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Best Tent Camping near Bridgman, MI

654 Reviews

Tent campers in the Bridgman, Michigan area can choose from several established campgrounds within a short drive of Lake Michigan's eastern shore. Sweet Cherry Resort offers walk-in tent sites with fire rings and picnic tables in a quiet setting, while Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday provides more developed tent camping options with modern amenities. Sunflower Farm Camping, located north of Bridgman, features just four primitive tent sites for those seeking a more intimate camping experience.

Many tent sites in the region feature sandy soil typical of Michigan's western shoreline, making for good drainage but sometimes challenging tent staking. Most established campgrounds provide access to toilet facilities, though amenities vary significantly between locations. The Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday maintains clean restrooms and showers suitable for tent campers, while more primitive options like Sunflower Farm offer basic toilets without shower facilities. Campside Michigan provides walk-in tent access with picnic tables and fire rings but lacks drinking water hookups, requiring campers to bring their own supplies.

Tent camping in this region offers good proximity to Lake Michigan beaches and recreational opportunities. Sites at Sweet Cherry Resort place tent campers just minutes from public beaches with swimming access, while still providing the basic amenities needed for a comfortable outdoor experience. The area's campgrounds tend to be busier during summer weekends, especially at the more developed KOA locations that feature activities for families. A review from The Dyrt noted, "Tent sites are all in one cleared area that is a short walk from the parking spots... Best part is that it's a 3 minute drive to a public beach with great swimming and a beautiful sunset." For more seclusion, tent campers might prefer the smaller Sunflower Farm or Campside Michigan locations where fewer campsites mean less crowding.

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Best Tent Sites Near Bridgman, Michigan (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Bridgman, MI

15 Photos of 10 Bridgman Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Bridgman, MI

654 Reviews of 10 Bridgman Campgrounds

  • H
    May. 26, 2022

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Great stay, come ready

    We stayed two nights in mid-May, at site number 72. Area was gorgeous, well maintained, shady and quiet. Tons of hiking trails in very close proximity to the campground! There is electricity on site, but no water or sewage at each site. However there is a water fill station and a dump station. So just come prepared. Also, they have a very strict no alcohol policy. Not that that stopped people, but don't go walking around with a beer bottle! We would definitely return.

  • Elizabeth G.
    Oct. 5, 2021

    Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

    Pleasant and quiet

    Stayed in site 43 of the Douglas loop. Douglas loop is all non electric.

    Our site was big enough for our tents, a picnic table and fire ring. The bathrooms/showers are really close by which is nice but you do get the lights from the bathroom facing site 43. Not a big deal but if you’re looking for more darkness then definitely choose one of the other sites around 43.

    All parking sites are paved for camper vans/trailers but no water or power hookups. All sites have nice huge tent pads that are nice and level. Only noise we heard was the train every now and then.

    The showers are individual rooms separate from the bathrooms. And there’s a gas station and liquor store near the entrance of the campground for fire wood and beer.

    I didn’t get to stay in the walk in campsites but they are very nice and close-ish to the showers.

  • T
    Apr. 15, 2021

    Ely Lake Campground

    Keyword: RUSTIC

    This is our "home base" campground. It's familiar. We've been coming here for decades. Comfortable, and quiet(for the most part).

    Caveat: no electric, no running water, no sewer/septic, no dump, no fill... Can run your generator(inverter type is best). Solar is a negative due to tree cover.

    Vault toilets only, and pitcher pumps for water. There is a dumpster available in the busier parts of the season but this campground is open year round.

    No playground. Just the beach and the trails.

    Sites range from small tent sites to fairly large, but the "roads" inside the campground are tight so think twice before bringing the longer 5th wheels.

    In short, if you want a quiet getaway from your usual then this is a great place to go. If you're expecting a pool, arcade, and dining hall... Look elsewhere.

  • Olivia S.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp Resort-South Haven, MI

    This is my top pick for South Haven

    Although this campground has great amenities, a pool, clean showers, and good sites/cabins, it is hard to book. If you know you are going to come to this area and camp, you need to book it a while in advance. I have used a pop-up and there was good space between campers. When I tent camped, we had a great spot near the cafe, the showers are amazing over there, they are more secluded. Our tent spot had electric, water, picnic table and fire ring. We camped on the grass and there is gravel to park your car. This campground is a perfect place to stay when visiting surrounding towns and going to the beach.

    Don’t forget to go to Sherman’s!!

    There was a forecast or rain, don’t mind the tarp

  • Chris M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2020

    Indiana Dunes State Park Campground

    Clean & Spacious

    We pulled in around 4:30 in the evening. The sight was spacious with plenty of room in between sites. Since the weather was cooler , it was pretty sparse with other campers. We stayed 2 nights over the weekend. You are within walking distance to the beach within the park. The buildings have great architecture. The sight had 50 amp electric hook ups but no water or sewer connections, and we knew that going in. We had a back in sight #69. There was plenty of space on all sides. We have a 37’ motorhome and pulled a Jeep behind it. There was plenty of room to maneuver around. The sight also had a wood picnic table and fire ring for a wood fire pit. We will definitely be back! I wish I had taken more photos from the beach and beach pavilion.

  • B
    Jun. 11, 2023

    Covert Park Beach & Campground

    Great Lakeside Camp

    Great campground. Better cared for than a State Park and better accommodations, too. Newish shower house with 6 uni-sex showers (all with their own locking doors). Water mechanisms on several made hot water a little tricky… test before you undress haha. If 5+ showers are in use, don't count on much hot water.

    Very friendly operators and employees. Genuinely interested in how you're doing. Above average camp store and they even deliver your firewood order to your site for you ($7 for a 15"x15"ish bundle).

    Beach access is easy and the beach is nice. On the cooler week we were there, would only see one or two other people out if any, but when school gets out mid-June, sounds like it gets busier. Our Monday-Friday stay saw us as the only tent campers which was great. Our kids enjoyed the playground and we made use of the grills by the picnic shelter a few times.

    All tent sites (except for T12) are walk in (but most are only 100-300 feet).

    Tent Sites 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 as well as the group site are on their own away from the main loops. They are served by a flush toilet with running (cold) water. Or you can make the slightly longer walk to the shower house.

    Tent 1 is 100 foot walk, small site, easily visible from T-2 and 3 as well as the group site.

    Tent 2 is medium sized, across from T-3 and visible from T-1 and T-3. 

    Tent 3 is large. Slightly overlooks the group site and can see T-1 and T-2.

    Tent 4 is large, but almost totally isolated. It's surrounded by hills (although T-5 is on one of those hills so could overlook it. Long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 5 overlooks 4 a little and is a medium sized site. Also long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 6 is elevated above everything so overlooks T-5, T-7 and the RV loop. It's a huge site with nothing but nature around and above you. Long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 7 shortest walk to car parking, but surrounded by other sites. Access to other sites runs through site as well.

    Tent 8 and 9 are basically one large site with two tables and fire rings. Requires a walk up several flights of stairs, but puts you on top of a bluff that, without trees, would give you a view of the lake. They charge a premium for these sites.

    Tent 11 is probably the longest walk… you walk past T-1,2,3, then up 70 steps to the top of a ridge. You cannot see or be seen and the picnic table is covered with a shelter. Not a ton of space, but a great site for a lite packer.

    Tent 12 is a drive in site right next to the bathroom and the main drive into the campground.

    We were pleasantly surprised and, outside of a cold shower or two, never disappointed in our stay.

  • Gay G.
    Aug. 19, 2021

    Thousand Trails Bear Cave

    Great Campground

    This is a nice, family friendly campground. Lots of very friendly other campers, a heated pool, playground for the kids, nice size lots with fire pits, picnic tables, electric& water (including at tent sites). Pool has an ADA lift chair. 2 shower/bath houses, camp store, a real bear cave you can tour in (free), a creek that meanders through it. The resort sits on the St. Joseph river & this park has a boat ramp & dock for fishing. There is a gate that campers need a code to get into so it keeps out unwanted’s. Nice staff. Yolanda is a great manager. Security, a ‘honey wagon’. Laundry center. Quiet hours are 10p-8a. It’s near Buchanan Michigan and the RED BUD Motor Cross track. Very friendly people, always stopping and talking.

  • Brian O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2020

    Shamrock Park

    Great for fishing

    We wanted to stay at Warren Dunes State Park, but I think this discovery was a better choice. A clean and friendly municipal campground on the St. Joseph River. The grounds are mostly open with little shade, but we had a tent site by the river and trees. What impressed me most was that they have a building specifically for cleaning fish, with scales, cutting boards and sinks. Another nice feature is the outdoor sink at the shower & restroom building for campers to wash dishes. As tent campers I wish more places had a set up like that. There’s a large stack of firewood, so it’s easy to get a bundle that’s good and dry. We did go to Warren Dunes for an afternoon. It’s busy and crowded. If you go to the beach, be aware there’s very little shade. North of there is Grand Mere State Park, which is better for hiking. In Berrien Springs, check out Zick’s specialty meats across the river from the camp.

  • Amy M.
    May. 14, 2017

    Warren Dunes State Park Campground

    TICKS

    We stayed in the semi modern sites, which was tents and no RVs nearby, which was good. That was about it. The Interstate was directly behind the sites, so the highway traffic noise took away from the feeling you want when camping, that off the grid feeling.

    The site was clean, picnic table and fire ring. There was a water spigot close by too. We did some short hiking to sand dunes which was really cool. Nice paths lead to beautiful sunset over dunes.

    Upon returning from the hike, we set up camp. That's when we found the ticks. We found probably 10 on our dog, several on us. The couple next to our site was struggling with ticks also, and they hadn't hiked, so makes me think they were from the campground. (We stayed ON the trail carefully while hiking). We've camped a lot and never dealt with this many ticks.

    We actually ended up bailing due to how many were on us all. Spent the next 24 hours picking them off everyone in our family at home. Not good. We know it's a fact of life, but this place was infested. Bummer of a trip.

Guide to Bridgman

Tent campsites near Bridgman, Michigan generally occupy sandy soil with good drainage due to the proximity to Lake Michigan. The region experiences warm summers with average highs around 80°F in July and August, making it ideal for camping from late spring through early fall. Primitive camping options in the area typically require campers to pack in their own water, while established campgrounds provide varying levels of amenities based on their development level.

What to do

Swimming at Lake Michigan beaches: Located just 3 minutes from Sweet Cherry Resort, several public beaches offer swimming access with beautiful sunsets. As one camper noted, "Best part is that it's a 3 minute drive to a public beach with great swimming and a beautiful sunset."

Blueberry picking: Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday features on-site blueberry fields. "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.

Biking the Kal-Haven Trail: Accessible from South Haven, about 14 miles from Covert/South Haven KOA. "We rode 47 miles round trip from Bloomingdale to Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo," shares a camper who used this trail system.

Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer fishing ponds or lake access. At Covert/South Haven KOA, "On site fishing ponds are catch and release with lots of active fish to enjoy."

What campers like

Clean, modern facilities: Primitive tent sites near Bridgman maintain varying levels of bathroom access. Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday receives consistent praise: "The showers were very clean & had good pressure & hot water."

Family-friendly activities: Campgrounds in the area offer organized events for children. "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," mentions a Coloma/St. Joseph KOA visitor.

Privacy options: Some tent sites provide more seclusion than others. The Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Park offer good separation: "The spot was clean. It's far enough off the trail that it provides plenty of privacy."

Proximity to Lake Michigan: Most campgrounds advertise their distance to beaches as a key benefit. One Shady Point camper noted, "It sits on Bair Lake and was great for swimming."

What you should know

Site access variations: Many tent sites require a short walk from parking areas. At Sweet Cherry Resort, "Tent sites are all in one cleared area that is a short walk from the parking spots."

Seasonal differences: Most campgrounds operate from May through October, with peak season in July and August. Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday specifically runs "May 1 to October 12."

Weather considerations: The sandy soil can become muddy during rainy periods. A visitor to Shady Point Campground mentioned, "This is a campground that is mostly seasonal campers. It had playgrounds and basketball court and a small 'game' room."

Reservation needs: Many smaller tent camping areas fill quickly during summer weekends. "Family spent 4 nights here and the staff was extremely accommodating," reported a Shady Point visitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Bridgman, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Bridgman, MI is Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday with a 4.4-star rating from 14 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Bridgman, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Bridgman, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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