Tent camping opportunities near Berrien Center, Michigan provide access to southwestern Michigan's inland lakes and proximity to Lake Michigan beaches. Most campgrounds in this area offer seasonal operations from early May through mid-October due to Michigan's cold winters. The sandy soil typical of this region creates well-draining campsites, though heavy rains can cause temporary muddy conditions at some locations.
What to do
Beach access: Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday is located approximately 15 minutes from South Haven's public beaches along Lake Michigan. According to Hannah S., "Clean facilities and only a 20 min drive from South Haven's beautiful beaches!"
Blueberry picking: Several campgrounds incorporate working berry farms into their properties. At Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday, campers can harvest their own fruit during season. Cindy B. notes, "This KOA has blueberry fields everywhere on the property. For a period of time in summer and early fall, you can pick your own blueberries in the morning to have in your breakfast pancakes!"
Cycling opportunities: The Kal-Haven bike trail connects South Haven to Kalamazoo, offering day-trip opportunities for tent campers. "We rode 47 miles round trip from Bloomingdale to Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo," reports one Covert KOA visitor.
Lake swimming: Many inland lakes supplement Lake Michigan beach options. Nicole P. from Shady Point Campground shares, "It sits on Bair Lake and was great for swimming. The bathroom and showers were well maintained."
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Tent campers consistently mention clean bathrooms and showers as significant factors in their satisfaction. Ryan M. from Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday simply states, "Well kept and very pretty."
Family activities: Scheduled events and amenities for children receive frequent positive mentions. Kerry T. notes about Covert KOA, "Well kept and lots of amenities. On site fishing ponds are catch and release with lots of active fish to enjoy."
Proximity to regional attractions: The strategic location between Chicago and Michigan population centers makes these campgrounds convenient meeting spots. Lisa P. explains, "We camp here every year with our family since it is perfectly halfway between us, in Michigan, and my family in Chicago."
Separate tent camping areas: At Sweet Cherry Resort, tent sites are grouped together away from RVs. Alyssa reports, "Tent sites are all in one cleared area that is a short walk from the parking spots."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most tent camping near Berrien Center operates May through October. American Campground's season runs "May 1 to October 31," making advance planning essential for early or late season visits.
Weather variability: Michigan's western shore experiences rapid weather shifts due to Lake Michigan influence. Don W. at Central Avenue Walk-in Sites suggests, "The spot was clean. It's far enough off the trail that it provides plenty of privacy."
Site layout knowledge: Understanding campground layouts helps select optimal tent sites. At Central Avenue Walk-in Sites, "Site one is the only site on the front end of the trail. You have to walk all the way down and take a left before you find sites 5, 4, 3, and 2 in that order."
Water management: Spring and summer storms can create drainage issues. Kim L. reports at Coloma/St. Joseph KOA, "Our site was horrid- a full hook up with a fire pit in the mud pond. We had mosquito soup for the rear of our very small campsite."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Most KOA locations offer structured children's events during peak season. At Coloma/St. Joseph KOA, Cassie B. shares, "Lots of fun activities on the weekends for the kids and FREE! They have movie nights, we met Disney characters, did crafts, and enjoyed the barrel train & ice cream sundaes."
Campground size considerations: Smaller facilities may offer better security for families with young children. "It was small enough for our kids to ride bikes around alone and they frequented the park, which we could see from our site," notes Jennifer W.
Swimming options: Verify pool amenities if traveling with non-swimmers. One parent cautions about Coloma KOA, "No steps to walk in so it was very hard for our 2 smallest kids to use it. Not a problem for older kids who can swim, but disappointing for smaller kids."
Cabin alternatives: For families new to camping or during inclement weather, cabin rentals provide a compromise. Sarah P. from Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday explains, "We stayed in the deluxe cabin for one night and loved it! The cabin was so cute and well kept. It came with a fridge, stove, and bathroom."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RVers with large units should verify site dimensions before booking. Lori S. notes about Coloma/St. Joseph KOA, "Small sites, lots of people. Camp hosts were fantastic as were camp store employees. Nice store and pizza shop. Just too crowded for our tastes."
Seasonal camper prevalence: Some campgrounds primarily serve seasonal residents. Nicole P. observed at Shady Point, "This is a campground that is mostly seasonal campers," while Noel L. at Lakeside Campground found "Campground is all seasonal campers now. Owners were super nice and found room for us for one night layover."
Accessibility considerations: Campgrounds with level sites and compact layouts accommodate visitors with mobility concerns. "My husband went with a broken leg and got around there just fine thanks to it being such a small park," shares one Coloma KOA camper.
