Beach camping on Lake Michigan
I'm looking for a nice family campground on Lake Michigan. Somewhere between Michigan City, IN and Holland, MI. Preferably on the southern end of that stretch. I'm not looking to camp on the sand bu...
Forum Discussion
KD4UPL,
Some info:
In going back and re-reading your original post, I see you are planning to be on the West Michigan shoreline about the end of July. Just to advise you that the National U.S. Coast Guard Festival is always held in Grand Haven (the original "Coast Guard City USA" by act of the U.S. Congress) during the 10 day period of the last week of July until the first Saturday in August each year for the last 91 years. Always 350,000 to 500,000+ attend yearly so virtually every CG site, motel or hotel or B&B room etc is booked solid for about 50 miles and any direction for that time period.
37 different events going on during the festival and so much fun for families and all but you need to beaware of this happening so be advised. Usually, the accomodations relax a somewhat prior to and after the festival but the lakeshore CG's are alway buzy all summer long with occasional 1 or 2 day possible gaps in site openings. You will need to reserve basically anywhere along the lakeshore CG's for even a 1-2 day CG site on a CG beach. Incredibly popular always and the same people return year after year and more added every year! Locally, within about 18 miles, there's 12 CG's presently and they are building another nice large one presently but there really is a need for at least 4-5 more. 7 of them are right on the Lake Michigan shoreline presently with 2 being private owned and 4 more being on the very large Grand River as also is the new one presently being built. CG's Inland a few miles, some openings for CG sites can usually be found most of the summer months but they tend to be very busy also so you'd have to contact them to be sure or reserve a site.
The huge long shoreline beachfront areas are public and can be used by all whether arriving by vehicle or RV or no matter where you live or are staying. In a lakefront CG site, motel, hotel, or just driving thru, etc or anywhere else We also have out TC on our truck for summer use and at least once a week take our made dinner or get a takeout and go to the state Park here with our TC and back into a parking spot and eat/enjoy/the beach-people-boats-harbor-the view even though we live right on the shores and have for 0ver 73 years and we see it everyday. Never tiring or gets old! Lots of people do it and many with their RV's including our neighbors. On google maps, you can see how huge the parking lot is and there are 3 of them right there. Over 2 million visitors each year to this state park area alone and 7 million plus to just the local community area as it's so popular, people oriented, clean and safe for all ages and for so many other reasons. It's also very easy on the wallet with having so much to do for all ages and about eveything is fee free. Traffic is very well planned and handled as there are so many feeder streets/roads serving the area as it's been going on for over 100 years now.
Some info:
In going back and re-reading your original post, I see you are planning to be on the West Michigan shoreline about the end of July. Just to advise you that the National U.S. Coast Guard Festival is always held in Grand Haven (the original "Coast Guard City USA" by act of the U.S. Congress) during the 10 day period of the last week of July until the first Saturday in August each year for the last 91 years. Always 350,000 to 500,000+ attend yearly so virtually every CG site, motel or hotel or B&B room etc is booked solid for about 50 miles and any direction for that time period.
37 different events going on during the festival and so much fun for families and all but you need to beaware of this happening so be advised. Usually, the accomodations relax a somewhat prior to and after the festival but the lakeshore CG's are alway buzy all summer long with occasional 1 or 2 day possible gaps in site openings. You will need to reserve basically anywhere along the lakeshore CG's for even a 1-2 day CG site on a CG beach. Incredibly popular always and the same people return year after year and more added every year! Locally, within about 18 miles, there's 12 CG's presently and they are building another nice large one presently but there really is a need for at least 4-5 more. 7 of them are right on the Lake Michigan shoreline presently with 2 being private owned and 4 more being on the very large Grand River as also is the new one presently being built. CG's Inland a few miles, some openings for CG sites can usually be found most of the summer months but they tend to be very busy also so you'd have to contact them to be sure or reserve a site.
The huge long shoreline beachfront areas are public and can be used by all whether arriving by vehicle or RV or no matter where you live or are staying. In a lakefront CG site, motel, hotel, or just driving thru, etc or anywhere else We also have out TC on our truck for summer use and at least once a week take our made dinner or get a takeout and go to the state Park here with our TC and back into a parking spot and eat/enjoy/the beach-people-boats-harbor-the view even though we live right on the shores and have for 0ver 73 years and we see it everyday. Never tiring or gets old! Lots of people do it and many with their RV's including our neighbors. On google maps, you can see how huge the parking lot is and there are 3 of them right there. Over 2 million visitors each year to this state park area alone and 7 million plus to just the local community area as it's so popular, people oriented, clean and safe for all ages and for so many other reasons. It's also very easy on the wallet with having so much to do for all ages and about eveything is fee free. Traffic is very well planned and handled as there are so many feeder streets/roads serving the area as it's been going on for over 100 years now.
