Three major music festivals and the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture convention keep Oshkosh bustling from June through September. The city's largest event, AirVenture, draws more than half a million people to the city, as well as 10,000 airplanes. While primitive camping can be reserved on-site at some music festivals, private campgrounds in Oshkosh give you an opportunity to retreat from the festival crowds while providing additional amenities such as electrical hookups and hot showers. EAA convention-goers can enjoy the convenience of fly-in camping at Hickory Oaks Campground and Airport. You can walk to the convention grounds from Sleepy Hollow Farm Campground, which lies adjacent to the EAA property, or ride campground-provided buses to the event at Circle R Campground.
Camp by the shore of Lake Winnebago at Kalbus' Country Harbor in the Oshkosh city limits. The campground features a man-made canal that provides easy access from your campsite to Lake Winnebago. Some RV sites have hookups, and grassy tent areas are tucked along the shoreline and canal. Flush restrooms, hot showers and laundry facilities are provided, and monthly rates are available. You can walk to restaurants and shops in Oshkosh from the campground, or set out on your boat to access city parks or hiking areas along the Niagara Escarpment, a forested geologic rift on the opposite side of the lake.
Enjoy scenic sunsets over Lake Winnebago as the lake's four lighthouses begin to glow at High Cliff State Park, just 16 miles from Oshkosh. The campground lies along limestone cliffs adjacent to the lake, with hiking trails that lead to ceremonial mounds left by ancient Native Americans as well as natural areas along the cliffs themselves. You'll also find more than 8 miles of trails for horseback and mountain bike riding. A sand beach at the foot of the cliffs has hot showers, restrooms and changing areas. Rent a boat slip to camp on your boat or find a site suitable for your tent or RV, some with electrical hookups. The state park is open year round, and camping is available whenever snow does not prevent access to the unplowed campground.
A 30-mile drive southeast takes you to the Kettle Moraine State Forest, where you'll find campsites with a more remote feel. A few RV sites with hookups are provided, but the majority of the forest's campsites have non-electric areas suitable for tents or RVs. You'll find four walk-in tent spots at Long Lake, along with more than 150 standard sites. The walk-in sites sit in grassy areas tucked away in foliage 50 feet or less from the parking area. The campground provides flush restrooms, showers, boat ramp and handicapped-accessible campsites. If you want to camp and ride your horse, head to Kettle Moraine North Horse Backpack Group Camp, which has 22 individual sites with hitching posts and roomy pull-throughs where you can stage your ride. More than 20 box stalls are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Group sites are available at the campground, with separate areas for tent campers and equestrian groups. Pit toilets and trash dumpsters are found throughout the campground.
