G
Glen B.
Guide
GuideCampout at Hostel SoHa
Back in the saddle
Nice concept... still finding they're legs. Staff member didn't seem to want to help with the much too laborious and personal check-in process. Fees have gone up. And there are showers.
Camping near Galesburg, MI
164 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Campgrounds surrounding Galesburg, Michigan accommodate a range of camping styles across Kalamazoo County and neighboring areas. Fort Custer Recreation Area, located near Augusta, serves as a major camping destination with sites for tents, RVs, and cabin options among old-growth trees. Cold Brook County Park in nearby Climax offers waterfront camping with electric hookups and modern facilities. The broader Kalamazoo region features multiple county parks with established campgrounds, most operating seasonally from April through October.
Camping access throughout the Galesburg area varies significantly by season, with most developed campgrounds closing for winter. Cold Brook County Park, a popular camping destination, operates from April 15 to October 31, while Fort Custer remains open year-round for those seeking winter camping options. Reservations are recommended during peak summer months, especially for weekend stays and holiday periods. The terrain generally features wooded sites with varying degrees of shade and lake access. Electrical hookups are common at most established campgrounds, though few offer full water or sewer connections. A visitor noted, "Sites have electrical service only. Must use the dump station."
Several campgrounds in the area feature lake access, which draws many visitors seeking water recreation. Fort Custer Recreation Area receives consistently positive reviews for its spacious, wooded campsites and extensive recreation opportunities. According to one visitor, "Large quiet sites and lots of seclusion," while another mentioned, "The sites are nice and there are natural divides between each campsite." Cold Brook County Park earns praise for its family-friendly atmosphere and fishing opportunities. Markin Glen County Park and Yankee Springs Recreation Area expand camping options within driving distance of Galesburg. Most campgrounds maintain shower facilities and restrooms that are regularly cleaned, though amenities vary by location. Mosquitoes can be problematic in wooded areas, particularly during summer months, with several campers recommending insect repellent as an essential item.
Best Campgrounds near Galesburg (164)
1. Fort Custer Recreation Area
"Fort Custer is a hidden gem in Michigan. Nobody thinks to go camping near Battle Creek, but they really should reconsider!"
"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"
2. Markin Glen County Park
"Despite having lived near Kalamazoo for seven years, we had never visited this park previously. The site are large level concrete pads with grass dividing the sites. All full hookups."
"There are three roads in the campground and the two roads on the outside have no one behind them which adds privacy. "
from $35 - $40 / night
Check Availability3. Cold Brook County Park
"29 campsites pretty close together with old growth trees interspersed around the campground. Fishing pier and boating, playground area, and beach. No longer has primitive camping."
"Lots of neat free and inexpensive things for kids and families nearby. Check out Kzookids.com to see what’s available if you want to. A nice disk golf course, lots of fishing."
4. Deep Lake Rustic Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area
"First time in central Michigan and it was absolutely beautiful. The campground has a great location and lots of mountain bike and hiking trails."
"This is a campground in Yankee Spring Recreational Area in Mid-Michigan. This is a nice rustic campground near the NCT(North Country Trail)."
5. Kalamazoo County Expo Center
"It’s not as big as some of the expo centers in Michigan, but it does the job. If you plan to camp here they offer 220 campsites over 5 small campgrounds."
6. Michawana Campground
"We put our tent up on the hill tucked back up in the woods. Shade from the start!"
"The lake nearby is clean and they have a swimming spot for kids and adults. Boats and kayaks are free to use if the lifeguard is on duty. There is also fishing rods to use for free."
from $32 - $80 / night
Check Availability7. Brookside City Park
"The camping spots are in a park right off the main road, however they are tucked all the way around back offering surprisingly private camping."
"The campsites are located past the playground and shelter. Just keep driving down the road that looks like an alley. There is a wonderful place set up for just a few campers. "
from $5 - $10 / night
Check Availability8. Oak Shores Resort Campground
9. Gun Lake Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area
"This is also a short drive away from tons of beautiful walking paths."
"You can walk the trail to the state park beach and store. Bathrooms are clean."
10. Outdoor Adventures Kalamazoo Resort
Drive Time
- 12 min from Kalamazoo, MI
- 13 min from Battle Creek, MI
- 51 min from Grand Rapids, MI
- 1 hr 6 min from Elkhart, IN
Recent Camping Photos near Galesburg, MI
167 Photos of 164 Galesburg Campgrounds
Christina F.
Fort Custer Recreation Area
Mike N.
Oak Shores Resort Campground
Jeremy B.
Outdoor Adventures Kalamazoo Resort
Eric C.
Camp Turkeyville RV Resort
Ryan F.
Deep Lake Rustic Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area
Korrie H.
Gun Lake Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area
Zach J.
Hidden Ridge RV Resort, A Sun RV Resort
Tammy H.
Barry's Resort & Mobile Home Park
Max O.
Potawatomi Rec Area
Dave E.
Cranberry Lake Campground
Bobbi Jo K.
Waffle Farm Campground
Recent Reviews near Galesburg, MI
623 Reviews of 164 Galesburg Campgrounds
Gary G.GuideOutdoor Adventures Kalamazoo Resort
Membership? No thanks
Roads are seem to be dirt/gravel here (but most is really just crumbling asphalt), so even though most vehicles respect the 5mph speed limit (which is nice), you can still expect some dust everywhere. Oh, and some golf carts often seem to think 5mph doesn't apply to them.
Kalamazoo Speedway is only 2.5 miles away, so if there's racing at night, you're going to hear it. It's not terrible, but...
Many golf carts here, some with thumping music or ooh-gah horns going by in the evening. While before official "quiet time", it's still really annoying at 9 or 10pm. Be nice if they adopted a "your noise/music should stay on your site" idea like other places. ESPECIALLY the loud, music-blasting golf carts.
Calling this a "resort" is kind of a stretch. The "lakes" (more like ponds) are in need of weed control. Sites along the main lake are often muddy, sinking campers into it. There's one playground there. A small beach, pool (was freezing on the Mem Day weekend), a mini-golf that needs some TLC and a somewhat pricey camp store. Not much different than your average, most basic KOA, except KOA doesn't require a $17K lifetime membership.
They say there's trails you can walk, but I didn't see a single sign or map indicating where these were. Pointless without that.
Stayed Memorial Day weekend. Roads could really, really use a grading or repaving. Lots of bumps, holes and dips. Makes it somewhat dangerous for evening bike rides. The idiots staying in site 158 with their kids singing (bad) karaoke was super annoying. Staffsecurity should have told them to turn it down no matter the time. (two nights, from about 8:30pm until 10:45pm.). I thought they had a rule about this? Their security car went by at least twice during this unwanted show, so why didn't they say something? I tried to call about it, but got no answer.
The mini golf is a nice touch... it'd just be nice to see it maintained a lot better. It's pretty rough.
This is a membership-only place. We had a promotional stay, but I have to say, I really didn't see enough value to want to buy in. Even if it was just a regular campground, we weren't all that impressed enough that we'd make a special trip just to stay here. I'd rate it as "ok", but there was no real "wow factor" here for us.
I have to say the woman they assigned to us for the tour and sales meeting was very nice, pleasant, and no annoying hard sell. But then they send in the closer, and there's where the flurries of offers and discounts start, but once you get the discounts, you lose other options that you'd probably want. Is Outdoor Adventures worth it? Not to us, sorry to say. We like to camp all over, not just at a handful of specific campgrounds under the Outdoor Adventures umbrella.
To Outdoor Adventures... you should really arrange it so campers can try out two or three of your campgrounds FIRST before trying to sell them. No way we'd join after only seeing/staying in one. Especially just Kalamazoo.
BTW, their rental cabins (especially the largest ones) were really nice. I'll give them that.
That's my honest review of the place as we found it.
Kaley A.GuidePokagon State Park Campground
Nice park from what I could see
This is the second time I’ve been to this park. Neither time was I able to really see the park (kids), so that is the only reason I have it a 4.
I really liked our campsite. We were in the middle of a circle drive and had the whole inner circle to ourselves, which was nice for the kids to play. It was a HUGE campsite with a fairly long back in driveway. The site was slopped, especially close to the power source. It was a bit annoying for us as tent campers but not so much that I wouldn’t rent this site again.
We weren’t all that far from water, the bathhouse, and trash services as well as a natural water spring and a trail to hike.
- Sheila S.
ScoutAngola/Hogback Lake KOA Holiday
Horrible staff
We couldn't set up a tent on our lot. Price is outrageous for visitors!! Staff is very rude. You rent a gold cart and they started yelling at my grandson who they had just sold an ice cream cone to that he had better not get that ice cream all over the cart.
Mike J.
TravelerSteamboat Park Campground
Great spot!
A hidden gem with a lot of history. A paddle wheel boat on the Grand river?! Nice and secluded yet close to town and easy access to the highway
Gerard E.
RangerPokagon State Park Campground
Camp 26
May 1-5, 2026 site 322, 48 degrees and light drizzle at setup.
Site is level, but drops down in the mud and grass, pad is barely wide enough to set up table without being on an angle. Site barely fits 21’ trailer and RAM 1500
Cellular T-Mobile 5g, 3bars Electric, 20, 30 and 50 amp.
Bathroom is separate from showers, older but decent. A nice grassy area close to site 322 and 324. Shade and sun Fire pit sits in low area, do expect puddles if raining.
Firewood was$8, dry, burned well. Close to bike/walking trail and a few hundred feet from store. Easy check in, Pokagon is a favorite park of ours as it offers miles of hiking trails.
- Gerard E.Ranger
Pokagon State Park Campground
Camp 26
May 1-5, 2026
site 322, 48 degrees and light drizzle at setup. Site is level, but drops down in the mud and grass, pad is barely wide enough to set up table without being on an angle.
Site barely fits 21’ trailer and RAM 1500
Cellular T-Mobile 5g, 3bars Electric, 20, 30 and 50 amp.
Bathroom is separate from showers, older but decent. A nice grassy area close to site 322 and 324. Shade and sun Fire pit sits in low area, do expect puddles if raining. Firewood was$8, dry, burned well.
Close to bike/walking trail and a few hundred feet from store. Easy check in, Pokagon is a favorite park of ours as it offers miles of hiking trails.
- Gerard E.Ranger
Pokagon State Park Campground
One of the Best
10-2-24 thru 10-7-24 Site 370 C
Cellular, TMOBILE 5G, 3 bars. 21’ Apex Nano w truck. Gravel pad, fire pit and grass is about 12” lower than pad. Keep in mind if expecting rain.
Showers are old, warm with 2 hooks, 2 toilets and 2 urnials.
Fire pit needs to be reset in the ground, it sit too high. Awesome trails to hike. Maintenance was awesome changing out a breaker on the box.
8-27-22, update on site 348 and 350. These are pull through sites on the edge of the road. 350 is longer and had a 5th Wheel on it. We put our 19’ Nano on 348. Full sun during the day, 348 is uneven once you walk off of the pad. This site could use some TLC and more gravel for parking.
10-1-16, nice state park with hiking trails. Lot 322 was partially sun and shade. Restroom and shower(open stall, no privacy) was outdated but functional. 2-5-22 hiked 4 miles on the snow packed trails. Cold and awesome powder conditions.
Adam and Suzanne B.GuideSteamboat Park Campground
Great in-town
Nice concrete pads and patios— FHU. Right on the Grand River. Close to Millennium Park and easy to get downtown. Best bathrooms—- clean, individual, large. Bathrooms cleaned 2x daily.
Guide to Galesburg
Camping options near Galesburg, Michigan extend beyond traditional campgrounds to include lakefront experiences, hiking opportunities, and unique county park settings. The terrain generally consists of woodlands with mature trees and small lakes, with elevations around 850-900 feet above sea level. Seasonal availability shifts dramatically between summer and winter, with most sites offering electrical connections but limited full-hookup options.
What to do
Hiking and mountain biking trails: Fort Custer Recreation Area features extensive trail systems for outdoor recreation. According to visitor Bob B., there are "endless hiking trails and two lakes where you can fish, swim, and boat." The blue trail circles multiple lakes and connects to mountain biking paths throughout the recreation area.
Water activities on multiple lakes: Sharp Park Campground provides direct lake access with rental equipment available on-site. "Sharp Park offers canoe, kayak, fishing boat, and paddleboat rentals as well as fishing pole rentals with night crawlers available for purchase in the store," notes Teresa V. The campground includes a swimming beach area ideal for cooling off during summer months.
Disc golf courses: Cold Brook County Park offers disc golf among its recreational amenities. As Nellie mentions, this "small county park" has "lots of lake for small boating, kayaking. Fishing pier to fish off. Playground for the kids. Swimming beach with sand."
What campers like
Privacy between campsites: Sites at Fort Custer Recreation Area provide good separation between neighbors. One visitor described finding "a campsite that was large with vegetation separating us from neighbors," while Hannah noted, "We just stayed at [site] 51 and it is extremely secluded! We had an amazing time tent camping it was so quiet!"
Access to multiple recreation areas: Markin Glen County Park earns praise for its multiple recreation options within a small footprint. Nancy W. explains the park has "miles of hiking/biking trails (some of which are paved and others are dirt), group picnic areas, tennis courts, volleyball, swim beach, fishing piers, softball field, and two playgrounds."
Family-friendly atmosphere: Michawana Campground draws families seeking organized activities. According to Bailey C., "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."
What you should know
Seasonal operation differences: Most Galesburg-area campgrounds operate primarily from April through October. Markin Glen County Park operates from "April 25 to October 15," while Michawana Campground runs from "April 21 to October 16." Sharp Park recently underwent renovations with "both bath houses redone inside" and a new camp store added for the 2022 season.
Varied bathroom facilities: Bathroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds. At Yankee Springs Gun Lake, Mike P. noted, "sites were fairly large and level," but some visitors mention the facilities are just adequate. Meanwhile, Jessica found Sharp Park had "clean, updated bathrooms with hot showers."
Reservation processes vary: Brookside City Park requires campers to register at the police station rather than on-site. "Registration is at the police department, and if it's after hours you may have to call an off site officer to meet you with the phone provided," explains Katie. The park accepts "cash or check only" according to Linda C.
Tips for camping with families
Look for supervised water recreation: Michawana Campground provides lifeguards for water activities. Bailey C. notes, "Boats and kayaks are free to use if the lifeguard is on duty. There is also fishing rods to use for free."
Consider accessibility needs: Markin Glen County Park offers accessible options for those with mobility challenges. Margaret M. points out they "have handicapped accessible sites, and ramp into the lake" making it suitable for families with diverse needs.
Pack insect repellent: Mosquitoes are common in wooded campsites during summer. At Fort Custer, Cathy Y. observed "lots need mowing so lots of bugs, bring insect repellent," indicating site maintenance can affect insect activity.
Tips from RVers
Check dump station availability: Fort Custer Recreation Area has limited hookup options. VB S. noted, "Sites have electrical service only. Must use the dump station," while another camper mentioned, "Since there are no water or sewer hook ups, lines at the dump/fill station can get long."
Site selection considerations: Markin Glen County Park features full-hookup sites with strategically placed utilities. Nancy W. reported, "All sites are 50 amp full hook-up that are paved with paved patios, fire pits, and picnic tables. Utilities are well-placed and no extensions are needed."
RV size restrictions: Not all Galesburg-area campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. While Markin Glen can handle substantial RVs with "campsites [that] are 50 feet long which will fit any size RV," smaller campgrounds like Brookside Park have limited space with "4 spots with electric, 3 of which are paved."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Galesburg, MI?
What camping is available near Galesburg, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Galesburg, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 164 campgrounds and RV parks near Galesburg, MI and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Galesburg, MI?
Which is the most popular campground near Galesburg, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Galesburg, MI is Fort Custer Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 44 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Galesburg, MI?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Galesburg, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Galesburg, MI.
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