Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Mattawan, MI

Clean 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!

I 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!

Happened upon this Gem when driving the coast of Lake Michigan.  Watched the solar eclipse from the beach.   The DBR had a viewing area setup for adults and kids.  Lots of trails and activities for the kids.  Pet friendly also.

Pet friendly. Great camp store. Clean campground. Nice beach. Beautiful!!

The walk to the beach access is a beautiful one, and the beach is astounding! Pet friendly!

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.

It's set on a beautiful man made lake. There is no big waves to worry about on clear lake. Kiddos can catch minnows in calf deep water at the beach. The campsites are beautiful. I suggest the ones up the hill on your right when you enter. The ones that you drive down the hill to have more mosquitos. Karaoke every Saturday in the barn is fun for everyone. There not the most dog friendly though all around the campground. You allowed to have you dogs on only a small part of the beach. I assumed the dog friendly area included the boat laund area but I was wrong. We were talking to another family of campers by the boats with our dog and the owner came down with rage written all over his face and told us we can't be 10 feet away from what I know know is the 10 feet of gravel beach dogs are allowed on. He literally raised his voice and yelled at us and said we were disturbing the family that was happily standing there talking to us about our shihtzu and the kids were petting them. That's my one complaint about fullers is if that man doesn't like what your doing even if it's not a posted rule hell yell at you. He's made my sister with social anxiety cry a few times over the years with his anger. It's a beautiful peaceful camp ground though. I've been going there every summer sence I was a toddler. All the girls who work in the camp store are bubbly and nice. They have the best ice cream! The lake is beautiful with no waves and the waters allot warmer then the bigger lakes. They play some really nice relaxing vibe music from the store balcony. They also have hay rides!

This campground would be a 5 star campground. However;as always there’s that one person that makes it a 3 or2. She must be the owners daughter or Neice. I expressed to her that her behavior and curse words along with her statements were not appreciated and she said “ write a review so I can read it and laugh at it” Very trashy lady who made you feel like your just a burden on her.

Besides that. Place had pool, kids pad. Laundry, family showers, individual showers” very clean and nice. Mini Petting farm, train ride and an entire little small village dedicated to entertainment of camping. This is a nice place but beware of the village idiot. She is very unbecoming and impolite by all means.

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.

Semi-modern campsite are super close together with very limited privacy. Sites 6-9 have hardly any trees so tents need to be set up strategically for what limited privacy there is. Don’t count on being able to hang a hammock in all sites (site 9 had zero spot to hang one). The interstate is behind the small tree line and the traffic noise is insanely loud. If you are looking to unplug and relax in nature, I would pick another spot to camp. The highway was louder than the sounds of nature. My backyard in the city of Chicago is more serene than our campsite. The campsites are pretty far from the lake where driving is almost necessary. The positives include, decent hiking and pet friendly areas on the beach. I will not be camping here again.

We have really enjoyed our late July stay at Hidden Ridge. The amenities are really nice. The place was kept clean, and the clientele was friendly. 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. Looking forward to booking again in the future.

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.

Warren Dunes State Park is great, I went here for the sole purpose of the dog beach. Miles and miles of it! It's a beautiful park with lots of trails, lots of dunes and beach on Lake Michigan. I think it's a hidden gem for Michiganders. I prefer rustic sites and Warren Dunes has rustic sites and a modern campground. My site had a trail head leading out off the back, it was perfect. Warren Dunes has tons of trails, dunes and beaches. The best part, dog friendly off leash beach! If you travel with dogs, it's a great campground! There are water pumps and outhouse restrooms on the rustic sites. There is also a general store on the grounds should you need anything you forgot. Also, there is no alcohol allowed on the grounds.

Dunes worth seeing. Not as dog friendly as one would think. Have dog beach but have yo walk a mile to get to it and must keep dogs on leash. One could easily access beach from parking lot but they do not allow dogs in lot. Sites moderately sized but usually little veg between for privacy. Located in beautiful mature hardwood forest. I would stay again. Showers are busy but fairly clean.

This is the campground I grew up going to. It is a fantastic park with a beautiful beach. I've visited many dune parks along Lake Michigan, but there is a grandness about these ones that I haven't found elsewhere. If you are looking for somewhere to be active and climb and hike the dunes, few places beat here. The beach is also a wonderful place to be active. The water is the perfect depth for splashing around or swimming laps. Dogs are allowed on the far side of the beach too!

There is access to the dunes from the campground. It is a fantastic dune to climb, but is very steep so be prepared. Once at the top of the first dune, there are lots of dunes and sand bowls to run down and climb back up. If you are feeling super adventurous, you can hike across the dunes from the campground to the beach. That is an intense hike and I don't recommend taking kids or dogs (especially on hot days). I was a kid when I did it last and I vowed to never do it again. It might not be as it seemed then, but better to be prepared. For those who want to save their energy for the beach, you can drive there. The parking lot is huge.

If you are just looking to relax at camp, Warren is still great! The bathrooms are always clean enough and the showers have warm water. The campsites are well spaced and many of them are shaded. There are lots of little trails throughout the campground to get you to the bathroom quickly.

I have fond memories of playing on the playground as a kid (and it still looks fun now too). There is a nice field to play catch in as well.

The only downside is the price. Michigan state parks are always pricey.