Campgrounds and RV parks near Mole Lake, WI

Fishing drives most trips. Mole Lake holds panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike and walleye, and dozens of nearby lakes and flowages add walleye, muskie and smallmouth water within a short drive. Kayaking, canoeing and pontoon rentals are common on the larger lakes. Motorized trail riding is a defining activity in Forest County. The Forest County segment of the Nicolet State Trail is 32 miles long and connects to Oconto County to the south and Florence County to the north for a total length of 90 miles, and the county has more than 300 miles of ATV routes and 47 miles of state-funded ATV trails. Many area campgrounds sit close to trailheads or on marked ATV routes. For rainy days, families head to the Camp 5 Museum and Lumberjack Steam Train in Laona and local logging museums in Wabeno, plus powwows hosted by the Sokaogon Chippewa Community.

The prime RV season runs late May through mid-September. Every year, Crandon has about 126 days with comfortable weather, and the best time of year to visit is mid May to mid September. July is the hottest month, with an average high of 76 degrees and average low of 54. Black flies and mosquitoes peak from late May into early July, so screen rooms and repellent matter. Shoulder seasons are quieter but colder. Spring nights routinely drop below freezing into May, and many private parks open in late April or early May once water lines are safe. Fall brings peak color in the maples and birches from roughly late September into early October, plus firearm deer season in November, when parts of the forest see heavy hunter use. Winter is long and snowy. Crandon averages 64 inches of snow per year, with measurable snow typically starting in October and continuing through April. January reaches the lowest temperatures, with an average high of 21 and average low of 4. Most private campgrounds close for the season, though snowmobile and ice-fishing traffic keep the region active.

Expect a rustic Northwoods setting: pine, birch and maple, thin cell coverage in pockets, and gravel or paved interior roads at most private parks. Full-hookup pull-throughs are common at the larger properties like Northern Hideaway RV Park and Campground and Holly Wood Hill Camping and RV and Crandon Saloon Event Center, while lake-focused resorts such as Pelican Lake Campground LLC, Weavers Resort Campground and 9 Mile All Sport Resort tend to mix RV sites with cabins and seasonal sites. Groceries, fuel, propane, laundry and hardware are available in Crandon, a short drive north of Mole Lake. Larger supply runs go to Rhinelander or Antigo. Bears, deer and raccoons are active in the area, so food and coolers should stay locked in the RV or a bear-safe container overnight. Bring layers year-round: even summer nights can drop into the 40s.