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Best Campgrounds near Hillsdale, MI

449 Reviews

Campgrounds around Hillsdale, Michigan provide a mix of established facilities and rustic experiences within the scenic Irish Hills region. Gateway Park Campground in Hillsdale offers RV and cabin accommodations with full hookups, operating from April through mid-October. Lake Hudson Recreation Area, located about 20 miles east of Hillsdale, features tent, RV, and cabin camping options with more primitive amenities. Several campgrounds in the area feature lakefront access, including 6 Lakes Campground which operates seasonally from May through November. The region includes both privately owned campgrounds and state recreation areas within driving distance of Hillsdale.

Camping availability throughout the region follows seasonal patterns, with most facilities operating from spring through fall. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holiday periods. "Lake Hudson Recreation Area is a hidden gem in Michigan. Nobody thinks to go camping near Battle Creek, but they really should reconsider," noted one camper. Road access varies across campgrounds, with some requiring navigation on rural roads. Cell service can be limited in certain areas, especially at Lake Hudson Recreation Area where visitors reported spotty coverage. Weather conditions typically allow for comfortable camping from late April through October, though spring can bring occasional heavy rainfall that affects site conditions.

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the Hillsdale area. Lake Hudson Recreation Area stands out for its secluded, wooded sites that provide privacy between campers. One visitor described it as "a small campground well off the beaten path, but still easy to access by road. Each site is separated from the next by young forest, lending to a very private and secluded atmosphere." Campers frequently mention the quiet atmosphere at Lake Hudson, particularly appealing for fishing enthusiasts. Gateway Park Campground attracts visitors with its convenient location and full hookup sites. The surrounding area offers recreational opportunities including hiking trails, fishing, and boating access at various lakes. Winter camping options are limited, with only a few facilities remaining open year-round.

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Best Camping Sites Near Hillsdale, Michigan (132)

    1. Pokagon State Park Campground

    48 Reviews
    Angola, IN
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 833-2012

    $16 - $480 / night

    "There's 2 dump stations located in loops 3 & 4. IN THE CAMPGROUND! NEXT TO CAMPSITES!!!!

     "

    "This site was fairly level but very close to other sites…wouldn’t recommend it."

    2. Gateway Park Campground

    3 Reviews
    Hillsdale, MI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (517) 437-7005

    "Lake across the road is clean and nicely kept (boats docked, etc) A ride up the road was beautiful.. saw an Emu, goats, llamas, cows.. just beautiful!"

    3. Lake Hudson Recreation Area

    16 Reviews
    Clayton, MI
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (517) 445-2265

    $20 - $150 / night

    "This small campground (about 40 sites) is well off the beaten path, but still easy to access by road. This is the perfect campground to get back to nature."

    "My site has a path right out to the lake. My 2p tent could easily fit on this lakeside spot but it is sadly much too windy on the lake today."

    4. 6 Lakes Campground

    1 Review
    Hillsdale, MI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (517) 439-5660

    "Has a boat access, with a beautiful lake. You can go through little canals to get to other parts of the lake. Sites have perfect amount of shade. Defiantly will be going back"

    5. Harrison Lake State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Fayette, OH
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 237-2593

    "Tucked away in NW Ohio, close to the Michigan & Indiana border. 

    We were in the north campground. Sites are all level, many very spacious which is unusual for Ohio SPs."

    "The one thing that was bit unnerving was that throughout both campgrounds, there are sites on the outer edge that are next to a main road with nothing but a small, wooden split-rail fence dividing the"

    6. Twin Pines Campground & Canoe Livery

    3 Reviews
    Concord, MI
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (517) 524-6298

    $35 - $40 / night

    7. Quincy-Marble Lake Campground

    2 Reviews
    Coldwater, MI
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (517) 639-4414

    $40 / night

    "Helpful if you’re staying at one of the nearby state parks that don’t have a dump station."

    8. Moscow Maples RV Park

    1 Review
    Jerome, MI
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (517) 688-9853

    "We had lots of rain so we didn’t get outside as much as we wanted. The sites were grassy and mostly level. Trees added shade throughout."

    9. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park™ at Barton Lake

    14 Reviews
    Fremont, IN
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (260) 833-1114

    "You might just step out of your camper and look straight at your neighbors. Starting to think all Jellystones are like this. 5 pools! water slides cost extra. Food prices are reasonable."

    "We brought down 2 30’ campers and we had 4 adults 3 children and two dogs and stay right next to the craft barn. It is a really nice camp ground with lots and lots for the kids to do."

    10. Loveberry's Funny Farm Campground

    2 Reviews
    Pioneer, OH
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (419) 737-2467

    "This is a gem in Ohio and Michigan (oh, did I forget to mention a past of the campground is in Michigan also) The sesonals are very friendly and was an honor to get to know them."

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Recent Camping Photos near Hillsdale, MI

138 Photos of 132 Hillsdale Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Hillsdale, MI

449 Reviews of 132 Hillsdale Campgrounds

  • Joel K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Fort Custer Recreation Area

    MTB camp and bike (again)

    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 (so don't book this one) as it's close to the trails for riding.  The campground was almost to capacity, but still some open sites.

    All in all this was a great trip, and we even visited Belle's brewery on our way home.

  • Bob B.
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Fort Custer Recreation Area

    A return to my childhood

    I camped here countless times throughout my childhood. It was nice returning. I brought back great memories and it struck a balance of staying up with the times but still leaving most to nature.

    Since there are no water or sewer hook ups, lines at the dump/fill station can get long.

    Sites are easy to get in and out of with RV/TT.

    Don’t miss out on the great finishing and hiking. A great plus is still seeing kids rise actual bikes!

  • H
    Aug. 9, 2025

    Fort Custer Recreation Area

    Beautiful Woodsy Campground

    We’ve stayed at both sites listed. 161 you do have neighbors pretty close, but we just stayed at 51 and it is extremely secluded! We had an amazing time tent camping it was so quiet! We love it here already with only being here twice!

  • Shelly The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2025

    Waterloo Portage Lake Modern — Waterloo Recreation Area

    Had a good time, a little crowded

    We stayed for the weekend tent camping, getting to the site was a little crowded (alot of kids on bikes) our site was pavement but had some space to set the tent on the grass. I seen alot of sites with trees for shade. The vista walkway was across from us, it led right to the beach concessions. The beach walkway is handicap accessible. The fishing pier is new, has two benches and tables for your stuff. It is a bit of a walk to get to but is handicap accessible.
    There are two bathrooms throughout the loop and one at the beach. The park workers walk around and tell you about the activities they have that day. We enjoyed our stay there is alot to do

  • Ray L.
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Bixler Lake Park & Campground

    Quiet.

    This is by far the place to just relax. It does have its moments..Holidays and special events. Even then campers here live by the lights out code. Been here nearly a month and definitely will be back.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Harrison Lake State Park Campground

    Nice place close to i90

    A lake to cool off in that’s not too far from the south loop sites. Modern toilets and showers. Open space camping on grass with strip of woods between sites and lake. Road on the other side that could use more trees and shrubs to block view and some noise. We prefer more woods like camping and more trails by the campsites so only four stars.

  • Fred R.
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Angola/Hogback Lake KOA Holiday

    Return trip home

    Winging it to GOTL has led us here just b4 dark. WOW! Only spent the night, but explored down to the lake and spent the morning in the pool and lazy river. We could permanent this place. Will be stopping next year on the way to Michigan and north.

  • Toni B.
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Green Lake Rustic Campground — Waterloo Recreation Area

    Booking was horrible

    So when I booked this camp site, I was originally looking at the Rustic camping on the app The Dyrt. The app brought me to the state park site, campsites looked beautiful and absolutely gorgeous for the rustic, it’s showed a picture of the bath house etc. Booked the site for the weekend because I’m catching up with a friend after awhile. Upon arrival, it leads us to this absolutely packed campground with sites directly ontop of each other, kids in the road the entire way through, parents not paying attention, absolute nightmare. It was in fact, it was the RV park. Not what I booked. We ended up talking to the office attendant, and booked at Green Lake Campground for the weekend, having to switch between 2 campsites over the weekend due to bookings. Overall just a very frustrating thing to deal with trying to get away for the weekend. Not the attendants fault, partially my fault, but also the state website as it is VERY unclear of the difference in camp grounds. Recommend the Rustic, stay away from the RV campsite that looked like an absolute hell scape if I’ve ever seen on.

Guide to Hillsdale

Camping near Hillsdale, Michigan, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From serene lakes to family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.

What to do

  • Kayaking and Canoeing: Enjoy the 13 lakes at Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground. One visitor shared, "Kayaking the 13 lakes can easily last from morning to sundown."
  • Hiking Trails: Explore the scenic trails at Pokagon State Park Campground. A camper noted, "They have good hiking trails, nice refreshing waters, good food options at certain places."
  • Fishing: Cast a line at Lake Hudson Recreation Area. A reviewer mentioned, "We caught sunfish, large and small mouth bass."

What campers like

  • Family Activities: Many families enjoy the amenities at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Barton Lake. One parent said, "My son had a blast and said this was the best campground he has ever been to."
  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Harrison Lake State Park Campground. A visitor remarked, "The shower house was nice but no benches in the stall and only had curtains. They were very clean."
  • Secluded Sites: Campers at Lake Hudson Recreation Area enjoy the privacy. One camper noted, "Great grassy sites with vegetation between each site providing privacy."

What you should know

  • Busy Weekends: Expect crowds during peak times at Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground. A reviewer warned, "A very hard campsite to navigate and a busy weekend forget about dumping lol you're gonna be there a while."
  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell service at Pokagon State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "With T-Mobile, Internet service was practically non-existent."
  • Rustic Amenities: At Lake Hudson Recreation Area, amenities are basic. A visitor noted, "It's a rustic campground with no water or dump station, so make sure you bring water and have a plan for dumping."

Tips for camping with families

  • Plan for Activities: Choose campgrounds like Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Barton Lake that offer plenty of kid-friendly activities. A parent shared, "The kids loved the activities and amenities."
  • Safety First: Be cautious with young children around fire pits, especially at campgrounds with sloped sites like Harrison Lake State Park Campground. One camper said, "This was dangerous given the fact that the picnic table was sloped right by the fire ring."
  • Pack Essentials: Bring bug spray and plenty of water, especially at places like Lake Hudson Recreation Area. A visitor advised, "The mosquitoes and gnats were terrible so make sure you bring bug spray."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure to verify site sizes at Pokagon State Park Campground to accommodate larger rigs. A reviewer cautioned, "Some sites are level, some aren't. Some can accommodate larger rigs, most can't."
  • Bring Extension Cords: At Lake Hudson Recreation Area, electrical hookups can be far from the sites. One camper noted, "Make sure you have extension cords!"
  • Avoid Peak Times: If possible, try to camp during weekdays to avoid the crowds at popular spots like Chain O' Lakes State Park Campground. A visitor mentioned, "This location has a huge parking lot for boat trailers, a very well stocked general store with fishing supplies."

Camping near Hillsdale, Michigan, offers a mix of adventure and relaxation. Whether you're with family or enjoying a solo trip, there's a campground that fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does camping cost in Hillsdale, Michigan?

Camping costs near Hillsdale vary by amenities and location. Bruin Lake Campground — Pinckney Recreation Area offers sites typically ranging from $20-30 per night, with clean facilities and beach access included. For budget-conscious travelers, Cabela's Dundee provides free overnight parking in their spacious lot – ideal for self-contained units making a quick stopover. Most state recreation areas near Hillsdale charge around $15-25 for rustic sites and $25-35 for modern sites with electricity. Michigan also requires a Recreation Passport ($12 annually for residents, $9 daily or $34 annually for non-residents) for entry to state parks and recreation areas.

Are there any tent camping sites near Hillsdale, MI?

Yes, there are several tent-friendly camping options near Hillsdale. Lake Hudson Recreation Area offers secluded tent sites with good privacy thanks to young forest separating each space. It's easy to access by road yet feels remote. Pleasant Lake is another option with tent sites and beach access within walking distance from your campsite. Both locations are within a short drive from Hillsdale and provide a natural setting for tent campers looking to disconnect. For those seeking a more rustic experience, several state recreation areas within 30-45 minutes of Hillsdale also offer tent camping opportunities.

What are the best campgrounds in Hillsdale, Michigan?

The Hillsdale area offers several excellent camping options. Green Lake Rustic Campground — Waterloo Recreation Area stands out with its generously sized sites that provide ample room to spread out. While technically a rustic campground, the sites accommodate various camping setups. Another top choice is Waterloo Portage Lake Modern — Waterloo Recreation Area, which offers a more developed camping experience while maintaining reasonable prices. Both are within driving distance of Hillsdale and provide good access to outdoor recreation. Gateway Park Campground and Moscow Maples RV Park are additional options in the vicinity for those seeking different amenities.

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