in the Kettle Moraine area varies by campground, with Ottawa Lake open year-round while Pinewoods operates from May through October. Winter camping is available at select sites, though facilities may be limited to vault toilets during colder months. Fall is particularly popular for its colorful foliage and moderate temperatures. Campers report that "cool nights range from lower 30s to upper 40s" in October, with daytime temperatures often reaching the 60s. Most campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Wisconsin State Park vehicle permits are required for entry, and can be purchased online or at entrance stations.
The camping experience varies between the different units within Kettle Moraine. Pinewoods Campground offers a quieter atmosphere with sites 1-36 designated as 24-hour quiet sites where no music is allowed. Ottawa Lake provides more family-oriented camping with access to swimming and boating. The Horseriders Campground accommodates both horses and RVs with appropriate facilities. Most campgrounds provide clean restrooms, showers, and drinking water. Visitors note that "the proximity to the Ice Age Trail is a bonus" for hiking enthusiasts. The nearby town of Oconomowoc offers dining options and supplies, while Lake Geneva is within driving distance for additional recreation opportunities.
"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"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"I did not stay here, but I spend some time walking through to get a feel for the place."
"Wanted someplace close to home. Familiar with the Delavan area so was excited to find Snug Harbor. Set up went well, didn’t blow anything up! Yea! Staff was great, helped me back in."
from $15 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Pros: The sites we stayed in and the others that we noticed seemed sizeable and had nice tree-cover
- Having access to the Ice Age Trail was really neat
- Lake access nearby
Cons:
- On"
"Easy access to Ice Age Trail from the campground. Nice hike to Rice Lake."
from $20 - $90 / night
Check Availability"You are in walking distance of the lake with boat ramp, kayaking and water inflatables. I loved it! Also, there is a store with full kitchen."
"The rangers drive through regularly and will deliver wood to your site if requested."
"Swim or fish in the lake, archery or huge picnic sites."
from $25 - $80 / night
Check Availability"No enclosed dog park but plenty of area to walk your dog!"
"Driving around, I really don't think there's a bad spot here. The staff is fantastic, friendly, and accommodating- as are the seasonal campers.
We'll be back again...and again... and again!"
"Reservable backpacking sites about 45-60min away from nearest parking. Fire pit, shelter, and picnic table at site.
Really enjoyed the hike through forest to get to this site."
"It’s along the ice age trail and offers stunning views for easy hikes."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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
TravelerThe beauty of this campground was to Madison venues. We stayed here twice recently and took Uber rides too and from Camp Randall. It’s a very clean and friendly campground ground. Very nice pavilion for events. I loved the walking path and benches along the lake.
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.
TravelerWe 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.
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.
GuideSites are large, well-spaced, many shaded by wonderful large trees. The woods are very open with little understory, and much of the area facing the road is graveled, so you will still see your neighbors. So many hiking options - the Ice Age Trail connects to the campground only a few minutes walk away. Many hiking options, the walk to the Powder Hill Lookout tower is a must. Picnic area and waterfront are a short drive away. Bathrooms were clean and showers free, hot, and strong. Some traffic noise from highway nearby but quiet at night.
GuideFor a primitive campground, this was a nice-enough experience.
Pros:
- The sites we stayed in and the others that we noticed seemed sizeable and had nice tree-cover
- Having access to the Ice Age Trail was really neat
- Lake access nearby
Cons:
- On the continuum of vault toilet quality, these were on the less-desirable end. We joked about whether it was scarier to visit them when they were dark or when the lights were on. If you love having fly friends keep you company when nature calls, then these are the bathrooms for you! The bathrooms did get cleaned on Sunday morning, but this didn't help the situation very much.
- No showers
Traveler⭐ 1/5— Not a Family-Friendly Experience We have traveled by motorhome for many years and stayed at numerous KOA campgrounds. For many years ! Sadly, this is the first negative review we have ever written. Milton KOA is beautiful and clean, although the sites are somewhat crowded. Most staff members were polite and helpful. Unfortunately, the conduct of one employee was completely unacceptable. Our group included six families with children ages 3–18. This employee used profanity, including the“F-word,” toward the children and behaved in a verbally abusive and threatening manner. When one mother calmly tried to address the situation, the employee moved toward her aggressively, causing her to fear she might be struck, and shouted,“I’m sick and tired of this.” At approximately 9:45 p.m., the 18-year-olds in our group were ordered back to their campsite, even though they were simply walking around and were not being loud or disruptive. Adults were allowed to drink in the pool area, while our children were treated with hostility and disrespect just for being there. No food no drinks.No child or parent should experience profanity, intimidation, or threatening behavior from a campground employee. The campground may be enjoyable for adults traveling without children. However, based on what our six families experienced, we cannot recommend Milton KOA to families with children. We are submitting a formal complaint to KOA Corporate and requesting a thorough investigation. Also, wasp infestation beware if you have allergies .
Camping options near Palmyra, Wisconsin center on the unique glacial topography of the Kettle Moraine region, which was formed by the retreat of ice sheets approximately 10,000 years ago. The landscape features distinctive kettle depressions, kames, drumlins, and eskers that provide varied camping terrain across the region. At elevations ranging from 800-1,100 feet, campsites throughout the area experience cool nights even in summer with temperatures often dropping into the 50s after sunset.
Hike to the observation tower: The Southern Unit has hiking trails directly accessible from Pinewoods Campground that lead to scenic overlooks. "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," notes one visitor who appreciated the trail access.
Visit natural springs: The spring-fed waterways near Ottawa Lake Campground offer refreshing exploration options. "Great hiking right across the street with views of little springs. Kids lived it," explains a camper who enjoyed the natural water features with their family. Another camper notes the "hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!"
Swimming and water activities: Summer visitors can enjoy the clean beaches and swimming areas. "The lake is very clean and the site are a good size. Gets very busy on the weekends!" reports a camper at Ottawa Lake. For those seeking alternatives, Mukwonago Park has "a spring fed and very pleasant swimming pond with a nice sandy beach" according to one review.
Quiet camping sections: For those seeking peace, Kettle Moraine Southern Unit offers specialized camping loops. "We liked this site because it was on the 'quiet loop.' No radios or pets allowed... it was a beautiful site and wonderfully quiet for the long weekend over the 4th of July," explains a visitor who appreciated the designated quiet zones. At Pinewoods Campground, "Loop 1 is a quiet zone, which actually was very quiet. Everyone was respectful of the rules."
Winter camping options: Unlike many Wisconsin campgrounds, some sites remain open year-round. "No showers in winter but awesome," reports a winter visitor to Ottawa Lake Campground. Another camper notes, "You can camp year around in this campground. Most recent 2 times were winter camping. Nice place for solitude. No rowdies in winter."
Varied site privacy levels: The amount of seclusion between sites varies significantly. At Mukwonago Park by Waukesha County Parks, "The sites are large, spaced out, and the campground is generally quiet." A visitor observed that "Sites are large and well spaced out. The campground is clean and well kept."
Seasonal differences in facilities: Services change significantly between seasons. "No showers in winter but awesome," notes a winter visitor to Ottawa Lake, while other campers mention that some bathroom facilities may be limited to vault toilets during colder months.
Weather fluctuations: The area experiences significant temperature swings, especially in fall. One camper at Kettle Moraine State Forest noted their October camping trip: "We blew through 4 bundles of firewood each day!" due to cold temperatures.
Campsite terrain: The glacial geography creates varied site conditions. At Scenic Ridge Campground, one camper mentioned: "Our site was downhill so that presented quite the challenge to level out." Another review notes, "When it rained the first night, most of the site was mud" due to minimal grass coverage in some areas.
Activity books for kids: Some parks offer special educational materials. "Pick Up the activity book for kids it is a great adventure lots to do at the lake!!!" recommends a visitor to the Kettle Moraine area.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Snug Harbor Inn Campground, "There is a playground too but the diverse hiking and woodsy sites make this one to return to," according to a camper with children.
Water features for kids: The swimming areas are particularly appealing for families with children. "Spent the weekend and was impressed... Great hiking right across the street with views of little springs. Kids lived it," notes a visitor to Ottawa Lake Campground.
Site selection for larger vehicles: Not all sites accommodate larger RVs equally well. The Southern Unit Horseriders Campground offers "several sites along one side of the park that are a little more secluded and in a pine forest" and "a series of pull-through sites that would make it easier for those who don't care to back trailers in or out of the site."
Electric site availability: Electric hookups are limited at some campgrounds. "There's only 2 electric sites within Pinewoods," notes one camper, while others mention that Ottawa Lake has more electric options for those requiring power.
Dump station access: RVers should plan ahead for sanitation needs. At Scenic Ridge Campground, "The sump station is in a rather inconvenient spot at the top of the hill," which caused some issues for departing campers with "about 40 minutes" wait time reported during busy periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Palmyra, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Palmyra, WI is Ottawa Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit with a 4.3-star rating from 52 reviews.
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