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Fort Custer Recreation Area's spacious campsites with natural divides between them accommodate pet owners looking for outdoor adventures. Most sites have electrical hookups with a mix of 30 and 50 amp service options. Dogs must be kept on a leash throughout the campground area, though pets can enjoy the multiple lakes and extensive trail system with their owners. The large, quiet sites provide good seclusion from neighboring campers, making it comfortable for those traveling with pets. The park spans three lakes with fishing access and beach areas for recreation. The bathrooms and shower facilities are well maintained and kept reasonably clean during peak camping months.
Gun Lake Campground in Yankee Springs Recreation Area provides another pet-friendly option with both electric hookups and fire pits at each site. The campground's proximity to water makes it popular for campers bringing dogs who enjoy swimming. Miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails wind through the wooded areas, perfect for daily walks with leashed dogs. Campers traveling with pets should be aware that mosquitoes can be prevalent in the wooded, sometimes swampy areas, especially during summer months. Bug spray is essential for both humans and pets when using the trails. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with Fort Custer Recreation Area being one of the few open year-round, offering winter camping opportunities for those with properly equipped RVs or cold-weather camping gear.
"Love going there to ride the trails or walk my dogs the lakes are awesome great beach Great fishing awesome picnic areas nice boat launch. Most campsites are big with trees in between."
"Fort Custer is a hidden gem in Michigan. Nobody thinks to go camping near Battle Creek, but they really should reconsider!"
from $21 - $108 / night
Check Availability"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)."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Stayed at 113 on the small lake. Narrow spot but behind is a fire pit and small dock to drop in a canoe/kayak. Bathrooms and shower was spotless."
"property, recently renovated. ( one still finishing renovations as of 4/16/22) Beach area for swimming
Two playgrounds
Field for play, basketball net, volleyball court, and state park trailers near by"
from $34 - $115 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"This is also a short drive away from tons of beautiful walking paths."
"Dog friendly! I've been coming here since I was a kid. I recommend you stay at this place."
from $30 - $100 / night
Check Availability"There are paved trails and a beach in the park. The Kalamazoo Nature Center is only a couple miles away for many more miles of beautiful trails."
"Nice county park with paved roads, campsites, and walking paths. Very dog friendly. Plenty of trees for natural setting and sound buffering. Quiet and peaceful overnight stay."
from $35 - $40 / night
Check Availability"They have themed weekends filled with activities for both adults and children and have a pool, pizza and ice cream, jumping pillow, clubhouse, fishing, playground, dog park, and so much more!"
"There is a pond for cat and release fishing, and a great slip and slide for the kids on a hot day. Lots of room for biking, and the Christmas in July decorations have been a lot of fun."
from $50 - $70 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Nice big lake with access to multiple docks. They hosted a bbq and fireworks while we were there."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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
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ScoutClean and nice little park with a cool "trading post" with nice merchandise, snacks and food. They have a dog park and trails on the property with a longer bike trail that runs alongside the campground. They had a band one night and an ice cream truck come through the next. Would recommend!
LegendHolland 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.
GuideI grew up coming here and they had expanded a lot on it in the last few years. You will never be bored and it is a true resort feeling, you will forget your camping! They have themed weekends filled with activities for both adults and children and have a pool, pizza and ice cream, jumping pillow, clubhouse, fishing, playground, dog park, and so much more!
ScoutThe staff is very friendly and helpful. There are activities for young and old and everyone in between. The showers are clean and spacious. They have campsites to meet everyone's desires. Pets are welcome here with two fenced dog runs and trails to keep the owners exercised. I love this place and have made it a regular stop.
Guide29 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. Some hiking trails...short. is next to a busy road, so traffic all night. Staff was great! Showers and bathrooms cleaned multiple times a day. Pet friendly. Would stay here again!
ScoutThis is always my go to campground! All natural camping with plenty of nice people! One word of advise is to bring your own tp though lol they seem to always run out on Sunday mornings lol but are back up and running by mid afternoon. No showers and just outhouses but that's REAL camping right!!!? No power motor lake but there is another lake close by that is. We take the canoe with a trolling motor and hit that as well. Pet friendly. They have horse campsites and trails. Walking trails around the lake that offer nature at it's purest! I have been coming to this lake to camp for over 40 years and I hope I have 40 more years left!!!
ScoutPet friendly. Great camp store. Clean campground. Nice beach. Beautiful!!
TravelerThis campground is great, it's only 25 minutes from Grand Haven beach. The sites are well treed and flat! Lots of the activities within the park, they have a small petting zoo, sky pad, playground. Several cottages in the park as well. Well be back.
TravelerGreat rates! Lots of stuff to keep our 2 year old granddaughter busy and entertained. Everyone is friendly. They have a little cafe and ice cream shop with yummy treats! Showers and bathrooms are kept very clean, and the pool is nice. Our granddaughters favorite is the bounce pad and the petting zoo.
The Hickory Corners camping region in Michigan sits at approximately 900 feet above sea level within the state's southwestern lake country. This area features numerous inland lakes and wooded recreation areas within a 20-mile radius. Summer temperatures typically range from 60-85°F with higher humidity levels and occasional thunderstorms.
Fishing opportunities: Cold Brook County Park offers multiple options for anglers. "Lots of lake for small boating, kayaking. Fishing pier to fish off," notes Nellie, who appreciates the country setting that remains "close enough to towns if you need anything."
Hiking trail networks: The Yankee Springs Recreation Area contains miles of interconnected trails. "There are a couple hundred sites and most of them were full. Our site was on the far end of a loop. This meant a longer walk to the restrooms and showers. On the other hand, we were right across from an access trail to the blue hiking trail," shares Art S. about Fort Custer Recreation Area.
Mountain biking: The trail system at Fort Custer is designed for riders of various skill levels. Joel K. explains, "We camped and rode (again) at Fort Custer. We've been here 2x before (once in a cabin and once in tents) and this has now officially become a favorite...we loved our site as it's close to the trails for riding."
Swimming and lake activities: Cold Brook County Park provides a natural swimming area. "Swimming beach with sand. Nice country setting yet close enough to towns if you need anything," remarks Nellie, highlighting the family-friendly amenities.
Site privacy: Many campgrounds offer good separation between sites. "Michigan State park with large sites and lots of privacy. $25 per night with electric. Several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing," Janet N. says about Fort Custer Recreation Area. She adds, "I loved the lack of lights in the park at night making for a beautiful night sky."
Lake access: Direct water access ranks high with campers at Deep Lake Rustic Campground. "The sites over looking Deep Lake are wonderful if you can snag one. This is a rustic campground and they have NO electricity or water and many are smaller tent sites. But the peace and quiet is great," Mary Z. reports.
Full hookup availability: RVers appreciate the complete services at Markin Glen County Park. "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. Campsites are 50 feet long which will fit any size RV," notes Nancy W.
Pet friendly options: Several campgrounds welcome dogs throughout the Hickory Corners region. Yankee Springs Recreation Area has sites suitable for pet owners, while Deep Lake allows pets with standard leash requirements.
Insect preparation: Bugs can be prevalent, particularly in summer months. "Lots need mowing so lots of bugs, bring insect repellent," advises Cathy Y. about her experience at Fort Custer Recreation Area.
Train noise: Some campgrounds have railway lines nearby. "Sites 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, and 27 are the closest to railroad tracks that are about 30 yards away," warns Nancy W. about Markin Glen County Park. "One bad aspect of this campground is that it is very close to a railroad track which is pretty annoying when the train is sitting there for hours getting loaded."
Seasonal availability: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. Jessica R. notes about Deep Lake, "Lots of sites available! Disappointed that it was not open year round but the trails are still open. There's a beautiful lake to fish and kayak. Tons of hiking trails!!"
Water access limitations: Some lakes have specific restrictions. "Great rustic sites! Beautiful and wooded. Would be perfect if your into mountain biking as has great trails," explains Joie V. about the Deep Lake area in Yankee Springs.
Playground access: Look for campgrounds with dedicated play areas. "Family friendly, quiet, disc golf, fishing, playground for kids," says Margaret M. about Cold Brook County Park.
Beach options: For families with children, swimming areas are important. Bailey C. enthuses about Camp Michawana, "This campsite is perfect for children! The workers are the nicest people I have encountered at a campsite. 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."
Site selection considerations: Families should research site locations carefully. "We found a campsite that was large with vegetation separating us from neighbors. I didn't expect to find something this interesting as an alternate to original plans but it worked out nicely," reports Art S. about Fort Custer Recreation Area.
Activity centers: Some campgrounds offer organized programs. "There is a pool, splash pad, arcade, bounce pad, playground, outdoor sports area, hayrides, crafts, store, pond for fishing, golf cart rental," lists Melissa M. about Hidden Ridge RV Resort.
Full hookup sites: Many campgrounds offer complete connections. "Sites have electrical service only. Must use the dump station," advises VB S. about Fort Custer Recreation Area.
Dump station timing: Plan your departure carefully. Mike P. notes about Gun Lake Campground, "The dump station takes a bit to get through. We were in line for about an hour before we dumped and we pulled off our site at 1."
Site width concerns: Some RV parks have tight spacing between sites. "Spaces were too tight, even with a small camper. Work People were parked half in the road, leaving us with no way to pull in or out of campsite," cautions Skip C. about their experience at Gun Lake Campground.
Seasonal site options: For longer stays, consider seasonal arrangements. "We are seasonal here and the kids love it," shares Melissa M. about Hidden Ridge. "Cement pads, no trees, neighbors are closer but not bad."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Hickory Corners, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Hickory Corners, MI is Fort Custer Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 45 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Hickory Corners, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 120 dog-friendly camping locations near Hickory Corners, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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