Reservation at Grand Haven State Park MI

Thanks for all the great info and parks to look into. Sounds like there are many other good choices I didn't know about. We would like to stay further south this time. We have stayed at silver lake and liked that as well.
Last year we took the boat up to torch lake area and enjoyed the beautiful blue water, but was a little cool. This trip would just be the rv and it is so nice for kids to be able to walk out of rv and swim right there without having to pack up a load of stuff and drive somewhere.

We may try several of above mentioned areas in southern part of the state. It is easy for us to move, we only hook up power. So we are flexible.
Thanks again

2gypsies wrote:
If you can't get into Grand Haven, try Manistee national forest campground on the lake - beautiful beach, shade, big sites, quiet:

This is a beautiful park. FYI none of the sites are anywhere near the beaches they picture on the website. You can't even see the water from the camping areas.

If you can't get into Grand Haven, try Manistee national forest campground on the lake - beautiful beach, shade, big sites, quiet:

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/lake-michigan-at-manistee/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73550

Young State Park in Boyne City has beautiful wooded sites overlooking the lake as well as plenty of open sites on the lake as well.

Try Petoskey State Park, further north (about 3 hours which is what you spent in take down and move 3 times), on the beach, and much easier to get into. Also you can try Platte River Campground (Sleeping Bear Nat'l Lakeshore). I also second Higgins Lake South SP. Any of those is going to be a lot easier to get into.

Grand Haven, Mears, Hoffmaster, Ludington aren't worth the hassle to try and get a reservation - overhyped if you ask me. Lots of other (better) choices - JMO.

Katman1100 wrote:
To answer a few questions: Yes what we liked that it is right on the beach/lake. I was able to stay there last summer 3 nights by just moving around each night. That was with only about a week notice, so I just got lucky and picked up some cancelled days by other people.
Yes I do know the sites are extremely close together, and there is blowing sand everywhere, but at least it isn't salt water. However the kids loved it, and it was nice to be right on the water so it was worth the hassle to me for a few days.
GordonThree I will look into Manistee beach, that sounds pretty good. We boon dock completely quiet often for several days at a time so that would work, but I really would like to be camped right on the lake. Let me know if you have any other recommendations that are as close as possible to the beach.

Take a look at it on Google Earth, you're pretty close.

Other parks with lakefront sites, these are really sites and not just parking spaces.

Newaygo State Park, rustic
Benton Lake National Forest Park, rustic
Higgins Lake North and South, might be crowded very close to expressways
Silver Lake, same problem with expressway

Now further North
Interlochen State Park
Grand Traverse State Park, beach is across the road, ped bridge
There's a private park right on the lake in Bear Lake

Even further North Wilderness State Park has over 100 large sites on the beach

But honestly July is sold out for premium sites like those on water. There's still hope for Labor Day!

To answer a few questions: Yes what we liked that it is right on the beach/lake. I was able to stay there last summer 3 nights by just moving around each night. That was with only about a week notice, so I just got lucky and picked up some cancelled days by other people.
Yes I do know the sites are extremely close together, and there is blowing sand everywhere, but at least it isn't salt water. However the kids loved it, and it was nice to be right on the water so it was worth the hassle to me for a few days.
GordonThree I will look into Manistee beach, that sounds pretty good. We boon dock completely quiet often for several days at a time so that would work, but I really would like to be camped right on the lake. Let me know if you have any other recommendations that are as close as possible to the beach.

It's a very popular park. No secret tricks. As soon as the sites open up, they get reserved.

Great Beach and right on the edge of town, so easy to walk in.

Do you know that it's all sand and pavement with no shade

What about Grand Haven is the attraction?

If it's a site on water you're after, there's more attractive parks that may be easier to get into.

If not, most parks along the expressway and lakeshore are very very difficult to get into for July. Tens of thousands of visitors and only a few thousand campsites.

Moving away from the expressways makes your chances a lot better.

I should add, if you're self sufficient, overnight parking is permitted and water hose taps are available at the Manistee beach, only ninety minutes North. You're not on the beach but it's right across the street.