Ottawa Lake Campground in the Kettle Moraine State Forest serves as a central hub for cabin camping near Thiensville, Wisconsin. Located about 45 minutes southwest of Thiensville, the region features glacially-formed landscapes with distinctive hills, kettles, and moraines created during the last ice age. Winter temperatures in the area can drop below freezing with seasonal campsites operating year-round in certain locations.
What to do
Hike the extensive trail systems: At Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit, trails lead through forests, marshes and unique dune formations. "There's a dune boardwalk trail that is good that runs parallel to Lake Michigan shoreline," notes a camper who visited in August.
Beach activities and swimming: Kohler-Andrae State Park offers lake access with clean beaches. "Beautiful state park right on Lake Michigan. Sunrises so, so beautiful. This campground has everything! Trails, dunes, marshes, forests, and Lake Michigan," reports one visitor who particularly appreciated the beach facilities.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple fishing locations exist throughout the area parks, with varying catch possibilities. "There's a fishing pond (catch and release) arcade, jumping pillow etc.," mentions a camper who stayed at Breezy Hill Campground, highlighting the family-friendly amenities.
What campers like
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Bathrooms and shower buildings receive consistently positive reviews across most properties. At Ottawa Lake Campground, one visitor noted, "Nice, clean, well-run campground with some electric sites and several bathroom/shower buildings if needed. Nice little lake to swim or paddle on."
Secluded campsites: Many locations offer privacy between sites. "The sites in this area generally have long driveways, more 'privacy' than I've seen in many State Parks campgrounds and generous space between sites," writes a visitor about the Pine Woods area at Kettle Moraine Southern Unit.
Winter camping options: Unlike many seasonal campgrounds, Kettle Moraine State Forest maintains year-round availability. "You can camp year around in this campground. Most recent 2 times were winter camping. No host so buying wood is an issue, but pick a site on the edge and there is more than enough free. Bring a saw," advises a winter camper.
What you should know
Reservation requirements vary seasonally: For popular weekends, advanced planning is essential. "If you plan to camp for a weekend, you must make a reservation way in advance," shares a camper who visited Kohler-Andrae State Park.
Road noise concerns: Some campgrounds experience traffic sound from nearby highways. A visitor at Sunset Campground in Richard Bong State Recreation Area notes, "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."
Mosquito preparation necessary: Wetland areas experience significant insect activity. "It's a wetland, mosquitoes are happening, but the trade off is just about worth it. If you enjoy bird watching or rabbit spotting, this is a great place to go," explains a Sunset Campground visitor who recommends bringing a screened shelter.
Tips for camping with families
Lake activities for children: Multiple parks offer swimming areas designed for family enjoyment. At Harrington Beach State Park, a visitor shared, "Took my 2 year old for first time tent camping, we were at site 231, which was huge and very nice... There is so much to do we couldn't do everything we wanted in the one night we stayed."
Playground access: Many campgrounds maintain play areas near bathroom facilities. "There is a large open area and play area for kids to run around walkable from the camping, lots of little paths to explore!" reports an enthusiastic visitor to Kohler-Andrae State Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Nature observation chances abound for young campers. A visitor at Sunset Campground observed, "We drove around the recreation area and the campgrounds. I have seldom seen as many rabbits as we saw. There were relatively few campers during the week and just about every other campsite had at least a bunny or two."
Tips from RVers
Check site dimensions carefully: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. Locations like Happy Acres Kampground provide varying site sizes. "We've been RV camping here for 2 months now and love it. The bathrooms are older but still nice and cleaned daily," shares a long-term camper who appreciated the amenities despite the campground's age.
Dump station timing: Plan ahead for busy check-out days. One RVer at Happy Acres noted, "Since there's no full hookup, they needed someone to control the traffic that comes from two different directions going to the dual dump stations."
Electric hookup availability varies: While most parks offer some electric sites, their number may be limited. "We were able to grab a nonelectric site and transfer to an electric site when one cancelled last minute," explains a visitor at Ottawa Lake Campground, highlighting the need for flexibility.
