Best Glamping near Allegan, MI

A group of us bike from Kalamazoo to South Haven every year using the Kal-Haven trail. We usually tent camp but tried a cabin here this year. It was the perfect option as the campground is right off the trail. They provide linens and have basic supplies (including firewood that they will deliver to your cabin) right at the general store. We also met a group that had hiked in to the primative sites and were using the trail to train for the Appalachian Trail. Everything is well-made and maintained, and the staff is friendly and helpful (they even let us check-in early when we biked in ahead of schedule). Highly recommend for those looking for a place close to the trail and to South Haven. The cabins have three queen beds and a sofa sleeper so they can comfortably hold up to eight people (we had five in our group and I never felt crowded). There's a large table inside and two chairs on the porch. There's also a large picnic table outside, a fire pit, and a grill. They are hoping to expand and add cabins sized for couples in the near future.

Cute little camp store, and definitely well removed. The site is situated in a little valley between the dunes and the hills of town. The sites are surprisingly large, but the rules are insanely strict - this is definitely a site catering to RV campers not tent campers. We were admonished for having 3 medium tents on a site that easily could have facilitated 5, while nearby RVs had their unit, a screened gazebo, a regular tent, a shade tent, multiple cars, and jetskis on their sites. Most of the RVs here seem to set up camp for weeks at a time, meaning there is a LOT of ambient light from their laser shows, footpath solar lights, fairly lights, etc.

Other reviews I read online warned the bathrooms were bad - if you get the north loop the bathroom is passable. Cinderblock walls, and ineffective fans make for a pretty swampy experience, but it IS a camp bathroom. The main bathhouse really is disgusting, even by camp standards. It is the one the day trippers can use when they come to the beach, and it shows the wear. Many of the stalls don't have doors, several toilets were totally clogged, and there are June bugs and mosquitos swarming the place.

The beach is great, removed and uncrowded even with the day trippers, the access to Lake Michigan was definitely appreciated in July!

We did pass by the hike-in rustic sites and they looked great. Situated at the top of one of the dune hills, very forested and removed from the nonsense RV campers bring, I'd be willing to come back and try these sites.

As woods lovers, we never thought we would like this... but - consider it! If you like the beach! Yes, the sand in the tent sucks... however, the sun, sand, and water are awesome if you like that sort of thing! Plus, GH State Park has access to a great boardwalk to stroll and a downtown with restaurants, ice cream/fudge, breweries, and shopping! They have a farmers market too!

During normal years (non pandemic), the musical fountain is a nightly draw -/ is the Coast Guard Festival with its parades, special events, and fireworks!

COVID-19 info: the Main Street is a one way as half of it has been blocked off for more outside seating!!! (Love the outside!). The beach is “iffy” about social distancing... The musical Fountain, parades, and festivals are not happening; yet, this is still a cool place if you like beaches.

Cons: sites are Way too close, a lot of people.

Oof! One thing to note: you MUST BRING your own fire pit that sits above the ground and has a cover! We didn’t know this. Luckily, we found one at a local big box store for about $60... but, yes, it was $60 extra that we didn’t plan on nor did we need the item in the future (gave it to one of our kids).

Helpful hint: sites book up 6 months in advance. Cancellation has to happen 14 days before the reservation starts, so you can often book a site (from someone who cancelled) when you start checking daily between 30-15 days out.