Van Buren State Park Campground
Thomas B.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Jul. 14, 2019

Classic Middle American Campground

Our experience here was pretty good, but I still can't bring myself to give this campground more than three stars. It was clean and relatively quiet at night. Bathrooms had free hot showers, and it's a 10-minute stroll to the shores of Lake Michigan. There's a huge sand dune to climb, and you can watch the sun set over the lake every night. Bike rentals are only $10 per day, even for tandems, and there's a flat, paved bike path that takes you to the quaint town of South Haven, about 5 miles north, where there are lots of touristy shops and restaurants. We enjoyed the Michigan Maritime Museum on the north shore.

The down side of the campground is that the beach is pretty much non-existent. You walk down through the pretty dunes, but there is literally no more than five feet of sand, and even less if the wind is blowing waves in off the lake. There are a few wide spots, but a lot of people sit up on the dunes because there's no place to sit on the beach. Do not expect big wide beaches to walk on. There are also no trails to speak of, if you want to hike. When you select your campsite, be aware that there's a path through the middle of the campground and some sites are right next to it, meaning very little privacy. The higher numbered sites are farther from the lake.

Site215
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Van Buren State Park Campground by Thomas B., July 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Van Buren State Park Campground by Thomas B., July 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Van Buren State Park Campground by Thomas B., July 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Van Buren State Park Campground by Thomas B., July 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Van Buren State Park Campground by Thomas B., July 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Van Buren State Park Campground by Thomas B., July 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Van Buren State Park Campground by Thomas B., July 14, 2019