Grand Haven Michigan State Park IMPOSSIBLE to Reserve

[Rockwoody]

Has anyone else noticed that you cannot get a site at this park 6-months or less in advance for the summer? I swear, every time I try and get a site at the exact time I'm able to reserve the 6-months in advanced, they are gone at that exact nano-second! Impossible!

Has me thinking there is something else at play here, like some underground reservation system that this Ohioan doesn't know about!

[travelnutz]

Rockwoody,

You're very welcome. As for finding a hidden gem? My grandparents did that about 115 years ago and I can't thank them enough and then our my parents and all the siblings realized what a great place to live they were brought up in and spent their whole life living here while RV'ing to see other places.

The apple sure doesn't fall far from the tree as both my wonderful wife of over 53 years born and raised here and sure enjoy the fabulous area and have always live here while also RV'ing to all 49 of the states including Alaska several times over and to all but the 3 very remote reaches of Canada so many times. BTW, the bridge so you can RV to Hawaii hasn't been built so that aluminum thingy still is the best way to get there yet.

Now our kids already in their 50's and their kids/married kids and families won't leave here either. Maybe it's something in the water that causes our vast family and community happiness here that keeps spreading to all their spouses and now their families also and the gobs of constant visitors too. Or could it be that it's simply such a wonderful upbeat place and area to live, visit, work in with always the lowest unemployment in the state (3.5% to 4% is the norm )and maintaing constant controlled growth, to raise a family at with superb nationally ranked fine schools, excellent clean public and handicapped transportation system thruout the area, zero slums or downtrodden areas, Immaculent always kept clean and updated downtown and shopping areas with lots of free parking/shopping/dining/etc, extremely low crime rate, place to retire at with so much for seniors and the whole area is senior and handicapped friendly, having the finest of beaches in the USA per polls done, big sandunes and so many fine parks/walks/paved bike trails-paths and the vast attractions/venues/entertainment of which nearly all are free, the tremendous boating, fishing, kayaking-canoeing and huge connected navigable public waterway network as witness by aerial views, etc, the views and incredible variety of recreation 360 degrees right out your door, being in such a clean and friendly family environment and surroundings 24/7/365 with so much to do and not strangle your wallet?

Maybe that's why it's so darn popular and our family won't leave nor will others and the visitors just keep coming back year after year and then their kids carry on? Only been happening for over a hundred year now! Takes the whole community to keep it this way and we do!

Rockwoody, I guess you've found that "GEM" out also by and for yourself!

[wbwood]

What you need to do is starting saying how crappy the parks are....tell everyone you know...maybe the word will spread and people will stop making reservations...lol

[Rockwoody]

travelnutz wrote:
Grand Haven State Park is the most popular state park in Michigan year after year for way over 60 years now. Unfornunately, there's only 174 camp sites and no room to expand the CG as it's right on the Lake Michigan beach. Would still be constantly full if it had over 500 campsites. WHY??? There's so much to see and do in the local area and by simply walking right from your RV:

The long wide public pier out into Lake Michigan right at the CG and so many organized beach activities on the long beach: - Camper/beach goers, amateur, college, and professional. All offroad paved walking surfaces along the wide river and for easy walking distance with food, beverages, snacks, many flushing restrooms, lots of very comfortable seating with seatback benches if resting is needed, fabulous views, parks, ships, boats, U.S. Coast Guard Command Headquarters Station, The big American Legion, fancy skate park-the Family YMCA-big Mulligan's Hollow recreation area for all ages and abilities, the huge musical fountain, the waterfront stadium with programs and performances and viewing, splashpad for all ages, marinas, charter fishing fleet and more food-ice cream-snacks and parks with tables, Tuesday night's weekly free popular concerts in Central Park (bring a lawn chair or a blanket - all grass), and the very clean popular healthy downtown for shopping-2 free museums- outstanding big library-or even more food and beverages of all kinds both indoors dining or outdoor sidewalk cafe style, so much more all the way to so many attractions and downtown enjoyment right from your RV's door and don't even need to use your vehicle.

Or if desired, there's the constantly running open air trolleys to ride right from the state park or call the Harbor Transit 616-842-3200) and have one of the dozens of smaller busses with up to 34 passengers come and pick you up and bring you back to the S.P. if desired. Very Cheap! Age 5-18 75 cents, 19-59 $1.50, 60 and over 75 cents, 4 and under free with paying adult (limit 2 with each paying adult), disabled or medicare card 75 cents. Busses have bike carriers on the front also. Walkways are all disabled friendly all the way and in downtown with ramps everywhere. That's why it's so hard to reserve a site at GHSP even 6 months ahead as they are gone in just minutes. Yes, we do know as we've lived here for over 72 years.

However if this helps, there are over 10 other CG's within 10 miles of downtown: North, South, and East with Lake Michigan and it's over 300 miles of pure sand beaches on the west side here in West Michigan. Dozens of public beaches just in our area along. Hoffmaster State Park 1200 acres (5 miles north of Grand Haven) has 2-1/2 miles of public Lake Michigan sand beach and yes, it fills up (300 campsites in 4 loops) in summer too so reservations are almost a must in July and August or weekends.

On edit:

I forgot to add that a totally new from scratch very nice large full hookup landscaped CG with paved RV parking pads and of course paved interior roads is being built in town on the east side in a secluded area right on the wide plenty deep totally bouyed for even 60' yachts Grand River and the connected waterways with many campsites being waterfront and will have boat docks also for the campers, a pool, a playground, and a meeting etc building for the campers. approx Many other features and ammenities are planned also. About 1-1/2 miles east of downtown and 2-1/2 miles from the State Park. A real bonus is that it's only a short walk to Fricano's Pizza original very famous restaurant building. Fricano's was one of only 32 pizza places inducted into the hall of fame in the entire USA. People come from all over the Midwest to eat their pizza's or farther away have them shipped to them half baked and finish baking them at home. Nearly 20 million pizzas have been made and sold at this location alone. They are to die for and we are trying to die I guess as we've eaten so many and can't get enough of them!

When announced, I will post the CG date of opening and the site rates.

Wow! Thank you for the extensive write-up. I hadn't hear a new private park was being built. Very popular area for sure! And here I thought we had found a hidden gem...

[Rockwoody]

ktosv wrote:

Rockwoody wrote:
We've been to Grand Haven, South Haven, Silver Lake, Ludington, Petoskey, Traverse City, and Mackinaw. All great places.

Have you tried Holland? Holland has 2, or 3 campgrounds depending on how you look at it. One is similar to Grand Haven and is right on the beach. There is a campground about 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile east of the beach. This campground has two sections.

Are you trying to book just a weekend? A week starting on Friday? You might try a Sunday arrival.

There is also Oak Grove that is further east of the State Park, but closer to the lake than Dutch Treat.

I was trying to book a week. We've been to Holland for a day trip, but did not realize they have a beach campground. Is that the state park?

[travelnutz]

Grand Haven State Park is the most popular state park in Michigan year after year for way over 60 years now. Unfornunately, there's only 174 camp sites and no room to expand the CG as it's right on the Lake Michigan beach. Would still be constantly full if it had over 500 campsites. WHY??? There's so much to see and do in the local area and by simply walking right from your RV:

The long wide public pier out into Lake Michigan right at the CG and so many organized beach activities on the long beach: - Camper/beach goers, amateur, college, and professional. All offroad paved walking surfaces along the wide river and for easy walking distance with food, beverages, snacks, many flushing restrooms, lots of very comfortable seating with seatback benches if resting is needed, fabulous views, parks, ships, boats, U.S. Coast Guard Command Headquarters Station, The big American Legion, fancy skate park-the Family YMCA-big Mulligan's Hollow recreation area for all ages and abilities, the huge musical fountain, the waterfront stadium with programs and performances and viewing, splashpad for all ages, marinas, charter fishing fleet and more food-ice cream-snacks and parks with tables, Tuesday night's weekly free popular concerts in Central Park (bring a lawn chair or a blanket - all grass), and the very clean popular healthy downtown for shopping-2 free museums- outstanding big library-or even more food and beverages of all kinds both indoors dining or outdoor sidewalk cafe style, so much more all the way to so many attractions and downtown enjoyment right from your RV's door and don't even need to use your vehicle.

Or if desired, there's the constantly running open air trolleys to ride right from the state park or call the Harbor Transit 616-842-3200) and have one of the dozens of smaller busses with up to 34 passengers come and pick you up and bring you back to the S.P. if desired. Very Cheap! Age 5-18 75 cents, 19-59 $1.50, 60 and over 75 cents, 4 and under free with paying adult (limit 2 with each paying adult), disabled or medicare card 75 cents. Busses have bike carriers on the front also. Walkways are all disabled friendly all the way and in downtown with ramps everywhere. That's why it's so hard to reserve a site at GHSP even 6 months ahead as they are gone in just minutes. Yes, we do know as we've lived here for over 72 years.

However if this helps, there are over 10 other CG's within 10 miles of downtown: North, South, and East with Lake Michigan and it's over 300 miles of pure sand beaches on the west side here in West Michigan. Dozens of public beaches just in our area along. Hoffmaster State Park 1200 acres (5 miles north of Grand Haven) has 2-1/2 miles of public Lake Michigan sand beach and yes, it fills up (300 campsites in 4 loops) in summer too so reservations are almost a must in July and August or weekends.

On edit:

I forgot to add that a totally new from scratch very nice large full hookup landscaped CG with paved RV parking pads and of course paved interior roads is being built in town on the east side in a secluded area right on the wide plenty deep totally bouyed for even 60' yachts Grand River and the connected waterways with many campsites being waterfront and will have boat docks also for the campers, a pool, a playground, and a meeting etc building for the campers. approx Many other features and ammenities are planned also. About 1-1/2 miles east of downtown and 2-1/2 miles from the State Park. A real bonus is that it's only a short walk to Fricano's Pizza original very famous restaurant building. Fricano's was one of only 32 pizza places inducted into the hall of fame in the entire USA. People come from all over the Midwest to eat their pizza's or farther away have them shipped to them half baked and finish baking them at home. Nearly 20 million pizzas have been made and sold at this location alone. They are to die for and we are trying to die I guess as we've eaten so many and can't get enough of them!

When announced, I will post the CG date of opening and the site rates.

[ktosv]

Rockwoody wrote:
We've been to Grand Haven, South Haven, Silver Lake, Ludington, Petoskey, Traverse City, and Mackinaw. All great places.

Have you tried Holland? Holland has 2, or 3 campgrounds depending on how you look at it. One is similar to Grand Haven and is right on the beach. There is a campground about 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile east of the beach. This campground has two sections.

Are you trying to book just a weekend? A week starting on Friday? You might try a Sunday arrival.

There is also Oak Grove that is further east of the State Park, but closer to the lake than Dutch Treat.

[Rockwoody]

Dog Trainer wrote:
There are a couple of Nice private parks near there . One we have stayed in is Dutch treat. As an out of stater you may find the private park less expensive as Mi. has gone to the moon with their pricing. Just a short ride to the state areas and the tulip sights and parks.

I'll look into Dutch Treat as well. Never noticed it before. MI has many private parks that we've been to and we like the modern convenience of full hookups and paved/concrete areas, pools, etc.

[Rockwoody]

GordonThree wrote:

Yes, the beach is pretty easy to get to. On my last visit, I stayed near the end of the first loop, and it's a 5 minute tops walk along a nice trail to the beach ... Sites 18 through 55 are very close, the trail itself is between sites 34 and 36 if I recall correctly.

Not sure if this map link works: clicky

Do you mind rustic / no hookup camping? Fishermans Island State Park has sites literally on the beach, and it's a wooded setting. There's only a dozen or so, might be difficult to score in the busy seasons.

You said you visited Mackinaw ... do you mean the island or the city? Mackinaw City has Wilderness State Park, another gem IMHO ... I'd say 100 sites on the beach, and several 100 more within walking distance, all with electric and there's a fairly modern shower building on the property too.

Thank you for the tips on Hoffmaster. I'll have to look into it. We visited both. We actually stayed at a private campground to the east of Mackinaw City where you could see the island and bridge. Too far north though to revisit!

[the_silverback]

X2 on that is why I don't stay at state parks in Michigan. I have found private parks that are nicer for the same money or less.

[Dog_Trainer]

There are a couple of Nice private parks near there . One we have stayed in is Dutch treat. As an out of stater you may find the private park less expensive as Mi. has gone to the moon with their pricing. Just a short ride to the state areas and the tulip sights and parks.

[BillB800si]

And that's why we don't camp in State parks. Other reasons:
too noisy
too many drunks

[Old_Days]

It is the same way here in Wisconsin, Every weekend is all ready booked for the entire summer. So now we just go during the middle of the week, less people and less stress.

[GordonThree]

Rockwoody wrote:

I have not tried Hoffmaster. Is their easy access to the beach from the campground? I don't like the parking lot feel of Grand Haven, but the access to the beach makes it nice.

We've been to Grand Haven, South Haven, Silver Lake, Ludington, Petoskey, Traverse City, and Mackinaw. All great places.

Yes, the beach is pretty easy to get to. On my last visit, I stayed near the end of the first loop, and it's a 5 minute tops walk along a nice trail to the beach ... Sites 18 through 55 are very close, the trail itself is between sites 34 and 36 if I recall correctly.

Not sure if this map link works: clicky

Do you mind rustic / no hookup camping? Fishermans Island State Park has sites literally on the beach, and it's a wooded setting. There's only a dozen or so, might be difficult to score in the busy seasons.

You said you visited Mackinaw ... do you mean the island or the city? Mackinaw City has Wilderness State Park, another gem IMHO ... I'd say 100 sites on the beach, and several 100 more within walking distance, all with electric and there's a fairly modern shower building on the property too.

[Rockwoody]

It would certainly help if they made the penalty for cancelling a reservation a little more painful. As it is now, the only thing you lose for canceling up until your stay is a $10 charge and $8 reservation fee. Perhaps 50% of your reserved stay. But as the last poster said, I still won't have a chance. Supply and demand!

I have not tried Hoffmaster. Is their easy access to the beach from the campground? I don't like the parking lot feel of Grand Haven, but the access to the beach makes it nice.

We've been to Grand Haven, South Haven, Silver Lake, Ludington, Petoskey, Traverse City, and Mackinaw. All great places.