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The Kettle Moraine State Forest dominates the camping landscape near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, with multiple developed campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. Ottawa Lake Campground and Pinewoods Campground, both part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit, provide established camping areas with varying amenities. These locations accommodate diverse camping preferences with tent sites, RV hookups, and some cabin options. The Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine offers year-round camping opportunities, though specific campgrounds like Pinewoods operate seasonally from May through October. Several county parks supplement these options, including Naga-Waukee Park by Waukesha County Parks, which maintains 30 sites for tents and RVs approximately 15 miles north of Oconomowoc.
Camping regulations and amenities vary significantly across the region's campgrounds. Most sites in Kettle Moraine require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and fall color season. The state forest campgrounds typically provide drinking water, toilets, and shower facilities, with electric hookups available at select sites. Ottawa Lake Campground features both standard and electric sites, while Pinewoods Campground offers more secluded, wooded camping areas. Accessibility remains good throughout most of the year, though spring conditions can create muddy access roads. As one camper noted, "The campsites are large with lots of foliage for privacy. It's so pretty in the fall. Red Trail, Paradise Trail, Rice Lake are all great hikes."
Visitors consistently highlight the region's glacial topography and recreational opportunities. The Ice Age Trail passes through several campgrounds, providing direct hiking access from campsites. Campers frequently mention the privacy of sites at Pinewoods Campground, where the pine forest creates natural separation between camping areas. According to reviews, Ottawa Lake offers "gorgeous private, well wooded areas that make you feel like you're all alone in the woods." Water recreation represents another popular feature, with Ottawa Lake providing swimming and fishing opportunities directly from the campground. The proximity to hiking trails receives particular praise, with multiple reviewers mentioning the convenience of accessing the Ice Age Trail and other hiking paths from their campsites. Winter camping is available at some locations, though with reduced amenities and fewer open facilities.
"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."
"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."
from $23 - $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 $23 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Nestled in the heart of lake country (Waukesha County) and accessible from the Lake Country Trail and Ice Age Trail, this county park is perfect for those just passing through or families looking for a"
"Very windy weekend but I imagine during the summer it’s a great spot to camp near their big beach and lake access."
from $25 - $80 / night
Check Availability"North Kettle Moraine, Pike Lake Unit was an easy choice given it's proximity to the city- about 40 minutes."
"A last minute decision to camp for a night led my son and I to the often visited Pike Lake unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Its a beautiful park and within 30 minutes of our home."
from $23 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Has trails, disc golf, and rock river for kayaking."
"Their is also a great hiking trail if you like that."
"Live nearby. We go there a lot over the summer. Fun park to ride bikes through. Many trails to walk or hike. The pond has a great beach for kids."
"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."
from $25 - $80 / night
Check Availability"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 $23 / night
Check Availability"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"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)."
TravelerThis park has always been a go to for me. As a full time RVer, I come here a lot. The scenery is beautiful, beach right next door, fishing holes not far from here. The people who come are all very friendly and the park rangers are very welcoming and always have firewood for the visitors. Highly recommend this spot for everyone.
TravelerFirst time RV’ing with my wife and we were able to navigate pretty easily in our rented 30’. Arrived on a Monday, and as posted, there was no one so we checked in online(they sent an email to check in). Simple camp site with tons of space(almost double our RV), a long wood picnic table and a fire pit. Everything was great until we left. Dumping was straight forward, but the person in front of me was taking a little while to dump. They had came up to my RV and let me know the dump tank was backing up, which I had also experienced when I tried dumping. I called to ask for assistance on Thursday and they said they would send a ranger out. 45 minutes of waiting and a couple other RV’s after us and we ended up giving up and going to another site closer to home to dump. Great experience otherwise.
TravelerI love staying here from time to time. As a full time RVer, I book here frequently. Not only do they have all types of hookups stays, but they full men and women’s locker rooms with showers, and restrooms, including a laundry facility on site, shop is inside the office and ice available. The customer service is by far the best! They work with you every step of the way and show you around the area if you wanted! Plus they have a dump station and water fill up station even if you’re not staying here or book here. I recommend this site to anyone and everyone!
GuideWe stayed here one night and had a great experience! The restroom/bathhouse is super clean, conveniently located, and NEW. A refreshing thing after roughing it. We took a trail down to the trussle bridge that goes across the river. Nice nature view. Fishing was good too, near the bridge at the entrance to the park. My son was there maybe 5 min and hooked a decent sized pike. We brought our two dogs and they enjoyed the quiet of the park and the trails. Only complaint I had was that someone previously had left dog poop at our site, but sometimes people don't clean up after their pets. Our site had electric, only 30 amp hookup but we had a 50 amp adapter and it worked well. We would definitely stay again.
TravelerThis is my second time camping here (June / July). This campground is the best of both worlds. By that, I mean there’s is peace and solitude, while also family fun activities for kids and adults. You can rent kayaks and canoes, for the lake. Fishing pier, nice size beach with the inflatable obstacle course. On the weekend they have activity’s on the beach such as sand castle building competitions, obstacle races and then they have beach bubbles. It’s is fun to watch all the little kids running around like little marshmallows.
The golf carts are all newer with long lasting batteries. The campsites have lots of tree shade. On our arrival, our site appears to be cleaned. Even our fire ring was cleaned out. Golf cart was there waiting for us fully charged. They bring firewood out to you when you buy it from the store. The store has a nice array of items such as food, ice cream, clothing, little toys an such. The mini golf course is new and some obstacles are made from an artist with recycled tires that are painted.
There is lots or grass at our campsite (mud too if you’re here when it rains). The roads are a VERY hard packed gravel that electrical scooters can ride on. So yes, electric scooters appear to be permitted here. Be careful tho as there are quite a few pot holes and dips.
There is a heated pool that goes to 9ft. A balloon launching area, jumping pillow and I’m sure others that I’m missing. By the store, they have picnic tables in shade with activities on each one with little blocks. Karaoke on the weekends. And if you like to socialize, you might run into the “booze cruise”. This is a group of seasonal people that ride their golf carts around playing music trying to get more people to join the ride. They’re entertaining to watch as they stop and start dancing like they’re 12yrs lol.
Great place to camp. Quiet when you want it, fun when you need it, great free WiFi, activities, shade, well maintained campground with staff that will literally help anyway they can if it’s within their power. Hope all this helps someone make their next camping trip as well as ours have been!
ScoutWas a good overnight stop on way to Sun Prairie. Hosts/rangers were very nice and helpful. Campground was clean, bathrooms and showers were as well.
ScoutFriendly camp hosts. Nice large sites with even and level grass. There are padded FHU sites available. Immaculate bathrooms and showers. Fresh, clean water at hookups. Very quiet despite being on major roadway. Good value. Would stop again.
TravelerLove this quaint smaller campground, close to home although you feel like you're way up north! Clean restrooms showers! Walking trails with preservation.
TravelerVery enjoyable campground.
I don't remember the site number but the kids had a great time. Lots of things to do.
Camping options near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin include multiple sites within short driving distance that remain accessible throughout most seasons. Winter camping is available at several locations in Kettle Moraine State Forest, though with reduced amenities. The area's glacial topography creates varied terrain for camping, with elevations ranging from 800-1,100 feet. Several campgrounds feature direct access to the Ice Age Trail, allowing hikers to explore the region's unique geological features.
Hiking at Scuppernong Springs: Pike Lake Campground provides access to numerous trails within a short distance. "We hiked and stayed for 2 nights in early October 2017. It was really cold and we blew through 4 bundles of firewood each day! Our site was close enough to the vault toilets and the flush toilets/showers weren't too far off," explains Joyce B.
Mini golf at Harnischfeger Park: This smaller county park features unexpected recreation options beyond standard camping. "The campground has alot of great amenities. Theirs a mini gulf course that we had alot of fun with. Their is also a great hiking trail if you like that," notes Taylor C.
Bird watching at Mukwonago Park: The varied ecosystems at this county park create excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "Great landscape and wildlife. We were lucky enough to have a couple of Sandhill Cranes walk through our camp early one morning," shares Abbe W.
Swimming in quarry waters: Menomonee Park offers unique swimming options different from the lake swimming at other area campgrounds. "The quarry is good for swimming, kayaking, or canoeing. There is a beach with life guards," explains Matt N.
Winter camping opportunities: Several campgrounds in the region remain open for cold-weather camping with specific amenities. "No showers in winter but awesome," says David H. about Ottawa Lake Campground. For winter campers, proper preparation is essential since facilities are limited.
Wooded privacy between sites: Campers frequently mention the separation between campsites as a key feature at certain locations. "The campsites are nicely sized and sufficiently shady. The lake is great for swimming, though they do have e coli warnings frequently in the heat of summer," notes Jimmy P.
Spring water access: Natural springs provide unique features at several campgrounds. "Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!" shares Autumn S.
Proximity to mountain biking: For cyclists, several campgrounds provide access to dedicated biking trails. "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. Yee haw!" explains Heather H.
Road noise varies by location: Campgrounds near highways experience variable traffic sound levels. "The road noise is absolutely noticeable. It was incredibly loud when we drove through the loop closest to the highway and was significantly better even just one section over," reports Linda N. about Ottawa Lake Campground.
Site selection matters for weather: Some campgrounds have drainage issues during wet weather. "One thing that I didn't like as well as Bong State Park was that there was very little grassy area in the site. When it rained the first night, most of the site was mud," explains Glenn S. about Kettle Moraine South Camping.
Lake water quality fluctuates: Swimming conditions at certain lakes can change throughout summer. "The lake is very clean and the site are a good size. Gets very busy on the weekends!" notes Neysha R.
Varied quiet hour enforcement: Campgrounds differ in how strictly they regulate evening noise. "What good are quiet hours if they are not enforced? The people across from us were playing music and being loud well past 1:00 am," reports Jon at Menomonee Park.
Choose correct loop for dogs: Pet policies vary by specific camping loop even within the same campground. "Firstly- don't reserve a spot in loop 1 if you have a dog. It was easy enough to change but now we know to aim for loop 2 or 3," advises Art S. about Pinewoods Campground.
Select quiet zones for peaceful stays: Some campgrounds designate specific areas for families wanting less noise. "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," explains Wendy Z.
Look for activity variety: Parks with multiple recreation options keep children engaged. "The park has a lot of trails for hiking, biking and some horse trails. The quarry is good for swimming, kayaking, or canoeing. There is a beach with life guards," notes Matt N. about Menomonee Park.
Prepare for bugs: Insect activity increases during summer months. "A beautiful campground that caters to families. There are hiking trails incorporated into the campground with access to the kettle morraine Forrest. Bringing bikes is a great idea for getting around to bathrooms/the camp store. Definitely make sure to bring your bug spray for this location!" advises Amanda F.
Tight turns in campground loops: Some campgrounds have challenging driving conditions for larger rigs. "There is a TIGHT turn in the campground loop near site #17 to be aware of with longer trailers," warns Sugar Maple S. about Pike Lake Campground.
Best sites for larger RVs: Specific campsites accommodate different vehicle sizes better than others. "Each of the 32 sites is unique in their own way. Some are large and flat perfect for a class A (#2 #4, #29 #31 is okay, but smaller), some incorporate the geography into the site (#23 & #17 - very much tent sites, #15 great for a small trailer)," explains Sugar Maple S.
Full-time RV considerations: Some campers use these grounds as base camps while visiting nearby areas. "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 Kettle Moraine State Forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find campgrounds near Oconomowoc, WI?
Several excellent campgrounds are located within a short drive of Oconomowoc. Kettle Moraine South Camping — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit is a popular option with large, private campsites surrounded by foliage, offering beautiful fall colors and access to hiking trails like Red Trail and Paradise Trail. Another good choice is Pike Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit, which features fantastic hiking trails in the glacial kettle moraine landscape. Both are within 30 minutes of Oconomowoc and provide access to scenic outdoor recreation opportunities.
What RV rental options are available in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin?
While Oconomowoc itself has limited direct RV rental services, several RV-friendly campgrounds in the area accommodate rental RVs. The Playful Goose Campground offers large lots that back up to forested areas, making it ideal for RV camping. Waupun Park Campground is another option with amenities specifically for RVs including fresh water access and a dump station. For RV rentals, check with dealerships in nearby Milwaukee or Madison, or use online peer-to-peer RV rental platforms that serve the greater Wisconsin area.
What amenities do Oconomowoc camping areas typically offer?
Campgrounds near Oconomowoc typically offer a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. Big Foot Beach State Park Campground provides showers, bathrooms, and beach access. William G. Lunney Lake Farm Campground features generous sites with electric hookups at reasonable prices. Most campgrounds in the region offer fire rings, picnic tables, and access to clean restroom facilities. Many also provide water sources, while some have shower facilities and dump stations for RVs. The more developed campgrounds include additional amenities like playgrounds, hiking trails, and lake access for recreation.
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