Michigan West Coast

This thread had some great ideas along the west coast of MI and also the UP.

clicky

There is a lot to see in Michigan. If you decide to go to Mackinac Island, cross the bridge and go from the St Ignace side as it is less congested usually. Hope this may help, Happy Trails Bert

The campground at Grand Haven State Park is very near the water but you camp in a parking lot around sand. If you love beach camping you will like that park.

Hoffmaster State Park is located between Muskegon and Grand Haven. Muskegon State Park is located north of Muskegon. At both parks you have to walk to the beach.

Grand Haven and Hoffmaster State Parks are very popular and it may be difficult to get a good site or one at all.

Here is a link to the Muskegon County Parks . Meinert Park is located near the beach on Lake Michigan. The campsites are not right on the beach but within walking distance as are the sites at Hoffmaster and Muskegon. You can now make reservations online for the Muskegon County Parks.

As you travel further north you may wish to check out Mears State Park near Pentwater. I also second the vote for Lake Leelanaw. We have stayed there and it is very nice. You can rent boats there, too.

Have fun! I grew up in Western Michigan and we will be there in July also, for our high school class reunion and a family reunion!

Ther are many close to the lake, if not on it. If you plan to visit Lake Michigan State Park.. Get reservations in and do it early.

Side note: Last time I was in that area I did not stay on the lake,, I stayed at a little campground off US-131 (Lake Schep-a-no_ or some thing like that) but I was there for another attraction: Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.. North of Muskegon off 131 my daughter was there with the international band (And before that with a normal summer camp) Lots of very good music.. Those kids will surprise you with how good they are.

Later I was playing a Mini-Disc.. A music teacher thought it was a CD of the music store type.. No, it was all high school kids at Blue Lake.. I think the track was Montheau's and capulets,, Same track VISA used for one of their commercials (San Fransisco Symphony as I recall) and the kids were every bit as good.

Nice campground at casino in Manistee. Indio RV Resort in the Slleping Bear Dunes area.

We spent a few days last week at Bay Harbor Motorcoach Resort just south of Petoskey. This was our second stay there and we really like the resort. It's smaller (78 sites), beautifully landscaped with a great clubhouse, pool, tennis court, and even mini-golf. Petoskey is about 5 miles in one direction, and Charlevoix is about 5 miles in the other direction. It was only about 1/3 full last week during the week, and they had a special "pre-season" rate of $49/night. It is a Class A, 2000 & newer-only resort.

Hearthside Grove RV Resort is just on the north edge of Petoskey and gets rave reviews. It is, however, much larger, and we usually like smaller resorts. We might give this one a try next year, however.

Little river Casino is the casino campground near manistee. It is very nice with cement pads, sewer and wwater also some with just water and electric. A good place to set up and explore North and south along the lake.

No exactly on the lake, but a great quiet, clean and pretty stop over for you would be Pere Marquette RV Resort here This park is across from a smaller lake and is about 1/2 hour ride to Lake Michigan in Ludington.

There is a fairly new KOA in South Haven, giving you easy access to South Haven and Saugatuck cities. Michigan State parks are the only camping places in the lower part of the state. Usually reservations are needed well in advance. Great time of the year to be here!

This website has lots of information.

http://www.michigan.org/nature-parks/

Thanks everyone, this gives us a lot of good ideas. :D