Best Campgrounds near Nazareth, MI

Southwestern Michigan features a diverse selection of campgrounds around Nazareth, with established facilities like Fort Custer Recreation Area and Markin Glen County Park offering a mix of developed camping experiences. Both tent and RV camping are available throughout the region, with several parks offering full hookup sites for larger vehicles. Some locations like Cold Brook County Park and Outdoor Adventures Kalamazoo Resort also provide cabin accommodations, giving visitors multiple options beyond traditional camping. The area's mixed-use campgrounds typically offer convenient access to local attractions while maintaining natural settings with varying levels of privacy.

Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with peak availability from April through October. "The park was very clean and well-kept. Bathrooms with showers were cleaned daily," noted one visitor about Markin Glen County Park. Reservations are recommended during summer months, particularly for weekend stays when facilities reach capacity quickly. Water and electric hookups are common at developed campgrounds, while sewer connections are available at select locations like Markin Glen. Several campgrounds implement seasonal closures, with some shutting down completely during winter months. Proximity to Kalamazoo provides convenient access to urban amenities while still offering natural settings for outdoor recreation.

Campers consistently highlight the balance of natural surroundings and modern amenities available throughout the area's camping options. Many campgrounds feature water recreation opportunities, with fishing and swimming available at locations like Cold Brook County Park. Several visitors mention the convenience of paved walking trails at Markin Glen County Park that connect directly to the Kalamazoo River Trail system. Train noise affects some campgrounds in the region, particularly Markin Glen where tracks run nearby. Families appreciate the playground facilities and activities available at parks like Fort Custer, which also offers extensive hiking and biking trails through wooded terrain. The camping landscape includes a mix of county parks, state recreation areas, and private resorts, providing options for different preferences and budgets.

Best Camping Sites Near Nazareth, Michigan (161)

    1. Fort Custer Recreation Area

    44 Reviews
    Augusta, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 731-4200

    "Fort Custer is a hidden gem in Michigan. Nobody thinks to go camping near Battle Creek, but they really should reconsider!"

    "Another great camping experience, site 210 has an amazing trail that leads directly to the showers at one end and at the other path went directly to running water, plus only a couple of yards from a great"

    2. Markin Glen County Park

    7 Reviews
    Nazareth, MI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 381-7570

    $35 - $40 / night

    "Despite having lived near Kalamazoo for seven years, we had never visited this park previously. The site are large level concrete pads with grass dividing the sites. All full hookups."

    "There are three roads in the campground and the two roads on the outside have no one behind them which adds privacy. "

    3. Brookside City Park

    6 Reviews
    Allegan, MI
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 692-3391

    $5 - $10 / night

    "The camping spots are in a park right off the main road, however they are tucked all the way around back offering surprisingly private camping."

    "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. "

    5. Deep Lake Rustic Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area

    25 Reviews
    Cloverdale, MI
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 795-9081

    "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)."

    6. Kalamazoo County Expo Center

    1 Review
    Kalamazoo, MI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 383-8778

    "It’s not as big as some of the expo centers in Michigan, but it does the job. If you plan to camp here they offer 220 campsites over 5 small campgrounds."

    7. Cold Brook County Park

    4 Reviews
    Galesburg, MI
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 746-4270

    "29 campsites pretty close together with old growth trees interspersed around the campground. Fishing pier and boating, playground area, and beach. No longer has primitive camping."

    "Lots of neat free and inexpensive things for kids and families nearby. Check out Kzookids.com to see what’s available if you want to. A nice disk golf course, lots of fishing."

    8. Hidden Ridge RV Resort, A Sun RV Resort

    10 Reviews
    Wayland, MI
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 672-9196

    $50 - $70 / night

    "Spacing was generous between locations. We had a drive-in(forward) location(#10) overlooking the small lake. There was some interstate noise but it was more of a steady hum and not an issue at all."

    "And the only trash bin we could find was at the entrance of the grounds (which was quite a distance from 241 our site)."

    9. Gun Lake Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    Middleville, MI
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (269) 795-9081

    "This is also a short drive away from tons of beautiful walking paths."

    "You can walk the trail to the state park beach and store. Bathrooms are clean."

    10. Oak Shores Resort Campground

    2 Reviews
    Vicksburg, MI
    13 miles
    +1 (269) 649-4689
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Recent Reviews near Nazareth, MI

670 Reviews of 161 Nazareth Campgrounds


  • Gary G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2026

    Outdoor Adventures Kalamazoo Resort

    Membership? No thanks

    Roads are seem to be dirt/gravel here (but most is really just crumbling asphalt), so even though most vehicles respect the 5mph speed limit (which is nice), you can still expect some dust everywhere. Oh, and some golf carts often seem to think 5mph doesn't apply to them.

    Kalamazoo Speedway is only 2.5 miles away, so if there's racing at night, you're going to hear it. It's not terrible, but...

    Many golf carts here, some with thumping music or ooh-gah horns going by in the evening. While before official "quiet time", it's still really annoying at 9 or 10pm. Be nice if they adopted a "your noise/music should stay on your site" idea like other places. ESPECIALLY the loud, music-blasting golf carts.

    Calling this a "resort" is kind of a stretch. The "lakes" (more like ponds) are in need of weed control. Sites along the main lake are often muddy, sinking campers into it. There's one playground there. A small beach, pool (was freezing on the Mem Day weekend), a mini-golf that needs some TLC and a somewhat pricey camp store. Not much different than your average, most basic KOA, except KOA doesn't require a $17K lifetime membership.

    They say there's trails you can walk, but I didn't see a single sign or map indicating where these were. Pointless without that.

    Stayed Memorial Day weekend. Roads could really, really use a grading or repaving. Lots of bumps, holes and dips. Makes it somewhat dangerous for evening bike rides. The idiots staying in site 158 with their kids singing (bad) karaoke was super annoying. Staffsecurity should have told them to turn it down no matter the time. (two nights, from about 8:30pm until 10:45pm.). I thought they had a rule about this? Their security car went by at least twice during this unwanted show, so why didn't they say something? I tried to call about it, but got no answer.

    The mini golf is a nice touch... it'd just be nice to see it maintained a lot better. It's pretty rough.

    This is a membership-only place. We had a promotional stay, but I have to say, I really didn't see enough value to want to buy in. Even if it was just a regular campground, we weren't all that impressed enough that we'd make a special trip just to stay here. I'd rate it as "ok", but there was no real "wow factor" here for us.

    I have to say the woman they assigned to us for the tour and sales meeting was very nice, pleasant, and no annoying hard sell. But then they send in the closer, and there's where the flurries of offers and discounts start, but once you get the discounts, you lose other options that you'd probably want. Is Outdoor Adventures worth it? Not to us, sorry to say. We like to camp all over, not just at a handful of specific campgrounds under the Outdoor Adventures umbrella.

    To Outdoor Adventures... you should really arrange it so campers can try out two or three of your campgrounds FIRST before trying to sell them. No way we'd join after only seeing/staying in one. Especially just Kalamazoo.

    BTW, their rental cabins (especially the largest ones) were really nice. I'll give them that.

    That's my honest review of the place as we found it.

  • Kaley A.
    May. 20, 2026

    Pokagon State Park Campground

    Nice park from what I could see

    This is the second time I’ve been to this park. Neither time was I able to really see the park (kids), so that is the only reason I have it a 4.

    I really liked our campsite. We were in the middle of a circle drive and had the whole inner circle to ourselves, which was nice for the kids to play. It was a HUGE campsite with a fairly long back in driveway. The site was slopped, especially close to the power source. It was a bit annoying for us as tent campers but not so much that I wouldn’t rent this site again.

    We weren’t all that far from water, the bathhouse, and trash services as well as a natural water spring and a trail to hike.

  • Mike J.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 17, 2026

    Steamboat Park Campground

    Great spot!

    A hidden gem with a lot of history. A paddle wheel boat on the Grand river?! Nice and secluded yet close to town and easy access to the highway

  • Gerard E.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 5, 2026

    Pokagon State Park Campground

    Camp 26

    May 1-5, 2026 site 322, 48 degrees and light drizzle at setup. 

    Site is level, but drops down in the mud and grass, pad is barely wide enough to set up table without being on an angle. Site barely fits 21’ trailer and RAM 1500 

    Cellular T-Mobile 5g, 3bars Electric, 20, 30 and 50 amp. 

    Bathroom is separate from showers, older but decent. A nice grassy area close to site 322 and 324. Shade and sun Fire pit sits in low area, do expect puddles if raining. 

    Firewood was$8, dry, burned well. Close to bike/walking trail and a few hundred feet from store. Easy check in, Pokagon is a favorite park of ours as it offers miles of hiking trails.

  • Gerard E.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 5, 2026

    Pokagon State Park Campground

    Camp 26

    May 1-5, 2026 

    site 322, 48 degrees and light drizzle at setup. Site is level, but drops down in the mud and grass, pad is barely wide enough to set up table without being on an angle. 

    Site barely fits 21’ trailer and RAM 1500 

    Cellular T-Mobile 5g, 3bars Electric, 20, 30 and 50 amp. 

    Bathroom is separate from showers, older but decent. A nice grassy area close to site 322 and 324. Shade and sun Fire pit sits in low area, do expect puddles if raining. Firewood was$8, dry, burned well. 

    Close to bike/walking trail and a few hundred feet from store. Easy check in, Pokagon is a favorite park of ours as it offers miles of hiking trails.

  • Derek J.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 2, 2026

    Beach Campground — Holland State Park

    Good clean and accessible

    Campground is good clean and accessible. The sites are like diagonal parking spots. So we suggest you jump out real quick and oriente yourself with your spot before pulling in. There are spots with sewer and water for $60 and spots with just electric for $45 as of May 2026. Bathhouse and restrooms were clean and accessible with baby changing stations in both men's and women's bathrooms. You do have to check in at the first campground. So make sure to listen and follow directions to that campground first. The sign isn't huge, so keep your eyes peeled.

  • Jeremy
    Apr. 27, 2026

    Spaulding Lake Campground

    Peaceful Camping

    I've stayed here before and the owners are really chill and keep the place nice and clean. It's very peaceful and good fishing. I even saw the salmon swimming upstream when I was there. The pond was crystalline clear and maintained. There are walking trails as well and overall a really good place to camp. Highly recommend!!

  • Gerard E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 24, 2026

    Pokagon State Park Campground

    One of the Best

    10-2-24 thru 10-7-24 Site 370 C

    Cellular, TMOBILE 5G, 3 bars. 21’ Apex Nano w truck. Gravel pad, fire pit and grass is about 12” lower than pad. Keep in mind if expecting rain. 

    Showers are old, warm with 2 hooks, 2 toilets and 2 urnials. 

    Fire pit needs to be reset in the ground, it sit too high. Awesome trails to hike. Maintenance was awesome changing out a breaker on the box.

    8-27-22, update on site 348 and 350. These are pull through sites on the edge of the road. 350 is longer and had a 5th Wheel on it. We put our 19’ Nano on 348. Full sun during the day, 348 is uneven once you walk off of the pad. This site could use some TLC and more gravel for parking. 

    10-1-16, nice state park with hiking trails. Lot 322 was partially sun and shade. Restroom and shower(open stall, no privacy) was outdated but functional. 2-5-22 hiked 4 miles on the snow packed trails. Cold and awesome powder conditions.


Guide to Nazareth

Camping near Nazareth, Michigan offers a mix of county and state recreation areas within southwestern Michigan's varied terrain. The region experiences seasonal weather patterns with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping months, while spring and fall bring cooler temperatures with occasional rain. Most campgrounds in the area sit at elevations between 800-900 feet above sea level, contributing to moderate humidity levels during summer camping.

What to Do

Mountain biking trails: At Fort Custer Recreation Area, visitors can access extensive trail systems for all skill levels. "Endless hiking trails and two lakes where you can fish, swim, and boat. If you're in the area, this is highly recommended," notes Bob B. The park maintains dedicated mountain bike trails separate from hiking paths.

Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes throughout the region provide fishing access with varying catch potential. At Deep Lake Rustic Campground, campers can fish directly from the shoreline or dedicated piers. "There are several no wake lakes for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. One lake with swimming beach," reports Janet N., highlighting the multiple water recreation options.

Winter recreation: While most campgrounds operate seasonally, some recreation areas remain accessible for winter activities. The trail systems at Fort Custer offer snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities when snow conditions permit. Some parks maintain plowed access roads for winter recreation even when camping facilities close.

What Campers Like

Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate sites with natural barriers. "We found a campsite that was large with vegetation separating us from neighbors," reports Art S. about Fort Custer. Some campgrounds offer more seclusion than others, with Deep Lake Rustic Campground providing more isolated sites compared to more developed facilities.

Paved camping pads: At Markin Glen County Park, campers enjoy modern amenities with full hookup sites. "All sites are 50 amp full hook-up that are paved with paved patios, fire pits, and picnic tables," notes one visitor. The concrete pads provide level setups for both tents and RVs regardless of weather conditions.

Trail connectivity: Several campgrounds provide direct access to regional trail systems. "The campground has direct access to the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail which is a paved trail extending for many miles," reports a Markin Glen visitor. This connectivity allows campers to explore beyond campground boundaries without driving to trailheads.

What You Should Know

Train noise affects some locations: Railway proximity impacts certain campgrounds more than others. Sites at Markin Glen near the tracks (specifically sites 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, and 27) experience more train noise, with one camper noting trains "sitting there for hours getting loaded" approximately every day or two.

Limited services in rural areas: Some campgrounds are located far from amenities. One visitor to Hidden Ridge RV Resort noted: "There isn't much close to the campground at all. Like the closest gas station is 15 miles. Not really any fast food restaurants either." Stock up on supplies before arriving at more remote locations.

Reservation systems vary: County parks often have different reservation procedures than state recreation areas. For Brookside City Park, "registration is at the police station, and if it's after hours you may have to call an off site officer to meet you with the phone provided," according to Katie. Some campgrounds require cash or check payment only.

Tips for Camping with Families

Beach quality considerations: When planning water activities for children, check beach conditions. At Gun Lake Campground, visitors advise: "Wear aqua shoes lake is rocky." Another camper adds that Gun Lake "is crowded and very warm towards end of summer," which affects water quality.

Look for organized activities: Some campgrounds provide structured children's programs. "Kid friendly! This park always finds a way to have something fun for the kids to do," notes Melissa M. about Hidden Ridge RV Resort, which offers "hayrides, crafts, store, pond for fishing" and other amenities specifically designed for families.

Site selection for noise management: Families with young children should consider site location relative to common noise sources. "Our site was on the far end of a loop. This meant a longer walk to the restrooms and showers. On the other hand, we were right across from an access trail to the blue hiking trail," reports Art S., highlighting the tradeoffs between convenience and quiet.

Tips from RVers

Electric-only hookups: Many state recreation areas provide limited services. At Fort Custer Recreation Area, "Sites have electrical service only. Must use the dump station," advises VB S. Plan water tank capacity accordingly for these partial hookup sites.

Dump station timing: Plan departure times strategically to avoid dump station congestion. "The dump station takes a bit to get through. We were in line for about an hour before we dumped and we pulled off our site at 1," notes Mike P. about Gun Lake Campground. Mid-day departure times often coincide with peak dump station usage.

Site leveling challenges: At Cold Brook County Park, some sites require additional leveling equipment. While some parks feature concrete pads, others have natural surfaces with varying degrees of levelness. At private resorts, one camper observed: "The campsites are a good size but those we found are not very level."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Nazareth, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Nazareth, MI is Fort Custer Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 44 reviews.