Welcome to Hickory Oaks!
Welcome to our information home page. With no regular office hours nor staff to answer phone calls, this page is now your way of learning our processes, our latest news on camping availability, and overall updates. For questions, contact us via our email: hickoryoaks@gmail.com.
2026 RATES
Below are the rates for 2026. Pricing for camping in 2024 and 2025 had remained the same. While we would have preferred to keep rates the same again for 2026, we found we couldn’t manage it, due to costs going up in the current economy.
2026 Daily Camping:
50 amp = $65
30 amp = $55
20 amp = $45
No hook-up = $40
PULL THROUGHS – 50 amp = $75
Island (no hook-up) = $45
Cabins 1 or 2 = $100
Cabin 3 = $150
2026 Monthly Camping:
50 amp = $1,050/month
30 amp = $900/month
2026 Special Events Camping:
50 amp = $75
30 amp = $70
20 amp = $65
No hook-up = $60
PULL THROUGHS – 50 amp = $80
Island (no hook-up) = $65
Cabin 1 or 2 = $120
Cabin 3 = $180
RESERVATION PROCESS
Please read the following reservation process steps. We are no longer handling any reservation requests via the phone or email or in person – everything is now set up electronically for your ease, as well as ours.
- Start by completing and submitting the Reservation Page on our website.
- Your request is received by us and reviewed for availability. If a site is available, we will send a PENDING RESERVATION/PAYMENT DUE email back to you within approximately one week or less. At this point, the site is NOT yet approved or confirmed – it is only pending until full payment is made via the link provided in that email. (Be aware that your site may be filled at any time by another request that is paid.) Payment needs to be in full at least 10 days prior to arrival date; the exception is monthly customers, who can pay monthly.)
- Once the online payment is received, a confirmation email is sent back to you stating the site is now reserved for you. There is no other confirmation and no need to contact the office via phone or email to “double-check” whether confirmed. This is your secured confirmation with a confirmation number.
- Once you arrive, you can go right to your site without checking into the office. A map is located on our website, as well as on the office door. If a pull-through site is reserved, follow the arrows on the map for entering that site.
OTHER NEWS FOR CAMPING SEASON 2026
Update 08/28/26:
Is it actually “for real” that we are looking at September already? Can’t believe we’ve made it through our first season at Hickory Oaks without our patriarch, Bob. There have been many changes made and tried this season in order to keep the campground running without him, as well as with John and Cindy having retired last year. We’re learning and growing; our hope is you all will “go with the flow” of our “going electronic” with most office work and reservations, etc. For the most part, we’ve had positive comments and those staying here have understood these changes. We thank you all for your understanding and willingness to follow these changes in our processes.
End of August updates for our campers:
- To add to the update noted in 06/13 below (please review), we are alerting everyone who has reservations for October this year that we may need to shut off the water at the campsites, depending on frost conditions. The northwoods showerhouse will be shut down for sure, as of the last day of September. The water at the main office showers will remain on. We will let everyone know as soon as we are able to determine weather forecast/conditions. If we do shut it off to protect from possible bursting lines, we will offer those staying in early October a 25% refund of their total bill. Or, should campers decide to not stay with us under those conditions, we will provide a full refund. We have seen in years past that it was plenty warm in order to keep those lines running; however, with this year being a bit more on the cooler side, we want to alert everyone of this possibility. More to come.
- We want to remind those wanting to stay at Hickory Oaks that we do not take walk-ins/drop-ins for camping. There is a simple electronic process in making reservations which allows us a better view of determining what would be available based on your info. Please initiate a “reservation request” on our website to start this process. More detailed reservation directions are noted above.
- Those regulars who signed up and are given “first dibs” on their sites again for the 2027 LiFest and EAA AirVenture will be notified in the next month of directions in completing the reservation process.
Update 06/13/26:
Our camping season this year will run through Sunday, October 11, 2026. As with past years, we will not take any reservations from October 12, 2026 through March 1, 2027, due to everything being shut down. As of October 12th, reservation requests for 2027 will need to be dated March 1st, and after, to be reviewed. We won’t be able to review any requests until that date. Email message responses will also be very limited during that time frame, to give family a much-needed break.
Update 05/17/26:
We’re finding it important to add a couple changes to our reservation processes:
- We can no longer take last-minute reservations. We require a good week’s notice to be able to confirm a reservation.
- We no longer offer tent sites on a regular basis.
Update 05/1/26:
It’s unfortunate to have to share that there will be a reduction in personalized services that we always prided ourselves in providing. As with so many small businesses these days, there are staffing shortages which we have been battling every year since the pandemic. These changes in how we run the office, beginning 2026, are necessary in order to ease office responsibilities and keep the campground open. Be planning on the following:
1) Reservations will need to be paid in full online to secure your site request. No more deposits to hold a site will be accepted.
2) Office phone calls and returning phone messages will be very limited starting this year, due to limited office hours and no office staff. Again, we are attempting to ease things for family who were answering phone calls at all hours of the day and night, seven days per week. This has become impossible to maintain. The best way to contact the office is via email at hickoryoaks@gmail.com. Please note: All reservation requests are to be completed via our website reservation page, only. We will not be taking phone or email reservation requests.
3) We will be trying out “self-check-in” for all our “paid in full” guests this year. This is something most campgrounds now provide to minimize the need for office staff. A site map is located on our website, and we have posted a campground map on the front office door, which will give the site locations, as well as arrows for pulling into those sites that are “pull-throughs.” PLEASE FOLLOW THE ARROWS in driving into a pull-through site.
Hours for self-check-in will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the hope that everyone registered is in their sites by approximately 7:00 p.m. Cabinette rental check-in is after 3:00 p.m.
Self-check-out for all sites is before 12:00 Noon.
The Gallinger family continues to navigate through the unexpected passing of our beloved patriarch, co-owner and manager Bob Gallinger. Please continue to pray for us and be patient as we go through the 2026 season without his leadership. Link to Bob’s obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/oshkoshherald/name/robert-gallinger-obituary?id=60572837
Hickory Oaks is the kind of destination…
…for those looking for a retreat alternative in the Oshkosh area. While staying in the Fox Valley for the numerous music and sporting events, parks, museums, and downtown shopping experiences, Hickory Oaks provides an optional family camping environment. Imagine your family setting up camp nestled within a woods of majestic oak and hickory trees, surrounded on the east side by a spring-fed, 4-acre lake — and all within a few short miles of area entertainment!
We wholeheartedly welcome and value retiree “snowbirds” during the “kinder months” in Wisconsin, too!