45 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Goodells, Michigan range from established state parks to private facilities, with several options within a short drive. The area features developed campgrounds like Ruby Campground in Avoca, Lakeport State Park along Lake Huron's shoreline, and multiple KOA locations in Port Huron and Emmett. These facilities provide a mix of accommodation types including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Most campgrounds in the region remain open from late April through mid-October, with a few offering year-round access, particularly along the Lake Huron shoreline.
Access to camping areas varies widely across seasons, with most facilities offering full amenities during summer months. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly for weekend stays and holiday periods. "This is probably the best campground in Michigan. Lots of activities to do. Swimming pools, bicycles for rent, playgrounds, pizza, children's train, etc. Campsites are wide and accessible, clean, nice staff," noted one visitor about Port Huron KOA. Utilities and hookups are common at the established sites, with most offering electric, water, and sewer connections. Cell service can be spotty depending on provider, with Verizon particularly noted as having limited coverage in some areas. Winter camping options become more limited, with only a few facilities maintaining operations through the colder months.
The camping experience near Goodells features a mix of family-friendly facilities and quieter natural settings. Ruby Campground receives consistently positive reviews for its peaceful riverside setting and well-maintained grounds. A camper described it as "the most wholesome cute campground I've ever been to. It has a family owned summer camp vibe and the owners are very kind and helpful." Larger facilities like the KOAs offer extensive amenities including swimming pools, playgrounds, and organized activities, making them popular for families with children. Visitors seeking a more rustic experience can find options at Algonac State Park or P.L. Graham Park, where primitive camping areas provide a quieter atmosphere. Some campgrounds in the region have dedicated waterfront sites, particularly those along Lake Huron, which tend to be reserved quickly during peak summer months.
"Right off Lake Michigan. Great trails for easy bike riding. Helpful, friendly staff"
"Lakeport is one of the hidden gems in Michigan. We all have heard that you can find Petoskey Stones in Northern Michigan, well.... look no further!!!!!"
from $21 - $120 / night
Check Availability"This is probably the best campground in Michigan. Lots of activities to do. Swimming pools, bicycles for rent, playgrounds, pizza, children's train, etc."
"Tons to for kids, multiple pools including a zero entry, jumping pillow, ice cream stores, old west town hayrides, train rides($), multiple parks, and next to small water park."
"The drive is short and there are plenty of amenities to keep the kiddos busy all day."
"We will definitely come back when it is warm enough to swim in the lake!"
"We stayed a couple nights. but were gone all day at some family functions close by. It was a good set up for us. Staff was friendly and helpful."
"I've stayed all over michigan, and this is one of the best. Your right close to the water, so you can watch the ships. I was very comfortable here, and I had my dog."
"Great campground with access to the beautiful St. Clair River as it runs between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair."
from $28 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Right off the highway. Clean. $69/night for a pad with power. We have a pop up tent and a utility trailer. Nice pool. Showers and sitewide wifi."
from $44 - $52 / night
Check Availability"We showed up fresh off the road from AZ starting a new life here in the great state of Michigan. Two gentlemen met us right at the entrance they seemed to be doing work around the area."
"You drive up the entrance of the park, and on your right there'll be a trailer with a sign that says parking. You will park your car there over night/during the day."
from $15 / night
"The park has a beautiful 2.5 mile trail around the lake that makes this campground great. We brought our own kayaks but they do rent boats. We saw deer and rabbit."
"Cell phone tower is close by. We especially enjoy the intermediate level mountain bike trails. Showers are hot. Lots of deer to see at dusk."
TravelerVery nice people, Lake Huron is just a few steps away. Very clean bathrooms, Beautiful park, we ordered Jets pizza and they delivered it to our site, no wifi but thats okay with me
GuideAs usual, there's only electric at sites, but the pedestals seem fairly new, and tight. South loop is nicely wooded & has a newer, larger restroom/shower building, not much lake view. The north loop is a little less wooded, with the NW end having a little better lake views, but a pretty ancient restroom/shower facility.
Across the lake is the day use area with a beach and concession stand. (There's a small camp store in the north loop.)
ADA Only sites are asphalt paved. Some of the regular sites could be a challenge to get level on, but the rangers told me they have wood blocks for loan if you don't have enough.
Our first night & a half, we had some terrible neighbors two sites over. Constant profanities, yelling at & threatening their kids... real dirtbags. Rangers booted them from the park! Good to see them taking such positive action. I have not run into a single staff member here that wasn't pleasant.
This was our first time here. A test run, since it's only an hour from home (but feels farther). We'll be back for sure. (Especially with gas prices so high anymore.)
T-Mobile was only slow LTE at our site, but our Starlink worked perfectly at our site. Might be harder to get a clear shot in the more wooded areas of the park.
ScoutMy husband and I actually took our first camping trip in our new camper to this location, but we are novice when it comes to campgrounds. It was nice because there was always an attendant at the office to help. They gave clear and concise directions. The grounds were impeccable. Everything looked fantastic. We have even considered being seasonal here because it is so beautiful.
TravelerPretty with trees, although you do have very open views if you like more growth... weekend activities... family park, you need to be able to walk a ways to enjoy all their games, activities and beach...
ScoutHusband and wife owners that are extremely rude Husband has the attitude of I own this here water wife is the mother of all Karen's. You usually pay to swim here but they ruined that and took that away cause they own that there water merica can't wait for the new owners!!!
GuideClean and well maintained, but no early check-ins before 3pm and no drones.
The beach is minimal and on the other side of a major road.
TravelerBeautiful location with nice amenities. Love the beach and the cabins look fantastic. Staff is friendly and accommodating
ScoutThey used to have wooded walking trails fenced off now. Their Laundry machines don't work we lost $ 25 dollars to their Laundry machines and they don't fix them they are out sourced and their game rooms just as bad you want to play games and can't it's takes your money and you can't do anything again outsourced and they do nothing spent $ 20 trying to let me kids play games that didn't work otherwise when we went quiet cozy campground
GuideThere's a gun range here that you'll hear during the day. It's not too bad.
Mixture of electric only sites, with a small amount of FHU sites. Some sites are crowded together, so be aware. On the FHU sites, some hookups are stupidly far from your pad. Better have a 50' fresh water hose, and 20'+ for sewer. I'm not kidding. At other FHU sites, you'll almost have to crawl under your slide out to get at the sewer hookup. They did a stupid job laying out some of this. Still though, it's a decent place, not much for the kids, but ours have fun there running around.
Just watch out for those that don't respect the speed limit... there's a lot of those here, and rangers don't seem to care.
Camping options near Goodells, Michigan span across both county and state parks with variable facilities depending on location and season. The area sits within Michigan's Thumb region at elevations between 600-800 feet above sea level, with camping seasons typically running April through October. Winter camping is limited to designated sites at certain facilities that maintain services through colder months.
Rock collecting along shorelines: At Lakeport State Park Campground, Lake Huron's shoreline offers exceptional rock hunting opportunities. "I have found the most beautiful Petoskey Stones at Lakeport. I have also found a large pudding stone. My husband brings his chair down to the water and I walk the shore for hours looking for rocks," notes one visitor who recommends booking six months in advance for weekend stays.
Hiking accessible trails: The trail system at Addison Oaks County Park includes 26 miles of paths for various skill levels. A camper mentioned, "Tons of trails for hiking and biking. They have kids activities on the weekends, a lake for swimming, great playgrounds and everything is really clean." The park maintains paved sections suitable for all mobility levels.
Freighter watching: Camp at Algonac State Park to observe large ships traveling the St. Clair River. "Freighters come by at all times of the day," reports one camper. The riverfront sites provide direct views of international shipping traffic passing between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair.
Clean, updated facilities: Many campsites near Goodells maintain modern bathhouses and amenities. A visitor to Lakeport State Park Campground appreciated that "the bathrooms are updated and clean with enough room so you don't have to wait. They have a lovely camp store right by the beach with all kinds of goodies."
Peaceful riverside settings: The smaller Ruby Campground in nearby Avoca offers a quieter experience. "This is a fitting name for this gem. It has a family owned summer camp vibe and the owners are very kind and helpful. The grounds are very well managed, it's right on a river, it's quiet, peaceful," writes a visitor who particularly noted the quality firewood sold at reasonable prices.
Diverse camping sections: Many parks offer distinct camping areas with different atmospheres. At Lakeport State Park, "the northern section seems to be the louder section and the southern section seems to be the more laid back quiet section. The south section has more of a woodsy outdoor feel while the north section has more of an open space, smaller lots, crowded feel."
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly, especially on weekends. For popular sites, book months ahead. The smaller P.L. Graham Park & Campground operates differently: "This is a first come, first served campground. There is ample space between campgrounds. A fire pit is located at each of the sites."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly by provider and location. At St. Clair RV Resort, one camper noted: "This place is beautiful and we'll absolutely be back! The entire facility was clean and staff couldn't have been friendlier. The only downside was the abysmal Verizon signal. I'm talking 3 mbps bad."
Road conditions: Some campgrounds have maintenance issues affecting vehicle access. A visitor to Algonac State Park warned: "We were super excited to bring our brand new trailer to camp here but could not believe the disrepair of the campground roads. Sooo many ruts that I was deeply concerned for the undercarriage of both my truck and camper."
Activity-focused campgrounds: Port Huron KOA offers extensive recreation options. "Plenty of friendly staff. The site offers a lot of activities including pools, put put golf and play areas for the kids. The grounds are well kept," notes a recent visitor, though they caution about the prevalence of golf carts throughout the facility.
Beach considerations: Beaches in the region often have rocky shorelines. At Lakeport State Park, a camper advises: "The beach was rocky so don't forget to pack some water shoes but the rocky beach comes with finding cool rocks to either paint or just collect! (We left with a whole cooler filled)."
Quieter family options: For less crowded family experiences, seek smaller campgrounds. At Emmett KOA, a visitor found: "This is our favorite campground! On the smaller side but perfect for our small family. Playground for the kids, tons of activities on the weekend. Fishing is great! Beach is big and clean."
Site selection strategies: Choose sites strategically based on dump station location. At Lakeport State Park, "If you are considering staying in the North Section, you may not want to stay in sites 83-110 as those are on the path that all the RVs take to the dump station."
Parking constraints: Some parks have specific parking rules. At P.L. Graham Park, "You drive up the entrance of the park, and on your right there'll be a trailer with a sign that says parking. You will park your car there over night/during the day. But you can drive up close to the campsite for you to unload your car."
Electrical capacity issues: Monitor power usage during peak seasons. A visitor to Lakeport State Park learned: "They have to upgrade the electrical system on the southern side and they have closed some campsites in the south in order to help with the electricity issue. Apparently, some sites were losing power because there wasn't enough energy to support all of the lots in the southern side."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Goodells County Park located in Michigan?
Goodells County Park is located in Goodells, Michigan, in St. Clair County. It sits in the eastern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, approximately 20 miles west of Port Huron and Lake Huron. For context, Algonac State Park Campground is about 30 minutes south along the St. Clair River, while Lakeport State Park Campground is roughly 25 minutes northeast on the shores of Lake Huron. The park is easily accessible from major highways and serves as a convenient outdoor destination for visitors from Detroit, Flint, and southern Ontario.
What special events are held at Goodells County Park?
Goodells County Park hosts various community events throughout the year, though specific event details should be verified with the park office. For comparison, nearby Groveland Oaks County Park offers special seasonal activities including mini golf tournaments, water slide events, and family recreation programs. Many Michigan county parks like Addison Oaks County Park typically feature summer festivals, holiday celebrations, and outdoor concerts. Check Goodells County Park's official website or call their office for their current event calendar.
How much does it cost to camp at Goodells County Park?
Camping fees at Goodells County Park are typically moderate and in line with other county parks in Michigan. For price comparison, nearby Port Huron KOA offers full-service camping with corresponding higher rates, while state parks like Pontiac Lake Recreation Area charge standard Michigan DNR rates (approximately $25-35 per night for residents). Goodells County Park may offer discounts for county residents and potentially seasonal rate variations. Contact the park directly or visit the St. Clair County Parks website for current pricing information and reservation details.
What camping facilities are available at Goodells County Park?
Goodells County Park offers basic camping facilities that typically include designated camping areas, picnic tables, and access to restrooms. For more extensive camping amenities in the region, consider McGinnis Lake Modern Campground which features heavily wooded sites, group camping areas, and access to kayaking lakes and hiking trails. Another option is Camp Agawam in Orion Township, known for its well-maintained facilities. When planning your stay at Goodells, contact the park office directly to confirm current amenities, reservation requirements, and any seasonal facility limitations.
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