Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Alto, MI is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Alto is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Find the best campgrounds near Alto, MI. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
Due to park enhancements (to update electrical, road, fishing pier and sewer), the beach house, picnic shelters and Gun Lake campground will close in 2024. The day-use area and boating access site will remain open except when construction work prohibits safe access, A proposed $5.5 million in federal relief funding from Gov. Whitmer's Building Michigan Together Plan made these renovations possible.
78 sites at Deep Lake Rustic Campground are now site-standard reservable.
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
Rolling hills, babbling brooks, open meadows, forested ridges, a lake nestled in the hills and a river winding its way through woods and fields -- that's Ionia Recreation Area. The 4,500 acres of flat to rolling terrain is a mixture of open field, mature hardwood forest and pine plantations. Four miles of Grand River floodplain follow the river course on the north border of the park. Dammed waterfowl floodings and other wetlands dot the park. Birding is excellent, with more than 199 species identified by the Audubon Society, and wildflowers abound.
$24 / night
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.
This family friendly campground offers a beach for swimming, hiking trails, fishing and kayaking on a small no wake lake. The campground is bordered by state land and is close to Deep Lake, Gun Lake and Yankee Springs Recreational Area which offers additional recreational activities. Nearby businesses include a winery, local shops, golf courses, Gun Lake Casino and several local restaurants. Surrounded by multiple small towns that offer events and attractions year-round.
Sharp Park Campground offers rustic sites, electric sites and full hookup sites as well as two full hookup lakeside sites! There is a 2-person dry cabin with electricity as of 2023 which is perfect for a couple looking to getaway into the woods. We recently added a 6-person dry cabin with electricity in 2024.
Under new ownership for the 2022 camping season, come check us out!
$32 - $95 / night
Woodchip Campground is the perfect place for your family camping in Michigan. Our 122 camping sites are grassy and shaded. Each site has a picnic table and burn barrel. We can accommodate short and long-term guests, including monthly and seasonal camping. Activities for the whole family take place on the weekends, with additional special events on holidays. Just minutes from Grand Rapids, Michigan!
$28 - $50 / night
Holland State Park is best known for sugar-sand beaches, beautiful sunsets, and views of the iconic “Big Red” lighthouse. The park is home to two large campgrounds, an accessible playground, opportunities for paddling and fishing, and connections to nonmotorized trails. The state park consists of separate Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan units on the northern side of the channel connecting Lake Macatawa with Lake Michigan. A boat launch with a fish cleaning station is located 1 mile east of the park.
The park now offers two EV charging stations at no cost.
Located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, Hoffmaster State Park is 1,200 acres of wooded sand dunes and 3 miles of sandy beach. The park is named for P.J. Hoffmaster, considered to be the founder of Michigan’s state parks system. Located just a few miles south of Muskegon, and 40 miles west of Grand Rapids, this park offers an outdoor reprieve where you can swing in your hammock under shady pine and hardwood forest, and enjoy pleasant lakeside strolls while peeping for migrating sparrows and hawks. One of the park’s must-do activities is climbing the winding wooden stairway to the Dunes Overlook for great views over the lake, and the fascinating dunes that have developed along the lakeshore.
Open from April to October, the campground at Hoffmaster State Park offers nearly 300 wooded tent and RV campsites on either side of Little Black Creek. Sites are equipped with electrical hookups, picnic tables, and fire pits; restrooms and water faucets are located throughout the campground area. Sites can accommodate trailers and RVs up to 50 feet; a dump station is available near the campground entrance. A kids’ playground is located near the creek, between the two camp areas, and there are two trailheads for accessing the beach. There are also several picnic areas and a concession stand inside the park. Dogs are permitted in the campground area and on the trails, but must remain leashed; they are not permitted on the swim beaches. Campsite rates range from $25–$37/night.
If you need a break from sunning and swimming on the beaches at Hoffmaster, you can visit the Gillette Visitor Center. You can learn about the park’s sand dune ecosystem, see exhibits about the park’s flora and fauna, or attend a nature program about native birds, bugs or beasts. The center also offers guided, interpretive bird walks, dune hikes and night prowls. If you’re ready to strike out on your own, pick up a trail map and start roaming the park’s 5 miles of hiking trails. On the 1-mile Dune Overlook Trail you can climb 100 stairs into the park’s “quiet area” for a panoramic view over the dunes and Lake Michigan. Bring your birding guide with you, as the park is known for a wide variety of residential and migrant songbirds and raptors.
$38 - $42 / night
Due to park enhancements (to update electrical, road, fishing pier and sewer), the beach house, picnic shelters and Gun Lake campground will close in 2024. The day-use area and boating access site will remain open except when construction work prohibits safe access, A proposed $5.5 million in federal relief funding from Gov. Whitmer's Building Michigan Together Plan made these renovations possible.
78 sites at Deep Lake Rustic Campground are now site-standard reservable.
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
Rolling hills, babbling brooks, open meadows, forested ridges, a lake nestled in the hills and a river winding its way through woods and fields -- that's Ionia Recreation Area. The 4,500 acres of flat to rolling terrain is a mixture of open field, mature hardwood forest and pine plantations. Four miles of Grand River floodplain follow the river course on the north border of the park. Dammed waterfowl floodings and other wetlands dot the park. Birding is excellent, with more than 199 species identified by the Audubon Society, and wildflowers abound.
$24 / night
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.
This family friendly campground offers a beach for swimming, hiking trails, fishing and kayaking on a small no wake lake. The campground is bordered by state land and is close to Deep Lake, Gun Lake and Yankee Springs Recreational Area which offers additional recreational activities. Nearby businesses include a winery, local shops, golf courses, Gun Lake Casino and several local restaurants. Surrounded by multiple small towns that offer events and attractions year-round.
Sharp Park Campground offers rustic sites, electric sites and full hookup sites as well as two full hookup lakeside sites! There is a 2-person dry cabin with electricity as of 2023 which is perfect for a couple looking to getaway into the woods. We recently added a 6-person dry cabin with electricity in 2024.
Under new ownership for the 2022 camping season, come check us out!
$32 - $95 / night
Scout
I lay here, in my hammock listening to the sounds of the evening putting me to sleep as I write this. What a wonderful little campground. Beautiful lake to fish, kayak or canoe. Spacious and shaded site to return to. What more could a dad ask for out of a weekend with their boy.
Scout
ThisThis was the first time we've we had some guests come in for a couple hours and they were charging them $5 per person to get in and I had my aunt come in and she was handicap she parked close up to my camper it was on the grass a little bit and they yelled at her for it these people are rude and they watch you like a hawk every little thing you do they know what you're doing they kept charging my husband's credit card $5 per person I feel if you pay for your campsite you shouldn't have to pay for your guest they should check in at the office but they shouldn't have to pay I would never go back there again
Traveler
The park is beautiful. Lovely nature trails and the Lake was incredible to see. Facilities are clean and the campground was quiet.
Scout
One of the best campgrounds we have stayed at! Bathroom,showers and pool were clean and looked like brand new. The owners take a lot of pride in the place. Close to Holland. Very friendly and helpful.
Ranger
Nice and cozy little campground in the middle of beautiful rolling farmlands. First time passing through and found it conveniently located within 40 mins of Holland and Saugatuck without needing to get on the highway. The woman at check in was extremely courteous and helpful. We stayed 2 nights over the weekend. Most people here are seasonal, occupying almost all the lakefront sites. We may have seen one lakefront available for renters. Everyone was polite, friendly and quiet after quiet hours. The sites are very small, not much privacy, but well kept. There are more spacious sites available on the upper grassy loop. Well kept grounds throughout with beautiful flowers. The bathrooms were wonderful with great hot water and water pressure. Pretty lake with swimming beach and playground lovely for day use. We would stay again. We stayed with 34’ camper inner lakefront. I did share a picture of waterfront sites, the one vacant spot is the only site available to rent right now. The rest are seasonal.
Traveler
Stayed here to get off the road on the cheap after a long drive. It was Friday but it was quiet nothing out of the ordinary. The girls at the registration helped me find a quiet spot.
Traveler
Spaces were too tight , even with a small camper. Work People were parked half in the road , leaving us with no way to pull in or out of campsite
Traveler
Been coming here since I was little, took a 25 year hiatus from camping. Went back there recently and loved it just like when I was a kid!
Traveler
We stayed at the wooded campground near where u check in, it was busy, and every loud motorcycle going down the road right next to us, was pouring on the exhaust all night long. No alcohol campground also, so everyone had nice tumblers walking around
ScoutThe staff checking us in was amazing, but that’s where it stops. Lots of highway noise. Tiny spots. And worst of all the owner is terrible, argumentative, rude and disrespectful. We were traveling with a group, my husband was moving grills and wood from our site to theirs(we were not as close to our group as we thought) and was parked literally for less than 10 mins to the side of the road…the owners site was right across- he came out without a hello or welcome but right away jumped in“You can’t park there” as we were very clearly unloading… from that point it went downhill- never told us who he was; asked if we wanted to be kicked out and quite frankly was a straight up jerk. It wasn’t until later that night that other campers told us who he was and that’s normal behavior. If that is how the owner treats his customers you can rest assured we will never be back.
Scout
Very small campground with a quiet time at 10:00 am. The host and staff were beyond helpful and friendly. Only complaint - bathrooms were a good hike away from the tent/RV spots
Scout
Enjoyed our stay!
Outdoor kitchen with running water and flush toilet were unexpected amenities.
Not to mention the chickens keeping us company!
Will definitely stay there again when we’re in the area!
TravelerI’ve read lots of reviews that were lukewarm about Newaygo, but we enjoyed our 3 day getaway. Ample activities in the area (hiking, disc golf, biking, swimming, kayaking, fishing, tubing and stargazing). And shopping and nice brewery in Newaygo. Most sites are large and separated from the next. The noise levels really dropped off in the evening. Will be back!!
Traveler
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.
LegendFamily campground with beautiful Lake MI beach. Sites very close together with no privacy. Bathhouse clean;showers hot. Site 80 is listed as full shade but does get morning sun.
Guide
Visited here some years back. It was a great place for us with the family. The lake was wonderful. Meeting up with some friends was easy here. They have a nice park area to go with the lake and campground.
Traveler
We just got done with a 3 night stay at Sleepy Hallow. The campsite itself was great, nice a roomy while also being wooded. The bugs were pretty intense, but bug spray helped. They are working on the natural gas pipeline nearby, so there was lots of construction noise. Verizon service was basically non existent other than at the beach. The dog beach was small and full of algae.
Scout
We initially booked a site by the river, but once we saw the sites next to the playground, we knew we had to switch for our sanity and so our toddler could play. They were very accommodating with us and so friendly. There was so much for our 2 year old and 10 year old to do. We will definitely be back!
Guide
Certainly! Here’s an enhanced review for the Allendale KOA:
I recently stayed at the Allendale KOA and had an exceptional experience. The campground is spacious, with large sites that provided plenty of room for our setup. The clean restrooms and full-service showers were a highlight, offering a comfortable and convenient experience after a long day of outdoor activities.
The staff at Allendale KOA were incredibly friendly and welcoming, ensuring that we felt right at home from the moment we arrived. The well-stocked camp store was a great convenience, providing everything we needed without having to leave the campground. We were particularly impressed by the massive bundles of wood available for just six bucks, making our evening campfires both affordable and enjoyable.
Families will especially appreciate the large field and play area, which offered ample space for our kids to run around and enjoy themselves. It was wonderful to have such a safe and enjoyable environment for them to play in.
Overall, our stay at the Allendale KOA was fantastic. The combination of excellent facilities, friendly staff, and family-friendly amenities made it a perfect choice for our trip. We will definitely be returning and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great camping experience!
Guide
First let me say the rustic area is walk-in only. I was unaware of this until we arrived. Luckily our site was in the front and not a terrible walk. 3 sites in the middle, grouped together, would be nice for a group to book together. Rustic side is right next to the boat ramp. Inside of the state park is a nice beach for swimming, with concessions. A lot of fishing spots, even if you are bank fishing. Check in window is in the back of the park. Wood and ice available.
Guide
Bertha Brock is a great place for families. Brining our kids here from Grand Rapids is quick and easy. It is generally quiet, especially on non holiday weekends. Occasionally there is chopped firewood up front, you get a goof amount for your money. Relatively close to town if you need to purchase food or other gear. Bugs (mosquitoes) can get pretty bad, bring lots of bug spray! Near ionia state park with a nice beach for swimming or boating (no wake). Campground manager is very nice and helpful if needed.
GuideNot a bad place. Pretty quiet, other than the usual occasional idiot. Decent sites. ADA sites concrete, regular sites grass, sandy, or a combo of both. Pretty average spacing for a state park, except when a doofus parks sideways in a back-in site. (Wish the MI DNR would put a stop to that ). Typical MI state park sites, electric, fire ring and a picnic table. Most sites shaded, completely to some. Will return.
Any grocery shopping you'd want is within 2 to 5 miles. (Aldi, Meijer, Kroger) Fast food too, if you need it.
Verizon and T-Mobile service sucks here. No park wifi.
TravelerSearching for a 1 night space on the michigan lake we had to look more around and find this wonderful campground. Just 10 minutes away to downtown Holland and only 20 minutes away of the beach. Very clean and nice restrooms and showers.
Traveler
I really enjoyed my stay at croton campground. A friend and I stayed from Friday to Sunday. It was my first time camping in over 10 years and it did rain pretty much the entire time Saturday but I plan on going again soon.
TravelerWe just got back from Ionia State Campground, and we had the most lovely time! First of all, I did some research ahead of time to find a more private camping spot, and ours did not disappoint. After looking around the campground, there were numerous spots that were very secluded and private. There were beautiful walking trails all around, and the lake was very pretty.
I had read other reviews saying that the bathrooms were terrible. I did not find them to be all that bad. They were certainly dated, but I found the bathrooms and showers to be kept as clean as they could be. I have also read that the bathrooms will be completely replaced at the end of this year.
The one downside I did find was the beach. I thought that the infrastructure at the beach needed work, particularly the rinse off station and the benches. We only went over to the beach for ice cream, so this didn't bother me personally.
We loved it and plan to come back!
ScoutThe place is very good. But the entertainment is fulfil when you play your favourite game. My favourite is Super 9 Game which I played in this game. The game is very unique and full of enjoy. Download it enjoy yourself. The game will refresh you. So, Try it now.
Legend
We were camping at Holland State Park, which isn't that far away & decided to take a morning to see the pier & lighthouses at Grand Haven. Unfortunately, we picked the Saturday they were having the Kite Fest on the beach so the parking was CRAZY!
I asked the guy at the gate how to get to the pier & he said "cut through the campground". I'm pretty sure there's a city park outside the state park, but like I said- crazy weekend parking.
My thoughts on Grand Haven State Park is the sites are VERY tight. I thought Holland was bad, but Grand Haven is much worse.
The pro- You can get a site right on the beach. Imagine sitting & watching the sunset every night from the comfort of your site! You get a nice view of the lighthouses.
The cons- Very Tight Sites! This is also a very small state park, so it's parking lot/beach/campground & that's about it. There's only 1 bathhouse. You have to bring your own portable fire pit. No hiking trail, unless you count the walk to the pier.
Camping near Alto, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful nature and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to relax or a place to enjoy outdoor adventures, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Alto, Michigan, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for family fun or a peaceful retreat. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Alto, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Alto, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 128 campgrounds and RV parks near Alto, MI and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Alto, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Alto, MI is Deep Lake Rustic Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area - TEMPORARILY CLOSED IN 2024 with a 4.1-star rating from 25 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Alto, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Alto, MI.
What parks are near Alto, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Alto, MI that allow camping, notably Huron-Manistee National Forests and Indiana Dunes National Park.
