Pinewoods Campground, near Dousman, Wisconsin, is a serene spot tucked within the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit. This campground is perfect for those seeking a peaceful escape, featuring spacious sites that offer a good amount of privacy and tree coverage, making it ideal for tent and RV camping.

Visitors rave about the clean facilities, including hot showers and well-maintained pit toilets. Campers appreciate the friendly camp hosts who keep the area tidy and provide firewood and ice for convenience. As one camper noted, “Five stars for the camp hosts -- so friendly and they keep the campground very clean!”

For outdoor enthusiasts, Pinewoods is a gateway to fantastic hiking trails, including the nearby Scuppernong Trail. Many campers enjoyed easy access to these trails, with one reviewer highlighting the “great access to Scuppernong Hikes.” The surrounding pine forest creates a beautiful backdrop for hiking and exploring, with plenty of opportunities to spot local wildlife.

While the campground is generally quiet, some areas can have a more lively atmosphere, especially in the other loops. However, the designated quiet loop ensures a peaceful experience for those looking to unwind. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows by the fire or hiking through the woods, Pinewoods Campground offers a refreshing retreat into nature.

Pinewoods Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit

Join the fun near North Prairie. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near North Prairie, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Find the best campgrounds near North Prairie, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

North Prairie

The Best Camping Near North Prairie, Wisconsin

I am an ultra marathoner. I always camp close by before my big races to get my head into the mindset of what I'll be running through. I love Pinewoods because it is up and away from the racket of the usual radios and noisy children. This is because it is a 24 hour quiet area. You will hear and see birds, as well as deer and various other wildlife. I took a hike-in spot that is a little more secluded, but it is mostly back-in style car camping. There is a well kept shower house, and a play area up and away by the showers that doesn't carry much noise. I've stayed here several times and plan to several more. You are smack in the middle of the Kettle Moraine State Forest's Southern Unit, so there are nearly unlimited trails very close by for nature hikes. Or, if you're like me and a trail runner, there is plenty of challenging single track with a lot of vertical gain. Recommended.

Peace under the canopy

Our sire was nice for a inside loop. However we got rained out and having a five year old little girl, a 14wk old puppy, and a newbie camper almost four others we could only take so much rain. A good site would definitely will be reappeared.

Rained Out

Pinewoods Campground is part of the southern Kettle Morraine State Forest in Wisconsin. The campground is secluded and most sites are private and shaded. The tree cover is thick so expect shade throughout most of the day. Many trees make for good hammock camping. Sites 1-36 are 24 hour quiet sites where no music is allowed. A close drive away is Ottowa Lake and many wonderful hiking trails throughout the state forest.

Quiet and well-maintained campground

Small sites for general camping, most of them back right up to an amazing trail. We have stayed on group sites, much larger and aren’t patrolled by the rangers as much (also depending on how many groups are there at the time). No swimming or boating within this campground, however you can drive to nearby Ottawa lake state park where there is the concession/firewood stand, more sites and a lake to swim in.

In the middle of nowhere

The only electrical sites are Handicap accessible and there are only three.  they have a no noise no animal section in section one.  however the campground is almost empty during the week on Sunday night we were in section two and only one other family camping just wonderful.  the sites have a lot if cover .  the shower and flush toilets are centrally locates between section 2-3.  
lots of hiking trails and close to Busy Ottawa Lake just a short drive.  love this park 

Quiet Peaceful Pines

A beautiful campground that caters to families. There are hiking trails incorporated into the campground with access to the kettle morraine Forrest. Bringing bikes is a great idea for getting around to bathrooms/the camp store. Definitely make sure to bring your bug spray for this location!

Rustic

Was a pretty spacious site with a longer driveway. Lots of Pine, hence the name. There are 3 separate loops, 1 quiet zone, one group, one family. Pit and flush toilets, showers, only 2 electric sites within Pinewoods. There's a lake for swimming, fishing and boating only 4 miles down the road at Ottawa Campground. Both are a part of Kettle Moraine South Unit. There are plenty of trails for hiking, of all skill levels. Beautiful area within a short distance from a few larger cities.

Pinewoods- A beautiful, secluded area, within a short distance from hustle and bustle. 

The Pinewoods Campground is an odd mix. The comfort station (ie flush toilets with sinks and baby changing station) and shower facility is well maintained and centrally located to the camp ground with nearby playground, field area, and a little free library. The bathrooms located closest to the campsites are pit toilets that are lit at night, toilet paper provided, and hand sanitizer. The individual campsites are good sized (some with electric hookup for RVs) with dirt/pine needle ground instead of gravel areas which are more comfortable for tents. The tall trees keep the area shaded and cool even on hot summer days. The shade limits ground growth which pro - limits mosquitoes, but con - leaves clear eye-lines from one site to the neighbors. Kettle Moraine Forest - South as a park area has miles of trails for hiking, biking, skiing, and horse back riding. But individual trail areas are spread miles apart and driving or biking between sites is often required.

Overall its a great area for families or inexperienced/unsure campers but if you're looking to get out into nature and away from civilization this isn't the place for you. Also if you are a family with young children then loop 1 (campsites 1-36) which is a 24hour quiet zone should not be your first choice.

Mixed Bag

Camped here twice - the first time was just one night in early July 2017 when we were backpacking on the Ice Age Trail. 3 of us were newbies and wanted a comfortable/safe place to stay for the night. Since we were new to the area (and backpacking), we completely missed the check-in area, which is located at a different camgrounds… when you're hiking with a 25lb pack, there was no back-tracking! We decided to skip the check-in and just hoped they didn't give away our previously-reserved spot. Pit toilets were fine, and the flush toilets and showers were clean.

Second time we stayed (early October 2017), we car camped and stayed for 2 nights. It was really cold and we blew through 4 bundles of firewood each day! Our site was close enough to the vault toilets and the flush toilets/showers weren't too far off. We hiked a little bit, but the trails were quite a hike from the campgrounds to begin with.

Car camping and overnight for backpacking on the Ice Age Trail

I took my kids camping to the Pinewoods the first weekend in May 2019, the weather was great if a bit cool for my kids taste. 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. It was really about camping, tho. The unfortunate thing was that, apparently, there was some sort of project being done at the campsites, looked like a series of tanks had rumbled thru the camp sites and gutted the area. If I didn’t know any better it looked like the Battle of the Ardennes. We still had tons of fun and will go back except we’ll wait until next year.

Fun Family Camping

A good campground for tents and trailers in a pine forest.  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.  You can almost feel like you're away from it all, but there is a small highway in the distance.

Fine camp for hikers on the Ice Age trail.

Camp sites at Pinewoods are very generous in size and spaced far apart so you feel like the only ones there.  Very quiet and peaceful.  Sites are in the middle of a pine forest (as the name implies!) so you’re surrounded by tall trees.  There is a small lake nearby: not much to look at but it’s good for kids to swim.  Other than that, though, there’s not much else to do besides hiking.  

Spacious and Serene

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). There are a few walk-in sites (site 16 isn't a very far walk), but most are drive-in. Most sites have hammock-able trees and are quite shady. Pit toilets are available in loop 1, otherwise you can walk to the other loop to have running water. 

  

Note that check-in is at Ottawa Lake - I arrived too late for check-in to be open this year (not sure if it ever was due to the pandemic), but had no issues just going to the site I'd reserved online.

Love the Quiet Loop



Each campsite was private with a good amount of space for tents. You can park right in your campsite which is really nice. There are also tons of hiking trails surrounding the campground like the Ice Age trail and Scuppernong Springs. Overall it was such a great getaway!

Pinewoods Campground is great!

Great sites that are spread out, quiet loop is the way to go. Showers are really nice and hiking is beautiful with many trails. 

Great place, well kept

The site was actually really lovely and I appreciated the thick brush creating some real seclusion. The quiet Loop was a wonderful idea however, the campsite next to us was blasting music and at 11:30 pm someone randomly started playing a flute? The bathrooms were gross but the camp host was absolutely amazing and helped us with the noise problem and jumped our car so we'd probably stay here again even though it was a really weird trip haha

Quiet Loop

Firstly- don’t reserve a spot in loop 1 if you have a dog. It was easy enough to change but now we know to aim for loop 2 or 3 (and this will be one to return to). 

  

There is plenty of greenery between sites giving privacy. We could hear children playing but only saw them when they rode their bikes around the loop. There is a central shower building with vault toilets in the camping loops. Our site 158 had lots of shade but some have more sun. 

  

We didn’t get Verizon service in camp but occasionally found 1 or 2 bars of weak signal while hiking. 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. While the view was mostly hidden it was still a nice hike. The trail is wide which meant my doggo hiked by my side. We both enjoyed it. 

  

There is a playground too but the diverse hiking and woodsy sites make this one to return to.

Loved the easy access to hiking 

Stayed here one night in loop 1 (33). Camp sites are spread out. Facilities were in good condition for a state park in July. Showers were all working and had hot water. There's a playground for the kiddos. Trails to showers so you don't have to walk the long way on the roads. Every site was nice. Water in each loop available. Toilets in each loop. Trails connected to park.

Great campground!

I camped for two nights in Loop 1, site 21 (24-hour quiet enforced - no pets or speakers allowed). My site was pretty open, but still had nice shade and flat areas for my tent. I also hung a hammock and clothesline and had plenty of space to move about!

  

Five stars for the camp hosts -- so friendly and they keep the campground very clean! You can also get firewood and ice from the camp hosts, so extra points for convenience!

  

Hiking at Scuppernong and the Ice Age Trail are both accessible from the group camping area and/or near the showers, depending on which trails you are accessing. 

  

Firepits were cleaned out daily, so no soggy ashes or smoky fires :)

  

You could hear a bit of road noise, especially motorcycles and heavy trucks, but nothing crazy. There are also several hike-to sites that are nice as well.

Clean, quiet and great hiking!

Stayed in campsite directly connected to Green Trail of the Scuppernong Trailhead. Campsite was clean and quite private for being near people. 

Great access to Scuppernong Hikes

Stayed one night (Friday) and really enjoyed the location. 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. 

The sites in Loop 1 are varied as far as tree coverage, seclusion, and terrain.  Our site (22) was relatively flat, felt secluded, had good tree coverage with some filtered sunlight. The pit toilets are about 3 sites away, a short walk. There is room for two tents.

There was a posting about black bear sightings in the area. We did not experience that, just chipmunks and birds.

Photos of Pinewoods Campground — Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit

Real photos from real campers