Camping near Bridgman, Michigan offers proximity to Lake Michigan's eastern shoreline with sandy beaches and dunes rising up to 240 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with cooler evenings around 55-65°F. The camping season generally runs from April through October with most campgrounds closing during winter months due to snow accumulation and freezing temperatures.
What to do
Beach activities at Warren Dunes State Park Campground: Located in Sawyer, this park features massive sand dunes and 3 miles of shoreline. "You can hike or about a 5 to 10 minute drive to the beach. Huge, beautiful dunes on the beach," notes a visitor at Warren Dunes State Park Campground. Another camper adds, "Mt. Randall is the high dune to climb but not for the faint of heart!!! And beware, the sand does get HOT midday."
Fishing opportunities: Thousand Trails Bear Cave in Buchanan sits along the St. Joseph River with fishing access. "Nice river fishing, nice stream scenery, big rec center," says one camper. Another mentions that Thousand Trails Bear Cave "has a boat launch and a few docks that can be used" for those wanting to fish the river.
Blueberry picking: Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday offers a unique agricultural experience. "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!" reports one visitor at Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday.
What campers like
Private lake access: Some RV sites near Bridgman, Michigan feature private water access. Lakeside RV Resort in New Carlisle offers "a private lake which is surrounded by farmland. Lots of primitive sites right next to the lake. Fire rings with no grate," according to a recent visitor.
Clean facilities: Maple Ridge Campground receives high marks for maintenance. "The shower and bathroom was the best I ever saw at a campground," notes one camper. Another adds that Maple Ridge Campground has a "newly remodled bathhouse with laundry and also a heated pool."
Beach proximity: Weko Beach Campground provides direct beach access. "We lucked into a night at this gorgeous campground. Yes, the spots are small and yes there's lots of seasonal campers, but everyone is super friendly and you can't get closer to this gorgeous beach," writes one visitor. Another camper at Weko Beach Campground notes, "You can't get closer to the beach than at these beach access campsites. Nightly sunsets here will knock your sandals off."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Some campgrounds have connectivity challenges. At Thousand Trails Bear Cave, a camper notes it's "very nice off the grid camping with no cell service but if you want wifi then its 5.95 per day or if your here for a week + then 34.95 for the month up to 4 devices is your best bet."
Alcohol restrictions: Several campgrounds enforce alcohol bans. Warren Dunes State Park prohibits alcohol entirely. A visitor warns, "One setback was that you can't bring alcohol into the park. I wasn't planning on getting tanked or anything, but it would've been nice to drink a beer around the fire. And if you think the rangers don't enforce that rule, you're wrong."
Environmental noise: Some campgrounds experience noise despite natural settings. At Warren Dunes, a camper reported, "The proximity to the highway is deceiving. It feels like you are off the beaten path, but looking at a map, you see how close you are to the interstate. That makes for a lot of noise, all night long." Similarly, at Elkhart RV Resort, a visitor noted, "There is an active railroad nearby this campground. 4 Trains woke us up during the night."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer organized events for children. "This is an excellent family run campground. The bath house is newly remodeled and very clean, nice in ground pool area & the camp store has plenty of treats for the kids. The owners are very nice & plan activities every weekend for the kids," notes a visitor at Maple Ridge Campground.
Playground access: For families with younger children, Thousand Trails Bear Cave offers outdoor play spaces. A camper mentions the campground has "a playground, pool and little walking trail near the waterfall. Close to nearby Lake Michigan and beaches."
Recreation centers: The Elkhart RV Resort offers indoor entertainment options. "Really enjoyed our visit here. Camp ground is clean, nice little nature trail, and the camp store is cute with a bunch of different classic style sodas. Also have a small off leash dog run, and free pong pong, air hockey, foose ball, and all the classic camping games to check out," reports a recent visitor.
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: RV campsites near Bridgman, Michigan often require leveling equipment. At Weko Beach Campground, a visitor notes: "The only challenge is that most of the camp spots are not level so bring your levelers! Other than that there's lots of shade trees."
Hookup limitations: Some campgrounds have limited full-hookup availability. At Thousand Trails Bear Cave, "Most of the full hookups are taken 1st by the annuals. Sucks really but they do have an onsite honeypot which will suck out your tanks for $10 each time around."
Site selection strategy: At the Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday, RVers find a range of site options. "Good spots for RV/pull behind/tents. Clean facilities and only a 20 min drive from South Haven's beautiful beaches!" A different camper warns about soil conditions, noting some campgrounds are "not paved since it is in and amongst the dunes. Therefor, the soil is sandy and often soft. We got our airstream stuck using our 2 wheel drive truck and needed the help of a 4x4 to get us out."