Dowling is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Dowling is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Find the best campgrounds near Dowling, MI. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
Fort Custer Campground at Fort Custer State Recreation Area is a 3,033-acre park located between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. The park features three lakes, the Kalamazoo River, a campground, a swimming beach, boat rentals, more than 25 miles of multi-use trails, paddling and fishing opportunities, second growth forests and remnant areas of prairie. The trail system is popular with mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers and dog sledders. Originally farmland, the area was acquired by the federal government to establish Camp Custer, an induction and military training center for the U.S. Army during WWII. The land was deeded to the State of Michigan under President Nixon's Legacy of Parks in 1971. No alcoholic beverages allowed in park April 1 through Labor Day.
Due to park enhancements (to update electrical, road, fishing pier and sewer), the beach house, picnic shelters and Gun Lake campground will close in 2024. The day-use area and boating access site will remain open except when construction work prohibits safe access, A proposed $5.5 million in federal relief funding from Gov. Whitmer's Building Michigan Together Plan made these renovations possible.
78 sites at Deep Lake Rustic Campground are now site-standard reservable.
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
This family friendly campground offers a beach for swimming, hiking trails, fishing and kayaking on a small no wake lake. The campground is bordered by state land and is close to Deep Lake, Gun Lake and Yankee Springs Recreational Area which offers additional recreational activities. Nearby businesses include a winery, local shops, golf courses, Gun Lake Casino and several local restaurants. Surrounded by multiple small towns that offer events and attractions year-round.
Sharp Park Campground offers rustic sites, electric sites and full hookup sites as well as two full hookup lakeside sites! There is a 2-person dry cabin with electricity as of 2023 which is perfect for a couple looking to getaway into the woods. We recently added a 6-person dry cabin with electricity in 2024.
Under new ownership for the 2022 camping season, come check us out!
$32 - $95 / night
Camp Michawana is located on 188 acres in West Michigan Barry County equidistant from Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing. We have acres of beautifully forested, rolling hills, and a ¼ mile of waterfront on Long Lake.
Our RV Campground provides beautiful scenery along with family adventures, all at a low cost. Bring your RV, tent, or pop-up, or rent one of our cabins and plan to have a great time relaxing.
$32 - $80 / night
$50 - $70 / night
$35 - $45 / night
Rolling hills, babbling brooks, open meadows, forested ridges, a lake nestled in the hills and a river winding its way through woods and fields -- that's Ionia Recreation Area. The 4,500 acres of flat to rolling terrain is a mixture of open field, mature hardwood forest and pine plantations. Four miles of Grand River floodplain follow the river course on the north border of the park. Dammed waterfowl floodings and other wetlands dot the park. Birding is excellent, with more than 199 species identified by the Audubon Society, and wildflowers abound.
$24 / night
Fort Custer Campground at Fort Custer State Recreation Area is a 3,033-acre park located between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. The park features three lakes, the Kalamazoo River, a campground, a swimming beach, boat rentals, more than 25 miles of multi-use trails, paddling and fishing opportunities, second growth forests and remnant areas of prairie. The trail system is popular with mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers and dog sledders. Originally farmland, the area was acquired by the federal government to establish Camp Custer, an induction and military training center for the U.S. Army during WWII. The land was deeded to the State of Michigan under President Nixon's Legacy of Parks in 1971. No alcoholic beverages allowed in park April 1 through Labor Day.
Due to park enhancements (to update electrical, road, fishing pier and sewer), the beach house, picnic shelters and Gun Lake campground will close in 2024. The day-use area and boating access site will remain open except when construction work prohibits safe access, A proposed $5.5 million in federal relief funding from Gov. Whitmer's Building Michigan Together Plan made these renovations possible.
78 sites at Deep Lake Rustic Campground are now site-standard reservable.
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
This family friendly campground offers a beach for swimming, hiking trails, fishing and kayaking on a small no wake lake. The campground is bordered by state land and is close to Deep Lake, Gun Lake and Yankee Springs Recreational Area which offers additional recreational activities. Nearby businesses include a winery, local shops, golf courses, Gun Lake Casino and several local restaurants. Surrounded by multiple small towns that offer events and attractions year-round.
Sharp Park Campground offers rustic sites, electric sites and full hookup sites as well as two full hookup lakeside sites! There is a 2-person dry cabin with electricity as of 2023 which is perfect for a couple looking to getaway into the woods. We recently added a 6-person dry cabin with electricity in 2024.
Under new ownership for the 2022 camping season, come check us out!
$32 - $95 / night
Camp Michawana is located on 188 acres in West Michigan Barry County equidistant from Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing. We have acres of beautifully forested, rolling hills, and a ¼ mile of waterfront on Long Lake.
Our RV Campground provides beautiful scenery along with family adventures, all at a low cost. Bring your RV, tent, or pop-up, or rent one of our cabins and plan to have a great time relaxing.
$32 - $80 / night
$50 - $70 / night
Scout
We camped at Way Back campground llc in Michigan for three seasons, initially building strong friendships with the owners and their grandchildren. Our kids would eagerly await our weekly arrivals during the summers, often chatting and playing video games during the off-season. The campground initially offered family-friendly activities like hayrides and crafts.. these dwindled to events that included only our children and the owners' grandchildren, often overshadowed by drunken behavior unsuitable for kids. By the second season, that sense of community soured when the owners' friends/family began uninvited weekend parties on our campsite. Groups would show up, using our firewood and partying late into the night while our kids struggled to sleep, often leaving only after we became assertive and telling them to leave so we could go to bed. This disregard for our family's needs, compounded by other unsettling issues made it clearly evident that Way Back is not a family friendly campground. Our campsite being littered with debris from a previous burned, condemned camper on our lot, promises of cleanup that went unfulfilled for 3 seasons. Obscene drunken adult behaviors in front of children that went unaddressed, only created a growing sense of disappointment. We also faced safety concerns, such as homeless individuals using drugs and living in the campgrounds. Convicted sexual offenders and known drug addicts in the park. Hostile fighting and commotion usually provoked by and instigated by the owners. A lingering presence of inappropriate adults around children at the park. Despite our initial rapport and giving the owners multiple chances to make improvements, issues only escalated, leading us to strongly advise against this campground. (Photos from last day. The glass and Debris has been collected like that every weekend for the last 3 years)
Scout
I lay here, in my hammock listening to the sounds of the evening putting me to sleep as I write this. What a wonderful little campground. Beautiful lake to fish, kayak or canoe. Spacious and shaded site to return to. What more could a dad ask for out of a weekend with their boy.
Scout
ThisThis was the first time we've we had some guests come in for a couple hours and they were charging them $5 per person to get in and I had my aunt come in and she was handicap she parked close up to my camper it was on the grass a little bit and they yelled at her for it these people are rude and they watch you like a hawk every little thing you do they know what you're doing they kept charging my husband's credit card $5 per person I feel if you pay for your campsite you shouldn't have to pay for your guest they should check in at the office but they shouldn't have to pay I would never go back there again
Scout
One of the best campgrounds we have stayed at! Bathroom,showers and pool were clean and looked like brand new. The owners take a lot of pride in the place. Close to Holland. Very friendly and helpful.
Ranger
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.
Traveler
Spaces were too tight , even with a small camper. Work People were parked half in the road , leaving us with no way to pull in or out of campsite
ScoutI'm going soon I will update as I go.
Traveler
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!
Scout
Enjoyed our stay!
Outdoor kitchen with running water and flush toilet were unexpected amenities.
Not to mention the chickens keeping us company!
Will definitely stay there again when we’re in the area!
Traveler
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.
Guide
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.
Guide
Certainly! Here’s an enhanced review for the Allendale KOA:
I recently stayed at the Allendale KOA and had an exceptional experience. The campground is spacious, with large sites that provided plenty of room for our setup. The clean restrooms and full-service showers were a highlight, offering a comfortable and convenient experience after a long day of outdoor activities.
The staff at Allendale KOA were incredibly friendly and welcoming, ensuring that we felt right at home from the moment we arrived. The well-stocked camp store was a great convenience, providing everything we needed without having to leave the campground. We were particularly impressed by the massive bundles of wood available for just six bucks, making our evening campfires both affordable and enjoyable.
Families will especially appreciate the large field and play area, which offered ample space for our kids to run around and enjoy themselves. It was wonderful to have such a safe and enjoyable environment for them to play in.
Overall, our stay at the Allendale KOA was fantastic. The combination of excellent facilities, friendly staff, and family-friendly amenities made it a perfect choice for our trip. We will definitely be returning and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great camping experience!
Guide
First let me say the rustic area is walk-in only. I was unaware of this until we arrived. Luckily our site was in the front and not a terrible walk. 3 sites in the middle, grouped together, would be nice for a group to book together. Rustic side is right next to the boat ramp. Inside of the state park is a nice beach for swimming, with concessions. A lot of fishing spots, even if you are bank fishing. Check in window is in the back of the park. Wood and ice available.
Guide
Bertha Brock is a great place for families. Brining our kids here from Grand Rapids is quick and easy. It is generally quiet, especially on non holiday weekends. Occasionally there is chopped firewood up front, you get a goof amount for your money. Relatively close to town if you need to purchase food or other gear. Bugs (mosquitoes) can get pretty bad, bring lots of bug spray! Near ionia state park with a nice beach for swimming or boating (no wake). Campground manager is very nice and helpful if needed.
TravelerSearching for a 1 night space on the michigan lake we had to look more around and find this wonderful campground. Just 10 minutes away to downtown Holland and only 20 minutes away of the beach. Very clean and nice restrooms and showers.
Guide
I visited this campground last summer! It was a smaller campground, but very woodsy (just how I like it)! They have kayak/canoeing, a playground area for the kids, and good site sizes. The only thing that wasn’t pleasant was the beach area (too small and muddy), and the fact that my boyfriend’s mother had to pull off leeches various different times after being in the water!
TravelerWe just got back from Ionia State Campground, and we had the most lovely time! First of all, I did some research ahead of time to find a more private camping spot, and ours did not disappoint. After looking around the campground, there were numerous spots that were very secluded and private. There were beautiful walking trails all around, and the lake was very pretty.
I had read other reviews saying that the bathrooms were terrible. I did not find them to be all that bad. They were certainly dated, but I found the bathrooms and showers to be kept as clean as they could be. I have also read that the bathrooms will be completely replaced at the end of this year.
The one downside I did find was the beach. I thought that the infrastructure at the beach needed work, particularly the rinse off station and the benches. We only went over to the beach for ice cream, so this didn't bother me personally.
We loved it and plan to come back!
ScoutThe 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.
ScoutFishing but is catch and release. It is not posted any where in the rules or at the fishing spots. Nore was I told this be fore being warned about it. Cancled season and went to where I could catch and eat.
ScoutPer michigan laws;
STATE LAND RULE – GAME AREAS – EXCERPT(S) 926 On state game or wildlife areas it is unlawful to: • Camp between May 15 and September 10, except in areas specifically designated for camping.
I don’t see any camping spots specifically on the official map of this place.
Scout
Campground and pool is nice. Owners are unapologetically rude to guests when there is any issues. Had a minor parking issue with a neighbor when I moved my vehicle onto their parking spot on sunday for 20 minutes because they weren't there all wkend and I was spraying weed killer. The neighbor showed up and complained at the club house. The owner came to my lot and started yelling at me about how i have no right to do that. I apologized while he was yelling at me and he slammed his buggie door and drove off. As soon as I moved my vehicles I went to that neighbor.to apologized and she said no big deal. I gave the owners a bad review on line and now I am being kicked out. How is that right?! I follow the rules and keep my lot clean. I don't deserve to be yelled at and treated in such a rude manner. IF you decide to camp there don't speak to the owners unless you have to... this has happened to other guests too. Many have moved to other places because of the way they talk to people.
ScoutOwner is rude and unapologetic for being so.
Poisonous plants and creatures are usually pretty to look at. So is tyler creek until you speak to the owners for any reason and then they are rude and venomous. If I were you I would spend my hard earned money somewhere else.
Scout
Heather and her husband are truly amazing people. There campground is great for small or large groups. I stayed at 34 which is a tent sight and it was perfect. The restrooms and showers were Immaculate. I would recommend Kal-Haven for your next campsite in New Haven MI!
Scout
There's end of the road privacy and room to roam with a fire pit and firewood. Pop-up Farm Stand usually has seasonal offerings and smore kits.
Beans are fair trade and roasted on site
Fireflies and Starry Evenings.
Starlink Wi-Fi is available.
Bike Shed for tools
interurban allows car free adventure
ScoutMy husband and I had a wonderful experience the website was well informed; pull in and pick your own site and the site manager will come by and collect your money for night stayed. In fact, we enjoyed it so much we called to ask for another night, without hesitation, and any disruption to our camping they came by later that evening, and collected for an additional night ( just as the website advised), Charlotte is a wonderful town with wonderful events. This fairground camp area very clean and well organized. Well done Eaton county, see you in May 2024. 💯
GuideThis was our second trip to this property (1st was Sept 2021), and it was really nice. We went Aug 25 - 27th (Friday - Sunday). The property has something like 219 campsites, and that weekend every single one of them was full. Noisy during the day with a few large groups and a LOT of kids, but they were quiet at night and it was not a problem. Some of the campsites are very close together and it's hard to determine that from the map or choosing ahead of time. The showers and bathrooms are fine, and I think they're being upgraded this season so I expect them to be quite nice for 2024 and beyond. We took full advantage of the mountain bike trails which are very easily accessed from the campground. We also took a trip into Battle Creek for a quick stop by CVS, so it's close and convenient for lost or forgotten items. No problems with bugs or mosquitos, other than the normal for being a forested property.
On Saturday morning the camp host had coffee and donuts for a $1 donation. And firewood was easily accessible on site.
Would not hesitate to stay here again.
ScoutAll full hookups, no pool but there is a small pond to swim in and a lake as well. Nice staff.
Camping near Dowling, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a quiet retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.
Camping near Dowling, Michigan, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Dowling, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Dowling, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 123 campgrounds and RV parks near Dowling, MI and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Dowling, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dowling, MI is Fort Custer Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 41 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dowling, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Dowling, MI.
What parks are near Dowling, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 parks near Dowling, MI that allow camping, notably Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
