94 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Scenic Ridge Campground accommodates dogs at pet-friendly tent sites, cabin rentals, RV spots, and glamping options near Whitewater, Wisconsin. The campground maintains lakeside sites where leashed pets can walk along the water, though visitors note the heavy golf cart traffic creates potential safety concerns for dogs. Several campsites in the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit also welcome pets, including Ottawa Lake, Whitewater Lake, and Pinewoods campgrounds, with access to hiking trails suitable for dogs. Bathrooms and facilities at these locations maintain varying levels of cleanliness, with some campers reporting that Scenic Ridge's restrooms needed attention during busier periods.
Kettle Moraine State Forest trails connect directly to multiple pet-friendly campgrounds, allowing dog owners immediate access to the Ice Age Trail system. Dogs must remain leashed on all trails and in camping areas, with pet waste stations available at most campground locations. The Milton KOA and Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake both provide designated pet exercise areas for dogs needing off-leash activity time. Snug Harbor's tiered camping design ensures dogs and their owners enjoy lake views from most sites. During summer months, Turtle Lake offers water access where dogs can swim, though campers should check water conditions before letting pets enter any lake or pond. Camping sites featuring full hookups typically charge additional pet fees ranging from $5-10 per night per animal.
"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."
from $23 - $38 / night
Check Availability"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)."
from $23 - $90 / night
Check Availability"No enclosed dog park but plenty of area to walk your dog!"
"I'm going to try to make it a couple times. so much fun, just me and my dog. And one last the thing, my fellow campers were more than hospitable and very nice and I appreciate that very much."
"I did not stay here, but I spend some time walking through to get a feel for the place."
"Wanted someplace close to home. Familiar with the Delavan area so was excited to find Snug Harbor. Set up went well, didn’t blow anything up! Yea! Staff was great, helped me back in."
from $15 - $45 / night
Check Availability"You are in walking distance of the lake with boat ramp, kayaking and water inflatables. I loved it! Also, there is a store with full kitchen."
"We camped at the Whitewater Lake Campground and it was well maintained. It was very quiet and peaceful."
"Easy access to Ice Age Trail from the campground. Nice hike to Rice Lake."
from $23 - $90 / night
Check Availability"The sites close to the store are so nice! wooded and somewhat private. Love that they have a sparkling clean (but cold!) pool and a lake with a beach!"
"Our site was nicely wooded and a decent size, but everyone was pretty close to each other. When we were there, the women's shower was freezing and the men's was almost uncomfortably hot."
from $42 / night
Check Availability"We were located on the end of the row and had lots of grass to enjoy. Owner was very friendly and helpful"
"We came to this area to do some genealogical work and needed to be situated between Madison and Beloit. Good location for that."
"Set along Lake Koshkonong this place was bursting with energy and feels more like a summer resort than a traditional campground with over 270 full-hookup sites and cozy cabins for families who don’t have"
GuideFriendly staff and a nicely stocked store. Has a pool, petting zoo, kayaks, rocky beach, dog park, and a land pillow! The sites are spaced out well and there are more secluded sites so you have the feeling of privacy or big group sites for a big party.
GuideWe love private campsites, far enough away from other campers, yet close enough to amenities. We chose a walk in site #16 which was nice but I wish we chose one a bit further in. Bathrooms where very clean. Trails are great. Pet friendly - we brought our small, quiet dogs. Dog friendly restaurant right next to the camp site.
TravelerJust became KOA met local campers that love this park! Good sites, trash pickup at side! They even have a snack bar and deliver to your campsite! No enclosed dog park but plenty of area to walk your dog!
GuideAbsolutely beautiful, reasonable prices, electric available. Tons of restrooms, showers, laundry, and wonderful camp hosts. Huge beach area, dog park, fishing as well. Shop to buy items you may need and absolutely wonderful place. Open all year round
LegendWe enjoyed this park so much we have already been here twice and have a third trip planned for this coming September. There are very wide bike/hiking paths that are paved or stone.
The huge lake has boating opportunities and you can rent a boat in McFarland that is a short drive or bike ride. We rented a boat to fish and then drove across the lake to eat at a restaurant with boat parking.
The nature center is across the street from the campground and has a small snack bar/restaurant. There are cranes walking all around and the park is so big it has different types of plants to explore. There is an observation tower and in the picnic area a playground. The best part is the boardwalk that extents over the lake and you are walking/riding on water.
About a half a mile away is a very nice dog park that you receive admission to if you have a campsite.
Dane County has many parks in their system and we have stayed at several and all are great.
ScoutMy first time at a campsite and new to the rv life. This campground is nice and so are the employees grass gets cut every week, the pool is clean, so is the dog park, my husband likes going to the camp bathroom for a hot shower because our rv only has 10 gallons of hot water. We did 3 months at the camp!
GuideWe stayed in our 42 ft motor home with jeep tow. We drove to the park in our jeep at nine am on a Sunday to check availability. If you haven’t reserved a site, there are several sites for walk-ins but you have to be present to sign/obtain them. Check out time is three pm but weekend people often leave earlier in the day and that is what occurred for us. Several sites have 50 amp plus there are thirty amp And non electric/tent sites available. The campground has showers and bathrooms but this is a county park so understand these are not hotel facilities. They are adequate for campIng. There are biking and hiking trails in and through the park and trail users also share the restrooms. The park is close to Madison. There is WiFi but the signal is variable. The ranger and campground hosts were friendly and helpful. Four legged campers on leash can walk with you on the trails and there is s nearby dog park.
TravelerGreat park with swimming beach, trails, dog park, and archery range. Campsites were ok, not much separation or privacy at all. Pit toilets and metros desperately need to be cleaned more often. We had very noisy neighbors that did not respect the quiet hours rule and park staff did nothing to intervene. Very convenient that they drive through the Campground to sell/deliver firewood tho. I'd stay here again because the park overall is great, but I would try to choose a better site. #9 looked alright, and in the 20#s looked a bit more tree lined and bigger.
LegendMy first impression when I first arrived here was the overwhelming scent of a newly minted campground, what with the freshly laid gravel, the mint condition security gates, finely manicured and recently raked greenery (as it was October when we visited, it might be better described as brownery) surrounded by a fairly decent gated enclosure lined with perfectly pruned tall towering oaks. Upon arrival, you’ll find what looks to be a brand-spanking new log cabin office on the right after passing a seemingly freshly-minted activities center / community lodge complete with in-ground heated swimming pool and jacuzzi on the left.
Amenities? As you could guess, this pet-friendly 60-acre RV resort has all the attractions in spades from pickleball, playgrounds, volleyball, log pergola patio, full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water & sewage), picnic tables, fire pits, BBQ grills, wagon rides, river access, picnic areas, bathhouses w/ showers & restrooms, cable TV WiFi (pretty poor connection though), gaga ball, game room, community room, billiards table, playground, wet bar, tabletop shuffleboard, community living room with large screen TV, DVD player w/ DVD library, clubhouse, dog park, horseshoes, hot tub, covered pavilions with picnic tables, catch & release ponds, inflatable water toys, jumping pillow, laundr-O-mat, propane refueling station and dump station.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) This place isn’t EZ to find – for some reason, if you plug the campground into your GPS, you’ll literally be on the wrong side of the tracks, where you will arrive at a dead end with a sign that says you are in the wrong place and that you’ll need to double-back, cross the train tracks heading north and turn right just before arriving to High Road School of Belvidere (so if you see a school, you’ve gone too far); (2) You will want to take note that yes, you actually cross train tracks to get to this campground, so if you’re sharp, you’re going to want to ensure you haven’t booked a site right next to where trains will shoot through every few hours, this specifically means avoiding sites #E1-#E5 and #FS23-#FS36 as well as #FE1-#FE20; (3) If you’re a tent camper, you can certainly stay here, but you will want to note that this is very much an RV outpost; (4) The best sites IMHO are those on the northernmost perimeter, as far away from the train tracks as you can get and that also border the Kishwaukee River with sites #S9-#S20 being excellent, as well as #S25-#S81, which are equally amazing; (5) If you are planning on using that amazing pool that you saw as you came in, make sure you call management a good day or two before you come in to ensure that they turn on the heater – when we were there for 2 days, by the time we left, the pool was still too cold to go for a dip; and (6) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up a meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler and want to venture out to try some local fare, just a short walk into the nearby town is Garden Prairie Café, which has a very simple menu offering no shortage of fried everything (fish, shrimp, chicken, etc.) and then there’s Pleasant Street Tavern, but that’s mostly cheap national beers and frozen pizza fare, so if you want something a bit more substantive, head west of here to Miles Bar N’ Grill that serves up typical Midwestern fare like cheese curds, pork tenderloin, Italian beef and a variety of fried fish like blue gill, cod and catfish.
Happy Camping!
Kettle Moraine State Forest provides the backdrop for dog friendly campgrounds near Whitewater, Wisconsin. The area sits within the Southern Unit of the forest, characterized by glacial landforms including kettles, moraines, and drumlins formed during the last ice age. Winter camping remains available at several locations, with Ottawa Lake Campground open year-round despite temperatures that regularly drop below freezing from December through February.
Hiking the Ice Age Trail: Access multiple trail segments directly from Ottawa Lake Campground where hikers can explore the glacial terrain. "Escape the everyday and immerse yourself in nature at Ottawa Lake Campground. Nestled in the heart of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, this welcoming retreat offers lakeside fun, scenic hiking trails, the quiet beauty of a true Northwoods experience, all without a long drive," notes reviewer Mark D.
Fishing opportunities: Local lakes provide various fishing spots with diverse catches. At Snug Harbor Inn Campground, anglers access Turtle Lake directly. "Beautiful views overlooking Turtle Lake. Friendly and helpful staff," writes Carole X. The campground's tiered design ensures lake views from most sites.
Spring water exploration: Visit natural springs near Ottawa Lake to experience pristine water sources. "If your in Wisconsin this is a must stay! Beautiful campground (Ottawa Lake campsites) Great Lake, hiking to see the natural springs which is the coolest!! Drank fresh spring water!" shares Autumn S., highlighting an activity many visitors miss.
Secluded wooded sites: Pinewoods Campground offers densely wooded campsites with excellent privacy. "The site was actually really lovely and I appreciated the thick brush creating some real seclusion," mentions Kendal R. Loop 1 is designated as a 24-hour quiet zone with no pets allowed, while loops 2 and 3 welcome dogs.
Clean swimming areas: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept swimming beaches. "The lake is very clean and the site are a good size. Gets very busy on the weekends!" explains Neysha R. about Ottawa Lake, which hosts triathlons due to its water quality standards.
Winter camping options: For those seeking off-season experiences, some campgrounds remain open year-round. "No showers in winter but awesome," states David H. about Ottawa Lake Campground, where winter campers find solitude and a different camping experience with fewer crowds.
Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds have sites affected by highway sounds. "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," explains Linda N. about Ottawa Lake Campground, suggesting selecting sites in inner loops.
Variable shower facilities: Kettle Moraine South Camping maintains several shower buildings, but quality varies by location and season. "The shower houses are clean and so are the camp sites. Also, there's a small beach on a lake within the park near camping areas," notes Jessica Jazz B.
Bug preparedness: The wooded environment creates ideal conditions for insects, particularly in warmer months. "Nicely nestled in the kettle moraine but busy in the summer. Bring bug spray," advises Adam about Ottawa Lake Campground. Ticks are also present on trails, so hikers with dogs should check pets thoroughly.
Look for pet-specific amenities: Several pet friendly campgrounds near Whitewater offer designated pet areas. At Milton-Madison SE KOA, "No enclosed dog park but plenty of area to walk your dog!" reports Pat M., offering alternatives for dog exercise.
Quiet loop advantages: Families seeking less noise should consider designated quiet areas. "We stayed in the quiet loop, Loop 1, which actually was very quiet. Everyone was respectful of the rules," shares Abbe W. about Pinewoods Campground, though Loop 1 doesn't allow pets.
Beach activities for children: Kettle Moraine campgrounds with beaches provide natural swimming opportunities. "Pick Up the activity book for kids it is a great adventure lots to do at the lake!!!" suggests Jill G. about Kettle Moraine South Camping, referencing the educational materials available for younger campers.
Site selection for larger rigs: Pilgrim's Campground accommodates bigger recreational vehicles. "Found this great little campground when I was in a pinch to find a place to put my 45ft fifth wheel. Super friendly staff, rates are reasonable and it is big rig friendly," shares Jeremy M.
Electric hookup considerations: When camping with electrical needs, verify amperage availability. "They didn't have full hook up sites and we have a 50 amp rig… we used a dogbone to connect to the 30 amp site. It was fine for a bit but then we started to get surges," cautions Jessica T. about Pilgrim's Campground.
Seasonal site options: For RVers seeking longer stays, Hickory Hills Campground offers seasonal spots. "They are mostly seasonal sites but offer a mix of weekender sites. Usually have some activities and music on the weekends. Very friendly seasonal owners," explains Stephen M., highlighting the community aspect for longer-term campers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Whitewater, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Whitewater, 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 Whitewater, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 94 dog-friendly camping locations near Whitewater, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
