Best Dog-Friendly Camping near South Haven, MI

Kal-Haven Outpost welcomes pets at all accommodation types, including tent sites, RV spots, and spacious cabins. The campground features dedicated walking paths through wooded areas where campers can exercise their dogs. Van Buren State Park Campground maintains clean, pet-friendly sites with shade trees throughout the camping loops. Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday accepts pets at their tent sites, RV spaces, and cabin accommodations, maintaining a well-kept grounds for dog walking. Most campgrounds require pets to remain leashed at all times, with typical restrictions limiting pets to 2-3 per site. Campers note the large tent sites at Kal-Haven provide ample space for pets to relax at camp. Sunny Brook RV Resort includes grassy areas specifically designated for dogs.

The paved Kal-Haven Trail offers excellent pet exercise opportunities directly accessible from several campgrounds, making morning and evening dog walks convenient for campers. Jellystone Park Camp Resort features pet-friendly cabins within walking distance of hiking trails. South Haven's beaches have specific regulations regarding pets, with some areas prohibiting dogs during peak summer months while allowing them during morning and evening hours in designated sections. The bathhouses at Kal-Haven remain immaculately clean, providing convenience for campers returning from trail walks with muddy pets. Campgrounds typically require proof of current vaccinations, and pet owners should bring waste bags as some locations have limited pet waste stations. The proximity to Lake Michigan provides cooling opportunities for dogs during hot summer camping trips.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near South Haven, Michigan (90)

    1. Van Buren State Park Campground

    36 Reviews
    Covert, MI
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 637-2788

    "This is one of our favorite camping spots in Michigan. We love it for its location to South Haven and because it’s a great state park and campground."

    "Our family enjoyed this quiet, secluded campground in South Haven. Our site was on a corner lot and couldn't have been more perfect for our stay."

    2. Covert Park Beach & Campground

    19 Reviews
    Covert, MI
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 764-1421

    $40 - $100 / night

    "Pros: Lake Michigan is right there! We walked down to sunset and it was a 5 min walk max."

    "Close to beach of Lake Michigan. Walk in primitive tent site is what I stayed at. Many other sites available. Quiet at night. Great staff"

    3. Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday

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

    "Good spots for RV/pull behind/tents. Clean facilities and only a 20 min drive from South Haven’s beautiful beaches!"

    "The campground is only about 14 miles from South Haven where you can shop in a charming downtown, go to a spacious beach or catch the Kal-Haven bike trail to Kalamazoo."

    4. Kal-Haven Outpost

    9 Reviews
    South Haven, MI
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 206-0900

    $22 - $68 / night

    "This was a nice campground right on the Kal Haven Trail - about 4 miles from South Haven."

    "It had grass for our dog and beautiful star gazing. The cabins were in their own section. The RVS and campers circled around the bathroom house."

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

    6 Reviews
    South Haven, MI
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 637-6153

    $60 - $230 / night

    "Nice location, kids loved all the activities they had to offer. Just a down the road from a hiking trail. Close enough to downtown South Haven."

    "But DO travel to St Joe/South Haven/Saugatuck. All less than 30 min and great scenery there, breweries too! Also, return in the fall and do the local orchards/pumpkin farms."

    6. Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday

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

    $60 - $120 / night

    "Showers close by. All in all we had a great first experience and would recommend this campground. Very close to Lake Michigan and the beach!"

    "The store has everything you could need and if they don't, there is a gas station right outside of entrance. Close to the lake, will visit again!"

    7. Dune Lake Campground

    7 Reviews
    Covert, MI
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 764-8941

    "Close to Lake Michigan and South Haven. Nice swimming lake with a shallow area that’s great for kids. Quiet, family oriented and well maintained."

    "This is a beautiful campsite with lots of good nature around. The primitive sites are the best in the area but the partial hookup sites are also beautiful."

    8. Ely Lake Campground

    11 Reviews
    Fennville, MI
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 686-9088

    $18 / night

    "No power motor lake but there is another lake close by that is. We take the canoe with a trolling motor and hit that as well. Pet friendly. They have horse campsites and trails."

    "Lived in Michigan for most of my life and frequently visited and camped here as a youth. This is primarily a primitive campground with porto- pottys. Usually pretty clean."

    9. Sunny Brook RV Resort

    2 Reviews
    South Haven, MI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 499-5253

    $85 - $97 / night

    "All concrete, gated, beach in a small lake, basketball court, fishing, pools, and lots of grass for the dogs. Laundry rooms and bathrooms spotless."

    10. Beach Campground — Holland State Park

    39 Reviews
    Macatawa, MI
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 399-9390

    "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. "

    "The Lake Macatawa campground is across the street from a small beach on the Macatawa Lake. This is a wooded campground. The sites are pretty tight as is usual for a Michigan State Park."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near South Haven, MI

617 Reviews of 90 South Haven Campgrounds


  • Cindy B.
    Aug. 31, 2020

    Kal-Haven Outpost

    Super convenient to the Kal Haven Bike Trail

    This was a nice campground right on the Kal Haven Trail - about 4 miles from South Haven. The RV camping is in a circle in the center of the campground near the bathhouse with cabins and tent camping on the perimeter. There were some very nice woods with paths leading to the Kal Haven and around the campground. 

    It was so convenient to be able to bike ride, hike, or run on the trail that I hesitate to offer any critique - but I will. The sites and the roads in the campground are all dirt so while we were there it was exceptionally dusty. I could imagine that when they have a lot of rain, it is exceptionally muddy. 

    Check out the blue stairs beach at Lake Michigan (accessible in South Haven), Barden's Market for fresh baked goods and vegetables, the Depot for sandwiches, wine and beer, and 3 Blonds Brewery - good food and beer.  In addition to the Kal Haven, you can access the Van Buren State Park Trail in South Haven. It is a 4-mile paved trail running from South Haven to the Van Buren State Park.

  • Hannah S.
    Jun. 25, 2020

    Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday

    Nice shady, sandy spots not far from South Haven

    Good spots for RV/pull behind/tents. Clean facilities and only a 20 min drive from South Haven’s beautiful beaches!

  • Cindy B.
    Apr. 30, 2020

    Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday

    Perfect campground if you like blueberries!

    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! The campground is nice with camping sites that are level and roomy. It has a nice pool and play areas, but the real attraction are the blueberry patches! The campground is only about 14 miles from South Haven where you can shop in a charming downtown, go to a spacious beach or catch the Kal-Haven bike trail to Kalamazoo. We rode 47 miles round trip from Bloomingdale to Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo.

  • Bill M.
    Jan. 17, 2019

    Van Buren State Park Campground

    SW Michigan State Park

    Nice Mich State Park campground near South Haven MI located on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Clean shower houses. Sites with electric. Short walk to beach.

  • Dan W.
    Aug. 7, 2018

    Dune Lake Campground

    Love this place; quiet, family oriented. Only 20 minutes to South Haven

    Close to Lake Michigan and South Haven. Nice swimming lake with a shallow area that’s great for kids. Quiet, family oriented and well maintained.

  • Olivia S.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday

    We’ve stayed many times...

    This is one our top options when camping with tents, pop-up camper, or even cabins when we come to visit South Haven. The spots are great, a little sandy because it is Michigan. Good showers and clean bathrooms. This KOA has always been a reliable camp spot. The South Haven beaches are just a short twenty minute drive away!

    Don’t forget to get Sherman’s while you’re there!

  • E
    Oct. 15, 2018

    Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday

    Great Family Visit

    This is a great place to camp with young children, as there are many activities around the camp. It is family owned and operated and you can tell- warm and friendly. If you want to explore, there are six Lake Michigan beaches within 15 minutes, and it's located between South Haven, MI and Saint Joseph, MI.

  • Phil M.
    Aug. 24, 2020

    Black River Trails Campground

    Very nice, modern campground with new owners!

    This was a great little campground near South Haven, MI. We stayed in a small "RV Site" spot on the campground and that gave us our own electrical/water hookup. Each site comes with a picnic table, fire pit, and ample enough space. We weren't "on top" of the people next to us. 

    We wanted to camp, and be close to the local beaches and this was a perfect location to camp at night then drive to South Haven Beach (maybe 10 min drive if that). They offered showers, bathrooms and even had kayak/canoe trips if we had stayed there during the day.

    The owners checked up on us and told us all about the local brewery and winery spots and offered us tons of info on the area. They're new owners, very friendly and eager to turn this into a successful campground! I'd highly recommend giving this place a try.

  • u
    Jun. 25, 2023

    Kal-Haven Outpost

    We'll be back!!

    Beautiful campground, organized set up. They don't try to see how many campsites they can pile on each other. The tent camping (where we stayed) had the largest campsite I've ever camped on for tents. You can choose between no shade, some shade, or deep woods. We LOVED the no shade. It had grass for our dog and beautiful star gazing. The cabins were in their own section. The RVS and campers circled around the bathroom house. All tent camping was south of the campground in their own little spot as well. All the extra space throughout the campground they used as walking trails. Very relaxing.

    The nicest bathrooms and showers I have ever seen at a campground.

    And the goats behind the entrance are very friendly!!

    Very close to downtown South Haven!

    We will definitely be back again. We may even do at least one annual trip a year.


Guide to South Haven

If you're looking to enjoy the great outdoors with your furry friend, South Haven, Michigan, offers several pet-friendly camping options that cater to both you and your pet's needs.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near South Haven

  • At Van Buren State Park Campground, you can enjoy a moderate hike to the beach and sand dunes, perfect for a day of exploration with your dog.
  • Covert Park Beach & Campground features a lovely beach area where your pet can splash around while you relax nearby.
  • TriPonds Family Camp Resort offers a variety of activities, including a swimming pool and a petting zoo, ensuring fun for the whole family, including your four-legged companions.

Pet owners like the amenities available

  • Kal-Haven Outpost provides spacious campsites with easy access to walking trails, making it convenient for pet owners to take their dogs for walks.
  • At Sunny Brook RV Resort, you’ll find well-maintained facilities, including a dog park and plenty of grassy areas for your pet to roam.
  • Ely Lake Campground allows pets and offers a rustic camping experience, perfect for those looking to disconnect and enjoy nature with their furry friends.

Dog owners appreciate the welcoming atmosphere

  • Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday is known for its friendly staff and community vibe, making it a great spot for dog owners to meet fellow campers.
  • Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp Resort offers a variety of family-friendly activities, ensuring a lively atmosphere where pets are welcome.
  • Dune Lake Campground is praised for its peaceful environment, allowing you and your dog to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings without the noise of loud parties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near South Haven, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near South Haven, MI is Van Buren State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 36 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near South Haven, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 90 dog-friendly camping locations near South Haven, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.