Oakland County features several glamping options within 30 minutes of Mayfield, Michigan. These areas offer a mix of natural woodland settings and modern amenities at elevations between 850-1,000 feet above sea level. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from December through March, making late spring through early fall the primary season for glamping in this region.
What to do
Hiking trails: At Holly Recreation Area, visitors can explore multiple well-marked trails through wooded areas. "Pretty park with several well marked trails. We stayed in the Maple loop which had several semi-private sites screened from neighbors by trees. I think site #1 was one of the roomiest and prettiest," notes Jennifer H. about Holly State Rec Area.
Water activities: Otter Lake Park Campground provides lake access for fishing and swimming during summer months. According to Alyssa C., "The lake is soooo beautiful and you can rent kayaks $7/hour or a 2 person small boat for $10/hour. Very good swimming beach with tons of places to take in the peaceful views."
Disc golf: Addison Oaks County Park features a complete disc golf course among its recreational options. "Addison Oaks is a campground that features hiking and mountain biking trails, campground, cabins, disc golf course, and a lake for boating. The trails are well maintained and heavily trafficked," shares Kate K.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the wooded separation between camping spots at Holly Recreation Area. Zachary S. mentions, "We stayed on site 118 in the trillium loop. Actually feels like camping with all the trees, not lined up in a farmer's field. Lots of trails and great beach with a dog friendly area."
Family-friendly activities: Covenant Hills Camp offers numerous structured activities for children. "Nice family/ Christian campgrounds... great activities set up for the kids. Clean and cautious due to Covid as necessary," reports Tammy P. Another camper, C P., adds, "Lots of things to do. climbing wall, zip line, swimming, fishing alot of pike."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the maintenance standards at most Oakland County campgrounds. "The bathrooms were clean. There were several playgrounds, bench swings, play fields and even a basketball court. The ADA sites had pavement surrounding the fire rings and space at the picnic tables for a wheel chair," notes Jennifer H.
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Most glamping facilities in the Mayfield area operate from late April through October. According to Tim & Nancy C. at Groveland Oaks County Park, "We stayed in area A in a water/electric site. It was a Boo Fest weekend. Lots of socially distanced activities for the kids and a scavenger hunt (finding clues on signs in park to solve a mystery)."
Site selection matters: For larger rigs or those seeking more privacy, researching specific sites is recommended. Carol W. advises, "We travel in a 42 ft motorhome and suggest if you are traveling in a large rig, drive through the park to find an appropriate site. We had called ahead but the site they had reserved for us would not have worked."
Religious affiliation: Some campgrounds in the area have religious foundations that affect policies. Tammy P. explains about Covenant Hills Camp: "Nice family/ Christian campgrounds... ok for those who care not enjoy alcohol beverages while vacationing, great activities set up for the kids... Definitely recommend to families w kids that are on the conservative side and would like to keep their faith religiously on sundays with service."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreation areas: Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area offers multiple play areas. "The community restrooms, dump station, and dumpsters were well maintained throughout the weekend. The camping store was well stocked for all of the things we forgot to pack but was expensive," shares Mandy B.
Tent camping with kids: Several sites are particularly suitable for families with tents. "My family took our RV camping here for a week here. It was very nice, we had so much fun. The bathrooms and showers were clean, there were a lot of activities for the whole family, and the camp site was nice and shaded," reports BrianaLynn R.
Weekend programming: Many Oakland County parks offer structured weekend activities for children. Kate K. notes about Holly State Rec Area, "This is a giant recreation area that features a campground, 3 lakes, tons of trails, and even a splash zone for kids. The campground has it all, electric, cabins, playgrounds, basketball courts, etc..."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: KOA Campground Emmett provides assistance with parking. Chris M. shares, "The new owner helped us back into our site - he was very nice and enthusiastic. Pizza delivery on a rainy night was a nice touch. We will definitely come back when it is warm enough to swim in the lake!"
Hookup options: Different camping areas offer varying levels of hookups. Richard T. explains about Addison Oaks, "This is the second time staying in these campgrounds in two weeks. Both times stayed in the more wilderness area D with lots of trees and sites for tents or back-in trailers. Sites have electricity and water and are well spaced out."
Off-season considerations: Some RVers find early or late season camping offers more privacy. Ashleigh M. notes, "I stayed in the rustic Aspen loop and it was fine for early season but come peak season, the sites lack privacy and are kind of small. It's not a bad walk to modern restrooms and it was very quiet."
