Best Campgrounds near Goodrich, MI
State recreation areas and county parks surround Goodrich, Michigan, creating a diverse camping landscape within a 30-minute drive. Holly Recreation Area's McGinnis Lake Modern Campground offers heavily wooded sites with excellent hiking and biking trails, while Groveland Oaks County Park provides family-oriented camping with extensive recreational amenities including swimming beaches, playgrounds, and boat rentals. Seven Lakes State Park Campground features year-round access with both lakeside and wooded sites. The region supports various camping styles from modern RV sites with full hookups to rustic tent camping, with several properties offering cabin and yurt rentals for those seeking alternatives to traditional camping.
Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for summer weekends when lakefront campgrounds fill quickly. Most state recreation areas require a Michigan Recreation Passport for entry, while county parks typically charge separate entrance and camping fees. The camping season varies by property, with some parks like Holly Recreation Area and Seven Lakes State Park operating year-round, while others like Groveland Oaks County Park run from late April through early October. As one camper noted, "The lake has a small shallow swimming area and beach that gets very busy during the day but less traffic right before sunset." Insect activity can be significant in summer months, with several reviewers mentioning the need for mosquito protection, especially in rustic camping areas.
Many campgrounds in the area feature water recreation as their primary attraction, with fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities widely available. Campers frequently mention the quality of hiking trails, particularly at Holly Recreation Area where one visitor praised the "excellent hike/bike trails." Site privacy varies considerably, with some campgrounds offering spacious, well-separated sites while others place campsites closer together. Weekday camping typically provides a quieter experience, as noted by a recent visitor who reported, "During the weekdays I only had a few neighbors further down in tents or travel trailers. On Thursday almost all sites filled up." Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, though signal strength may vary at more remote sites within the recreation areas.