Camping options near Saint Francis, Wisconsin range from lakefront properties to wooded state parks. The region sits within the glacial plains of southeastern Wisconsin at elevations between 580-850 feet above sea level. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from November through March, while summer highs typically reach 75-85°F with moderate humidity levels.
What to do
Hiking on established trail systems: Pike Lake Campground offers interconnected trails including the Ice Age Trail. "There are many trails, an observation tower with a view of Holy Hill and Pike Lake, and of course the Ice Age Scenic Trail," notes one visitor to Pike Lake Campground.
Beach activities and swimming: Access to Lake Michigan and smaller inland lakes provides swimming options from April through October. Naga-Waukee Park features "a beach on the shores of Lake Nagawicka that is well-groomed, clean, has a seasonal lifeguard and a playground within earshot," according to one camper at Naga-Waukee Park.
Recreational water use: Several campgrounds offer boating access, fishing, and water sports. "The campground is part of a larger county park that has covered picnic areas, winding trails, a boat-ramp, and much more to do in the area - from hiking to boating to golfing," reports a visitor to Naga-Waukee Park.
What campers like
Site privacy and natural surroundings: Many campgrounds offer wooded sites with reasonable separation. At Pinewoods Campground, "The sites in Loop 1 are varied as far as tree coverage, seclusion, and terrain. Our site (22) was relatively flat, felt secluded, had good tree coverage with some filtered sunlight," states a reviewer at Pinewoods Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and showers are consistently mentioned. "Level sites with electric and water at each site. Well taken care of grounds. Nice bathrooms with clean showers," reports a camper at Cliffside Park Campground.
Proximity to urban amenities: Many RV sites near Saint Francis, Wisconsin provide convenient access to city attractions while maintaining natural settings. "We stayed at State Fair RV Park in Milwaukee for two months while waiting to retire and work out bugs in our new RV. The park was all cement, it was clean and quiet. The Park is close to many restaurants and shopping," mentions a long-term visitor at Wisconsin State Fair RV Park.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds in the region operate from April through October, with limited winter camping options. "Camping is seasonal - April 1st through November 4th. Various bathroom options - ranging from pit toilets to port-o-potties. Showers available at the Beach House," notes a camper at Naga-Waukee Park.
Reservation requirements: Advanced booking is essential during summer months, particularly for weekends. At Cliffside Park Campground, "The campground is a mix of those you can reserve or as walk-up sites. The price when we stayed there was $28/night, but if you make an online reservation, a $12 processing fee is assessed."
Road noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience traffic noise due to proximity to highways. "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 a visitor to Pike Lake Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated play areas: Several campgrounds offer playgrounds and family-friendly amenities. "This is a great place for families. It has a playground as well as a baseball field," states a camper at Cliffside Park Campground.
Consider site accessibility: Family-friendly campgrounds offer varying levels of convenience. At Muskego Park, "Our first time camping and we had a blast. Convenient locations. Great hiking trails. Beach was really nice and sandy. Slots were easy to pull in/out of," reports a family.
Check swimming options: Lakes and beaches provide family recreation opportunities. "The weekend we were there 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," mentions a visitor to Sunrise Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site surface considerations: RV sites range from paved to gravel to grass surfaces. "All sites are the same having 50/30/20 amp electric, water, gravel pads, a grassy patio, picnic table, and a fire pit but no sewer. Campsites can fit up to a 45' RV, and while tents are allowed, there is not a separate tent section," notes a visitor to Cliffside Park Campground.
Limited full hookup options: While electric sites are common, full hookups are less available. "It was a small RV park had a concrete pad but not big enough for a 43 ft motor home. The site was 60 ft, but the whole site was not concrete. None of the sites had sewage, the dump station was about a mile down the road," reports an RVer.
Size restrictions at some campgrounds: Not all sites accommodate larger RVs. "Roads were narrow and a little hard to navigate with a big RV," mentions a camper at Cliffside Park Campground, while another notes, "There is a TIGHT turn in the campground loop near site #17 to be aware of with longer trailers."
