Camping sites near Ravenna, Michigan sit between the dunes of Lake Michigan and the forests of central Michigan, with most campgrounds located within a 30-minute drive radius. This area experiences distinct seasons with warm summers (70-85°F) and cold winters, making most campgrounds operational from May through October. Several campgrounds offer riverside access along the Muskegon River, providing water recreation opportunities during peak summer months.
What to do
Dune hiking opportunities: Hoffmaster State Park Campground offers extensive trail networks through dune landscapes. One camper described, "In addition to several trails within the campground (the one along the creek was especially loved!), many more can be accessed in the state park, which contains over ten miles of trails in its 1,200 acres."
Winter sports access: Lake Michigan Campground at Muskegon State Park Campground maintains winter operations with specialized activities. "Across the road is the Winter complex, sledding, skating, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and luge course. Our kids had a blast here, they have tons of bonfire pits as well," notes a winter visitor.
River recreation: Salmon Run Campground provides tubing opportunities on the Muskegon River. One camper reported, "Towed tubes to a few places on to river and enjoyed a long 3 hour float and a shorter hour float."
What campers like
Beach access: Grand Haven State Park Campground offers direct beach camping. A visitor explained, "This is a cool campground to come hang out at one of the most beautiful beaches in Michigan, and provides the unique experience of actually camping ON the beach, which is something you don't get to do with 95% of the campgrounds on Michigan's coast."
Private fishing spots: Lake Sch-Nepp-A-Ho Family Campground features lake access with no fishing license requirement. As one camper noted, "They had great fishing. We caught a lot of bass, bluegill, crappie and even a catfish. All catch and release. Lake is privately owned so no need for a fishing license."
Boat viewing opportunities: South Channel Campground positions campers for maritime traffic watching. A reviewer highlighted, "Can watch boats go through channel from campsite, loved watching the lake express."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Sites at popular lakefront locations fill quickly. At Grand Haven, "This campground is EXTREMELY hard to get into on the weekends. If you are planning a trip to Grand Haven State Park, be sure to log onto the State Reservation site six months to the date that you want to camp."
Alcohol policies: Several state parks enforce alcohol restrictions. At Muskegon State Park, "Big thing to remember for Michigan state parks is no alcohol even in the campground," while other facilities like Lake Sch-Nepp-A-Ho allow alcohol.
Site spacing considerations: Muskegon County Pioneer County Park has mixed site arrangements. A camper observed, "This camp ground is very crowed, during the summer. The sites are close together, dirt, grass and semi-level."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and fields: Hoffmaster State Park offers substantial recreation areas. According to a visitor, "Children's play area with equipment and activity field, where several kites were hoisted high into the air, were great."
Water recreation options: Chinook Camping combines multiple water activities. "This is a great campground for tubing down the river. They rent the tubes right at the campground, take you up river, and then you get out of the river back at the campground. They have a pool, arcade, food window," notes a family camper.
Kid-friendly beaches: Lake Michigan Campground provides designated swimming areas. One reviewer stated, "The beach is right there at the campground, which is absolutely great. The woods surrounding are great for hiking, and we were excited to find geocaches around the park."
Tips from RVers
Satellite reception considerations: Pioneer County Park has limited satellite-friendly sites. One RVer advises, "If you're wanting your satellite to come in, there are only a few open spaces. We walked around it looked like site 76 and that general area, were open enough to get a clear shot."
Dump station timing: Hoffmaster State Park can get congested at checkout times. "I did notice the backup of campers at the two campground dump stations Sunday before 1pm checkout," reports one RVer.
Early arrival fees: Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA enforces specific check-in policies. A camper cautions, "Make sure you do not arrive before 2:00PM, as they require a $10 early registration fee. If you decide not to pay, you'll be directed to overflow parking where you can loiter until 2:00."
