RV Campground South Lake Michigan

[duck_eater]

My family is thinking of camping on the south end of Lake Michigan and have never been there before. We are looking for recommendations for a campground reasonably close to the beach, that will accommodate a 18' hybrid. We sold our pop-up 2 years ago and are renting a hybrid to give it a go, this will also be a chance to catch up some with our 2 twenty something sons. So playgrounds are not necessary. Bike trails or roads that are bike friendly would be good. Trees for an amateur antenna would be a plus. We choose this area for the beach and it's a hard days drive from our home in KC without any significant stop overs. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[brirene]

You could also try Van Buren sp near South Haven, MI. They have a lot of sites and you may be able to get a reservation.

[valhalla360]

Michigan State Parks are great. They do fill up but if it's only 1 camper and you have some flexibility (maybe 4 days mid week and then move to a private campground for the weekend), you should be able to search the Michigan State Parks website and find a spot. I can't think of a bad one along the coast.

[travelnutz]

The best beaches and paved very long bike trails (163 miles of them) and lots of CG's and constant activities and gobs of things to do anytime and see is from about Saugatuck to just south of Muskegon.

PJ hoffmaster State Park hfor instance has bike riding roads, pristine beaches, a sand bottom creek, miles of hiking trails, 300 campsites, lots of trees, excellent new bathouses (30 on the 4 CG loops. The SP is 1100+ acreas in size and has huge sandunes you can climb and a large nature center with programs and classes. The SP is right in the middle of more to do and see than you could in an entire summer. A mall and excellent brand stores/groceries you name it onlt 4 miles away going inland. We live about 7 miles or so from the SP and know it fabulous. You probalby can get a site for your size of trailer especially for Sunday thru Wednesday and likely to have a site for a whole week + if you come between the big festivals and venues during the summer.

Not much chance of getting a site at Grand Haven SP as it's right on the beach and the most popular in the entire state as it's at the base of the 1/4 mile long long pier you can walk all the way out on and the more than 7 mile long very popular wide boardwalk with benches and restrooms every few blocks distance. It goes along the very big deep Grand River with big ships coming and going and a gazillion pleasure boats and Coast Guard ships and boats to downtown, .7 miles, and beyond thru the town of Spring Lake. Bikes allowed but can't get crazy and hit people. Also a large skate park and 38 Charter fishing fleet to catch big salmon, lake trout, steelhead, brown trout and others. There are 11 CG's right in this area alone and 5 are on the lakeshore.

First have to know when you are coming to advise or really help further.

[kknowlton]

Indiana Dunes SP is a wonderful CG. Very popular and may be booked solid all summer, though midweek you might have a chance. Call ahead. The CG was redone about 8-10 years ago, with new bathhouses, paved pads, pretty spacious sites (grassy in between the pads), and many with some good shade. Walkable or driveable to the beach. Close to the commuter train if you want to go into the city (i.e. Chicago).

[camperpaul]

Illinois Beach State Park near Zion, IL:

Most campsites have30 Amp electric; the rest have 30/50Amp electric.

Some of the campsites are about 200 ft from the beach.
Don't worry about reservations; plan to arrive on Sunday afternoon and get a "FCFS" campsite.

There is a bike trail that runs by the park; the Southern end is in Chicago and the Northern end is in Milwaukee.

Twenty minute drive from Six Flags Great America

Twenty minute drive from the Jelly Belly plant (free tours) near Kenosha WI.

Max stay is 14 nights; cost is $25/night.

Alcoholic beverages are permitted in 2/3 of the campground.

This photo was taken about 300 ft from my campsite a few years ago:

[2gypsies1]

South Haven State Park in near the Kal-Haven trail for an excellent bike ride.

[dewey02]

I used to work at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
They have a campground about 1 mile from the beach.

Indiana Dunes StatePark is within the National Lakeshore and they have a campground closer to the lake. Both are good campgrounds.
There is a Jellystone Park several miles away.

[travelnutz]

When are you coming and where or which particular area along the southern Lakeshore?

Your question is very general as just the southern half of the Lake Michigan shoreline in Michigan from Indiana north is about 200 miles long. Extremely popular area for so many reasons but there are many many CG's that meet your general wants if they have any openings left. Your trailer at 18 feet will fit easy into most any site and that's a big plus.

[michigansandzil]

You can't go wrong just about anywhere on Lake Michigan. State parks are the best for camping, but they filled for the summer several months ago so you'll most likely need to do private campgrounds.