Camping near Deerfield, Michigan offers moderate humidity from spring through fall with daytime temperatures reaching into the 80s during summer months. Several campgrounds provide pond and lake access for fishing and swimming, though water features are generally small to mid-sized rather than expansive waterways. Most campsites in the region are within 30 miles of Deerfield, accessible via local roads that can be narrow in some areas.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Hudson Recreation Area offers multiple fishing spots with various inlets and curvy shorelines. "The lake itself is incredibly quiet without the buzz of people tubing or jet skiing," notes Meghan R., who observed campers with "private lake front where they had moored their fishing boats for easy access."
Swimming in man-made ponds: Wilderness Campground features a dedicated swimming area separate from fishing zones. According to Daniel, it's a "nice little campground for a little getaway, great place for camping with kids, plenty to do from swim, fish, bike the whole park, play at the park, watch movies at night in the community pavilion."
Stargazing at night: Lake Hudson Recreation Area has a Dark Sky Park designation that prohibits excessive lighting. Betsy B. confirms: "The park is in the middle of nowhere and truly is a dark sky area," while Birgit H. recommends "Loved our side which was sunny from morning to evening. There are other sides directly at the lake, beautiful shaded for the summer."
What campers like
Electric-only sites: Many campers appreciate the rustic yet convenient nature of the electric-only sites. Jennie S. at Lake Hudson notes, "You will need the long cord if you plan on using electricity," and "My site has a path right out to the lake. My 2p tent could easily fit on this lakeside spot but it is sadly much too windy on the lake today."
Seasonal activities: Monroe-Toledo North KOA receives high marks for its Halloween events. Mary W. reports, "Friends and family for a Halloween themed event weekend resulted in lots of fun and good times. The kids stayed busy and made new friends while the adults hung out and had a good time! The staff did a good job running events."
Boating access: Wilderness Campground provides lake access that campers value. "We love camping here every year. They have a beautiful beach and camp sites right on the water. The campground is also close to a lot of restaurants and shopping," says Kaitlyn, highlighting the convenience factor.
What you should know
Bathroom facilities vary greatly: Some campgrounds have basic facilities while others offer more modern amenities. At Monroe-Toledo North KOA, Andrew P. cautions, "The restrooms were in really bad shape. They weren't clean and needed updates and repairs. My shower head was missing and water was just spraying out of the wall."
Site size and privacy: Sterling State Park Campground offers larger spaces. Matthew F. notes, "Quiet with large level sites. Everything from back ins with only electrical to pull throughs with full hook-ups." This contrasts with more crowded options elsewhere.
Seasonal insect concerns: May flies can be an issue at certain times. Kourtney D. reports about Sterling State Park: "First two nights were perfect but then the may flies hatched (in mid june) and covered everything."
Tips for camping with families
Look for organized activities: Harbortown RV Resort provides family-focused programming. Bill B. describes it as having "Basketball court, sand volleyball, playground, dog run, batting cages and go karts within walking distance."
Consider sites with play amenities: Indian Creek Camp offers "a jumping pillow" that Angela H. says "was popular as they spent most of their time there. We enjoyed visiting the llamas...Yes, they have llamas! And we even got to use the zip line which was a lot of fun that we could all do together."
Choose camps with swimming options: River Raisin Canoe Livery & Campground provides water activities though not swimming. Beth G. notes it's a "Beautiful site but campground had limited activities outside of boating. No swimming not ideal For kids.. but good for our quick few nights."
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Harbortown RV Resort receives positive feedback for its comprehensive hookups. Len B. calls it "The best, cleanest, well maintained, under control campground we've ever been to."
Road quality concerns: Some campgrounds have better internal roads than others. Ron M. notes that Camp Sequoia can be "hard to find" but offers "Super amenities with huge pool and large field with dog park, baseball field, bags, basketball and sand volleyball."
Site preparation: At Sterling State Park, Debra B. mentions, "Not a lot of shade on the sites!" which can be important during summer months. Another camper, Edward C., adds, "There are full hookups as well as power only sites... Finally, I've never been to this park when it wasn't very windy."
