Campgrounds and RV parks near Dousman, WI

Dousman sits at the northern edge of the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit, which anchors most RV camping in the area. The Southern Unit covers glacial hills, kettles, lakes, prairie restorations, pine woods, and hardwood forests, and stretches roughly 30 miles from the Dousman area south toward Whitewater. The forest is a practical base for weekenders from both the Milwaukee and Madison metros, with Milwaukee about 35 miles east and Madison about 60 miles west. Inside the forest, RV travelers usually target the family campgrounds at Ottawa Lake, Pinewoods, and Whitewater Lake. Ottawa Lake is the only year-round campground in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit, and it offers 100 sites, including 65 electrical sites, two shower buildings, flush toilets and a vault toilet building. The Ottawa Lake Recreation Area address is in Dousman itself. Private options fill in the gaps for larger rigs and longer stays. Circle K Campground, Bark River Campground and Resort, Country View Campground, Scenic Ridge Campground, and Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake all sit within an easy drive of Dousman and typically offer full or partial hookups that state forest sites do not.

Wisconsin state forest sites, including all campgrounds in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit, are booked through the state reservation system. Camping reservations are required and can be made up to 11 months in advance of the planned date of occupancy. Campers must make a reservation before setting up on any site. Reserve a campsite online or by calling 1-888-947-2757. Campsite availability for the date 11 months away becomes available at 9 a.m. Central Time for both Internet and telephone customers. Minimum-stay rules apply in peak season. For family campsites, advance reservations booked before May 15 for stays between May 15 and Oct. 31 require a minimum two-night reservation, and a minimum three-night reservation is required on holiday weekends. Any motor vehicle brought into a state property also requires a vehicle admission pass, with a 12-month pass covering all state parks and forests. Private campgrounds around Dousman, including Circle K Campground, Bark River Campground and Resort, Country View Campground, Scenic Ridge Campground, and Snug Harbor Inn Campground on Turtle Lake, take reservations directly through their own websites or by phone.