2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Southern Unit Horseriders Campground in Kettle Moraine State Forest provides horse-specific camping from April to November. The sites accommodate tents and RVs with dedicated electric hookups, drinking water access, and trailer parking areas. Each campsite features a picnic table and fire ring where fires are permitted. The campground includes toilet facilities, showers, and trash disposal. The terrain is developed specifically for equestrian use, with clearly marked areas for horses and camping equipment. Most sites are drive-in accessible and offer water hookups. No horse corral facilities are provided on-site, so campers must bring portable corrals or tethering equipment.
The campground connects directly to the extensive trail network within the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest. Riders access bridle paths that wind through diverse woodland and prairie terrain. The trails vary in difficulty, with options suitable for both beginner and experienced equestrians. Campground reservations are recommended, especially during peak summer months and weekends. The Southern Unit Horseriders Campground maintains a perfect 5-star rating among equestrian campers. Weather conditions significantly affect trail accessibility throughout the season. Alcohol is permitted in the campground area, but riders should be aware of state regulations regarding alcohol consumption before riding. The campground's location near Palmyra provides access to additional supplies and services if needed during longer stays.
"We stayed at site 98- just barely big enough to fit our travel trailer in and right next to the showers and bathrooms. Not a great location, but fine."
"This is one of the most popular State Parks in Wisconsin because it's on Lake Geneva. In fact, it's the only state park within town's limits."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $19 - $37 / night
"Site along the edge of the campground had ample shade. There is a central bathhouse with flush toilets and 3 showers. There is also a pit toilet. "
"It has a large lake with almost 40 miles of hiking trails, including equestrian trails and an equestrian campground. There is boating and fishing as well as swimming in the lake."
from $12 - $50 / night
"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."
"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."
Available next weekend
from $21 - $39 / night
"Within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn, EAHS, and the horse areana. You might even be able to catch a show or two on site at the fair grounds, depending on the time of year."
"Easy access to electric and/or water. If unsure, contact office. Site, restrooms, and showers were clean. There are a lot of sites but still felt like there was ample space."
"In the Turner loop, the pit toilets are next to the path to the fishing pier, while the showers and full restrooms are between Turner and Fox den, there is a short path between sites 60& 61."
"Trails were geared more towards horses and bikes, but there are plenty of walking paths, and we were able to find some hidden trails along the lake (read: unofficial)."
"There is a lot to do at this park from hiking to water sports to horse back riding. We did a nice short hike in area. We had a great time at this campground and would visit again."
"It feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it is close to everything. "
"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."
Available next weekend
from $21 - $90 / night
"Very Friendly Staff I received warm welcome from nice staff at the entrance gate. Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake. Quit place night time I can hear fish jumping from the water."
"We biked around the campground during the days and took advantage of the adult only hot tub hours at night. It was a nice getaway from Chicago."
from $43 - $73 / night
"Driving on country roads to this campground, I drove past many many horse ranches. So it's no surprise that there is a dedicated campground for horseback riding in this state park. "
from $21 - $70 / night
"The staff are super nice and the campground has great social distancing rules in place for the check-in shack and bathrooms."
"Half of them were in the Prairie and the other half was tucked into wonderfully private spots with burn pits and picnic tables. We hiked the trail and saw a mother deer feeding her 2 babies."
from $12 - $35 / 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. 👎
GuideWe are traveling mid week in September so did not make advanced reservations. The registration booth attendant assigned us site 506. (We were not permitted to drive through to pick our own location before registering). Our site was grassy and a bit muddy after some significant rains, but it was cozy with trees and tall brush on all sides. Pit toilets at each loop with a shower building just 5 minute walk away. You can hear the din of the highway about .5 miles away, but an easy place to stay if you are traveling through. Electricity on site, water spigots nearby and dump station near the entrance.
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.
LegendIf your family's perfect camping trip includes saddling up and exploring miles of wooded trails together, the Equestrian Campground at Rock Cut State Park offers a wonderfully peaceful place to spend a few days. Tucked away from the park's busier camping loops, this rustic first-come, first-served campground provides spacious sites designed for campers traveling with horses, along with nearby potable water, restrooms and direct access to more than 14 miles of designated equestrian trails. While amenities are intentionally simple (erring on non-existent), the extra room to accommodate horse trailers and the quiet natural surroundings create exactly the kind of setting many riders are looking for. One of my favorite moments was watching families quietly prepare their horses in the early morning light before disappearing beneath the trees for a day on the trails, returning later with tired horses, dusty boots and smiles that needed no explanation. Arriving early is the best way to secure a site since camping is first-come, first-served and availability is limited. This campground is ideal for equestrian families given its spacious layout, direct trail access and peaceful atmosphere that allows both riders and horses to truly unwind.
RangerFirst, you have to make reservations in advance online. The website says otherwise. They are spacious sites and well maintained the water. Spicket are a significant distance from each campsite so come prepared for that.
ScoutThis is a nice getaway for camping, picnics, hiking, fishing and in the summer swimming! They only offer swimming with lifeguards in the summer months. They have great open spaces for group camping.
TravelerThis is such a good spot, it’s not just an RV parking lot. Each site is its own little site just far enough from its neighbor to feel alone. Super nice and well kept
ScoutEscape 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.
We have visited the Campground 5 times this year already, we love hiking all the trails in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit.
https://youtu.be/xl4uAtNWclM
GuideWe'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.
Equestrian camping near Williams Bay, Wisconsin provides access to extensive trail networks through Wisconsin's diverse woodland and prairie terrain. The Southern Kettle Moraine region sits on glacial deposits that created distinctive geological features approximately 10,000 years ago. Winter temperatures average 25°F while summer averages 70°F with higher humidity levels from June through August.
Horseback riding on dedicated trails: Kettle Moraine State Forest trails wind through various terrain types and offer options for different skill levels. At Kettle Moraine South Camping, one visitor noted, "Red Trail, Paradise Trail, Rice Lake are all great hikes. Great views of Lake Ottawa."
Kayaking on connected waterways: Chain O' Lakes State Park offers excellent paddling opportunities with multiple connected lakes. A visitor at Turner Lake South shared, "I love to kayak through here because I don't need to paddle through the river unless I'm feeling competitive. I've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far."
Hiking on wooded trails: Many campgrounds connect directly to trail systems. At Pinewoods Campground, a camper mentioned, "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."
Fishing in multiple locations: Several lakes in the area offer good fishing opportunities. A camper at Chain O' Lakes reported, "The lake was very nice. We were able to kayak but be careful getting the kayaks in. Stairs down to the pier and the bottom of the lake is very mushy. The water was very clear and you could see the fish swim by."
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer good separation between campsites. A visitor at Pinewoods Campground shared, "We stayed in loop 3 site 273 as we were camping in the early season and loops 1-2 were closed. The site was well wooded and very spacious! It had a decent clearing for some sun and the driveway was longer setting it back from the loop road."
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain good bathroom and shower facilities. A camper at Big Foot Beach noted, "Been coming here for years. Much improved with the new bathrooms. Quiet and everyone is very friendly. Hiking trails are beautiful and of course the Lake is wonderful."
Quiet camping options: Several campgrounds offer designated quiet areas. At Kettle Moraine Southern Unit, a camper mentioned, "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."
Well-maintained fire pits: Fire rings are consistently well-maintained across most campgrounds. A visitor noted, "Both loops had grill pits that were well-maintained for fires and campfire cooking."
Varying site privacy levels: Site privacy can vary significantly within campgrounds. A camper at Fox Den Campground reported, "Fox den at Chain-o-Lakes state park provides a more secluded camping experience than Honeysuckle or the 2 tent camping areas. Pads are pretty level, and each site has some semblance of privacy from other campers."
Seasonal weather impacts: Weather conditions significantly affect trail conditions throughout the season. One visitor mentioned, "If you're looking for nature and quiet this is not the place, but if you like parties you will enjoy."
Bathroom cleanliness varies: Facility maintenance can be inconsistent. A camper noted, "The shower houses were clean enough, but very old with bad shower heads. Lots of good hiking trails and a pretty lake."
Campsite selection matters: Site selection can significantly impact your experience. According to one camper, "There are several sites along one side of the park that are a little more secluded and in a pine forest. They have picnic tables and fire pits like the others."
Beach access considerations: Not all beaches are equally suited for children. At Big Foot Beach State Park, a visitor observed, "The beach is about 10 feet of sand off a busy road and is not pet friendly. Nice spot to stay if you want to avoid paying lake Geneva prices for a room."
Playground locations: Several campgrounds feature playgrounds for children. A visitor at Elkhorn Campgrounds shared, "Such a great little place to escape to or visit if you're just passing through. Nothing crazy fancy but hook-ups and fire pits available if needed. Within walking distance to downtown Elkhorn, EAHS, and the horse arena."
Kid-friendly activities: Various organized activities are available seasonally. One camper mentioned, "Very Friendly Staff I received warm welcome from nice staff at the entrance gate. Tent Campground is nicely tucked inside by the lake. Quit place night time I can hear fish jumping from the water."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many trails offer wildlife viewing suitable for children. A visitor described, "We've seen beavers, minks, ferrets, and sand cranes on my two trips so far."
Electric hookup availability: Electric sites must be reserved well in advance during peak season. A camper at Rock Cut State Park warned, "We have a 30 amp trailer. When we got there, the electricity wasn't working. It was 93° on a Saturday. We called the Rangers and asked them to look at our site breaker since it kept tripping."
Pull-through site locations: Several campgrounds offer pull-through sites for easier access. A visitor at Southern Unit Horseriders Campground noted, "There's also a series of pull-through sites that would make it easier for those who don't care to back trailers in or out of the site. These include electric sites 405, 404, 403, 402, and 401."
RV size limitations: Not all campgrounds can accommodate larger rigs. One camper advised, "Sites in Honeysuckle have electric posts to far from parking pad. Fox Den also has more space between sites, more level pads and each site is tucked away with trees."
Dump station access: Some campgrounds have limited dumping facilities. A visitor mentioned, "Water was at central locations and a dump is on the way out."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Williams Bay, WI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Williams Bay, WI is Big Foot Beach State Park Campground with a 3.6-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Williams Bay, WI?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 equestrian camping locations near Williams Bay, WI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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