McGinnis Lake Modern Campground within Holly Recreation Area offers wooded, semi-private sites screened from neighbors by trees. The campground features several well-marked trails surrounding three lakes, with sites typically available from April through October. Luxury camping options near Flint include canvas tents at Groveland Oaks and premium cabins at various locations within a 30-minute drive of the city.
What to do
Swimming at multiple lakes: Holly Recreation Area provides a dog-friendly beach area with separate swimming zones. As one camper noted, "Lots of trails and great beach with a dog friendly area." The recreation area also features "a splash zone for kids" according to another visitor.
Explore hiking trails: Holly State Recreation Area offers numerous marked trails through wooded terrain. A recent visitor mentioned, "Pretty park with several well marked trails. We stayed in the Maple loop which had several semi-private sites screened from neighbors by trees."
Mini golf and arcade games: Groveland Oaks County Park offers mini golf, an arcade, and playground facilities for families. One visitor explained, "This campground has a lake for swimming, water slide, arcade, boat rentals, mini golf, biking trails and fishing. Lots for kids to do... also skate park and 2 playgrounds."
Kayaking and boating: Otter Lake Park Campground provides kayak rentals for $7/hour or small two-person boats for $10/hour. A camper shared, "The lake is soooo beautiful and you can rent kayaks $7/hour or a 2 person small boat for $10/hour."
What campers like
Wooded campsites: Many campsites around Flint offer natural privacy. At Holly Recreation Area, campers appreciate that it "Actually feels like camping with all the trees, not lined up in a farmer's field." Another visitor noted, "Sites were spacious, we loved the national forest."
Clean facilities: Camp Dearborn maintains well-kept bathrooms and shower facilities. A visitor shared, "The staff is amazing, the campground is well maintained and quiet. Bathrooms are clean and it has hot showers and a place to do your dishes as well."
Family-friendly glamping close to Flint, Michigan: Covenant Hills Camp offers various accommodation options including glamping tents with activities for all ages. A camper mentioned, "We had a large group of families with varying ages and abilities. We used multiple different styles of cabins and a few RV sites, as well as various buildings for activities."
Water recreation: Multiple swimming areas provide options for water activities. One visitor to Groveland Oaks noted, "We like the small swimming hole, the beach, the parks and putt putt," while another mentioned, "The park is well laid out and includes a ton of fun activities for young and old."
What you should know
Electrical hookup distances: At Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground, electrical posts serve multiple sites but may be far from your camping spot. As one camper warned, "Most electrical posts are designed to accommodate at least 2 adjoining lots, and as many as 4. This in itself is not a concern until you realize the posts are way too far away to reach without an extension."
Bathroom conditions vary by campground: Some campgrounds have modern, clean facilities while others need updating. One camper at Pine Ridge noted, "The bathrooms are key for me and are very clean. There shower are private and are quarter operated."
Seasonal variations: Most glamping options near Flint have limited seasons. According to camp information, Groveland Oaks operates from "Last week of April through first week of October," while Pine Ridge RV Campground runs from "May 1 - Oct 31."
Religious orientation: Covenant Hills Camp has a Christian focus. One camper explained, "Nice family/Christian campgrounds... ok for those who care not enjoy alcohol beverages while vacationing, great activities set up for the kids... would like to keep their faith religiously on sundays with service."
Tips for camping with families
Multiple playgrounds: Holly Recreation Area provides various play facilities. One visitor shared, "There were several playgrounds, bench swings, play fields and even a basketball court. The ADA sites had pavement surrounding the fire rings and space at the picnic tables for a wheel chair."
Swimming options: Different water features appeal to various age groups. At Camp Dearborn, "They have activities for both children and adults, two beautiful beaches, a pool, tennis courts, and now a zip line."
Recreational variety: Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area provides various activities despite crowded conditions. A visitor noted, "The park is extremely sandy so be prepared. Overall it was a quiet, peaceful weekend in a great location."
Entertainment options: Covenant Hills Camp offers structured activities for children. A camper mentioned, "Good, quiet campground (unless your on a site around the playground) lots to keep the kids busy, bonus ice cream store."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Choose your campsite carefully if traveling with a larger RV. At Groveland Oaks, one RVer noted, "Our campsite was a little difficult to get into because it was on a curve and there was a seasonal camper with a Class A right across from our site which didn't allow for a lot of space to maneuver our 26 ft travel trailer."
Full hookup availability: Some campgrounds offer complete services for RVs. At Groveland Oaks, a camper noted, "Liked having full hook ups. But not many trees."
Advanced sizing considerations: Before booking, check site dimensions. At Camp Dearborn, "Pull behind sites were easy to access," while at Pine Ridge RV Campground, visitors noted, "Nice pull through sites, some are tight, but none are impossible."
Dump station access: Many campgrounds provide sanitary dump stations. At Camp Dearborn, "There is a dump station on site," while at Holly Recreation Area, campers noted you can "fill up and dump at the front of the campground."
