Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Racine, WI

Great 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.

We 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!

I'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.

No, this place isn't perfect, but understand it, and you can have a wonderful time here. There is a north and a south section of the park. Camping is in the south section. You can choose wooded, quite private sites, to busier ones near the lake. At the north end of the campground is a ComEd nuclear station that was built in 1973, and has not produced electricity for 20 years. It is eerie, and when ComEd had their Power House north of there, it was somewhat acceptable, but they shut that down years ago. There are two haunting structures that used to contain showers, changing/restrooms, and concession stands. Both are boarded up, and I can't understand why they have not been torn down. By far, it is better to come here during the week, when sites are plentiful, and the two bath houses are not so busy. They are old, and it is best to catch them right after cleaning time. Take your time walking the beach, and be sure to visit the hotel/convention center…it is worth having a drink or meal there. Hopefully you are in to biking…there are trails throughout Zion that are not marked on maps, and I use that as a warm-up day. The next day I go up through the north beach, around Winthrop Harbor, catch Lake Shore Drive at the border, and up to the Kenosha Harbor. North of there you cut across town and pick up the Robert McClory Trail going up to Racine. That harbor is the best, but biking in Racine is the most dangerous of any city I have ridden in. If you are up to a third day of biking, head south on the Robert McClory Trail. Trails are not well marked, but I have gone as far south as Winnetka. Even if you do not leave the campground, the trails and the beach will prove to be a very relaxing stay. Forget what it isn't, and discover what it is!