Camping options around New Haven, Michigan span from rustic tent sites to full-service RV parks within a 30-mile radius. The region features varied terrain including lakefront properties along Lake Huron and the St. Clair River as well as more heavily wooded inland sites. Weather conditions range from humid summers with temperatures averaging 75-85°F to winter lows that can reach below 20°F, making most camping seasonal from April through October.
What to do
Watch freighters pass: At Algonac State Park Campground, visitors can observe international shipping traffic on the St. Clair River. "Great trails throughout the park! When booking I suggest looking at the site map and choosing a site well off the road, its a busy throughway and the noise can be distracting, especially in summer months," notes Jennifer O.
Try disc golf: Oakland County Addison Oaks features a dedicated disc golf course along with hiking and biking trails. One visitor shared, "Addison Oaks is a campground that features hiking and mountain biking trails, campground, cabins, disc golf course, and a lake for boating. The campground is RV and tent friendly and offers fire pits/ picnic tables."
Rock collecting: Take water shoes to hunt for unique stones along the shoreline. "The beach is rocky so don't forget to pack some water shoes but the rocky beach comes with finding cool rocks to either paint or just collect! (We left with a whole cooler filled)," reports one camper at Lakeport State Park.
What campers like
Secluded sites: McGinnis Lake Modern Campground offers wooded campsites that provide privacy. "I love this place and so do my 3 dogs. We got a secluded campsite, and it's gorgeous- tucked into the woods and was easy to back into. You're far enough from people to where you don't really see a lot of them or hear them that often besides people walking by," writes Ashley F.
Beach access: Lakeport State Park Campground provides direct access to Lake Huron. As one reviewer notes, "This place is amazing! I have been faithfully coming here since I was a child. They are right on beautiful Lake Huron with a sandy beaches and clean clear water."
Clean facilities: Campground bathrooms and shower facilities receive positive mentions from visitors. "The bathrooms are absolutely beautiful. The staff very helpful, activities planned during many weekend throughout the year," notes Bryan A. about Algonac State Park.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Most campgrounds book up quickly, especially for summer weekends. Sites at popular parks may require booking 6 months in advance.
Maintenance issues: Road conditions vary significantly between parks. One visitor to Algonac State Park reported, "Next, we were super excited to bring our brand new trailer to camp here but could not believe the disrepair of the campground roads. Sooo many ruts that I was deeply concerned for the undercarriage of both my truck and camper."
Bug preparation: Ridgewood Campground requires extra protection against insects. "Fair warning, the staff aren't the only ones ready to greet you! Bugs, Mosquitoes, bees, and even raccoons (if food left out - which we did not). We have never experienced the amount of mosquitoes we did here," cautions one visitor.
Cell service: Coverage varies by carrier and location. At Thousand Trails St. Clair, a camper noted, "The only downside was the abysmal Verizon signal. I'm talking 3 mbps bad."
Tips for camping with families
Look for scheduled activities: Port Huron KOA offers dedicated children's programming. "Tons to for kids, multiple pools including a zero entry, jumping pillow, ice cream stores, old west town hayrides, train rides($), multiple parks, and next to small water park," explains Lindsey S.
Consider campground layout: Select locations based on your preference for quiet or social camping. "There are two sections to Lakeport State Park. The northern section seems to be the louder section and the southern section seems to be the more laid back quiet section. The south section has more of a woodsy outdoor feel while the north section has more of an open space, smaller lots, crowded feel," advises one experienced camper.
Special events: Look for themed weekends for added fun. "We come for Halloween camping every year! We love this campground. There is a ton to do for all ages. The kids keep busy all day long!" shares Wendy K. about Port Huron KOA.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: KOA Campground Emmett offers varied site types but requires careful selection. "They guide you into your site which is extremely annoying and freak out if you go the wrong way on the one ways. Just way over controlling on you and you can't enjoy camping," warns one RVer.
Hookup availability: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. At Addison Oaks, "Sites have electricity and water and are well spaced out," according to Richard T.
Road conditions: Check campground reviews for information on internal roads. Some parks have paved roads in disrepair while others have gravel roads that may become rutted after rain.
