Fort Custer Recreation Area, near Augusta, Michigan, is a fantastic spot for campers looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying a range of amenities. The campground is surrounded by beautiful, wooded areas that provide a sense of privacy and seclusion, making it a great escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

With over 200 campsites, visitors can choose from tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and even yurts. Many campers have praised the well-organized layout, which features trees and shrubs that separate the sites, enhancing the feeling of space. Clean facilities, including bathrooms and showers, are available, and the staff is known for being friendly and helpful.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love the extensive network of hiking and mountain biking trails right at your doorstep. The nearby lakes offer opportunities for fishing and swimming, while the campground itself is a great base for exploring the Kalamazoo River. As one happy camper noted, “With over 25 miles of hiking/mountain biking trails, plus more than one body of water to fish/swim in, it really is an ideal place to camp!”

Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a longer stay, Fort Custer Recreation Area has plenty to offer for everyone. Just be prepared for the occasional buzz of nature, as some visitors have mentioned the presence of bugs, so bring your bug spray!

Fort Custer Campground at Fort Custer State Recreation Area is a 3,033-acre park located between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. The park features three lakes, the Kalamazoo River, a campground, a swimming beach, boat rentals, more than 25 miles of multi-use trails, paddling and fishing opportunities, second growth forests and remnant areas of prairie. The trail system is popular with mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers and dog sledders. Originally farmland, the area was acquired by the federal government to establish Camp Custer, an induction and military training center for the U.S. Army during WWII. The land was deeded to the State of Michigan under President Nixon's Legacy of Parks in 1971. No alcoholic beverages allowed in park April 1 through Labor Day.

Fort Custer Recreation Area

Augusta, MI is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Augusta is surrounded by family-friendly activities. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Michigan camping adventure.

Augusta

The Best Camping Near Augusta, Michigan

This place is just wonderful!  So spacious, it has a beach, beautiful trails of different levels and so much to offer.  Only downside is that the beach gets crowded if the weather is nice.  I would have given this 6 stars if possible.  

Fantastic!

We have been camping here for 30+ years. It’s our local go-to campground. The sites are large, lots of old growth trees so you don’t feel like you’re in a parking lot. Modern showers and bathrooms are available as well as rustic out houses. The draw for us is the miles of biking and hiking trails and the two lakes for kayaking. There are designated areas for horses as well. You can fish, swim at the beautiful beach, get a snack from the store and kick back at your campsite. We love this place. Great family atmosphere with on site host during peak months. Come out and enjoy this gem.

Our local go-to campground. 

Have camped here many times. Hometown area. Nice, separated sites in wooded area. Much to do. Swimmimg, fishing, kayaking, etc..

Back to nature

6month honeymoon visit to Custer. beauty is everywhere. 


honeymoon hwy to alaska

The trails are great for hikers, bikers, &amp; equestrians. We’ve had family camp outs there, as well my husband &amp; I alone. It’s all dog friendly too! 🐕🐶

Perfect for families

Nice campground! Lots to do, kayaking, hiking, swimming etc... we will definitely be back!

Lots of fun

lots need mowing so lots of bugs, bring insect repellent.

Lots of open space

swampy area. Watch out for blackflies. Bring the bug spray!! Tried hiking with small kids there— lots of mountain bikers on the trails.

Blackflies

I camped here many a times as a child. The sites are nice and there are natural divides between each campsite. You are in the middle of the woods so you must be prepared for insects and small animals. There's lots to do such as kayaking, hiking, bike trails. The small beach is often fairly crowded on nice days. Great, family friendly place.

Nice sites, be prepared to be in nature

We loved this campground! It is open year round and quiet when we went in January! They have electric and nice sized spots that are sectioned off well. Tons of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails in addition to lakes to kayak!

Wonderful!

Our favorite state park to stay at. Large quiet sites and lots of seclusion. 

Peaceful 

Wow! Three lakes, hiking, biking and horse trails, showers, camp host and super quiet this past week while there. Not many campers, but everyone there seemed pleasant and were quiet. Deep sites, electric if you so desire, firepit and tables. I use a tent. Driving from the west through Augusta is a treat...so pretty. 
Civilization not far at all. Fishing, beach, play areas and an amusement park for mountain bikers! No alcohol. Will return!

Huge and has so much to offer

I have stayed here quite often. The park is a typical state campground. The campsites have good space and isolation from other sites. The electrical was updated so alls it’s have their own hook up but some of the older boxes can have issues. The site I was on had the 30 amp plug that was not working. 

There is a lot to do here; fishing, horseback riding. Mountain bike trails, lake with beach so if you get board it’s your fault. The mountain bike trails are challenging and will provide a good workout. 


I will stay here again and again. 

Always a go to place

MMichigan State park with large sites and lots of privacy.  $25per night with electric.  Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach. Lots of trails for hiking,  horses and mountain bikes. Roads quiet and could easily ride your road bike to nearby bike paths. I loved the lack of lights in the park at night making for a beautiful night sky.

Something for everyone

This was a pleasant surprise to have what felt like a semi private lot nestled in the woods. We had site 1 and felt we were close to a bathroom shower house as well as to the entrance.  The restrooms were kept reasonably clean, and there's a nice playground by the bath house. 

The negatives? It's a drive to the beach, which is rather crowded on nice Saturdays (to be expected)... there's no shortage of mosquitoes (but hey, you're in the woods, right? Bring a thermacell! )... and the midnight snack bandits we call raccoons are not going to hide from you. We had one traverse along our site while cooking dinner, but he left us alone and kept on his way. We saw several others during our stay... keep food and trash stored away! 

In all we are very likely to return someday! 

Nice Large Wooded Sites 

The campground is well maintained,plenty to do,beautiful

Fort Custer is a hidden gem in Michigan. Nobody thinks to go camping near Battle Creek, but they really should reconsider! 

Never over-crowded, tons of trails, and very nice paddle board, kayak, and canoe rentals! The lake at the state park is outlined by trails and features a small island to paddle around! 

Surprisingly nice beach area.

We are in town for a softball tournament and decided to camp for the week.  The mosquitos are awful.  The site was a decent size and had a lot of shade, which was nice.   

It got the job done.

Love going there to ride the trails or walk my dogs the lakes are awesome great beach Great fishing awesome picnic areas nice boat launch.   Most campsites are big with trees in between. 
 Miles of biking and hiking trails 

Great place 

Sites have electrical service only. Must use the dump station. 

Electric only hook up

Campground Review: 

After finding our original campground full, we were directed over to Fort Custer. We found a campsite that was large with vegetation separating us from neighbors. I didn't expect to find something this interesting as an alternate to original plans but it worked out nicely.

  

There are a couple hundred sites and most of them were full. Our site was on the far end of a loop. This meant a longer walk to the restrooms and showers. On the other hand, we were right across from an access trail to the blue hiking trail. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. It was overcast upon arrival only to have the sun shine down the next day. We soon found out that there was enough clearing in the treetops to give our camp full sun for most of the day. If you camp here, I suggest one of the other sites that would give you a break from the sunny heat.

  

We hiked on a multi-use trail that the ranger suggested. The blue trail goes around a couple lakes and was wonderful. We did miss a sign or two and ended up turning our 4 mile trip into a 6.5 mile one but there are plenty of spots to rest and enjoy the time. We passed other hikers and bikers and even some people trying their luck at fishing. There are quite a few mountain bike trails on the other side of the recreation area. A horse trail circles around the outside edge. 

  

Product Review: 

As a Dyrt Ranger I sometimes get products to evaluate. This trip I tested out the [Midland X-Talker two way radio - T77VP5](https://midlandusa.com/product/x-talker-t77vp5/). The kit we used came bundled into a zippered case that is perfect for keeping everything organized. We charged it up before our trip and even tried it out in a school building. 

  

We read reviews that said it might not work well in buildings and thought we should see. I gave them to two high schoolers and asked them to run throughout the place testing them as they went. They came back happy and excited and wanted to keep using them.

  

The real test came out in the woods. The belt clip snaps on easily and this stayed connected to my pack strap for our entire hike. The X-Talker fits nicely in the hand and the buttons are perfectly placed. Another feature I wanted to try was the weather radio. It scans channels automatically to find a weather channel in range. You just need to listen to the report as it cycles through the days. We had some rain and storms moving in so this proved useful in helping us sneak out of camp really early to avoid the downpour that was looming.

  

The [Midland X-Talker T77VP5 radios](https://midlandusa.com/product/x-talker-t77vp5/) worked wonderfully and will certainly see more use on future adventures.

Ranger Review of Midland X-Talker Radio at Fort Custer State Rec Area

Playground was not suitable for toddlers (1-3 year olds). This park is best known for their hiking and biking trails which our kiddos are still a little young for. The sites are decently sized and secluded.  

Best known for mountain biking

Best trails in the area! Beautiful surroundings. Hidden gem 

Awesome mountain biking trails! 

It is a state park.  There are lakes to fish, boat, kayak.  Sites have lots of growth.

Ok place

Ok, so I might be biased because this is where I spent my summers growing up. But I’ve never found another campground with such a great mix of secluded sites, but still opportunities to meet and party with fellow camper. 

Endless hiking trails and two lakes where you can fish, swim, and boat. 

If you’re in the area, this is highly recommended. 

My Childhood are place

Bathhouses were clean and free of bugs. Roads are nicely paved. Campgrounds are nice. Good for multiple tents. Fire ring is good. Beach was amazing and so were the trails. The concessions at the park are sparse. Family dollar is right down the road though. Firewood sales at location. Very buggy but your in the woods so expected. 

Great family campground 

The sites are spacious with the right amount of seclusion from your neighbors! Paved roads good for bike riding and walking the dogs. The only thing missing is a camp store! 



Great secluded sites 

We enjoyed camping here with the family. The sites are nicely wooded to give more privacy. There are convenient trails through the woods to get to the bathrooms but depending on your site it could be about a 10 min walk. The kids wished we had packed their bicycles to make trips to the bathrooms faster. Our site (34)  was mostly sandy ground and there were a lot of berries dropping from the trees that my dogs were obsessed with eating. Overall we enjoyed the stay and would return 

Nice private sites, bathrooms can be far

Sites are super secluded, a lot are deep with tons of open woods behind them which is beautiful.
There’s a huge dog run area that we took advantage of.

The day use beach area was great, and you can swim and kayak in the water.

However there was a couple of issues. 
One was we had a good down pour for about half hour. That rain flooded a large amount of sites with a few inches of water which was honestly really bad. 
Another issue was the mosquitoes are real bad. They post signs about it.
Last issue was the dump station. I think because of the flooding, the septic tank was almost full which made dumping a little bit of an issue but I could get it done.

Honestly the property is beautiful other than those few issues 

Flooding

Boating, trails, camping, beach. Had a great time.

Good time 

Just bought our first camper this past summer and decided to take it to Ft. Custer to try it out!  We absolutely loved this place. There are plenty of hiking trails and the fishing was great. Will definitely be back again!!!


Awesome place

I can see why this place is so popular with the camper crowd. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just cramped, a bit noisy, and there's alot of traffic. Alot. 

I was only taking my son for a night to try his hand at tenting and some hiking. The hiking was nice but not as challenging as some of the other places I've been. 

I prefer rustic, somewhat challenging, and a semblance of solitude. You won't get any of that here. But if you're a family, especially with younger kids or older folks, who want a safe place to get outdoors, this is the place. The restrooms, showers, playground, and easy groomed trails will be great for you. 

If you're like me, you'll likely be looking north.

Convenient but Cramped

Great place to camp, our first trip there was the weekend after the 4th of July. Wish we would have came here yrs ago! Great sites, all divided by trees for some privacy. Will go back

Great campground !

Great campgrounds very friendly staff bathrooms are extremely clean great time nice beach

Had a great day for six nights

We camp here several times a year. Love the staff, lakes, and trails!!!


Love this park

With plenty of space between each campsite, easy-to-locate bathrooms/water, and firewood available to purchase at the front office plus over 25 miles of hiking/mountain biking trails, plus more than one body of water to fish/swim in. It really is an ideal place to camp!!

One of the best places to camp in the area!!

Nice sites, very well organized for privacy. Trees and shrubs dividing sites. The lake is a couple miles away from campground, only 20 miles per hour if I recall. No alcohol permitted 

Nice place to camp

Another great camping experience, site 210 has an amazing trail that leads directly to the showers at one end and at the other path went directly to running water, plus only a couple of yards from a great walking trail.

Another amazing experience!!

Huge beautiful campground.  Lots of privacy.  Needs extra access to the Kalamazoo River for kayakers. Make a campground near the beach. Gas is too expensive to be driving two and a quarter miles one way to the beach.  The dump station needed a serious update. 

Shady campground

This was our second trip to this property (1st was Sept 2021), and it was really nice.  We went Aug 25 - 27th (Friday - Sunday).  The property has something like 219 campsites, and that weekend every single one of them was full.  Noisy during the day with a few large groups and a LOT of kids, but they were quiet at night and it was not a problem.  Some of the campsites are very close together and it's hard to determine that from the map or choosing ahead of time.  The showers and bathrooms are fine, and I think they're being upgraded this season so I expect them to be quite nice for 2024 and beyond.  We took full advantage of the mountain bike trails which are very easily accessed from the campground.  We also took a trip into Battle Creek for a quick stop by CVS, so it's close and convenient for lost or forgotten items.   No problems with bugs or mosquitos, other than the normal for being a forested property. 

  

On Saturday morning the camp host had coffee and donuts for a $1 donation.  And firewood was easily accessible on site. 

  

Would not hesitate to stay here again.

Really nice state park campground and rec area!

We just camped at the park this weekend, which was the opening weekend after the rebuild of the bath houses and some other improvements. First, we loved how wooded and beautiful the campground was. The spots were nice and secluded, and the whole place was very beautiful. There were a few things that we didn't enjoy. First, it was EXTREMELY buggy. If you weren't covered in Deep Woods bug spray the whole time, you were getting bit. Second, I don't feel that there were enough showers. There were 5 showers in each bathhouse, making 10 showers total for the entire campground. I found myself waiting in a line every time I wanted a shower. Lastly, I wish there was a walking trail that was more accessible from the campground itself.

Photos of Fort Custer Recreation Area

Real photos from real campers