Ionia State Recreation Area and Bertha Brock County Park allow pets at all camping sites with varied accommodations for outdoor enthusiasts. Bertha Brock maintains rustic campsites nestled near a small river where pets can enjoy natural surroundings, while Ionia Recreation Area offers larger sites with electric hookups, showers, and drinking water. Bathrooms at Ionia have been noted as dated but functional, with plans for replacement. The park system enforces standard leash policies, requiring dogs to remain on leashes no longer than 6 feet when outside designated pet areas. Alice Springs RV Park provides full hookup sites for RV campers with pets but charges additional fees for visitors, including those with animals.
Dogs particularly enjoy the trail systems surrounding Sessions Lake at Ionia Recreation Area, with a 3.5-mile lakeside hiking path offering water access points where pets can cool off during summer months. Bertha Brock Park features well-marked Turkey Trail with stone bridges and creek crossings that appeal to dogs who enjoy water. The nearby beach at Sessions Lake provides additional recreation, though pets must remain outside designated swimming areas. Summer campers should be aware of mosquito intensity, especially at Bertha Brock where sites near the river can experience heavy insect activity. Most campgrounds in the area sell firewood on-site, and campers can access pet supplies in Ionia, approximately 10-15 minutes from most camping locations. Winter camping options are limited, with Ionia Recreation Area open year-round while other facilities close seasonally from October through April.
$24 / night
"There is a disc golf course, mountain bike trail, equestrian trails, hiking trails, a beautiful no wake lake perfect for swimming, kayaking, or fishing. "
"First let me say the rustic area is walk-in only. I was unaware of this until we arrived."
$15 / night
"3rd night here in mid September and it's very peaceful, there is a nearby gun range but you can barley hear."
"Relatively close to town if you need to purchase food or other gear. Bugs (mosquitoes) can get pretty bad, bring lots of bug spray!"
$25 - $101 / night
"Quietly tucked into Clinton co Michigan. Sleepy is easily accessible. Its close to Lansing. There are shopping centers nearby. Country party store is closer!! Very large lake....Ovid is her name!"
"Because we didn't get any shade from the nearby trees we had to run the ac which is unusual for us in Michigan. We were in the midst of a heat-wave though and it was much appreciated."
"The campground was fantastic with lake, trails, pool, and great people. There was even a car show the weekend we went."
"Trails are great for hiking and biking."
"It was great for fishing, and our dogs had a great time too. There isn’t a pool or designated swimming area, but having a spot on the river is great."
"September 9th 2017 I hosted a Kayak/Canoe trip and we used this location for our landing and camping. It was a great little location that even had some river side cabins you could rent."
$38 - $48 / night
"There are a lot of wildlife noises, owls, frogs, crickets, etc. and you can hear some of the highway traffic but the nature sounds kind of drown it out."
"Beautiful location, great owners, very clean and well kept. Nice Pool and great view. Kayakers and Paddle Boats. Uneven sloped site so come prepared. We love it!"
$35 - $45 / night
"Dog friendly, kid friendly, quite relaxing fun tim.. cant wait to go back"
"Close to home but feels “up north”. They offer both rustic and water and electric sites. This is a family campground and my kids loved the playground!"
$28 - $50 / night
"Lots of kids and dogs. You can rent golf carts by the day to play with in the campground. Bathrooms were newly redone. Looking allot better then previous years."
"Recently, I inherited a pop up camper and chose this place to be my first location to try it out. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Our site was nice with electric and water hookups."
"A quiet, relaxing place to get away from city noise."
GuideI 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!
Guide29 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. Some hiking trails...short. is next to a busy road, so traffic all night. Staff was great! Showers and bathrooms cleaned multiple times a day. Pet friendly. Would stay here again!
LegendThey were very organized at this campground. Every weekend they have a theme. We stayed when they had the country western weekend. They had all kinds of stuff going on for kids. Pony rides, wagon rides, petting zoo, games and activities. They also had a country music concert in the park one evening. The pool was very nice, but we found at times it was extremely busy. It would of been nice if they had a swimming area on the lake but they didn’t. This is a Christian campground so they are very strict on alcohol consumption. On your site only, but not allowed anywhere else in the park. Overall we had an enjoyable stay.
TravelerThis 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.
TravelerQuietly tucked into Clinton co Michigan. Sleepy is easily accessible. Its close to Lansing. There are shopping centers nearby. Country party store is closer!! Very large lake....Ovid is her name! Offers many species of fish for catching!! There are fishing docks, ONE IS NOT VERY ACCESSIBLE TO NON AMBULATORY PERSONS !!! THIS ONE'S IN THE CAMP AREA! The path is nicely groomed. The bea h is a long way from the parking lot a d there is no beach access from camp. The park is usually a clean family place...but for really young children or elderly persons it may. Ot be your first choice. I live nearby and have camped there zillions of times. I love it and shower bouses in camp are clean! Friendly staff a d they ate SERIOUS about quiet time! Bug spray required !!
TravelerFirst time in central Michigan and it was absolutely beautiful. The campground has a great location and lots of mountain bike and hiking trails. Firewood is not available on site but is at a local convenience store. Boat launch is available at Deep Lake just down the path in the campground. We had 3 locations right next to a playground and we'd probably choose others next time.
GuideThis was our last stop on a trip where we camped in 6 different Michigan State Parks. This may be an older camp or the DNR was trying to save money when it was built. Most electrical posts are designed to accommodate at least 2 adjoining lots, and as many as 4. This in itself is not a concern until you realize the posts are way too far away to reach without an extension. We tried several lots and couldn’t reach any of the outlets. We finally met a couple who saId they had extensions at the office. So, we finally got set up with an extension cord from the camp office and decided to walk to the beach. Our site was adjacent to the path leading to the beach so we figured we could use a little walk. The path led to another path that led to a parking lot for the beach. After crossing the parking lot we still had to cross a large yard/park that finally opened onto the beach on this small lake. It was all very scenic, but we weren’t expecting a major hike to get to the beach. Showers are nice. They also have a neat ice cream vending machine that I had to check out for scientific purposes only. For a Michigan state park we were quite disappointed.
GuideThis is a nice little spot if you have everything you need with you. The campground is small and compact, which is either good or bad... depending on your neighbors. Beach access is nice, and within walking distance of your lot. However, there is nothing close by to get essentials if needed without a bit of a drive. Campground hosts are very friendly and accommodating, which gives you that homely feeling when you arrive. They could improve their severely outdated playground equipment, and maybe update a few things to greatly improve their surroundings. Overall though, a nice little place to get away right next to the lake.
GuideWe 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.
Campgrounds near Rutland, Michigan offer rustic to full-amenity options across varying terrains along the Maple River and adjacent lakes. Winter temperatures often drop below 20°F, while summer days average 80-85°F with moderate humidity. The region's glacial topography creates diverse camping environments from riverside sites to wooded retreats across Kent and Ionia counties.
Hiking the lakeside trails: Sessions Lake at Ionia State Recreation Area features a 3.5-mile path with water access points. "There are many things that my family enjoys doing at the Ionia State Rec Area. Some of our favorites are hiking, camping, fishing, and the beach. We try to get here a couple of times each year," notes Linsey D.
Kayaking and canoeing: The gentle current at Maple River Campground provides excellent paddling opportunities. "September 9th 2017 I hosted a Kayak/Canoe trip and we used this location for our landing and camping. It was a great little location that even had some river side cabins you could rent," shares David F., adding that wildlife viewing is excellent with "lots of turtles and ducks to be seen."
Disc golf courses: Several campgrounds maintain courses for disc golf enthusiasts. At Sleepy Hollow State Park, Jacob B. notes it has the "best hiking trails within 1 hour drive of the state capital" and offers "fishing, boating, disc golf, horse and bike trails, geocaching available."
Mushroom hunting: Spring visitors can hunt for morel mushrooms in the wooded areas. As one camper at Ionia Recreation Area mentions, "Our kids enjoyed this park every year while growing up. Hunting for mushrooms, fishing, swimming in the lake, building forts, riding bikes. Big sites!"
Spacious campsites: Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground offers larger sites with good separation. "Rangers working the area are very friendly. Many options to choose from in terms of camping, from rustic, tent to fully functional cabin lodging... Campsites are decent sized, can fit probably 3 four person tents per site, which includes a concrete firepit and picnic table," explains Nathan V.
River fishing access: Riverside camping spots allow for fishing directly from your campsite. "We were on site 6, and there was plenty of space! We were able to park the camper with the door facing the river. It was great for fishing, and our dogs had a great time too," shares Alexandra M. about her experience at Maple River Campground.
Peninsula fishing docks: Some campgrounds offer dedicated fishing areas on small peninsulas. Nick B. describes Ionia Recreation Area: "This is great campground for family's it's peaceful and for the most part a quiet campground. A short walk or bike ride to the beach of Sessions Lake or even to the peninsula to fish from dock."
Stone bridges and creek crossings: Several hiking trails feature historic stone work. A day hiker at Bertha Brock County Park reports, "There was three hiking trails to choose from, we choose the 'turkey trail'. The trail was well marked but got quite confusing about 3/4 in. Tons of fun things to see here, beautiful stone bridges."
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Campground bathrooms range from outhouses to modern facilities. At Snow Lake Kampground, campers appreciate the "very organized" approach, though one notes that "the pool was very nice, but we found at times it was extremely busy. It would of been nice if they had a swimming area on the lake but they didn't."
Electric hookup access: Some campgrounds require extension cords for electrical hookups. At Sleepy Hollow, Nick W. advises: "Most electrical posts are designed to accommodate at least 2 adjoining lots, and as many as 4. This in itself is not a concern until you realize the posts are way too far away to reach without an extension."
Visitor fees at some campgrounds: Additional charges may apply for day visitors. At Alice Springs RV Park, a recent visitor noted: "This was the first time we've had some guests come in for a couple hours and they were charging them $5 per person to get in."
Campground themes and activities: Some campgrounds run themed weekends with special events. A camper at Snow Lake Kampground shared: "Every weekend they have a theme. We stayed when they had the country western weekend. They had all kinds of stuff going on for kids. Pony rides, wagon rides, petting zoo, games and activities."
Playground access: Welcome Woods Family Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "With Covid all my camping plans changed but the good part was I ended up finding this place! Close to home but feels 'up north'. They offer both rustic and water and electric sites. This is a family campground and my kids loved the playground!" reports Joie V.
Fort building opportunities: Natural areas where kids can construct forts provide hours of entertainment. Heather H. recalls of Ionia Recreation Area: "Our kids enjoyed this park every year while growing up. Hunting for mushrooms, fishing, swimming in the lake, building forts, riding bikes. Big sites! This place was the perfect get away."
Beach access for smaller children: Smaller lakes offer calmer swimming conditions for families. As Joshua E. explains: "The beach is fantastic especially for little kids who might not be the best swimmers ready for Lake Michigan or lakes with lots of boats and waves to deal with. Nice and sandy and a nice store and ice cream shop at the beach."
Weekend activities for children: Check campground calendars for scheduled kids' events. At Snow Lake Kampground, Gabrielle S. notes it "has a pool, hot tub, mini golf, shuffleboard, and so much more! A quiet, relaxing place to get away from city noise."
Site leveling considerations: Some campgrounds have uneven sites requiring leveling equipment. One RVer cautioned about a particularly challenging campground: "To say the sites are uneven is putting it mildly. For 15 sites, you seriously can't level them??"
Extension cord requirements: Bring extra-long power cords for electrical hookups. According to David F. at Maple River Campground, "September 9th 2017 I hosted a Kayak/Canoe trip and we used this location for our landing and camping. It was a great little location that even had some river side cabins you could rent."
Dog friendly campgrounds near Rutland: Most area campgrounds welcome pets with standard leash restrictions. Coral C. shares about Bertha Brock Park: "Bertha Brock is a great place for families. Brining our kids here from Grand Rapids is quick and easy... Near ionia state park with a nice beach for swimming or boating (no wake)."
Site depth limitations: Some campgrounds have shallow sites challenging for larger RVs. Joshua E. observes: "The campground itself is very nice, but you may find the activities are a short drive away from your site to get there. The sites are all a little bit shallow especially if you have a larger travel trailer you may find it a bit tight."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Rutland, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Rutland, MI is Ionia State Recreation Area with a 4.1-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Rutland, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 75 dog-friendly camping locations near Rutland, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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