McGinnis Lake Modern Campground, near Holly, Michigan, is a solid choice for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle without straying too far from home. With spacious, wooded sites that offer a sense of privacy, it’s a great spot for both tent campers and RV enthusiasts.

The campground is equipped with essential amenities like drinking water, electric hookups, and clean restrooms, making your stay comfortable. Campers have noted that the sites are well-maintained, though some can be a bit unlevel, so keep that in mind when setting up. As one visitor mentioned, “The campsites are big, secluded, wooded, and clean.”

For those who enjoy a bit of adventure, there are hiking trails nearby and a beach about a mile away, perfect for a day of sun and fun. Just be aware that the beach can get crowded, especially with the added attraction of inflatable rentals. 

Families will appreciate the playgrounds and picnic areas scattered throughout the campground, though some have pointed out that the playground equipment could use an upgrade. Overall, McGinnis Lake offers a peaceful retreat with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, making it a great spot for a weekend getaway or a longer stay.

Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp

McGinnis Lake Modern Campground — Holly Recreation Area

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Ortonville. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Ortonville. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Ortonville and user-submitted reviews.

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The Best Camping Near Ortonville, Michigan

We stayed on site 118 in the trillium loop. Actually feels like camping with all the trees, not lined up in a farmer's field. Lots of trails and great beach with a dog friendly area.

Love this place!

Wonderful park with hiking trails and beautiful lakes. Campsites are wooded and pretty private. Love the park staff!

Beautiful park, great campers!

I stayed in the rustic Aspen loop and it was fine for early season but come peak season, the sites lack privacy and are kind of small. It’s not a bad walk to modern restrooms and it was very quiet. This was a fine campground for close to home camping and I will probably be back. 

Early Season Camping

The campground and other areas of the park are great. good fishing and good sized sites. the only issue is the raccoons that have overrun the campground once the sun goes down... no joke.

Great park... pest problem 

Holly Rec is huge and there is so much you can do. Camping is pretty secluded. Lots and lots of hiking available , pets allowed which is awesome, disc golfing , lakes for great kayaking and there is a wonderful beach! Something for everyone! you can get away here , and take a much needed break from real life. 

Everything to do

Loved the length of the trails. Easy terrain to work on pacing yourselves. Even found a spot to stop off and chill out in our hammock! It was a very hot day (85+) but the hike is very shaded!

Great hiking!

The site was very clean, loved how big the showers were. Staff at check-in/out are very friendly.

Amazing

I love camping here even though it’s not far away from home whatsoever. The trillium and oak loops are heavily wooded and have plenty of space between each site - something that’s rare in campgrounds these days.

Holly Rec Rules!

Spent 2 night in the Aspen Loop tent camping. Minus the silk/inch worms in the trees it was great. Fire pit was large and bathrooms were clean. We did a 6 mile hike and some fishing. Great easy quick weekend away. 

Great Spot Only 1 Hour From Home

This is a giant recreation area that features a campground, 3 lakes, tons of trails, and even a splash zone for kids. The campground has it all, electric, cabins, playgrounds, basketball courts, etc...
The lakes are nice and there are tone of options of things to do and places to explore. Ideal for families and people who like to camp but aren’t into the “rustic” part.

Popular Place! 

Sites were spacious, we loved the national forest. 

Beautiful woods

Pretty park with several well marked trails. We stayed in the Maple loop which had several semi-private sites screened from neighbors by trees. I think site #1 was one of the roomiest and prettiest. The bathrooms were clean. There were several playgrounds, bench swings, play fields and even a basketball court. The ADA sites had pavement surrounding the fire rings and space at the picnic tables for a wheel chair.

Holly State Rec

As a Ranger the Dyrt sends me products to test. This trip my husband and I tested hats from Banner and Oak. https://bannerandoak.com/collections/hats-ladies/products/pathfinder-blue   I found the pathfinder soft comfortable and it stayed secure on my head on a blustery rainy day. Even with a buff on underneath for keeping my ears warm. I did find the brim to be a little large for my face and I had to turn my head up at odd angles to take a selfie or as you can see in the video below.  My Husband Steve found the Sierra did not fit his head well He felt it looked too tall from the front, and the band was itchy.

Ranger Review: Banner and Oak Pathfinder hat at Holly State Rec

Holly Recreation area is located in northern Oakland County, just north of Detroit. It is a very nice place to get away from the city without having to drive hours. The campground is divided into a day use side and the campground. There are a few lakes, one very large one that has fishing and electric motor boating. They rent kayaks, canoes, and stand up paddle boards. The beach area also boast a pay area called Jump Island which is a blow up island in the middle which has multiple places to climb, slide, jump and land in the water. The campground its self is around 150 sites that tend to book quickly. The sites are great because they are mostly divided by trees and you don't back up to each other. The terrain is somewhat hilly in parts but the sites are mostly level and paved. There is many sites that are mostly sunny in two of the loops and mainly shady in the other two loops so there is something for all. They have the best Hollyween event in the fall. There are several playgrounds, a basketball court, hiking trails, and the tether ball is always busy.

Clean, well kept, with lots for kids and teenagers too

My family took our RV camping here for a week here. It was very nice, we had so much fun. The bathrooms and showers were clean, there were a lot of activities for the whole family, and the camp site was nice and shaded. 

Clean and fun camping

NOTE: Hollys dump station is still closed. There is a "mini dump" station for portable tanks behind the bathouse. You can dump at KOA for 35$ or at other state parks for free.

This was our second time at Holly. We stayed with 2 other groups sites 65-68. The sites are huge. Some have more shade than others. Power is set up very close to the asphalt pad. Water spigot was 3 sites away. Outhouse was about 5 sites away. Kids enjoyed the playground &amp; dogs enjoyed the trails. Fire pit was huge &amp; clean. Will definitely come again.

Holly is amazing!

Great place.  Most campsites heavily wooded. Group area is away from the main area.  Kayak lakes are nice. Excellent hike/bike trails.  Park is located just down the road from the Holly Oaks Off road park. 

Excellent

Just a quick overnight tent camp with my son.   Tent sites are relatively well spaced out and clean.  Fire rings and picnic tables at each site.

Modern bathrooms and shower rooms are available. 

Many playgrounds, horseshoe pits, and a basketball court available. 

Firewood and ice available at the front gate.

RV spaces are well spaced out and give a sense of privacy.   Electrical hook ups.

Cabins available for rent as well.

Quiet, well kept state park

Great campground for a weekend trip. The day use area across the street has a really nice beach and some great hiking trails.

We’ve stayed in the maple loop and hickory. Hickory loop is more in the woods style feel. Maple has a nice little dog run area that we took advantage of. 
Both of those loops have little nature trails that are quick and easy to hike.

When we visited in May the invasive gypsy moth caterpillars were really bad. Swarms on the legs of the picnic tables and dropping from the trees.
However we came back in July and we didn’t see any at all.

Quick getaway

We stayed here to go to the Ren Faire that is just down the street. The lady who checked us in was a saint who helped us find our way around and was so patient. It was a nice campground, our site was on a bit of a hill, but otherwise easily accessible. 

Ren Faire Trip

We did an quick overnight and it was nice clean and nice chill plan

Beautiful canpground

No sewer or dumps is available at this campground (April 2022). You will have to dump elsewhere. If there was a memo I missed it. Made reservation in winter 2021.
Had great Verizon and ok TMobile service.
Site itself was easy to level and adequate for our big rig. It was one of 4 50 amp sites in the park.
Nice large grassy site and the park was not very full.

The State of Michigan has dropped the ball…

Massive campground with multiple off shoots; Halloween is a must do here! Large and pretty private lots. 

Fun for Halloween! 

We thought we'd give Holly Recreation Area a try. Campground is in "loops", each fairly apart from each other.  The closest "lake" was mostly lillypads and scum.  No swimming there, but the lake with the beach (and overpriced lake inflatables, $20 for 60 minutes use!) was a drive (or looong walk) from my site. (We're in the Oak Loop).

Playground equipment leaves much to be desired.  Old swings and slide here, down a ways it's a climbing dome and some other metal thing.  I don't know what genius thought putting a basketball court right next to a camping area was a good idea, but the constant "blap blap blap" sound got tedious real quick.  Speed limit is 10mph, people seem to add 10 to that, so watch the kiddos.  I even saw an official State van zip by my site at at least 15 to 20mph.  Not great.

Every site is paved, which is nice, but I've never seen SO many unlevel sites.  Some slope back, some forward, or to the side.  I mean virtually *every* site in this loop is unlevel. I'm not exaggerating in the least.  Hard to believe they thought this was OK.  I drove each loop, noting the level ones, which was only a handful total.

We're close enough that we *should* get all the Detroit TV stations, yet I can get none.  T-Mobile only gets LTE, which is slow.

Vault toilets in the loops, modern restrooms/shower out on the main park road.  Unless you like long walks, expect to bike or drive to them.  The modern facility near me was ok, showers ok, but there were lots of spiders in the stall I used.  What's a lot?  I counted 15 on the walls.  It IS camping though, so kind of expected.

It is pretty though, very wooded, but sites clear &amp; well spaced. (though, again, mostly all unlevel to some degree.) Road and site pavement is in good condition, and sites clearly marked.

I doubt we'll return here.  

Peaceful, when basketball stops 

Nice campground.  A lot of woods.  Any site above 80ish is very hilly and may be difficult to level an RV.  The beach is nice even though it's about a mile away.

Slopes 

It's always great to spend time at Holly. The only downfall is the public bathroom. Camp sites are pretty big. Tent camping is also A bad place to hang out as nothing is level for tents.  

Over 30 years of camping here.

I love to come here when I want a quick get away from home because it is only 30min away.

The campsites are big,secluded, wooded, and clean. The people in the check in stand are nice, friendly, and helpful  as well.

I do wish there was more public bathrooms, it’s a long walk or a quick drive to the only flushable toilets in the campground. 

Raccoons run this place! Don’t leave any food or garbage out ever or you will be robbed by a gang of raccoons who are not afraid of people. 

Love this place! 

A short trip from home, this was a great weekend getaway! 
The camp site was spacious but tucked back in a bit (we tent camped on an RV site). The campground was quiet as well. 

We did a 7 mile loop hike and then went to Battle Alley Brewing in Holly (10 min away). 

No grate on the firepit so be aware of that. 

Would definitely come back - it’s like being up north but you’re under an hour from home. 

Far Away But Close To Home

It's a very nice campground with lots of trees and the sites are spaced out nicely in the Trillium loop.  I've wouldn't pick site 93 however as the pavement is sloped and the whole site is sloped quite steeple. Also,  it shares an electrical box with 95 and my camper cord was about 30 ft short.

Nice but wouldn't recommend 93

Been using this campground for at least 12 years. Bathrooms are always fairly clean and there is plenty of shade. Nice ponds to view as well.

Photos of McGinnis Lake Modern Campground — Holly Recreation Area

Real photos from real campers