The Wales area provides diverse camping options within 30 miles of Milwaukee. Located in the Kettle Moraine region of Wisconsin, this area features distinctive glacial landforms with rolling hills and depressions. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with higher humidity levels from June through August, while spring and fall camping often means dealing with temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night.
What to Do
Hiking access: Pinewoods Campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest connects directly to trail systems. "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 quick and easy weekend camping adventure," notes one visitor to Pinewoods Campground.
Beach swimming: Naga-Waukee Park offers a clean swimming beach with seasonal supervision. "The beach on the shores of Lake Nagawicka is well-groomed, clean, has a seasonal lifeguard and a playground within earshot," reports a camper at Naga-Waukee Park.
Water recreation: Multiple options exist for boating and fishing at local lakes. One camper at Blackhawk Camping Resort mentions, "The biggest attraction here hasn't changed, which is the quick and EZ access to Clear Lake, which is actually a combination of 3 different lakes: Mud Lake, Clear Lake and Duck Lake, which basically surrounds the entirety of Blackhawk Camping Resort and offers up endless fishing, kayaking and boating opportunities."
What Campers Like
Urban proximity: Wisconsin State Fair RV Park provides direct access to downtown Milwaukee. "Perfect campground for what it is! Big paved parking lot with full hookups. Very close to downtown, right off of interstate. Clean facilities. We were visiting family downtown and it was very convenient," explains a camper at Wisconsin State Fair RV Park.
Lakefront views: Several campgrounds offer water views within 30 miles. At Snug Harbor Inn Campground, "The property is basically terraced along a slope down to the lake, with the RV and mobile home sites closer to the lake. The tent sites are above it all with decent views of the lake below."
Family activities: River Bend RV Resort features extensive recreation options. "This place is a young kids heaven. Tons of activities! All included with admission... four wheel bikes to take out, jumping balloon, pool with multiple water slides, pond with blow up floating slides and climbing activities, canoes, a bar and restaurant, mini golf, frisbee golf, live music some weekends, a kids barn with crafts, volleyball, shuffle board, etc..." describes one visitor.
What You Should Know
Seasonal timing: Most campgrounds have limited availability outside summer months. A camper at Pinewoods Campground notes, "Camping is seasonal - April 1st through November 4th."
Sound considerations: Highway noise affects several campgrounds in the region. A visitor at Creekview RV Park mentions, "The campground is very close to the freeway and there is a constant din of traffic noise that remind you how close you are to the highway."
Site selection: Elevation and terrain variations can impact camping experience. At Naga-Waukee Park, "The sites were far enough apart for some privacy and the trails were very well kept up. We had great hiking weather and some great scenery at the Overlook View."
Tips for Camping with Families
Dedicated loops: Choose specific camping areas based on noise preferences. "We were in the quiet loop, Loop 1, which actually was very quiet. Everyone was respectful of the rules. We did walk over to the other loops where there was more of a party atmosphere at some sites with larger groups, music, and kids," notes a visitor to Pinewoods Campground.
Age-appropriate activities: Match campground features to kids' interests. At Lakeland Camping Resort, "The kids had endless options to keep them busy from 2 swimming pools, a sandy beach, playgrounds, mini golf, sports courts, and even planned activities and themed weekends."
Site spacing: Consider sites with buffer zones for active children. One camper at Naga-Waukee Park states, "20 family campsites available to choose from ranging from full cover to full sun. 5 Group sites available also."
Tips from RVers
City access: Wisconsin State Fair RV Park provides the only RV option within Milwaukee city limits. "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. Laundry and shower facilities were kept very clean as well. There were plenty of grassy areas to take our dog out to potty."
Sewage systems: Be prepared for variation in hookup configurations. A visitor to Wisconsin State Fair RV Park noted, "The sewage system is strange at this park. We couldn't reach ours during our stay and a camper had blocked the dump station so we pulled through in a vacant spot to dump. The pipe is highly elevated, making the process more hands-on than one would like."
Site selection: RV sites vary significantly in size and surroundings. "Very nice, woodsy campground. Feels like you are further north than you really are!" describes a camper at Naga-Waukee Park, while at Creekview RV Park, sites are described as "flat pad to park your RV or 5th Wheel."
