Best Tent Camping near Macatawa, MI

Tent campers visiting Macatawa, Michigan have several established campgrounds within a short drive, including WaterTrail Ventures Paddle Respite along the Kalamazoo River and Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA to the northeast. The South Channel Campground at Muskegon State Park, approximately 30 miles north, offers tent sites with access to both Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan. Most tent-friendly campgrounds in the area are seasonal, typically operating from April through October, with Pine Point Campground in Allegan County being one of the few year-round options.

Most tent sites in the Macatawa region feature dirt or grassy surfaces with minimal grading. Walk-in tent areas are available at several campgrounds, including Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA and Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at most locations, though amenities vary significantly between campgrounds. WaterTrail Ventures provides firewood at no extra cost, while most other campgrounds sell it on-site. Potable water access is inconsistent across the region, with some primitive sites offering no drinking water facilities. A recent visitor to WaterTrail Ventures noted, "This little campground is definitely off the beaten path. We kayaked there from Allegan and were treated to more wildlife viewing opportunities than we could ask for."

The tent camping experience near Macatawa offers varying levels of privacy and natural settings. South Channel Campground provides wooded sites with a path to the channel and a short walk to Lake Michigan beach. Many tent-only areas feature partial shade from scattered trees, though site spacing can be tight at some of the more developed campgrounds. WaterTrail Ventures stands out for tent campers seeking seclusion, offering just three tent sites in a peaceful riverside setting. The campground includes a private beach area ideal for swimming and relaxing. A camper described it as "beautiful with solar lights at night and a private beach. Great swimming, in a very private area. It also has great trails for walking."

Best Tent Sites Near Macatawa, Michigan (17)

    1. WaterTrail Ventures Paddle Respite

    4 Reviews
    Fennville, MI
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 547-1884

    $75 - $145 / night

    "This little campground is definitely off the beaten path. We kayaked there from Allegan and was treated to more wildlife viewing opportunities than we could ask for. "

    "It also has great trails for walking. It had air mattresses made up with sheets and blankets, all the firewood provided, a grill full of charcoal. A great way to enjoy the outdoors!!!"

    2. Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA

    13 Reviews
    Allendale, MI
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 895-6601

    "The Allendale KOA is a perfect spot for GR residents looking to have a nice camping getaway without having to drive out too far."

    "The clean restrooms and full-service showers were a highlight, offering a comfortable and convenient experience after a long day of outdoor activities."

    3. Drews Country Camping

    1 Review
    Zeeland, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 399-1886

    $48 / night

    4. Sandy Pines RV Resort and Campground

    3 Reviews
    Wayland, MI
    20 miles
    +1 (616) 896-8315

    5. Allegan County Pine Point Campground & Equestrian Park

    2 Reviews
    Allegan, MI
    19 miles
    +1 (269) 686-9088

    "Nice trails good hunting"

    6. Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday

    17 Reviews
    Covert, MI
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 764-0818

    "Delivery service of food and firewood was great. Trash pickup was appreciated. WiFi reception was a welcomed surprise. Showers and bathrooms were clean."

    "It has a splash pad a jump park and the pool. Sites are a little small, you are very close to your neighbors."

    7. South Channel Campground

    14 Reviews
    North Muskegon, MI
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 744-3480

    $10 - $60 / night

    "Has a path to the channel with a short walk to Lake Michigan beach. Electric hook up, no water hook up. Site 89 was large and wooded."

    "The park/location is a 5. The beaches, the dunes the wildlife, the ice cream shop… but this is a campground review and I’d give that a 3. We had a blast tons of kids everywhere."

    8. East Lake Camping

    2 Reviews
    Wayland, MI
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 793-7177

    $48 / night

    9. Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday

    14 Reviews
    Watervliet, MI
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 849-3333

    $60 - $120 / night

    "It was small enough for our kids to ride bikes around alone and they frequented the park, which we could see from our site. Jumping pillow & mini golf were also a hit."

    "They had a hot tub and heated pool. Mini golf and bikes you could rent. The store was nice and lots to offer and the prices were very reasonable. Showers close by."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Macatawa, MI

623 Reviews of 17 Macatawa Campgrounds


  • T
    Apr. 15, 2021

    Ely Lake Campground

    Keyword: RUSTIC

    This is our "home base" campground. It's familiar. We've been coming here for decades. Comfortable, and quiet(for the most part).

    Caveat: no electric, no running water, no sewer/septic, no dump, no fill... Can run your generator(inverter type is best). Solar is a negative due to tree cover.

    Vault toilets only, and pitcher pumps for water. There is a dumpster available in the busier parts of the season but this campground is open year round.

    No playground. Just the beach and the trails.

    Sites range from small tent sites to fairly large, but the "roads" inside the campground are tight so think twice before bringing the longer 5th wheels.

    In short, if you want a quiet getaway from your usual then this is a great place to go. If you're expecting a pool, arcade, and dining hall... Look elsewhere.

  • Olivia S.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp Resort-South Haven, MI

    This is my top pick for South Haven

    Although this campground has great amenities, a pool, clean showers, and good sites/cabins, it is hard to book. If you know you are going to come to this area and camp, you need to book it a while in advance. I have used a pop-up and there was good space between campers. When I tent camped, we had a great spot near the cafe, the showers are amazing over there, they are more secluded. Our tent spot had electric, water, picnic table and fire ring. We camped on the grass and there is gravel to park your car. This campground is a perfect place to stay when visiting surrounding towns and going to the beach.

    Don’t forget to go to Sherman’s!!

    There was a forecast or rain, don’t mind the tarp

  • Art S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2019

    Brookside City Park

    Beautiful super small camping in town

    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. 

    A couple sites are for tents only and the others are standard sites. There are a few trees by the sites but it’s mostly open area. Portable toilets are at the end of the camping area and in the playground area. The playground is a day use area for town so expect to meet some locals. 

    Driving just down the street takes you to the police station. This is where you register for the site. Town is around you and ready to explore. There are a few train tracks and industrial businesses which provide a bit of noise along with traffic. For us, the noise just slid right into the background. 

    This is a great place for a low price.

  • N
    Jul. 19, 2016

    Beach Campground — Holland State Park

    GREAT campground near the beach

    We camped at Holland State Park for the 4th of July. This was our second time camping here. There are two campgrounds - Lake Macatawa & Beach. We were at the Lake Macatawa Campground. It's right across the street from Macatawa and about a 10 minute walk from a great Lake Michigan beach. Most sites were plenty big enough to fit two vehicles, two tents, and still have room to cook & play yard games. There are campsites along the main campground road that are wooded and have some privacy. The rest are pretty wide open, so you won't have anything separating you from your neighbors. I'm pretty sure all campsites had electrical hookup - Ours had 50A... not sure about the others.

    The restrooms & showers were clean and functioning properly, and even though the campground was completely booked, we never had to wait for either. Ice & firewood is sold at the campground office for a reasonable price.

    Alcohol is prohibited at the campground, but there's a great local restaurant & bar about 100 feet from the entrance with a good beer selection & GREAT lake perch. Right across the street is a little beach area on Lake Macatawa with parking & easy access to launch a canoe or kayak. The Lake Michigan beach is a short bike ride or walk away. This is where the park's Beach Campground is, and it is only about 100 yards from the beach.

    There's a paved bike trail that goes all the way from the beach to downtown Holland. It's about 15 minutes in a car, so be prepared if you plan on biking it.

    Overall a great campground for the summer months, and I know for sure we will be returning in the future.

  • N
    Jul. 19, 2016

    South Channel Campground

    Close to the beach, but very very cramped

    There are two campgrounds in the park - The Channel Campground & the Lake Michigan campground. We stayed at the Channel Campground two years ago. It's right on the channel from Muskegon Lake to Lake Michigan, so you have walking access to both lakes. The campsites were VERY close together. It was actually the first thing we noticed as soon as we pulled through the gate. Campsites have a paved parking pad, fire ring, electrical hookup, and picnic table. Restroom & shower facilities were relatively clean & well maintained. You'll probably have to wait for the showers, but that's pretty typical.

    Overall, the campground was just average. If you don't like being close to your neighbors, I'd recommend staying at the Lake Michigan campground in the same park. Larger sites & tons of shade.

  • Christopher P.
    Jul. 25, 2021

    Deep Lake Rustic Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area - TEMPORARILY CLOSED IN 2024

    Nice rustic site

    Nice rustic campground with a beautiful lake view. Nice big fire rings. Vault toilet and water pump nearby. Some what level site but in the small side. Perfect for tent camping or a teardrop. Definitely nothing over 15'. Was able to park across from my site to maximize space.

    Gorgeous little lake town just 8 miles away has a full grocery store and restaurants.

    Campsites border the Deep Lake trail.

  • B
    Jun. 11, 2023

    Covert Park Beach & Campground

    Great Lakeside Camp

    Great campground. Better cared for than a State Park and better accommodations, too. Newish shower house with 6 uni-sex showers (all with their own locking doors). Water mechanisms on several made hot water a little tricky… test before you undress haha. If 5+ showers are in use, don't count on much hot water.

    Very friendly operators and employees. Genuinely interested in how you're doing. Above average camp store and they even deliver your firewood order to your site for you ($7 for a 15"x15"ish bundle).

    Beach access is easy and the beach is nice. On the cooler week we were there, would only see one or two other people out if any, but when school gets out mid-June, sounds like it gets busier. Our Monday-Friday stay saw us as the only tent campers which was great. Our kids enjoyed the playground and we made use of the grills by the picnic shelter a few times.

    All tent sites (except for T12) are walk in (but most are only 100-300 feet).

    Tent Sites 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 as well as the group site are on their own away from the main loops. They are served by a flush toilet with running (cold) water. Or you can make the slightly longer walk to the shower house.

    Tent 1 is 100 foot walk, small site, easily visible from T-2 and 3 as well as the group site.

    Tent 2 is medium sized, across from T-3 and visible from T-1 and T-3. 

    Tent 3 is large. Slightly overlooks the group site and can see T-1 and T-2.

    Tent 4 is large, but almost totally isolated. It's surrounded by hills (although T-5 is on one of those hills so could overlook it. Long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 5 overlooks 4 a little and is a medium sized site. Also long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 6 is elevated above everything so overlooks T-5, T-7 and the RV loop. It's a huge site with nothing but nature around and above you. Long walk to bathroom.

    Tent 7 shortest walk to car parking, but surrounded by other sites. Access to other sites runs through site as well.

    Tent 8 and 9 are basically one large site with two tables and fire rings. Requires a walk up several flights of stairs, but puts you on top of a bluff that, without trees, would give you a view of the lake. They charge a premium for these sites.

    Tent 11 is probably the longest walk… you walk past T-1,2,3, then up 70 steps to the top of a ridge. You cannot see or be seen and the picnic table is covered with a shelter. Not a ton of space, but a great site for a lite packer.

    Tent 12 is a drive in site right next to the bathroom and the main drive into the campground.

    We were pleasantly surprised and, outside of a cold shower or two, never disappointed in our stay.

  • Napunani
    Dec. 1, 2023

    Beach Campground — Holland State Park

    Beach Campground = Parking Lot

    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


Guide to Macatawa

Tent camping options near Macatawa, Michigan include several smaller campgrounds with varying amenities within a 30-mile radius. The area experiences warm summers with average July temperatures around 82°F and cold winters with January lows often below freezing. Most campgrounds in this region are situated on sandy soil common to the Lake Michigan shoreline, with elevation changes from dune formations providing both sheltered and exposed camping spots.

What to do

Fishing at East Lake Camping: The small lake offers good fishing opportunities for beginners and families. Campground facilities include a swimming beach and playground area that complement fishing activities. A recent camper noted, "Kids loved the beach and play area," making it a versatile spot for multiple water activities.

Wildlife viewing at WaterTrail Ventures Paddle Respite: Kayaking along the Kalamazoo River provides excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. The campground serves as an ideal base for paddlers. One visitor mentioned, "Love this campsite! It's close to the river but set back far enough so that during a downpour you won't be worrying and the drive to get to the site is quaint and peaceful."

Beach access from South Channel Campground: Located within Muskegon State Park, this campground offers walking access to both Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan beaches. A visitor commented, "Just a walk from the beach. Miles of trails through the dunes and woods. A few lookout points scattered throughout." The newly renovated bath houses enhance the experience for swimmers and beach-goers.

What campers like

Clean facilities at Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday: The campground maintains high standards of cleanliness throughout its facilities. A camper mentioned, "Very clean and well-kept park. Lots of fun activities on the weekends for the kids and FREE! They have movie nights, we met Disney characters, did crafts, and enjoyed the barrel train & ice cream sundaes."

Wooded sites at Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA: Many campers appreciate the natural setting with pine trees providing shade. One reviewer said, "This campground is great, it's only 25 minutes from Grand Haven beach. The sites are well treed and flat!" The combination of trees and well-maintained sites makes this a popular choice for the best tent camping near Macatawa, Michigan.

Off-grid feeling at Drews Country Camping: For those seeking a quieter camping experience, this small campground provides a more traditional camping feel. A visitor described it as "Very retro, quiet and peaceful. Marty is the sweetest lady. Don't look for lots to do, just sit back and relax." The campground operates seasonally from April through October.

What you should know

Reservation timing: Most campgrounds in the area fill quickly during summer weekends, especially those with Lake Michigan access. South Channel Campground is particularly popular, with one camper advising to "Reserve early."

Varying bathroom facilities: Bathroom and shower quality varies significantly between campgrounds. At Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday, a camper reported, "Bathrooms/showers are NICE!" while at other locations facilities may be more basic or limited.

Seasonal blueberry picking: Unique to Covert/South Haven KOA is access to blueberry fields. A camper shared, "This KOA has blueberry fields everywhere on the property. For a period of time in summer and early fall, you can pick your own blueberries in the morning to have in your breakfast pancakes!"

Tips for camping with families

Activity planning for kids: Campgrounds like Coloma/St. Joseph KOA offer structured activities for children. A visitor reported, "They had a hot tub and heated pool. Mini golf and bikes you could rent. The store was nice and lots to offer and the prices were very reasonable."

Playground accessibility: When selecting a tent site with children, consider proximity to play areas. At Sandy Pines RV Resort and Campground, a camper noted, "Pro: kids activities, almost everything you can imagine for kids activities." The extensive recreational offerings keep children engaged throughout their stay.

Campground size considerations: Larger campgrounds may require more transportation planning. One visitor to Sandy Pines observed, "It's almost too big of a campground. They pack the seasonal lots in so tight-there is a large amount of people for a small lake." Consider bringing bikes for children to navigate larger properties.

Tips from RVers

Arrival timing at Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA: Some RVers have noted strict check-in policies. One camper warned, "Make sure you do not arrive before 2:00PM, as they require a $10 early registration fee. If you decide not to pay, you'll be directed to overflow parking where you can loiter until 2:00."

Site spacing variations at South Channel Campground: RV sites at this popular location can feel crowded during peak season. A visitor observed, "The campsites were VERY close together. It was actually the first thing we noticed as soon as we pulled through the gate. Campsites have a paved parking pad, fire ring, electrical hookup, and picnic table."

Weather considerations: The sandy soil in most campgrounds drains well after rain, but some low-lying areas can collect water. At Coloma/St. Joseph KOA, a camper mentioned, "The cabins are on the far back of the property and there is a depression in the gravel road before getting to them. Because it rained rather heavily, it formed a huge collection of water."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Macatawa, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Macatawa, MI is WaterTrail Ventures Paddle Respite with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Macatawa, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Macatawa, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.