Best Glamping near Genesee, MI

I have camped here for years and really like it. The park is huge and there are lots of places to ride your bike. It's a typical Michigan state campground, not much different. Nice bathrooms and big lots.

Beautiful Michigan State Park Campground along the Huron River on Proud Lake.

There is a host site with activities and a lending library for books and some sporting equipment.

It has a boat launch and a canoe / kayak livery on site.

Bath house is newly built with amazing showers including large Family / Handicap showers.

Booked a two week stay at Pontiac Lake Rec. area in Whitelak, MI. Huge sites not stacked on top of one another. They have electric hookups, but only 30 amp. No water or sewage at the camp site but available within the park. Grounds are kept very clean and it has been a rather quiet stay even in the weekends when every spot is taken. The only real downside is that Michigan doesn’t offer any type of Military Discounts. Will be staying here again as it’s just down the road from family.

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. Full hookup area is away from most of the weekend traffic with a short cut to get to where all the kids stuff is located. I think it is a little pricier than most monthly rentals in southeast Michigan. We chose for the convenient location for spending the weekends. 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. It was, however, fairly close to the park and restrooms.

Large campground with lots of trails and activities (although we camped in early May so many activities were not open). We would think that different times of year provide different experiences and we camped for a week in early May so we were able to experience quiet mornings and afternoons, great walks with our four legged camperand invredible views of swans, geese and ducks as they introduced their new little ones to the area.

The campground has a large beach, boat rentals, bike paths plus a BMX area and several playgrounds. Most of the activities (IE beach and rentals) open Memorial Day.

The showers cost 25 cents and we heard some people complain but we thought that the showers were immaculate and the time allowed was quite sufficient for a nice shower without wasting water(and having visited several National Parks with quarter showers, we were used to a cost).

We travel in a 42 ft motorhome and suggest if you are traveling in a large rig, drive through the park to find an appropriate site. We had called ahead but the site they had reserved for us would not have worked. Luckily, the people in our site had not left yet and we found a very good site for our stay. We are not Michigan residents anymore but we would not hesitate to return to Groveland Oaks!

First, I'd like to say that I was born and raised in Northern Michigan. That's where I'm used to camping and hiking. I moved to the metro Detroit area a few years ago. I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical about camping in the metro area. Color me surprised! This place is pretty impressive!

Pro:

1- The bathrooms ARE nice. They have the standard stall restrooms AND they have family bathrooms that are a toilet, bench and shower area. They've clearly been remodeled lately. Every morning when I go, there's someone there cleaning.

2- They have vending machines at the bathroom area.

3- Campsites are spacious.

4- The hiking/biking trails are wonderful. I just hiked 8 miles and had a wonderful time. Only downside is that "loop 2" was infested with ticks. We had to turn back. Every other step we were picking them off of the dogs. Loop 1 was totally fine and a blast to explore.

5- If you forgot something, there are stores (Home Depot, Meijer, Walmart, REI) nearby.

Con:

1- I didn't come here for the beach but there's no beach-side camping. It looks like you have to walk down quite a few stairs to access the water. No biggie for me as I came here to hike, not swim. Great views of the lake though.

This was our first camping experience in Michigan, so we weren’t exactly prepared. My rating takes this into consideration.

First of all, if it’s rainy or muddy, you might want to think twice about entering the rustic camping area. We have a 4Runner, so it was no problem but a few little cars did slide around and have trouble on the hill by our site.

Our site wasn’t level, so we were rolling around a bit. If I went there again I’d try to find a spot towards the end of the loop by the exit. These sites were higher and some of them were private. I’d examine the map carefully because some of the sites were horrendously open and basically on the road. Maybe good for a vehicle with a rooftop tent or a trailer of some sort, but it would have been annoying for us. Site M22 was big and far enough away from other campers, but again not level. Probably a good location for a group of hammock campers.

All that aside, the biggest problem was mosquito activity. The camping area sits on an inaccessible lake with a marsh area.

When we rolled in the first thing we noticed was that everyone had screen houses set up.

We didn’t have anything but our tent and a hammock with a big net so everyone got bitten up while cooking and hanging out by the fire. It was pretty miserable. Yes, I realize this is mostly our fault.

I’ve since purchased a thermacell backpacker and some bug net hats and stuff. I’m looking into constructing an ultralight screen house that can be suspended from trees.

The last problem was drunk campers hooting and hollering all night but that isn’t the camping areas fault.

This place is super close to where we are living so I’ll probably schedule it next spring and come prepared. There are lots of nearby lakes and recreational trails so it’s a fun place to be with family.

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.  All in all, it was an incredible time and I highly recommend it.  Staff was helpful with activities such as archery but, seldom seen if not directly helping with things.  It was nice to feel like we had the run of the place but, still know that help was available if we needed it.  The location is pretty great, off the beaten path but, within 30 minutes of major stores and conveniences. 
Laundry facilities would have been awesome since we were staying a full week but, there was a laundromat only about 15 minutes away. 
The food selection was about what you'd expect in a public school cafeteria and resulted in health-minded guests needing to make their own meals in the cabins and meals were VERY rushed, only allowing 30 minutes for our large group to get their food, eat and be out of the building. 
The grounds were well maintained for a rustic campground but, bathrooms and meeting buildings were adequately upgraded and offered pleasant amenities, such as a game room, large gym and decent air conditioning.  

We had a great time here and look forward to returning one day!

They take very good care of this campground.. Lots to do for kids!

Large sites, all full hookup. Plenty of onsight activities on the weekend. Large play areas, dog run, basketball court, lots of walking trails, and family friendly.

Very convenient for me we stay they and I can drive to work. Lots to do, kayaking , fishing, the blob much more. Clean and friendly

Nice family/ Christian campgrounds... ok for those who care not enjoy alcohol beverages while vacationing, great activities set up for the kids. Clean and cautious due to Covid as necessary. Definitely recommend to families w kids that are on the conservative side and would like to keep their faith religiously on sundays with service and etc. As well as always being actively filled. Had my step daughters 8th grade graduations done two years in a row there at their auditorium as well.

Has everything, store, ice cream shop, beach with small lake (with activities). Everyone is pretty packed in but nice shaded mature lots. I wouldn’t say rustic but the sites can be a bit hard to get into. They don’t level out very well.

Good, quiet campground (unless your on a site around the playground)lots to keep the kids busy, bonus ice cream store

Lots of things to do. climbing wall, zip line, swimming, fishing alot of pike,

Wooded lots very friendly

I paid for a lakefront site for $120 per night that came with a dock and boat. What I got was a swamp front site with no dock and no boat and was told they don’t do refunds by the cashier in the camp store. There was no manager to be found. It was clear that all of the lakefront sites are seasonal site…in fact most of the campground were seasonal sites. Don’t be one of the poor suckers that fell for this false advertising.

Have stayed several times and always have a great time! Plenty of activities planned and structured thru the grounds to keep the whole family entertained including PUTT PUTT Golf, Arcade, Saturday Night Adult Bingo weekly, and tons more!! You can stay as simply in a tent rustic style, accommodations for almost any style camper along with (2) Cottages for rent as well! Forget to pack something?! No Worries...they have you covered at their general store anywhere from a toothbrush, table cloth, soda, Lg homemade Pizzas, Subs and the best Ice Cream ever in their homemade waffle cones!! Nice get away far enough away but also close enough as well! Unplug and enjoy!

I grew up in Otter lake spent lot's of summers running around the campground and beach area. I haven't stayed in the campground for years but I have visited friends staying in the campground. The campground is right in town and there are a few stores you can walk to. There is a boat launch, park and a beach. This is a modern campground and has updated bathrooms with showers. Water and dump station. Sites have electrical hook ups. The beach area is nice and sandy, lots of places to fish.

We stayed for two nights, and enjoyed our stay for the most part. But our main reason to be there was to visit nearby Pictured rocks national lakeshore.
Otter lake itself is nice, and picturesque, i wish we'd had time to use our canoe to explore it, or even to take advantage of the beach. The grounds are full of trees and the sites are all shady.
 the owners are friendly, and it is very family oriented, kids everywhere. Although it's miles out of town, there is a nearby restaurant at Buckhorn resort. The camp store is rather minimal, and you can't get ice after it closes, so watch your cooler ( we didn't).
All in all, it's a very pretty getaway and I'd normally give it 4 stars except that we were staying in the rustic sites, and the is only one restroom. it's large and clean, but it's like 3 city blocks away. There's really no excuse not to have a couple porta-johns near those sites, especially since half of them have a view of a large shipping container in the overflow parking anyway.