Where to camp in West Michigan

By Adrienne Brown-Reasner, West Michigan Tourist Association

S’mores, campfires, sky-lit nights, and the sounds of nature… what’s not to love about camping in West Michigan! Whether you are looking for a spot to pitch the tent or planning where to hook up the RV, we’ve got some great ideas to help with your next camping adventure.

Glamping (i.e., glamorous camping)

On June 15th, The Fields was unveiled as the Midwest’s first luxury glamping experience. Nestled within a lush working blueberry farm in South Haven, The Fields is a 30-acre site that offer guests a deluxe outdoor experience complete with luxurious tents, chef-prepared meals, and access to a variety of exciting on-site and local activities. Located only 3.5 miles from the glistening beaches of Lake Michigan, the property features 10 rooms that each come complete with wood-burning stove, king-size bed, luxury linens, en-suite bathrooms, and luxury bathroom amenities and towels, along with stylized fixtures and seating, providing guests with five-star resort conveniences combined with effortless comfort. Reservations are available through the last weekend in October. Click here to book your luxury camping experience at The Fields.

In addition to tent sites, RV sites, and cabins, the Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday unveiled four new Luxury Glamping Tents this season, and they’ll make you want to stay all summer. Perfect for a romantic weekend away, the tents offer both heating and cooling, plus rocking chairs on the porch to enjoy summer evenings. They also come with refrigerators to keep your food fresh until it’s time to grill up dinner.

Love to experience the outdoors but don’t want to completely be in the elements? When you visit Bellaire, try glamping in tents and Yurts outfitted with high-end mattresses, chairs and linens to make your stay a little more comfortable.

Plan time on the water during your camp-out

Muskegon County offers 16 campgrounds, with many located in state and local parks along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Others are conveniently located near the many attractions Muskegon has to offer. You’ll find relaxation on the banks of beautiful Big Blue Lake at the YMCA Camp Pendalouan Family Camp in Muskegon. Paddle clear waters in a kayak or canoe, enjoy wooded paths on horseback, or nap with the sounds of nature in the hammocks and swings. Ziplines, hikes and more round out the possibilities.

Looking for a quiet, peaceful night under the starry skies? At the Pine River Paddlesports Center in Wellston, you have the opportunity for a quiet camping experience in a clean and quiet campground, where the ‘quiet hours’ are 24/7. All sites are private, hedged around on three sides with woods, and all come with a picnic table, lantern hook, locking garbage can, and a fire pit with an adjustable grate. The sites are rustic, with a clean, central bathroom facility complete with flush toilets, coin-operated showers, and hot running water.

You’re invited to camp, relax, play, and enjoy this summer at En Gedi Campground River Resort in Leonidas. This family friendly campground offers activities for all ages. Kids will love the bounce house on Saturdays and water-lovers will appreciate the on-site livery with canoes, kayaks, and tubes.

Little Switzerland Resort and Campground is a peaceful and friendly place located just two miles north of Newaygo. The campground is nestled off of Pickerel Lake where you can enjoy 300 ft. of lake frontage with a private beach and swimming area. There is a playground, basketball court, and volleyball area to use during your stay. Fishing, sunbathing, and water sports are excellent. Public golf courses are a short drive away.

There are many beautiful spots for camping in Holland. The Holland State Park campground welcomes visitors to either wooded or beach-adjacent lots, while the Oak Grove Resort offers spots for travel trailers or brand-new camping cabins. Farther from the beach, Drew’s Country Campground or the Dutch Treat Campground offer affordable campsites with great amenities.

Mecosta County has quite a selection of public campgrounds for visitors to choose from when they visit. The Mecosta County Parks all have camping amenities to fit your lifestyle, whether you’re interested in swimming, fishing, or hunting. There are seven wonderful county parks, such as School Section Lake, Haymarsh Lake, or Merrill-Gorrell Park.

Fisherman’s Island State Park boasts over six miles of unspoiled Lake Michigan shoreline near Charlevoix with 80 rustic campsites, 15 of which are nestled in the dune area shore.

Covert Park Beach & Campground, with one quarter mile of beach on the shore of Lake Michigan, offers day passes as well as campsites available between mid-May and mid-October.

Campgrounds with family entertainment

No matter how you like to camp, Cran-Hill Ranch in Rodney has a spot for you. Their campgrounds can accommodate anything from a tent to the largest of RVs. All of their sites have 30-amp electric and water, with an on-site dump station. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. They have four different camping areas to choose from.

Pitch a tent, pull up in an RV, or stay in a cabin at Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday Campground. Kids enjoy the Jumping Pillow, trampoline basketball, rock climbing wall, gem mining sluice, carpetball, gaga ball, craft time, movie nights, and two fishing ponds. Order pizza, nachos, or a panini from the cafe, and have it delivered to your site. Try some hand-dipped ice cream too.

The Kal-Haven Outpost is a new campground and general store located on the Kal-Haven Trail, just 4 miles from downtown South Haven. The Outpost offers three vacation homes; six spacious family cabins; four roomy couple’s cabins; twenty 70-ft., pull-through RV sites; wooded primitive sites; and a bathhouse. All lodging options are pet-friendly.

Yogi Bear’s Camp-Resort is South Haven’s family resort, located just five miles from Lake Michigan. Take advantage of outdoor fun for the whole family with resort amenities, complete with cable and Wi-Fi. The campground is located only 1/2 mile from the scenic Kal-Haven Trail. Cabins and cottages are pet friendly and offer ADA accessibility.

Located just minutes from downtown Marquette and at the heart of the area’s vast trail network is the Rippling River Resort and Campground. Nestled along the shores of the Carp River and set on nearly 40 acres, the resort offers rustic tent sites, RV hook-ups, and even luxury cabins.

Enjoy a cabin rental on the shores of beautiful Lake Huron at Mackinac Lakefront Cabin Rentals, a family friendly resort just outside of Mackinaw City. Featuring 16 modern cabins and shaded RV sites, this quiet country setting will provide you with many hours of enjoyment. It’s located just three minutes from downtown Mackinaw City, the Mackinac Bridge, and the ferries to Mackinac Island.

RV parks

Offering over 200 full hook-ups, three pools, a recreation hall, game room, playground, firepits, and fishing pond, Poncho’s Pond RV Park in Ludington has grown to be one of the top-rated privately owned parks in Michigan. Open April-October, Poncho’s Pond RV Park has plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained.

Sunny Brook RV Resort is a 65-acre luxury RV resort located in South Haven, three miles from Lake Michigan, offering nightly, monthly, and seasonal rental.

Enjoy free weekend events, homemade ice cream at the ice cream parlor, dinner theater, and homemade turkey dinners at Turkeyville Restaurant when you stay at Camp Turkeyville RV Resort in Marshall.