139 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Lowell, Michigan provide a range of accommodations with several developed facilities offering tent, RV, and cabin options. Ionia State Recreation Area, located approximately 15 miles east of Lowell, features paved campsites with fire pits and picnic tables, along with access to Sessions Lake for swimming and fishing. Scalley Lake Park Campground and Cabins in Belding offers full-service sites with water and electric hookups, as well as cabin rentals for visitors seeking more comfort. Tyler Creek Campground in Alto combines camping with an on-site golf course, while Camp Clear Sky provides a more rustic tent camping experience with basic amenities.
The camping season in this region typically runs from April through October, with most developed campgrounds closing for winter. Bertha Brock County Park operates from spring until the first snowfall, while Wabasis Lake County Park welcomes visitors from late April to early November. "This is great campground for family's it's peaceful and for the most part a quiet campground," noted one visitor about Ionia Recreation Area. Road access to campgrounds is generally good with paved or well-maintained gravel roads suitable for passenger vehicles. Many sites require reservations, particularly during summer weekends and holidays. Visitors should be aware that some rustic areas, like those in Ionia Recreation Area, require a walk-in approach that isn't clearly indicated on reservation websites.
Water access represents a common attraction among the area's campgrounds, with several facilities situated on or near lakes. Campers at Ionia State Recreation Area appreciate the proximity to Sessions Lake, which offers fishing from docks and swimming at a designated beach area. Families particularly enjoy the combination of outdoor recreation and relatively private campsites. A review pointed out that "Our site was nice with electric and water hookups. My personal wifi off of my phone connected well. Very quiet." Bathroom and shower facilities receive mixed reviews across several campgrounds, with some visitors noting aging infrastructure at certain locations. The diversity of options means visitors can choose between more rustic experiences at places like Camp Clear Sky or full-service accommodations at Scalley Lake Park Campground, where cabins provide an alternative to traditional tent and RV sites. For the best camping near Lowell, consider making reservations well in advance, especially for lakeside campsites during peak summer months.
"There is a disc golf course, mountain bike trail, equestrian trails, hiking trails, a beautiful no wake lake perfect for swimming, kayaking, or fishing. "
"First let me say the rustic area is walk-in only. I was unaware of this until we arrived."
from $20 - $160 / night
Check Availability"Recently, I inherited a pop up camper and chose this place to be my first location to try it out. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Our site was nice with electric and water hookups."
from $28 - $50 / night
Check Availability"There are a few downsides:
- Because it's so close to Grand Rapids and some other cities, it typically is full on the weekends. Booking a site can be troublesome."
"However, we were able to get a hold of the staff the next day, we were refunded for our first night, and had a great second night at Wabasis Lake staying in the camper cabins."
"Amazing spot away from the city! The owner of the place is very accommodating and pleasant to be around. Private lake with no motors so it is very quiet and peaceful!!!"
"The cabins are clean and nice, the view of the lake is beautiful. My 6 children had a great time here"
"3rd night here in mid September and it's very peaceful, there is a nearby gun range but you can barley hear."
"Relatively close to town if you need to purchase food or other gear. Bugs (mosquitoes) can get pretty bad, bring lots of bug spray!"
from $15 / 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 Availabilityfrom $10 - $179 / night
Check Availability"It is close to a town to get take out food if it rains. There are some larger vacation lodges to rent that ars nestled away in the woods, and a bunkhouse with rentals."
"A small onsite store, but not to far of a drive if you need a grocery store or other amenities. They are also very affordable for canoe and kayak rental. Great place to go!"
"Close to home but feels “up north”. They offer both rustic and water and electric sites. This is a family campground and my kids loved the playground!"
"Campsites are right next to each other."
from $35 - $45 / night
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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.
ScoutVery convenient off highway with easy check-in and very quiet during the weekend when there are no events at the Fairgrounds
ScoutWe have camped here many times over the years and have always enjoyed our visits. The campground has made some great investments and improvements, which are appreciated. However, the overall maintenance has unfortunately declined. It is noticeable in the condition of the shower houses, tree trimming, staining, painting, and other general upkeep. A little more attention to these details would make a big difference, especially in the restroom facilities. This is a great campground for children and families, with plenty to enjoy. One area that could use improvement is consistency in how campground rules are enforced. During our stay, we observed several occasions where some seasonal campers—and even some weekend campers—were allowed to get away with things that others were not. We personally did not have any issues, but it did seem as though certain campers were singled out while others were overlooked, even when there was no obvious reason. Overall, this is still a good place to camp, and we will likely return. With a stronger focus on maintenance and more consistent rule enforcement, it could easily become an excellent campground.
ScoutThis place is a weird one for sure, they’ll let you do whatever you want there, even wander into random tent sites asking minors for alcohol and drugs.
We planned on camping here longer but after an evening where a drunk camper pursued our coolers at 1 in the morning and then asked our teenagers who’d were sleeping in tents if they had any alcohol or weed.
We told management of the incident, they did nothing. We also told them of the Lansing homeless who were coming in the early morning hours to use the facilities… nothing.
So if you like randoms in your site late at night, this is the campsite for you.
LegendJuly 16-20, site 290 Site is Michigan dirt/sand and not level on the back side. No grass, very dry. Bring a rug. 30 and 20 amp worked fine. Mostly shade with a bit of sun. Green spaces on both sides of site 290. A bit more room compared to the other inner loop sites. The outer loop sites have a bit more space. No ground foliage so you can see your neighbors clearly!
Steel concrete fire pit. Firewood was $6
Bathroom/Showers are newer and separate. Hot water, cleaned daily and plenty of room.
Water fill is at the sanitation dump near the entrance, clean and new. 2 pull through dumps in two different areas.
Trash dumpsters near the entrance Cellular, T-Mobile 5G 2 bars
Airport near by with occasional noise. A short walk to the beach area. The beach at the campground was very nice. About 1/2 mile walk from the 200 area. The sand is soft, water was decent and clear. Some dogs were on the beach, but nothing as a nuisance.
No camp store at this campground, ice and firewood for sale at the gate.
The entrance to the State Park is down the street and or you can take a short walk to get there.
LegendPremium sites worth it. Old camp sites are crowded and very tight. Not sure it’s be the same experience.Clean, nice staff, nice camp store, great pool and hot tub, clean and updated bathrooms and showers. Much less crowded and cleaner facilities than state park near by, but more expensive.
LegendGreat tree covered camp spot. Premium sites definitely with the expense. Not sure we would enjoy the others. Really tight with a lot of long term stats and mini houses. Friendly staff and guest, close to everything the area has to offer. Not the largest campsites and probably limited to the amount that could fit large 5th wheels or 40ft plus coaches. All full hook up and significantly nicer than the two state park campgrounds right down the street. Pool and hot tub clean and very nice.
TravelerWe have been coming here as a family for about the last 5 years. It’s beach access, individual and spacious shower house and walkable proximity to the downtown area (restaurants, bars, shops etc.) make it entertaining and fun for all ages.
LegendThis is the State Park area and not the campground. It is about a mile walk between the two. Very nice beach area with miles of shaded trails for hiking.
Campsites near Lowell, Michigan offer varied terrain with elevation changes across the Thornapple River Valley watershed. The region features a mix of dense wooded areas and open lakefront camping options with most sites situated between 800-900 feet above sea level. The camping season typically runs from April through October with average summer temperatures ranging from 70-85°F during peak months.
Disc golf course access: At Ionia State Recreation Area, visitors can play on a well-maintained course suitable for various skill levels. "Ionia has so many great outdoor activities for almost anyone. There is a disc golf course, mountain bike trail, equestrian trails, hiking trails, a beautiful no wake lake perfect for swimming, kayaking, or fishing," notes Joshua E.
Kayaking on calm waters: The no-wake lakes at several parks provide ideal conditions for paddling without dealing with boat traffic. "Nice camping. Great lake for fishing, swimming, kyaking or small boating. Scenic views on trails around the lake. Not too far so the kids can follow along," says Jo H. about Ionia Recreation Area.
Horseback riding opportunities: Some campgrounds offer equestrian-friendly facilities. "Take a walk through the equestrian to check out the horses," suggests Jami M. about Ionia State Recreation Area. Trail rides are also available at Double RR Ranch RV Resort, where "We enjoyed a reasonable trailride on horses thru a shallow part of the river. Very easy for inexperienced riders and kids."
Private, wooded sites: Tyler Creek offers secluded spots at some of their camping areas. "Campground is small but got to know owners just recently purchased last year and are on the uphill of making this a great little place. Great customer service and friendly faces," explains Melissa L.
Lake access for fishing: Many campers appreciate the fishing opportunities at local campgrounds. At Wabasis Lake County Park, "Large sites; nice amenities" are available according to Bill R., who notes: "The lake is effectively a plate, so don't expect to do much fishing from shore. The water is incredibly shallow. (But that makes for a very nice beach!)"
Historical features: Some parks incorporate unique historical elements. "To enter the park you cross a historic bridge. There is dispersed camping. Out house bathrooms," explains Lydia T. about Bertha Brock County Park, which also features "beautiful stone bridges" according to Justyna E.
Site selection challenges: Some campgrounds have confusing layouts or reservation systems. At Ionia Recreation Area, one camper warned: "Pretty much the worst signage I've seen in Michigan State Recreation Area... NO WHERE on DNR website for reservations does it say this. As is if this isn't bad enough, once you park and find trail the sign then reads 'East or west' for sites."
Bathroom facility variations: Facility quality varies widely between campgrounds. At Deep Lake Rustic Campground, "Don't expect any glamorous showers or bathhouses. There are pairs of outhouses and the smell comes with. Try to avoid setting up next to these if possible," advises Joshua M.
Seasonal crowding patterns: Local campgrounds experience varying levels of crowding. "Because it's so close to Grand Rapids and some other cities, it typically is full on the weekends. Booking a site can be troublesome. Our friends booked the site from Tuesday through Monday and it was totally full on Friday and Saturday night," notes Bill R. about Wabasis Lake County Park.
Playground proximity: When camping with children, choose sites near play areas. At Wabasis Lake County Park, one camper shared: "This is a small campground with fairly good size sites. There is a playground in the center which was very handy for our little ones. They could play and we could watch from our site."
Indoor pool options: For unpredictable weather, consider Indian Valley Campground & Canoe Livery which offers year-round swimming. "The indoor pool was great for the preseason camping! Being there in early May, when it was rainy we were happy to have that amenity," explains Nicole C.
Beach safety considerations: Some lakes are better suited for young swimmers than others. Joshua E. notes about Ionia Recreation Area: "The beach is fantastic especially for little kids who might not be the best swimmers ready for Lake Michigan or lakes with lots of boats and waves to deal with. Nice and sandy and a nice store and ice cream shop at the beach."
Site leveling requirements: Many campgrounds have uneven terrain that requires preparation. At Deep Lake, "Some of the sites are a little uneven (the camper needed wood blocks underneath it so that the wheels weren't off the ground after leveling)," according to a camper.
Electric hookup availability: Local campgrounds offer varying levels of service. At Tyler Creek, Miles D. shares: "Our site was nice with electric and water hookups. My personal wifi off of my phone connected well. Very quiet."
Seasonal site improvements: Campground conditions may change throughout the season. At Welcome Woods Family Campground, one camper observed significant changes year-to-year: "We camped there last summer and it was new or owners and you could tell that they need to work on a few things... Drove through there for a spot this year and it's completely tore up all the trees that were shaded on the spots are cut down making them full sun spots."
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Lowell, Michigan from popular state parks like Sleepy Hollow?
Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground is approximately 45-50 miles from Lowell, making it about an hour's drive. The park is tucked away in Clinton County and easily accessible from major roads. Sleepy Hollow features a large lake (Lake Ovid) with excellent fishing opportunities and is conveniently located near Lansing with shopping centers nearby. Other popular state parks within driving distance include Yankee Springs Recreation Area (about 30 miles) and Hoffmaster State Park (approximately 50 miles).
What parks in Lowell, Michigan offer camping facilities?
While Lowell itself has limited camping directly within the city limits, several nearby parks offer camping facilities. Ionia State Recreation Area is relatively close to Lowell and provides camping options. For those willing to travel slightly further, Bertha Brock County Park near Ionia offers multiple access points (boat-in, drive-in, hike-in, walk-in) with reservable sites, water, and toilets. These parks provide scenic natural surroundings while still being within a reasonable distance from Lowell.
What are the best campgrounds near Lowell, Michigan?
Several excellent campgrounds are located near Lowell. Wabasis Lake County Park near Greenville offers drive-in access with water, toilets, and big-rig-friendly sites. For families, Dutch Treat Camping & Recreation provides full hook-ups, rustic camping options, a swimming pool, fishing, and a gagaball pit. The campground is family-run with clean bathhouses and spacious campsites that are easy to access. Other nearby options include Tyler Creek near Alto and Indian Valley Campground & Canoe Livery near Middleville, both offering various amenities for a comfortable camping experience.
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