Best RV Parks & Resorts near Dowagiac, MI

Several RV parks are located within 30 miles of Dowagiac, Michigan, offering a mix of amenities and environments. Thousand Trails Bear Cave in Buchanan features electric and water hookups, with full hookup sites primarily occupied by seasonal campers. The campground operates from May 1 to October 31 and provides gravel pads with picnic tables. Hidden Ridge RV Resort in Hopkins accommodates big rigs with full hookup rv sites including 50-amp electrical service, while Timber Trails RV Park in Decatur provides more basic rv sites with water and electric connections. Sites are equipped with fire rings and some concrete pads, though spacing can be tight in certain sections. "Bear Cave is a nice, family friendly campground with electric and water including at RV sites, but the only sewer hook-ups are all taken by seasonal campers," noted one visitor.

Fall camping in the Dowagiac area typically requires advance reservations, especially during peak foliage season. RV travelers should be prepared for variable cell service, with one camper reporting "Bear Cave has no cell service but you can buy 10 mbps WiFi for $8 a day with Verizon service at 1 bar at best." Most parks in the region maintain sanitary dump stations for those without full hookup rv sites, though Bear Cave charges $10-15 for tank pumping service. The camping season generally runs April through October, with most facilities closing for winter. Pet policies vary between properties, with some parks offering dedicated dog areas. Pull-through rv pads are limited at several parks, making advance research essential for longer motorhomes or those towing additional vehicles.

Best RV Sites Near Dowagiac, Michigan (93)

    1. Thousand Trails Bear Cave

    16 Reviews
    Buchanan, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "This is a nice, family friendly campground."

    "Easy registration, friendly staff. Older campground, areas could upgrades. Most campers seem to be long term. Campsite 42 has a great overlook on the river."

    2. Lakeside RV Resort

    1 Review
    New Carlisle, IN
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "This campground has a private lake which is surrounded by farmland. Lots of primitive sites right next to the lake. Fire rings with no grate."

    3. Twin Mills Camping Resort

    7 Reviews
    Howe, IN
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Twin Mills is a really beautiful and quiet RV Campground, with tall trees in Northern Indiana. We frequent this location when getting RV Repairs and visiting Elkhart, the birth place of most RVs."

    "really fun for families nice pool and bathrooms putt putt bring your bikes"

    4. Hidden Ridge RV Resort, A Sun RV Resort

    10 Reviews
    Wayland, MI
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 672-9196

    $50 - $70 / night

    "Hidden Ridge is a modern RV resort within 8 minutes of Gun Lake and sandwiched between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. There is no tent camping available at this location."

    "Spacing was generous between locations. We had a drive-in(forward) location(#10) overlooking the small lake. There was some interstate noise but it was more of a steady hum and not an issue at all."

    5. Timber Trails RV Park

    Be the first to review!
    Dowagiac, MI
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 423-7311

    6. Elkhart RV Resort

    6 Reviews
    Granger, IN
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (574) 800-2069

    $39 - $47 / night

    "We ordered pizza from the store, which was delivered to the site quickly. My grandson said it was very good. There was no gluten free as noted on the website, which we are used to happening."

    "This campground is close to home so we spent a couple days here so the kids could play while I worked. All staff was extremely helpful and friendly from the minute we pulled in."

    7. Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday

    17 Reviews
    Covert, MI
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 764-0818

    "Our site was spacious and we didn’t even have the patio sites. We had a pull through with full hook ups. KOA was nice and clean. Staff was super helpful. It had a great pool and splash area."

    "There are a lot of lodging options, tons of kids activities, both free and for a small fee, great pool, cafe and store! Lots of sports equipment to loan as well."

    8. Elkhart RV Resort by Rjourney

    11 Reviews
    Middlebury, IN
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (574) 347-6889

    "The restrooms/showers are nice and clean. You can get an entire 4 wheeler dump load of wood for $20. It’s nice dry wood."

    "Near Elkhart and the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum. Great place to visit, really interesting. Also, near Shipshewana."

    9. Yore Place RV Resort

    Be the first to review!
    Hartford, MI
    19 miles
    +1 (269) 427-7908

    10. Sunny Brook RV Resort

    2 Reviews
    South Haven, MI
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 499-5253

    $85 - $97 / night

    "Plenty to do - pool, Pickleball, playground, and bands. Nice neighborhood feel, safe, and well-maintained."

    "All concrete, gated, beach in a small lake, basketball court, fishing, pools, and lots of grass for the dogs. Laundry rooms and bathrooms spotless."

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RV Park Reviews near Dowagiac, MI

657 Reviews of 93 Dowagiac Campgrounds


  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2024

    Elkhart County Fairgrounds

    Area Convenient and Clean

    Elkhart County 4-h Fairgrounds: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 4 for access to the area, very clean facilities, and not too many campers thus time of year.
    Price 2024: $35 for water/electric only. Security: No Usage during visit: Very light Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: none Site Spacing: very close Pad surface: our area was grass Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet except for one day of motorcycle raises at the nearby track.
    Outside Road Noise: Not most sites Through Traffic in campground: Some for activities at the fairground Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: some sites Dump Station: yes Potable Water Available: At sites Bathroom: Very nice flush toilets Showers: yes Pull Throughs: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): Varied throughout campground Setting: open grass fields around very well manicured county fairground. Recent Weather: 70s and rain. Insects:None Host: I am not sure.
    Rig Size: Large Sites: full hookups and water/electric only

  • Jessica D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Covert Park Beach & Campground

    Small, lakeside, chill

    This was our first time staying at Covert Park Beach + Campground. We stayed in site 52 with our 21 ft travel trailer. The site is a good size. Tree placement made it a little tricky to back into, but nothing crazy. We stayed Sunday to Saturday, so we got to see it at its bustling weekend peak and the quiet, cozy weekday vibe. Family friendly, dog friendly and kid friendly. Dogs aren't allowed on the beach, but there's a beach a few minutes down the road (Hagar Beach) where you can bring leashed dogs. Sunset views were beautiful. Bathrooms were very clean and showers nice and hot. The two guys who were running the check-in and campground operations were super cool- they were the perfect mix of attentive and laid back. No sewer on campsites but there's a dump station when you enter/exit. Ice and firewood are abundantly available and can be delivered to your site. We loved our stay here. Tree cover is generous, and it really preserves the camping feel. Weekend crowd was fun, friendly and lots of locals. Would definitely stay again!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 14, 2025

    Shipshewana North Park Campground

    Nice campground in a convenient location

    We were passing through and decided to stop for frozen custard at the stand right next to the campground. The first review for this place did not seem very inviting but a more recent one was a little more positive. After checking it out, I thought it could use a little reinforcement of the positives! I’m not sure if there have been new owners since the first review but I received a very friendly greeting, and the office is open from 9 am– 8 pm and clearly marked as the place to check-in. 

    There are many options here: back-in or pull-thru tent sites, w/e sites, full hook-up sites, camper cabins, and fully equipped cabins. The campsites range from $32-$46 per night and the cabins range from $69-$144 per night. Sites 47-52 are close to the road so you will hear road noise, but Sites 11-35 are farther from the road and are more shaded. The layout is RV park style but there is reasonable separation between the sites. 

    The restrooms have a code for entry, and I did not see the inside of these.

    Amenities include:

    - a community fire pit

    -  game room with television

    - guest laundry 

    - dump station

    - gift shop

    - pet friendly options

     -WiFi

    - There is, of course, an ice cream/frozen custard stand that I dare you to resist. 

    While we would not consider it a destination, we would definitely consider camping here en route – the price is reasonable, and the staff is friendly and welcoming.

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2017

    Elkhart County Fairgrounds

    Typical Fairgrounds Camping Experience

    I have camped here a couple of times while visiting northern Indiana to have repairs done on my RV. Overall, I like this campground where for $30/night you can get a 50 amp full hook-up site or $23/night a 30 amp and water site. If you plan on staying longer weekly and monthly rates are really good. The campground sits in the middle of the county fairgrounds so there is usually something going on – either a fair, concert, horse event, or an RV rally. Depending on what time of year you are here and part of the week, the campground could be very crowded or very empty. The nice thing is the people in the office let you pick whatever site you want and don’t assign one to you. There are 275 full hook-up sites with 50 amp full hook-up and 30 amp water & electric only. There are no fires allowed and some sites don’t have picnic tables but you can request one and they will bring it to your site.

    There is very little shade and during my last visit the late September fall temperatures climbed to nearly 90 degrees and was brutal. This campground is better suited for RVs than tents but you are permitted to tent camp. Bathrooms and showers are scattered about and I was amazed at always how clean they (and the grounds as a whole) are. They do offer WiFi which worked pretty well in non-peak hours like early morning but was not reliable and sometimes frustrating. Since many sites have a clear view of the sky, you most likely will get satellite television reception and a dozen or so antenna channels.

    One of the things I like about this park is the vast expanse of grounds to wander about walking my dog. There is a trail system just outside of the park that allows you miles and miles of walking and biking trails. Downtown Goshen is less than two miles away and has some great restaurants (including Venturi Pizza, Maple Indian Cuisine – which has an awesome buffet, and Goshen Brewing Company). The Saturday farmers market is great with lots of produce, breads, meats, cheeses, and crafts.

    The last time I visited coincided with the Mennonite Relief Fund which was a big fund raiser for their charity that packed the grounds with stuff for sale, food, and activities. It was fun to be there during the event but it meant the campground and grounds were packed.

    Now for the bad about this campground. It is located right next to very busy train tracks that operate 24/7 and blow their horns quite often. They were really annoying in the middle of the night. Sites are close together so if it is crowded and you have a neighbor, you will be right on top of them. There is no shade which can be very miserable.

    Pros:

    · Price - $30/night for a 50 amp full hook-up site

    · Nearby downtown stores and restaurants

    · Sites are not assigned so you can pick where you want to camp

    · Grassy patios

    · Large grounds to meander around

    · Nearby biking/walking trail

    Cons:

    · Very noisy from nearby trains operated at all hours

    · Few trees for shade or privacy

    · Some sites are very tight and close to your neighbor

    · Can be very crowded

    · WiFi provided but not reliable

  • Laura H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 23, 2020

    Twin Mills Camping Resort

    Beautiful Wooded Campground

    Twin Mills is a really beautiful and quiet RV Campground, with tall trees in Northern Indiana. We frequent this location when getting RV Repairs and visiting Elkhart, the birth place of most RVs.

    There are cabins and tent sites and a large lake access point with a beach area. The playgrounds seemed to be in good shape and the dumpsters were centrally located.

    The park has a gate entrance for security.

    There is a large pool area and basketball court.

    There are several sections in the park, some more wooded and narrow sites, some are more spread out.

    Cellular: T-Mobile had good signal strength and bandwidth, AT&T was not as good but still doable.

    Most of the sites are full hook up, some have 30amp and some have 50amp.

    Amenities: Pool Clubhouse Basketball Volleyball Picnic tables Fire rings Trash Playground Lake access Beach area Dock Cabins Tent sites

  • M
    Sep. 17, 2021

    Shamrock Park

    Great stay

    Village owned and operated campground, right on the St. Joseph River. Open all year. Many long term campers. $35 gets you a level full hook up site with WiFi. Very clean and well maintained with friendly staff.

  • C
    Jun. 3, 2021

    Michigan City Campground

    Great campground, will return

    This is a beautifully kept campground just outside Michigan City, IN. It is gated so will need to call in once you arrive to enter. We stayed  in the premium sites which were 90ft pull thought with 50A service, water and sewer, and the best wifi I have seen at a campsite. The cement patio was large with a picnic table and an adjacent fire pit. There is swimming pool and a game room, and a small store with the essentials, and propane.

    You are close to Indiana Dunes and the downtown area of Michigan city. Good food, shops are close by. 

    By the way there are a number of cabins/mini homes to rent.

  • B
    Aug. 26, 2018

    Eden Springs Park Campground

    Pleasant, friendly, small town camp with large pull through spots

    Eden Springs Campground & RV Park in Benton Harbor, Michigan, run by camp manager Cindy, may well be one of our favorite small town parks! We are spending the month of August 2018 here and have found the venue quiet, well maintained, friendly and inexpensive ($375 for a month). I do not expect the prices to stay this low now that it has been “discovered”. They are working on adding an updated restroom, dog park and other facilities. The sites are large, level and spaced far apart from each other. We pulled in with a 42’ rig, pulling a 28’ hybrid trailer (total 70’) and easily pulled into our site without having to unhook. We had enough space to park a jeep in front of and and in back of the attached rig. The sites are designed so that no camper or RV faces a sewer connection. All of the hook ups are centrally located between two sites, with each rig having their driver side towards the hookups and their awning/entry sides facing the opposing side. Each site has a gravel space between them that could be traveled through, though campers all set up picnic tables, chairs and campfires there so practically there is no egress, thus privacy. This camp has the best WiFi of any camp we have ever stayed at. Some spots offer OTA TV and satellite reception. Ours did not as we chose to have a full tree canopy. Most of the sites offer Full Hookups with 30/50 amp service. The camp manager, Cindy, provides fire rings and picnic tables as requested, so, if you need either, just let her know when you call. The tables were clean and in good shape. The fire rings can be placed anywhere you want. As an aside, when a camper leaves, Cindy and her crew comes and removes the rings, cleaning up the residue so there is no mess left! The campground grass is cut routinely and “weed-whacked” as needed. Cindy has been one of the nicest hosts we have met on our travels. She is always pleasant, available as needed for emergencies and even delivered our mail one afternoon. She is a font of knowledge about the area and willing to share. Probably in keeping with her personality, the majority of the visitors here have been friendly, chatty and willing to help each other. The RV resort is about 10 minutes from St. Joseph, MI and multiple rural wineries in the area (a favorite pastime for my wife Audrey). St. Joseph’s is a small town located on Lake Michigan with excellent food, event venues and a lovely white sand beach. Be sure to stop at the Chocolate store in town & Silver Lake Pizza for a desert/dinner well worth the time. The town of Benton Harbor itself once was booming city/community, which has come into hard times, but we did not have any problems traveling around that area. This area also has a non-defunct amusement park attached to the campground which is being slowly renovated by a group of volunteers. They have restored several of the buildings, a fountain and a miniature train which takes visitors on a 1/4 mile ride on Saturday/Sunday. Additionally, the camp is home to it’s own 1800’s era baseball team which plays home and away games in the old bare handed style! Behind the camp is a now mostly abandoned religious enclave called the House of David which was started in the late 1800’s/ early 1900’s (Google it!). Some interesting architecture and several restored mansions for the 5 remaining members of the group. I recommend this park for someone wanting a quiet, clean stay.

  • D
    May. 16, 2019

    Ebys Pines

    Good little weekend getaway

    Lot sizes do vary, pull through lots are a good size. If you like tent camping this place has a great tent/pop up only section on the river. Excellent dog run. Pool is dated but it actually is open. I tend to use this place to open up my TT or to close it Down for the season.


Guide to Dowagiac

The Dowagiac area sits within southwest Michigan's glacial terrain, with several campgrounds situated along the St. Joseph River watershed at elevations averaging 750-800 feet. Camping options near Dowagiac range from rustic tent sites to full-service RV resorts, with most campgrounds operating from April through October due to the region's seasonal climate patterns. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, making summer and fall the prime camping seasons.

What to do

Cave exploration: Thousand Trails Bear Cave features a natural cave formation open for tours. "There is actually a cave in the campground that you can take a tour of while you are here. The campground is on the banks of the St. Joseph River in southwest Michigan. There is also a waterfall right next to the cave," notes one visitor.

Fishing opportunities: Multiple waterways provide fishing access near camping areas. "The resort sits on the St. Joseph river & this park has a boat ramp & dock for fishing," reports one camper about Thousand Trails Bear Cave.

Blueberry picking: Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday offers 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!" explains a visitor.

Lake activities: Several rv sites near Dowagiac, Michigan provide lake access. "There is a small beach and pool available with lots of places to walk, ride and explore. Shipshewana is a ten minute drive and has lots to offer including a huge flea market," shares a visitor about Twin Mills Camping Resort.

What campers like

Recreation facilities: Hidden Ridge RV Resort offers extensive amenities. "Some of the things they have to do are swimming pool, playground, basketball courts, fishing, kayaking, jump pad, and lots of paved roads for bike riding," notes a recent visitor.

Quiet atmosphere: Some RV parks near Dowagiac maintain peaceful settings. "This campground is quiet and the facilities were nice. We also enjoyed the pool. We would definitely stay again if ever in the area!" reports a camper at Elkhart RV Resort.

Amish country exploration: Elkhart RV Resort by Rjourney provides access to nearby Amish communities. "About 10 minutes drive to Shipshewana with very kind Amish community folks," notes one visitor, while another adds, "Great campground in the heart of Amish country."

Access to Lake Michigan: Several campgrounds provide proximity to Lake Michigan beaches. "The beaches of Lake Michigan are within 15 minutes or so. Be sure to visit the 'shoe tree'. We will definitely be back!!!" shares a visitor to Covert/South Haven KOA.

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have spotty connectivity. "No internet, pool needs repaired, no cell service. If you do not get a full hook up, you have to pay $15 to get pumped out," reports a camper at Thousand Trails Bear Cave.

Reservation requirements: Elkhart RV Resort accommodates last-minute travelers. "Our plans changed mid afternoon, they had a spot for us. Reservations were easy and they were extremely welcoming and helpful," notes a guest.

Train noise: Some campgrounds experience railway disruptions. "There is an active railroad nearby this campground. 4 Trains woke us up during the night," warns a visitor to Elkhart RV Resort.

Site spacing variations: RV parks have different site configurations. "All sites are good size sites with a cement pad and very green grass. It is also very well run and maintained," reports a visitor to Hidden Ridge RV Resort, while noting "One downside to this place is there is not much shade. Most of the bigger trees are around the perimeter so most sites are in the sun all day."

Tips for camping with families

Activity planning: Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday offers family-friendly programming. "We camp here every year with our family since it is perfectly halfway between us, in Michigan, and my family in Chicago. The kids love the activities and the pool and my family who are not necessarily 'outdoorsy' love that they can sleep in an air conditioned cabin with cable!"

Transportation options: Golf carts enhance mobility at larger campgrounds. "Because of the size of this campground most people get around by golf cart. We rented a golf cart from them, which our kids had a blast just going for rides around the campground," shares a visitor to Hidden Ridge RV Resort.

Age-appropriate amenities: Various campgrounds offer kid-specific facilities. "Kid friendly! This park always finds away to having something fun for the kids to do. Pool, splash pad, arcade, bounce pad, playground, outdoor sports area, hayrides, crafts, store, pond for fishing, golf cart rental," notes a seasonal camper at Hidden Ridge.

Themed weekends: Some RV parks near Dowagiac coordinate special events. "They have themed weekends filled with activities for both adults and children and have a pool, pizza and ice cream, jumping pillow, clubhouse, fishing, playground, dog park, and so much more!" explains a visitor to Hidden Ridge RV Resort.

Tips from RVers

Full hookup availability: Limited sewer connections at some campgrounds require planning. "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)," reports a visitor about Thousand Trails Bear Cave.

Pull-through sites: Sunny Brook RV Resort offers easy access for larger rigs. "The is a great place to stay. All concrete, gated, beach in a small lake, basketball court, fishing, pools, and lots of grass for the dogs. Laundry rooms and bathrooms spotless," notes a visitor.

Spacing between sites: RV parks vary in site dimensions. "Spacing was generous between locations. We had a drive-in(forward) location(#10) overlooking the small lake," reports a visitor to Hidden Ridge RV Resort.

RV maintenance access: Some campgrounds provide proximity to manufacturer facilities. "This clean, well kept campground is really close to grand design. We stayed here to go tour the manufacturers process," notes a visitor about Elkhart RV Resort by Rjourney, which sits near the RV manufacturing hub of Elkhart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular RV campsite near Dowagiac, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Dowagiac, MI is Thousand Trails Bear Cave with a 4.2-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find RV camping near Dowagiac, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 93 RV camping locations near Dowagiac, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.