Best RV Parks & Resorts near Hartford, MI

Absolutely lovely park! Spacing was generous between locations. We had a drive-in(forward) location(#10) overlooking the small lake. There was some interstate noise but it was more of a steady hum and not an issue at all. Other locations are further back- this is a very large RV park and spread out in different areas. All facilities were very clean. Nice place to walk around and get some exercise. We camped at Hidden Ridge RV Resort in a Motorhome.

Hidden Ridge is a modern RV resort within 8 minutes of Gun Lake and sandwiched between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. There is no tent camping available at this location.

All sites include a concrete pad, fire ring and full hook-up. 120/150 amp

Lots of activities for the whole family. There is a pool, hot tub, bounce pillow, splash pad. Children’s activities are planned throughout the week and adult activities, as well.

Gun Lake is crystal clear meaning you can see the sand/pebble bottom. There is fun to be had on this nice-sized Lake.

Not far from Hidden Ridge is a race track that is busy each weekend with all manner of race cars.

Clean family friendly RV Resort. Pool, hot tub, modern restrooms and showers, playground, laundry and bike rentals. I believe all the sites are full hookup, cable t.v. and wi/fi. Less than a mile to Lake Michigan and close to boat launch and Lake Macatawa.

Eden Springs Campground & RV Park in Benton Harbor, Michigan, run by camp manager Cindy, may well be one of our favorite small town parks! We are spending the month of August 2018 here and have found the venue quiet, well maintained, friendly and inexpensive ($375 for a month). I do not expect the prices to stay this low now that it has been “discovered”. They are working on adding an updated restroom, dog park and other facilities. The sites are large, level and spaced far apart from each other. We pulled in with a 42’ rig, pulling a 28’ hybrid trailer (total 70’) and easily pulled into our site without having to unhook. We had enough space to park a jeep in front of and and in back of the attached rig. The sites are designed so that no camper or RV faces a sewer connection. All of the hook ups are centrally located between two sites, with each rig having their driver side towards the hookups and their awning/entry sides facing the opposing side. Each site has a gravel space between them that could be traveled through, though campers all set up picnic tables, chairs and campfires there so practically there is no egress, thus privacy. This camp has the best WiFi of any camp we have ever stayed at. Some spots offer OTA TV and satellite reception. Ours did not as we chose to have a full tree canopy. Most of the sites offer Full Hookups with 30/50 amp service. The camp manager, Cindy, provides fire rings and picnic tables as requested, so, if you need either, just let her know when you call. The tables were clean and in good shape. The fire rings can be placed anywhere you want. As an aside, when a camper leaves, Cindy and her crew comes and removes the rings, cleaning up the residue so there is no mess left! The campground grass is cut routinely and “weed-whacked” as needed. Cindy has been one of the nicest hosts we have met on our travels. She is always pleasant, available as needed for emergencies and even delivered our mail one afternoon. She is a font of knowledge about the area and willing to share. Probably in keeping with her personality, the majority of the visitors here have been friendly, chatty and willing to help each other. The RV resort is about 10 minutes from St. Joseph, MI and multiple rural wineries in the area (a favorite pastime for my wife Audrey). St. Joseph’s is a small town located on Lake Michigan with excellent food, event venues and a lovely white sand beach. Be sure to stop at the Chocolate store in town & Silver Lake Pizza for a desert/dinner well worth the time. The town of Benton Harbor itself once was booming city/community, which has come into hard times, but we did not have any problems traveling around that area. This area also has a non-defunct amusement park attached to the campground which is being slowly renovated by a group of volunteers. They have restored several of the buildings, a fountain and a miniature train which takes visitors on a 1/4 mile ride on Saturday/Sunday. Additionally, the camp is home to it’s own 1800’s era baseball team which plays home and away games in the old bare handed style! Behind the camp is a now mostly abandoned religious enclave called the House of David which was started in the late 1800’s/ early 1900’s (Google it!). Some interesting architecture and several restored mansions for the 5 remaining members of the group. I recommend this park for someone wanting a quiet, clean stay.

We had a great time at Hidden Ridge RV Resort. This is part of the Sun RV Resort group, which is a national chain. It’s a little pricier than other camp grounds but you get what you pay for. All sites are good size sites with a cement pad and very green grass. It is also very well run and maintained. Some of the things they have to do are swimming pool, playground, basketball courts, fishing, kayaking, jump pad, and lots of paved roads for bike riding. Because of the size of this campground most people get around by golf cart. We rented a golf cart from them, which our kids had a blast just going for rides around the campground. One downside to this place is there is not much shade. Most of the bigger trees are around the perimeter so most sites are in the sun all day. Overall we had a great time though and would definitely go back.

I have camped here a couple of times while visiting northern Indiana to have repairs done on my RV. Overall, I like this campground where for $30/night you can get a 50 amp full hook-up site or $23/night a 30 amp and water site. If you plan on staying longer weekly and monthly rates are really good. The campground sits in the middle of the county fairgrounds so there is usually something going on – either a fair, concert, horse event, or an RV rally. Depending on what time of year you are here and part of the week, the campground could be very crowded or very empty. The nice thing is the people in the office let you pick whatever site you want and don’t assign one to you. There are 275 full hook-up sites with 50 amp full hook-up and 30 amp water & electric only. There are no fires allowed and some sites don’t have picnic tables but you can request one and they will bring it to your site.

There is very little shade and during my last visit the late September fall temperatures climbed to nearly 90 degrees and was brutal. This campground is better suited for RVs than tents but you are permitted to tent camp. Bathrooms and showers are scattered about and I was amazed at always how clean they (and the grounds as a whole) are. They do offer WiFi which worked pretty well in non-peak hours like early morning but was not reliable and sometimes frustrating. Since many sites have a clear view of the sky, you most likely will get satellite television reception and a dozen or so antenna channels.

One of the things I like about this park is the vast expanse of grounds to wander about walking my dog. There is a trail system just outside of the park that allows you miles and miles of walking and biking trails. Downtown Goshen is less than two miles away and has some great restaurants (including Venturi Pizza, Maple Indian Cuisine – which has an awesome buffet, and Goshen Brewing Company). The Saturday farmers market is great with lots of produce, breads, meats, cheeses, and crafts.

The last time I visited coincided with the Mennonite Relief Fund which was a big fund raiser for their charity that packed the grounds with stuff for sale, food, and activities. It was fun to be there during the event but it meant the campground and grounds were packed.

Now for the bad about this campground. It is located right next to very busy train tracks that operate 24/7 and blow their horns quite often. They were really annoying in the middle of the night. Sites are close together so if it is crowded and you have a neighbor, you will be right on top of them. There is no shade which can be very miserable.

Pros:

· Price - $30/night for a 50 amp full hook-up site

· Nearby downtown stores and restaurants

· Sites are not assigned so you can pick where you want to camp

· Grassy patios

· Large grounds to meander around

· Nearby biking/walking trail

Cons:

· Very noisy from nearby trains operated at all hours

· Few trees for shade or privacy

· Some sites are very tight and close to your neighbor

· Can be very crowded

· WiFi provided but not reliable

We were passing through and decided to stop for frozen custard at the stand right next to the campground. The first review for this place did not seem very inviting but a more recent one was a little more positive. After checking it out, I thought it could use a little reinforcement of the positives! I’m not sure if there have been new owners since the first review but I received a very friendly greeting, and the office is open from 9 am– 8 pm and clearly marked as the place to check-in. 

There are many options here: back-in or pull-thru tent sites, w/e sites, full hook-up sites, camper cabins, and fully equipped cabins. The campsites range from $32-$46 per night and the cabins range from $69-$144 per night. Sites 47-52 are close to the road so you will hear road noise, but Sites 11-35 are farther from the road and are more shaded. The layout is RV park style but there is reasonable separation between the sites. 

The restrooms have a code for entry, and I did not see the inside of these.

Amenities include:

- a community fire pit

-  game room with television

- guest laundry 

- dump station

- gift shop

- pet friendly options

 -WiFi

- There is, of course, an ice cream/frozen custard stand that I dare you to resist. 

While we would not consider it a destination, we would definitely consider camping here en route – the price is reasonable, and the staff is friendly and welcoming.

Clean and large campsites, with full hook up for campers and RVs. Cade Lake can be seen from most campsites which adds to the scenery. Biking or walking trails, with frisbee golf course. We have been here twice and will probably go here once every year at least

Quiet county campground with full hook up, staff helpful nice facility.  Very family friendly

This is a  membership campground.  It is a few miles from Kalamazoo MI and it a beautiful area.  Really does need to be updated.  Not all campsites are full hook ups.  If you are looking for a great tent area around the lake this is it.  You can fish, play and just enjoy yourself.  They have areas for the kids to play and for adults to relax.  

The Facilities need to be updated, no laundry and no internet.  The campsites are a good size but those we found are not very level.  I love the option of walking around the campground as there are up and down and one really big huge hill.  They need to fix there entry parking lot or you will get lost in the huge pot hole.  I would go back as it is a Coast to Coast and it is OK for $10 a night. 

The area the campsite is located is a great country area and is very wooded.  

If you have a family and like to fish it is a great place for you.  If you like tent camping go for it.  If you like amenties like laundry and level sites find another one.

Love this local family run campground! Kids had a blast fishing, swimming in the pool, playing in the gagaball pit. Clean bathhouse. Full hook ups and rustic camping available. Campsites are easy to get into with plenty of room to get situated. Close to town and fairly short drive to Lake Michigan.

We stayed here through Thousand Trails, so I don't know if it's normal operating procedure, but the sites were first come first serve. We were coming from a few hours away on a Friday afternoon, so we were sent to the left when we arrived. It wasn't clearly marked, so we got a little stuck and scraped up our rig. For better or worse, there was zero light in the area we were in, so it was hard to back into our spot. We ended up in an area where it seemed everyone was seasonal and not actually at the site, so it was very quiet. 

There were wifi repeaters all over the place (though it wasn't free) and once it was light out, we took a walk around the grounds. It's very pretty and the other side of the campground (to the right when you come in) was much more busy. That's where the playground was. We hit Warren Dunes State Park (20-25 minutes away?) and found a farm to do the pumpkin & corn maze stuff that happens in the rural Midwest in Autumn. The Bear Cave was closed and they weren't doing tours when we went, but we found it and could peak in. Looks like it would be cool to check out. No clue how big it is though.

I would stay here again, but would also consider alternatives when I go back to the area.

Easy registration, friendly staff. Older campground, areas could upgrades. Most campers seem to be long term. Campsite 42 has a great overlook on the river. Site had some trash that needed picking up. We really liked the site.
The pool looked nice. Some people were swimming in the river. The river is good for boats and pontoons.
There is a waterfall, maybe 12'-16' tall. Bear cave (if it was Bear cave) is locked up and not much to see. Overall this is a nice campground and we would return.

This is a modern campground with full hook-ups and cement parking areas. It is a newer campground, so there is not an old-growth canopy shading the sites. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Some sites are pull-throughs. Tent camping is allowed, but most campers have RVs.

There is a bath house with good showers.

The park also has a lake with a beach, although I have never been in it.

This campground has a great location for people who want to visit Kalamazoo. One downside is that there are train tracks that run near the campground and sometimes the engines idle for extended periods at night.

We enjoyed our stay at the Shipshewana Trading Place RV Park. When we arrived the camper that had the site prior to us had not vacated yet and it was 2:00 pm in the afternoon. It took them about an hour, and we were able to enjoy our site. That might be a short coming of this park is that there is no staff on site on Sundays. The Park offers mainly alternating pull-through sites which means you will be facing your neighbor’s door not their street side of the camper. This makes for great buddy sites. It is a crushed limestone/asphalt drives with grass in between the sites. The trees are not mature, so no shade is really offered. This is a full hookup park, and you will need to provide your own fire ring. Even though we did use the bathroom/shower/laundry facility there are clean. The great thing about this park is it offers you access to the Flea Market. They also offer RV repairs both at their facility tied to the park or at your site. 

Things we found to do in the area the flea market, visiting Shipshewana, Middlebury, and Elkhart, Windmill Museum, Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, RV Hall of Fame Museum, and the Pumpkin Bike Trail, Michiana Events Center, Blue Gate Theater. Trip the area can’t go without stop to the Das Essenhaus or a new little favorite restaurant in Middlebury On Top of the Hill.

If you like to camp in a parking lot, like Walmart or Cracker Barrel, you will love this lake side campground- it's a parking lot! 

PROS 

Toilet/shower facilities very clean 

2 bars TMOBILE 

Walking distance to Lake Michigan 

Rangers strictly enforced beach closure each evening- lots of sirens. 

CONS 

Pricy state park camping at $53/night for full hook up

$8 Fee to make on-line reservations 

Since out of state, we had to purchase a $39 Michigan State Park Permit in addition to paying for campsite 

No senior or veteran discount 

Campground is one big asphalt parking lot with painted lines to delineate each site. Absolutely no privacy from any other campsite. 

Camping is slammed together as tow vehicles have to be parked next to camper/RV insufficient space to park in front of camper/RV 

Must check-in before going to campground even with on-line reservation and payment in full 

3pm check-in was strictly enforced--there was quite a line of RVs backed up at 230pm. Once registration opened it took us 20 minutes to register. 

Needed plumbers tape to connect hose to site water faucet 

Waist high weeds behind campsites 

No shade and most of time too windy to deploy awning 

No security gate closure overnight. 

Anyone can drive through or walk in from the beach. 

Lots of drive thrus by non campers 

No campfire rings or lantern poles at campsites 

Lots of campfire debris dumped behind campsites from those who bring their own fire pit and charcoal grills 

Site 396 not level 

No park WIFI

Great find, off the beaten path.  En Gedi Campground and Canoe Livery is family owned and operated. In all they have about 30 campsites and a few cabins available.  There are four full hook-up sites and the rest are water/electric.  The electric is 30 amp.  The sites are pretty large and all grass.  There is a sewer dump site near the office with potable water also available.  There are two full restrooms and four showers available.  There are lots of things for the kids to do.  They have many games, some are organized as well as a inflatable bounce house.  This is a Christian campground and therefore has two church services, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.  All are welcome though at both the campground as well as the church service. There is a nice deck platform overlooking the St Joseph River.  One can swim in the river at their own risk.  Overall, the campground is a great value.  We camped on site #22 which is water/electric and we paid $35/night.  We camped here over Memorial Day weekend and even with a full campground, it was still very quiet and peaceful.

Holland State Park is popular for its expansive sandy beach along Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa where swimming, sun bathing, fishing, and boating are popular activities. Holland SP has two campgrounds – the Lake Macatawa Unit and the Beach Campground (which is where we stayed and the focus of this review). The Beach Campground is essentially a parking lot as the sites, patios and roads are paved with little grass among them. It is nestled between dunes which adds to the scenic value and blocks the strong winds coming off of Lake Michigan. The Lake Unit campground is much larger (211 campsites) than the Beach Campground and has more of a state park feel with trees, grass, and fire pits. 

Site description:

The Beach Campground has 98 RV sites of which 31 are 50 amp full hook-up and two camper cabins.  Some sites towards the northern section of the park have great views of Lake Michigan but be warned that strong winds can come off the lake and really shake your RV.  When we were there in early May the winds were very strong with blowing sand which made us really glad we were not near the water.

Campsites are plenty wide to fit your RV with slide outs and car next to it without feeling cramped. Utilities are at the very back of the site so you may need an extension for your sewer hose. All sites were level. Every site has a picnic table. There are no fire pits at individual sites but community ones are located near the beach and you are permitted to use your own fire pit if you have one. 

We were able to get nearly two dozen television stations with our antenna and had no problem locking into a satellite with our roof-mounted dish. Verizon phone and hotspot worked well. 

So is this park big rig-friendly? In general, yes. Our site was certainly long (and wide) enough to fit our RV and the tow car next to it. However, we did have the back five feet overhanging the sand at the back of the site. This was no problem for us because our stabilizing jacks are in between our back tires. We were also there at a time when the park was fairly empty so backing in and pulling out was no problem. The sites are all set at an angle to the main road which makes backing easier. 

Campground amenities:

By far the beach is the biggest draw to the campground. The wide beach lures sunbathers out in warm weather and is popular for a walk at sunset.  There is a playground, picnic area, community fire pits, dump station, boat launch and concession stand. There is one restroom/shower house that was very clean but no laundry facilities.

What we liked:

We loved that fact that this campground was so close to water and the nice paved path for walking and hiking trails in the main part of the campground. Within 50 yards from our site we could be walking along Lake Macatawa or along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan. The beach is wide and expansive and is the place to be for awesome sunsets. When we were there the beach was not crowded because it was cold and windy but it would be a great place to enjoy a good book under an umbrella. Definitely liked the fact that this was a full hook-up state park with level sites.

What we didn’t like:

The park is essentially a parking lot with little grass and trees. What really surprised us was how many cars drove through the campground that were not staying there. There apparently are no restrictions on who drives through the park so many day-use visitors came by just for a look resulting in unnecessary traffic.

Be advised there is a “no alcohol” policy in the park and campground and you have to sign a piece of paper saying you will abide by that rule. The rule states that “Possessing or consuming alcohol is prohibited in all areas of the park throughout the entire year” even inside your RV. 

In order to enter the state park you must have a Michigan Recreation Passport which costs $32 for an annual non-resident OR you have to pay $11/day to enter the park even if you are camped there. 

Pet:

There are plenty of places to walk dogs here and access points to water if your dog likes to swim. Unfortunately, they are not allowed on the beach but there is a long walking path and within the main part of the park are miles of hiking trails and a nice overlook.  This park does not have an unleashed dog park; however, there is one within five miles at the fairgrounds.

This is a tough park to get into in the warm months. The back up to get in is crazy. The staff at the booths move things along, but the cars were still backed up a mile.

 There are 2 campgrounds. The Lake Macatawa campground is across the street from a small beach on the Macatawa Lake. This is a wooded campground. The sites are pretty tight as is usual for a Michigan State Park. This is where you check in to camp here & at the beach campground. Don't forget or you'll have to turn around & come back! 

The best thing about the beach campground is it's closer to Lake Michigan & the campground has beach access. No dogs or bikes on the beach. Sounds good if it was actually enforced. We saw no one getting yelled at, so go ahead & do what you want! 

 The campground is surrounded by sand dunes on both sides.

 This campground is entirely on asphalt. You're not allowed to put anything on the sand- including tents! Crazy.

 There's no fire rings at the beach sites. Bring a portable if you want a fire.

 The interior sites up to the shower house have full hook up. All others are electric only. There's one restroom/shower house for the whole campground. The showers are individual & we had no trouble getting one in the late afternoon. They look recently remodeled & were SUPER clean!

   The best campsite is 348. This site gives you a good view of the beach outside your rig. Other good campsites are 347 & 349, but your door faces away from the beach.

 There are trees by the following campsites: 305/309/319/321/323/331. They won't give you a lot of shade, but they look nice.

 I would recommend getting a site North of the bath house. You have a shorter walk to the beach. There's a double dump station& that's where you also fill up your water tanks. There's also dumpsters there.

Great family owned for generations. Not many private campgrounds around anymore. Close to holland city activities. Sites are level with full hookups 50 amp. Owners are very accommodating to your needs. Bathrooms are old but very clean. Might be filled up during holidays. Easy access off highway.