7 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit welcomes pets at all its campgrounds near Wales, Wisconsin. Ottawa Lake, Pinewoods, and the main Kettle Moraine South camping areas maintain pet-friendly policies with designated sites for tent camping, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations. Most campsites at Pinewoods feature spacious, secluded sites with plenty of pine trees providing shade and privacy from neighboring campers. Loop 1 at Pinewoods enforces 24-hour quiet hours with no pets allowed, while Loops 2 and 3 accommodate pet owners with easy access to hiking trails. The campground maintains clean facilities with both pit toilets near campsites and centralized shower buildings. Sites have dirt and pine needle ground instead of gravel, making them more comfortable for tent camping with pets.
Numerous hiking opportunities exist on the Ice Age Trail and Scuppernong Trail systems directly accessible from several Kettle Moraine campgrounds. Pets must remain leashed when outside designated areas, with most trails allowing dogs on standard 6-foot leashes. Ottawa Lake provides water access for dogs, including a designated dog swimming area. Nearby Naga-Waukee Park by Waukesha County Parks also permits pets and features a dog swimming area along with standard camping amenities. For campers with pets seeking more seclusion, backpack sites like Shelter 1 offer primitive camping options where pets are permitted. The state forest maintains several water access points where dogs can cool off during summer months. Campgrounds can experience black bear activity, so proper food storage is essential when camping with pets. Visitors note the campgrounds are well-maintained by attentive camp hosts who keep facilities clean and provide firewood and ice for purchase.
"Huge beach area, dog park, fishing as well. Shop to buy items you may need and absolutely wonderful place. Open all year round"
"Some have a beautiful view of lake. Some water fountains did not work, however sinks were always working. So many little trails all throughout the campsite."
Available this weekend
from $21 - $39 / night
"No radios or pets allowed. I'm not sure about children!"
"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)."
Available this weekend
from $21 - $90 / night
"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
"Trails that took you through woods and then prairie and then up a decent elevation for an amazing view of the surrounding area."
"I did not stay at this park, but did drive and walk through it to get a feel for it. There are a number of sites I'd love to tent camp in. This park is bounded by a lake with a nice beach."
from $25 - $80 / night
"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
"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
"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 $21 / night
"North Kettle Moraine, Pike Lake Unit was an easy choice given it's proximity to the city- about 40 minutes."
"They have lake swimming,dog swimming area,many trails and tons of wildlife. Sites are pretty secluded too if u get the right one.Best yet!"
Available this weekend
from $21 - $39 / night
"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)."
"There were plenty of grassy areas to take our dog out to potty. The Park is close to many restaurants and shopping. It is also the only RV park in Milwaukee."
"So we just use that because no one was there. 1.7 miles on bike path to Brewer Baseball field. It was raining to we used Uber to the game and walked back for an afternoon game."
Available this weekend
from $60 / night
ScoutThis campground charges both a site reservation fee ($33 for a primitive mosquito infested tent site) AND an additional day use fee on top of that - a $16 fee on top of that! $49????? For a no hook up single tent site???? Of course the fees aren’t actually published anywhere so you have to reserve it to actually know what you’ll be paying. It’s nothing special so these fees aren’t actually warranted for this place. 👎
TravelerVery friendly and very clean. 1 swimming pond 2 fishing ponds volleyball courts and 2 off leash dog areas. Showers are free and they have a huge kid play area along with a seasonal swimming pool and hot tub.
ScoutWe have been seasonal campers for many years! When we first started, everyone was very nice and we always had a great time. Each years the rules change a bit which is common.The last three years have been horrible! We have had nothing but issues that I brought up to the staff many times. I have had the workers ask me if I was f***in stupid, people stealing stuff off our lot, telling our guest we don’t camp there( even tho they knew they were coming for my daughters birthday party), and much more. They are extremely Strict on the 5 mph. They will scream at you if they see Gravel dust as you drive. The campground is not well maintained. I wish things would not have ended the way it has. I’m happy we found a better family friendly campground to be at where my kids are not scared to be playing in our lot!
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.
TravelerSimple campsite. We should have brought some leveling blocks, But otherwise my wife and I enjoyed the site for our rental RV. Short 10 minute walk to Lake Michigan. The camp store is fairly robust with friendly people working there. I appreciate that there are 2 lanes for dump/fill stations. My wife and I would absolutely stay here again.
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
Kettle Moraine State Forest near Wales, Wisconsin sits on a glacial landscape formed over 10,000 years ago, creating its distinctive rolling hills and kettles. Camping sites throughout the forest range from 700-1,000 feet in elevation, with summer temperatures typically reaching highs of 80°F and dropping to 55-60°F at night. Pine needles cover many tent sites instead of gravel, creating softer ground for camping.
Hiking to natural springs: Visit Scuppernong Springs accessible from several campgrounds. "Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!" says Autumn S. about Ottawa Lake Campground.
Mountain biking trails: The forest offers single-track trails for cyclists. "20 minute drive to the awesome Kettle Moraine biking trails. Yee haw!" notes Heather H. about Ottawa Lake. Bruce G. adds that Kettle Moraine Southern Unit has "Awesome single-track mountain bike trails."
Winter camping options: Unlike many Wisconsin campgrounds, several sites remain open year-round. "No showers in winter but awesome," reports David H. about winter camping at Ottawa Lake. Tim H. adds, "You can camp year around in this campground... 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."
Astronomy observation: Some areas have dedicated stargazing spots. Susan S. recommends the "interpretive astronomy trail" at Pike Lake and suggests visitors "take the walk up Powder Hill to the tower!"
Privacy between sites: Many campsites offer good separation from neighbors. Jack D. found Pinewoods Campground to have "well wooded and very spacious" sites, adding that his site "had a decent clearing for some sun and the driveway was longer setting it back from the loop road."
Quiet camping areas: For those seeking peace, Loop 1 at Pinewoods provides a 24-hour quiet area. Wendy Z. states, "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."
Lake swimming: The forest's lakes offer clean swimming options. Neysha R. notes that at Ottawa Lake, "The lake is very clean and the site are a good size." Teresa D. adds that at Pinewoods Campground, "There's a lake for swimming, fishing and boating only 4 miles down the road at Ottawa Campground."
Backpacking shelter options: Designated backpacking sites with amenities are available. Andrew S. describes the backpacking sites as "Reservable backpacking sites about 45-60min away from nearest parking. Fire pit, shelter, and picnic table at site." Erin Z. found KMSF Shelter 1 Backpack Site to be a "Great backpack camp site. Decent walk and terrain to get to the site. There is an open shelter to put your tent if you prefer to outside."
Summer crowds: Weekends can become very busy during peak season. Neysha R. warns that Ottawa Lake "Gets very busy on the weekends!" GA J. advises that the "Busiest days are after memorial day weekend and to labor day weekend."
Road noise: Some campsite loops are affected by nearby highways. Linda N. 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."
Black bear activity: Bears have been reported in the area. Abbe W. from Pinewoods Campground mentions, "There was a posting about black bear sightings in the area. We did not experience that, just chipmunks and birds."
Insects: Bug spray is recommended during warm months. Adam from Ottawa Lake suggests visitors "Bring bug spray" and Amanda F. emphasizes "Definitely make sure to bring your bug spray for this location!"
Poison ivy awareness: Some trails have poison ivy. Brendan E. advises, "The bugs weren't bad, but beware of the poison ivy."
Dog swimming areas: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Wales offer dedicated pet swimming spots. Lesley R. notes that at Naga-Waukee Park "There's swimming, access to most of the hiking trails available in kettle Moraine, and all within walking distance of where you park your tent or vehicle."
Playground access: Some campgrounds have play areas for children. Matt N. observed that Menomonee 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."
Junior ranger activities: Educational programs are available for kids. Jill G. recommends visitors "Pick Up the activity book for kids it is a great adventure lots to do at the lake!!!"
Family-friendly hiking: Trails vary in difficulty to accommodate all ages. Art S. describes, "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."
Electric site locations: Not all sites offer electrical hookups. Sugar Maple S. notes, "Generally, the inner ring is electric (except #23) and the outer ring is non-electric." They add that sites "#2 #4, #29 #31 is okay, but smaller" are "large and flat perfect for a class A."
Tight turns: Some campground roads have challenging turns for larger rigs. Sugar Maple S. warns, "There is a TIGHT turn in the campground loop near site #17 to be aware of with longer trailers."
Winter camping preparations: RVers staying during cold months need special planning. Tim H. notes winter camping requires self-sufficiency: "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."
Local shopping access: Resupply options are available nearby. Sugar Maple S. mentions Pike Lake is "Close to all of the troubleshooting options for new campers (Walmart, grocery, fast food, vegan grocery store & coffee shop)."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Wales, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Wales, WI is Ottawa Lake Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit with a 4.3-star rating from 52 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Wales, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 86 dog-friendly camping locations near Wales, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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