At 30 miles long by 10 miles wide, Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin is the largest lake in the Badger State. It is perhaps Wisconsin’s centerpiece of outdoor recreational activities and offers some exceptional opportunities for the RV’er.
Basic Information
Lake Winnebago is located in East Central Wisconsin, and has 88 miles of shoreline. It is one of the largest inland lakes in the country, and has two large tributaries, The Fox and The Wolf Rivers. It is a shallow lake, with an average depth of about 15 feet. It is a natural, not a man-made lake, although a couple of dams on opposite sides of Doty Island control the lake level.
Public Parks
In spite of its size, there is only one State Park along Lake Winnebago. Located along the lake’s northeast corner, High Cliff State Park offers camping and incredible views of the lake. Calumet County Park and Columbia County Park also offer camping and recreational activities.
Lakeside Park is a 400-acre recreational area that offers a variety of outdoor fun. Lakeside has bumper boats, picnic areas, a boat ramp, a carrousel, and even a petting zoo. Menominee Park in Oshkosh has trails, piers for fishing, a zoo and a small amusement park.
RV Opportunities
Besides High Cliff State Park, Calumet County Park and Columbia County Park, Lake Winnebago offers multiple other opportunities for the RV owner. Lakeview Campground along the eastern shore is about a 50-acre campground with facilities for RVs. Kalbus’ Country Harbor has been privately owned since the 1940’s and offers the lake’s only opportunity for lakeside camping. Boerger’s Lakeview Campground is a 50-acre private campground near Chilton, Wisconsin, and has nice wooded sites, a heated pool and more. The Fond Du Lac KOA is also privately owned and is close to the Ice the National Scenic Trail. It has a pool, hot tub and bike rentals.
Recreational Activities
Besides the amenities available at the campgrounds, Lake Winnebago offers plenty of opportunities for boating and fishing. A variety of watercraft rental facilities are available, and fishing, particularly for walleye, is extremely popular. There are also a variety of annual events scheduled throughout the summer around the lake to keep even the most active camper entertained.
Perhaps the best part of Lake Winnebago is its relative seclusion. It is just two hours from Chicago but you get a sense civilization is much further away! After all, isn’t that one of the best parts about owning an RV?