It sits just 10 minutes south of downtown Oshkosh, yet the serene lakefront setting of Kalbus' Country Harbor will make you feel as though you’re a world away from the urban jungle. The privately owned campground features 90 sites, all with unobstructed views of Lake Winnebago. Kalbus is open year-round and is equipped with a boat launch, showers, bathrooms, laundry facilities, drinking water, electric hookups and free Wi-Fi. Pitch a tent, pop-up your trailer or park your motor home on the large grass sites dotted with towering pine trees. The grounds offer easy access to Lake Winnebago where you can swim, water ski or parasail. When you tire of high-octane water sports, relax and enjoy a stunning lake sunset.
Drive 15 minutes northeast of Oshkosh and set up camp at one of Wisconsin’s most historic parks. Situated on more than a mile of prime Lake Winnebago shoreline, High Cliff State Park spans nearly 1,200 acres and is framed by sprawling limestone cliffs of the legendary Niagara Escarpment formed nearly 500 million years ago. The state-owned recreational area also houses ancient Native American effigy mounds which you can tour when you aren’t exploring High Cliff’s marina, beach and forest. One hundred twenty campsites -- offering full or partial lake views -- plus a handicap-accessible cabin are available year-round. The park also features showers, toilets, picnic areas, open-air shelters and some electric hookups. Reservations are encouraged, though not required. You are, however, mandated to register upon admission. Once in, take advantage of lake activities including swimming, kayaking, canoeing, boating and tubing.
Soak up the sun, sand and surf while camping at Calumet County Park. Located 35 minutes from Oshkosh, the 200-acre green space sits on the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago. It includes 71 lakefront campsites, some with electric hookups. Tent, trailer and RV camping is permitted from April through November. The park is an ideal spot if you are traveling with kids and want to “rough it” without compromising too many creature comforts. Showers, toilets, picnic areas, a large playground and a beach are available, as is a spacious boat launch facility. With a valid fishing license, you can test your angling skills. Otherwise, hit the recreational trails that run parallel to the lake and enjoy panoramic water views without getting wet.
A cornucopia of camping fun awaits you at Fremont’s Jellystone Park. Located 30 minutes northeast of Oshkosh, the 98-acre amenity-filled campground is designed around Partridge Lake. Spanning nearly 1,000 acres, the shallow lake is filled with perch, catfish and walleye. Fishing is permitted with a license from mid-April through mid-October, though it’s only one of hundreds of activities to choose from. Jellystone features an Olympic-size swimming pool with waterslide, miniature golf course, general store, multiple playgrounds, picnic areas and a marina. Cottages and cabins with full lake views are available in addition to tent, RV and trailer sites.
