Best Tent Camping near Dowagiac, MI

Recent Tent Reviews in Dowagiac

678 Reviews of 18 Dowagiac Campgrounds

• A

  Alexandra S.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 22, 2024

  Warren Dunes State Park Campground

  Great for short stay

  I’m very familiar with Warren Dunes but this was my first time camping here. Great walks and hikes and the short drive to the beach is a plus. The sites aren’t too private and can fill up quickly. The bathrooms were clean and stocked. I read lots of reviews about the noise from the road and nearby highway and I didn’t think it would bother me, but I was wrong. I wish I had some ear plugs because I had difficulty falling asleep. Overall great place, especially for beginner campers as there is a small onsite store for camp basics. Three stars due to noise and not much privacy.

• 

  MickandKarla W.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 6, 2024

  Elkhart County Fairgrounds

  Worked for What We Needed

  You use Gate 2 to get to the registration office. Check-in was quick and we proceeded to back-in site 444 with FHUs. Our back-in should have been smooth but we were out of practice. The utilities are at the far end of the sites. In most areas, the sites back up to each other and share a utility post(separate outlets for each site) and share the water spigot. As we had come out of the Brinkley Service Center, we did not need to dump. If we had hooked up sewer, we would have needed about 25’ of hose to reach a hole in the ground(no screw in adapter). Water pressure was okay depending on if both rigs are pulling water. They have wifi(4H Public) that was pretty good but there were not many rigs in the fairgrounds. We have 4 bars on Verizon. If you are allergic to train noise, this is not your place as trains run all day, all night, at regular intervals, and the tracks are adjacent to the FHU campground(CG) areas. Sites are quite close together but far enough that you can get your awnings out. As this CG was near the Brinkley Service Center and they had to come back out to us to finish repairs, this place worked for us. We would stay here again if we come back for service center work. They are very flexible with cancellations/reservation changes as they realize the majority of people are here for RV service.

• 

  Aly E.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 5, 2024

  Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

  Great area

  Lovely area and there’s so many beach areas nearby. Not on the lake but close! Best hike nearby is Mount Baldy! It’s short and you have the beach to yourself!

• 

  Amy S.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 5, 2024

  Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

  Safe and comfortable campground

  Convenient to Indiana dunes, each site is easily accessible and spacious. The facilities are fairly clean and showers are available though we didn’t use them. Would recommend as a stop over. As a solo female traveler I felt safe.

• 

  Roger W.

  Legend

  

  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

• 

  Cathy E.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 19, 2024

  Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

  $50 ($25 for the site, $25 for park pass)

  Advertised as $25 a night, but you must have an Indiana Dunes park pass, which is only good for this specific park. Site was fine, facilities were decent.

• 

  Wailym C.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 9, 2024

  East Lake Camping

  Great Hospitality

  Nice and cozy little campground in the middle of beautiful rolling farmlands. First time passing through and found it conveniently located within 40 mins of Holland and Saugatuck without needing to get on the highway. The woman at check in was extremely courteous and helpful. We stayed 2 nights over the weekend. Most people here are seasonal, occupying almost all the lakefront sites. We may have seen one lakefront available for renters. Everyone was polite, friendly and quiet after quiet hours. The sites are very small, not much privacy, but well kept. There are more spacious sites available on the upper grassy loop. Well kept grounds throughout with beautiful flowers. The bathrooms were wonderful with great hot water and water pressure. Pretty lake with swimming beach and playground lovely for day use. We would stay again. We stayed with 34’ camper inner lakefront.  I did share a picture of waterfront sites, the one vacant spot is the only site available to rent right now.  The rest are seasonal.

• 

  MickandKarla W.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 4, 2024

  Shipshewana Campground South Park

  Okay Stay

  We took I-80 all the way to near Shipshewana where the roads took us about 7 miles into the campground (CG). Check-in was quick and easy because we had paid ahead online. We proceeded to pull through site 37 with FHUs. The utilities were in the center, which made it nice to dump our two black tanks in order to go to the Brinkley Service Center the next morning. Water pressure was good at about 50 psi. It was nice that the utilities were on the center of the pad. We got 4 bars on Verizon. If we wanted to put out satellite, we could have as there are not many trees in the central area to block the signal. We tried to sign into the free Wifi with no luck. The website wanted us to sign up for paid internet, which we did not do. The sites in the CG are for the most part very close together. We were here overnight to take our rig into Goshen for warranty work. Coming from the West, stay on I-80 to IN-13(exit 107) as it makes for an easier route than on the local roads versus following your GPS or Waze which may have you exit off in Elkhart. Check out the great selections at Yoder's Meat& Cheese just down the road. This CG was okay for an overnighter or short stay.

• 

  Skip C.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 2, 2024

  Shamrock Park

  The river

  Not much to do in surrounding area, but a local get away for us

• 

  Michelle A.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 1, 2024

  Stickley Family Farms

  Down load of map went great

  I'm going soon I will update as I go.

• 

  Skip C.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 29, 2024

  Ely Lake Campground

  Hidden gem

  Been coming here since I was little, took a 25 year hiatus from camping. Went back there recently and loved it just like when I was a kid!

• 

  Wendy F.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 6, 2024

  Eden Springs Park Campground

  Shady level sites, plenty of space

  Great place for a few days, nice location and close to everything you'll need. Sites were shady, grass and gravel, level and plenty of space in between you and your neighbors. Lots to check out, historical area with lots to learn and see. Train rides on the weekends. Dog stations everywhere, super clean and well kept bathrooms and grounds. Great stay

• 

  Rachel P.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 5, 2024

  Fort Custer Recreation Area

  Well Wooded but Buggy

  We just camped at the park this weekend, which was the opening weekend after the rebuild of the bath houses and some other improvements. First, we loved how wooded and beautiful the campground was. The spots were nice and secluded, and the whole place was very beautiful. There were a few things that we didn't enjoy. First, it was EXTREMELY buggy. If you weren't covered in Deep Woods bug spray the whole time, you were getting bit. Second, I don't feel that there were enough showers. There were 5 showers in each bathhouse, making 10 showers total for the entire campground. I found myself waiting in a line every time I wanted a shower. Lastly, I wish there was a walking trail that was more accessible from the campground itself.

• C

  Colleen L.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 26, 2024

  Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

  So many bugs!!

  This is a nice national park campground and has all that you would expect from that, but the mosquitos here are insane!!! I came back with giant welts from the bites even with bug spray on. I honestly couldn’t wait to leave!

• M

  Melanie M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 23, 2024

  Warren Dunes State Park Campground

  Great place to stay for a few days!

  Stayed for 3 days/2 nights. Place was a little crowded, but once it got dark it was quiet and peaceful. Most spots were fairly out in the open, but we had a nice spot with a few trees hiding us on 3 sides and not too far from water or bathroom trail. Bathrooms were decent and we liked the private showers, warm water!

  Overall, great walking paths, hiking and the beach was a great bonus after an afternoon climbing the dunes!

  The only major downfall was the price of everything at the little store. $6 for an ice cream sandwich!?! No thanks! However, be sure to visit The Beach Bucket for your ice cream cravings on those hot days!! They also have firewood which burned so much better than what the camp store offered.

• G

  Gary E.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 18, 2024

  Markin Glen County Park

  Great place hidden away

  Visited here some years back. It was a great place for us with the family. The lake was wonderful. Meeting up with some friends was easy here. They have a nice park area to go with the lake and campground.

• J

  John B.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 18, 2024

  Covert Park Beach & Campground

  Great experience

  The camp is under new management and they are friendly and welcoming. I had no issues during my 1 night stay. The camp store is well stocked, and has firewood at a good price.

• c

  camille W.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 11, 2024

  Covert Park Beach & Campground

  Really nice

  Saw that prior new mgmt wasn’t great but I had never been here before and read reviews—-there is now new New mgmt in 2024 and I thought they were great hosts! I will be back for some beach yoga.

• 

  Rose S.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 11, 2024

  Dunewood Campground — Indiana Dunes National Park

  very nice campground close to the NP

  This was a very nicely managed site. All services you might want, even showers. Our spot wasn’t very closed off from other sites, and you’re not likely to get much privacy here

• 

  Rebekah J.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 11, 2024

  Warren Dunes State Park Campground

  Lots of road noise and LOTS of mosquitoes

  Stayed at site 201 at the Hildebrandt campground. Sites are smallish. Most sites have some shade, but little privacy in between. The scenery wasnt that great, mostly vine like trees you'd see in a flood plain. The water pump was out during our stay and needed to go to the station near the modern campground.

  We were scheduled to stay for 3d/2n but plans changed due to weather from hurricane beryl. It started to rain in the first evening and we had a mini creek running through our site. With the amount of rain projected to be on its way we could only imagine it being completely flooded.

  Mosquitoes were awful even before the rain. Vault toilets were well taken care of.

  If you want quite or the sound of nature, this campground is not for you. You can hear road traffic and trains at all times, especially at night. The general store near the campground entrance is a nice convenience if you forgot something or need ice/fire wood.

  It is wonderful though how close the Campground are to Lake Michigan/warren dunes, which is why we stayed.

• 

  Joe A.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 7, 2024

  Ruperts Resort Campground

  Very nice and enjoyable place keep things simple and fun cheap too easy on the money 💰

  Nobody complaining it's big enough if you want to be loud late you can the people that have a rv all year round are all nice and cool I ran in to just about every one all nice I recommend Ruperts resort in Indiana Plymouth 😉 they have showers and restrooms too if it's raining they have huge spots to go out of the rain you can bring corn hole or any game you like to bring plus more than I can say 4th July was grrreeat!

• 

  D G.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 24, 2024

  Warren Dunes State Park Campground

  Better for a Day Trip

  Went with my in laws who have a camper (I typically camp rustic). The site we were at was smaller and narrow. There was also a lot of noise from the I-94 freeway nearby while trying to sleep.

  While the hiking was good and the beach beautiful, they don’t allow alcohol which is my favorite post hike/beach activity.

  Overall I’d do a day trip for the hiking and beach, but stay elsewhere.

• J

  J L.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 13, 2024

  Warren Dunes State Park Campground

  Excellent park

  While, this state park seems relatively small. The spaces are very big. They have a great little general store. The beach is just down the drive. Mood is mellow and relaxing place. Small con-a little bit of flooding. Despite other reviews online no radiation from the nuclear power plant.

• B

  Beth

  Guide

  

  Jun. 12, 2024

  Weko Beach Campground

  Campground review

  The sites are randomly laid out and on top of each other. The bathhouse looked bad. You could hike the wooden walkway trails over the dunes easily. Pay to park public beach was very close.the beach area was very nice. Campground was not.

• B

  Beth

  Guide

  

  Jun. 12, 2024

  Warren Dunes State Park Campground

  Near the dunes and a nice public beach

  This campground is a place to stay while you visit the huge dunes. Developed sites are very small and close together. Sand/grass pads that are not defined. Undeveloped or tent area was almost empty and bigger but no electric. Cabin area has best sites. Cabins are small. Limited toilets. Public beach was nice...quite a few people. Separate area for dogs to play on the beach. Hike the dunes for a great workout

• 

  SEO K.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 4, 2024

  Ely Lake Campground

  Good Place If you play Super 9 game

  The place is very good. But the entertainment is fulfil when you play your favourite game. My favourite is Super 9 Game which I played in this game. The game is very unique and full of enjoy. Download it enjoy yourself. The game will refresh you. So, Try it now.

• 

  Greg D.

  Guide

  

  May. 30, 2024

  Shipshewana North Park Campground

  North Shipshewana

  This is a nice campground for visiting Shipshewana, the restrooms and showers are just inside a “sitting room “ and they’re clean and modern. You can listen to the clopping of horse hooves as the Amish buggies go by, unfortunately there is also some traffic noise. The other reviewer must have been at the campground next to the flea market because this campground has trees and no way resembles a fairground site.