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.
"Another great camping experience, site 210 has an amazing trail that leads directly to the showers at one end and at the other path went directly to running water, plus only a couple of yards from a great"
"This meant a longer walk to the restrooms and showers. On the other hand, we were right across from an access trail to the blue hiking trail. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit."
$32 - $80 / night
"Staff is super friendly and accomodating, lots of stuff to do if you have kids and most of it is free. Campground is clean and kept up and all sites have water and electrical."
"They have a lake / beach for swimming, kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes to use at the lake. They also have a massive slip ‘n slide, zip lining, and a rock climbing wall."
$35 - $45 / night
"Friendly owners, great hiking trails, great lake access, and good prices in the convenience store at the front of the park as well."
"Playgrounds, Lake, dump station, well stocked store, some shaded sites, clean bathrooms by the store, pit toilets throughout the campground."
$50 - $70 / night
"Sunday morning they have Cinnamon Roll delivery to your campsite! Only a couple of negatives to report there isn’t much close the the campground at all. Like the closest gas station is 15 miles."
"Lots of room for biking, and the Christmas in July decorations have been a lot of fun. Looking forward to booking again in the future."
$28 - $50 / night
"Recently, I inherited a pop up camper and chose this place to be my first location to try it out. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Our site was nice with electric and water hookups."
"Bathrooms were newly redone. Looking allot better then previous years. Lots of lot improvement so it’s not so bumpy and off level."
"The staff could be friendlier, but overall it’s a nice campground. Keep in mind when booking that many of the sites don’t have on site water!"
"great sites, some with electric, they even have a few cabins for rent. Indoor pool and mini golf for the kids."
$24 / night
"Bathrooms/showers need upgrading . Sites are good size and paved. Our fire pit needs repair. The top is gone so no ledge to put cooking utensils on. Our site number was not reasable."
"There is a disc golf course, mountain bike trail, equestrian trails, hiking trails, a beautiful no wake lake perfect for swimming, kayaking, or fishing. "
"Cute little campground in a small town in Dorr, Michigan. Lots of activities, swimming, wagon rides, jump pad, and more. Facilities were fairly clean and easily accessible."
"Multiple playgrounds, toddler pool and regular pool, jump pad, and lots of room to run around."
"Cabins, electric and bath houses!"
"Amazing spot away from the city! The owner of the place is very accommodating and pleasant to be around. Private lake with no motors so it is very quiet and peaceful!!!"
"One inside with a hot tub, one outside with a tiki grill that serves food on the weekend. The outdoor pool is the hub if activities in the summer. A great place to enjoy life naturally."
GuideA group of us bike from Kalamazoo to South Haven every year using the Kal-Haven trail. We usually tent camp but tried a cabin here this year. It was the perfect option as the campground is right off the trail. They provide linens and have basic supplies (including firewood that they will deliver to your cabin) right at the general store. We also met a group that had hiked in to the primative sites and were using the trail to train for the Appalachian Trail. Everything is well-made and maintained, and the staff is friendly and helpful (they even let us check-in early when we biked in ahead of schedule). Highly recommend for those looking for a place close to the trail and to South Haven. The cabins have three queen beds and a sofa sleeper so they can comfortably hold up to eight people (we had five in our group and I never felt crowded). There's a large table inside and two chairs on the porch. There's also a large picnic table outside, a fire pit, and a grill. They are hoping to expand and add cabins sized for couples in the near future.
ScoutThere'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
ScoutAnother great camping experience, site 210 has an amazing trail that leads directly to the showers at one end and at the other path went directly to running water, plus only a couple of yards from a great walking trail.
GuideSeptember 9th 2017 I hosted a Kayak/Canoe trip and we used this location for our landing and camping. It was a great little location that even had some river side cabins you could rent.
The amount of nature was overwhelming. Lots of turtles and ducks to be seen.
The staff was friendly and aviable when needed, was very welcoming as they did live on site. I will be returning to this location.
GuideWe had a great time camping at Hidden Ridge. Amenities were great, everything well kept and clean. This park is very big. Seems to have a lot of seasonal campers there but still spots for the vacationers too. The pool was nice, and the playground very fun for kids. Sunday morning they have Cinnamon Roll delivery to your campsite! Only a couple of negatives to report there isn’t much close the the campground at all. Like the closest gas station is 15 miles. Not really any fast food restaurants either. Obviously not a deal breaker, but just something to be prepared for. And there is a snack bar at the campground, but for other things you’ll have to go further out. Second, I found it odd the there isn’t trash pickup at the site. And the only trash bin we could find was at the entrance of the grounds (which was quite a distance from 241 our site). Just seems places this big and at this price range offer trash pick up at the site. Again, not a deal breaker but just a nuisance I guess. Would definitely recommend and would return to stay if in the area.
TravelerBathrooms/showers need upgrading . Sites are good size and paved. Our fire pit needs repair. The top is gone so no ledge to put cooking utensils on. Our site number was not reasable.
LegendCampground Review:
After finding our original campground full, we were directed over to Fort Custer. We found a campsite that was large with vegetation separating us from neighbors. I didn't expect to find something this interesting as an alternate to original plans but it worked out nicely.
There are a couple hundred sites and most of them were full. Our site was on the far end of a loop. This meant a longer walk to the restrooms and showers. On the other hand, we were right across from an access trail to the blue hiking trail. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. It was overcast upon arrival only to have the sun shine down the next day. We soon found out that there was enough clearing in the treetops to give our camp full sun for most of the day. If you camp here, I suggest one of the other sites that would give you a break from the sunny heat.
We hiked on a multi-use trail that the ranger suggested. The blue trail goes around a couple lakes and was wonderful. We did miss a sign or two and ended up turning our 4 mile trip into a 6.5 mile one but there are plenty of spots to rest and enjoy the time. We passed other hikers and bikers and even some people trying their luck at fishing. There are quite a few mountain bike trails on the other side of the recreation area. A horse trail circles around the outside edge.
Product Review:
As a Dyrt Ranger I sometimes get products to evaluate. This trip I tested out the Midland X-Talker two way radio - T77VP5. The kit we used came bundled into a zippered case that is perfect for keeping everything organized. We charged it up before our trip and even tried it out in a school building.
We read reviews that said it might not work well in buildings and thought we should see. I gave them to two high schoolers and asked them to run throughout the place testing them as they went. They came back happy and excited and wanted to keep using them.
The real test came out in the woods. The belt clip snaps on easily and this stayed connected to my pack strap for our entire hike. The X-Talker fits nicely in the hand and the buttons are perfectly placed. Another feature I wanted to try was the weather radio. It scans channels automatically to find a weather channel in range. You just need to listen to the report as it cycles through the days. We had some rain and storms moving in so this proved useful in helping us sneak out of camp really early to avoid the downpour that was looming.
The Midland X-Talker T77VP5 radios worked wonderfully and will certainly see more use on future adventures.
TravelerIonia has so many great outdoor activities for almost anyone. There is a disc golf course, mountain bike trail, equestrian trails, hiking trails, a beautiful no wake lake perfect for swimming, kayaking, or fishing. The beach is fantastic especially for little kids who might not be the best swimmers ready for Lake Michigan or lakes with lots of boats and waves to deal with. Nice and sandy and a nice store and ice cream shop at the beach.
The campground itself is very nice, but you may find the activities are a short drive away from your site to get there. The sites are all a little bit shallow especially if you have a larger travel trailer you may find it a bit tight. There is a great variety of shaded and sunny sites. There is only one bathroom for the campground so it can be a bit busy and it could probably use an update.
GuideThe indoor pool was great for the preseason camping! Being there in early May, when it was rainy we were happy to have that amenity. The river runs through the campground and is beautiful. The staff could be friendlier, but overall it’s a nice campground. Keep in mind when booking that many of the sites don’t have on site water!
They do have lots of weird & small fees.. so keep that in mind also.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Dowling, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Dowling, MI is Fort Custer Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 44 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Dowling, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 glamping camping locations near Dowling, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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