Best Campgrounds near Rockford, MI

The wooded landscapes surrounding Rockford, Michigan feature a variety of established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. Wabasis Lake County Park in nearby Greenville offers tent, RV, and cabin camping with full hookups and lake access, while Duke Creek Campground in Cedar Springs provides similar amenities in a family-friendly setting. Scalley Lake Park Campground stands out with diverse accommodation options including yurts and glamping facilities. Cedar Springs RV Resort and Lincoln Pines Resort cater primarily to RV campers seeking more developed facilities. For those preferring a more rustic experience, Newaygo State Park Campground, about 40 minutes north, maintains year-round primitive sites with fewer amenities but greater seclusion.

Camping seasons in this region typically run from late April through October, with a few facilities like Newaygo State Park and Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA remaining open year-round. Most campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. Cell service varies considerably, with better coverage at developed campgrounds closer to Rockford and Grand Rapids. As one camper noted, "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." Michigan Recreation Passports are required for entry to state parks, costing $13 for Michigan residents or $39 for non-residents annually.

Shaded sites receive consistently positive reviews from campers visiting the area. "Lots of trees, so it's cooler to camp," reported one visitor to a nearby state park. Many campgrounds feature clean bathroom facilities and shower houses, though site privacy can be limited at more popular locations. Campers frequently mention the proximity to water as a major draw, with several parks offering access to lakes or rivers for swimming and fishing. Family-friendly amenities like playgrounds and hiking trails are common at county and state parks. During peak summer months, campgrounds can become crowded, with one reviewer noting, "This campground is very crowded during the summer. The sites are close together, dirt, grass and semi-level."

Best Camping Sites Near Rockford, Michigan (163)

    1. Wabasis Lake County Park

    10 Reviews
    Cannonsburg, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 691-8056

    "There are a few downsides:

    1. Because it's so close to Grand Rapids and some other cities, it typically is full on the weekends. Booking a site can be troublesome."

    "However, we were able to get a hold of the staff the next day, we were refunded for our first night, and had a great second night at Wabasis Lake staying in the camper cabins."

    2. Duke Creek Campground

    6 Reviews
    Cedar Springs, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 696-2115

    "Right across the road from Michigan's Adventure amusement park"

    "Train rides, Pool, Scavenger hunt, trails, bike rides, there just weren't enough hours in the day! We should have reserved an entire week!"

    3. Scalley Lake Park Campground and Cabins

    6 Reviews
    Cannonsburg, MI
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 691-8534

    "Amazing spot away from the city! The owner of the place is very accommodating and pleasant to be around. Private lake with no motors so it is very quiet and peaceful!!!"

    "The cabins are clean and nice, the view of the lake is beautiful. My 6 children had a great time here"

    4. Cedar Springs Rv Resort

    3 Reviews
    Cedar Springs, MI
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 696-1735

    "Only downfall is the proximity to the highway and lack of woodsy camping feeling. Restrooms are always immaculately clean. Close to Cedar Springs downtown."

    "Nice fishing pond, the cleanest bathrooms I’ve ever seen at a campground and nice walking path."

    5. Steamboat Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Jenison, MI
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 457-4837

    $45 - $85 / night

    "Year round parks are so hard to find in Michigan. This one is awesome. Great spots in the trees and also back in spots right on the river."

    "This is a quirky little campground tucked away along a large river. It's not large, but half of the sites are directly on a wide fast moving river.  Occasionally a paddleboat goes buy with tourists. "

    6. Newaygo State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Morley, MI
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 856-4452

    "This was such a beautiful location!! And definitely a nice find!"

    "I love the campsites at this state park, they're decently big and each site is surrounded by trees. The sites are a little close together but all in all we really enjoyed our stay."

    7. Hoffmaster State Park Campground

    55 Reviews
    Norton Shores, MI
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 798-3711

    $38 - $42 / night

    "Site 31 and any along that path back up to a little creek and trail which was just perfect for the kids to play in."

    "Great hiking trails, close to Lake Michigan"

    8. Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA

    13 Reviews
    Allendale, MI
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 895-6601

    "We did venture out to a brewery 5-10 mins away in Allendale and Grand Haven is about 20-25 minutes away if you want to cruise out to Lake Michigan. The pool was clean and we had a lot on the pond."

    "Very easy drive to the lighthouse, too!"

    9. Lincoln Pines Resort

    1 Review
    Gowen, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 984-2100

    10. Ionia State Recreation Area — Ionia Recreation Area

    15 Reviews
    Ionia, MI
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (616) 527-3750

    $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."

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Recent Reviews near Rockford, MI

745 Reviews of 163 Rockford Campgrounds


  • Nicole B.
    Sep. 22, 2025

    White River RV Park & Campground

    Terrible Campground/Noisy/Rude Staff

    Campsites are right on top of each other, so very little privacy. There were people outside our tent all night making noise. Staff was very rude. We left a day early.

  • Holly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Lake Michigan Campground at Muskegon State Park Campground

    Beautiful and well taken care of!

    The campground was full on my visit, but that did not affect the atmosphere. It was quiet and sites are large and well spaced out. The staff did a great job keeping things clean and well stocked. My site was right next to the beach access, and it was fantastic!

  • W
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Hoffmaster State Park Campground

    We will keep coming back

    We stayed Sunday, and Monday night of Labor Day weekend for the second time this year. This place is clean! The only negative of this place is that the water is not as clear compared to a little north & south. I think it has something to do with the grand river being so close. The walk down & back to the beach is pretty strenuous if you are not used to the dunes & a hill. If you are elderly or not in shape you might go to the beach at an easier access point. Bathrooms & showers are always very clean. They have a campground host that offers free coffee in the mornings & tools you can barrow for your campsite. This is a great place for families. Well spaced sites. No alcohol allowed and pretty quiet after 11pm just the occasional person is awake. We had the site with the creek behind us so we sat our tent up facing the creek. Monday morning there was a lot of people leaving so we did get woke up pretty early w/ a lot of noise of people leaving from Labor Day but Monday night we had empty sites all around us & it was very chill Tuesday morning. I was a little worried that the workers would say something to us bc we had not packed fully by 11 but we were able to finish our breakfast and pack up quickly without them saying anything to us.

  • M
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Crockery Creek RV Park

    Rude and unprofessional

    The little owners wife racially profiled my kids friends mom,  in front of the kids!!!!!!  Ha!  She tried accusing us of sneaking in their pool.  That's hilarious,  because we paid $3700.00 for a seasonal.  The pool is actually small and it was oily and full of hair.  Being off Apple Ave,  it's  loud and hard to relax.  My husband had a tragic workplace accident,  so we weren't able to get to the camper in a few weeks.  The owner called him multiple times at once,  being aggressive with his tone,  trying to get us to pull our camper so they can rent that spot out.  They must be desperate for money.  They should try reading up on the law.  Their website lies about their amenities,  they had no fish all season and their pond was disgusting.

  • tThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Sawkaw Lake

    Small and quiet

    Not a lot of privacy between sites, but they are very large so you don’t feel on top of another and having the lake right there was nice

  • Ileene R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Sawkaw Lake

    Peaceful

    There are signs on the sites saying permit required, but no info for that purpose. No one else had them so I stayed. May be ramping up to making it a paid site, toilet is nice. Lake has boat access. There are fire rings and lots of wood to collect. Not tons of trash but I cleaned up some left in fire pit.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    White River RV Park & Campground

    A camp that does everything right!

    There’s a great variety of campsites available with a north woods bent!Management does a fine job of cleanliness, neatness and extreme attention to detail. Two facts summarize our satisfaction with this operation: cleaning people are seen making the rounds of each and every restroom and shower house TWICE daily. The management keeps a dedicated maintenance man available and on 24 hour call! He will aid and assist everything from lock outs to rookie campers doing their first sanitation drain, to motor vehicle issues. We are on our second annual visit.

  • James V.
    Aug. 26, 2025

    Steamboat Park Campground

    Wonderful, well thought through campground.

    I have had a very enjoyable stay. The river location is quite nice and the grounds are very well cared for. The site(and all sites, as far as I can see) are quite level. The bathrooms are not just clean and well maintained, but the shower rooms also have a dedicated sink and toilet, which I much appreciate. The washer and dryers in the bathhouse are brand new and take credit cards. While it is near a regional airport, there is close to no air traffic and no commercial traffic I noticed. Overall, probably one of the top 5 campgrounds I have encountered, if the list was for being up to date, well thought out and well provisioned. Everything was top notch.

  • Linda C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 21, 2025

    Brookside City Park

    More expensive now

    Tents sites are now $20 and RV hookups (water and 20/30 amp) are $30. When I got to the police station they were closed for the week but a phone # was provided to call dispatcher and an officer responded promptly to help me get registered. Cash or check only.


Guide to Rockford

Camping sites near Rockford, Michigan range from lakeside retreats to forested hideaways across Kent County. Most Rockford area campgrounds sit at elevations between 650-850 feet, with summertime humidity levels typically reaching 70-80%. Seasonal flooding sometimes affects low-lying campsites near rivers during spring months, particularly in April when rainfall averages 3.4 inches.

What to do

Disc golf adventures: Newaygo State Park Campground offers an 18-hole disc golf course popular with campers. "The disc golf course is awesome. If you're not into fishing or disc golf, you might be happier elsewhere, but I love those two things, so I want to go back and visit again," notes one Newaygo State Park visitor.

Beach swimming: Session Lake at Ionia Recreation Area provides a no-wake swimming area with sandy shorelines. "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," according to an Ionia State Recreation Area camper.

Trail hiking: Multiple short trails wind through Hoffmaster State Park's dune ecosystem. "Trails to dunes, beach, and other parks as well as dune preserve: all well-marked and vary in difficulty, weaving through pine and hardwood forests nestled among dunes," reports a visitor to Hoffmaster.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Duke Creek Campground gets high marks for accommodating larger groups and families. "The sites were large enough that it could hold a large camper and two vehicles easily. Some of the sites are a little uneven (the camper needed wood blocks underneath it so that the wheels weren't off the ground after leveling)," shares a camper from Wabasis Lake County Park.

Kid-friendly activities: Onsite entertainment keeps children busy at several area campgrounds. "We've stayed here a few times over the last several years and it's been great every time! Whether we're in the area for the mtn bike trails, or for an event in Grand Rapids, this is the place we always try to stay at if they have an opening," explains a visitor to Wabasis Lake.

Affordable firewood: Bulk firewood purchases prove economical at many campgrounds. "There are nice firepits and the firewood is cheap! 8 large pieces for $6, a wheelbarrow full of tinder for another $6. Bring a hatchet or axe because the wood pieces are huge!" notes a Duke Creek Campground visitor.

What you should know

Arrival timing restrictions: Some campgrounds charge early arrival fees. "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," warns an Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA visitor.

Wildlife encounters: Raccoons and other wildlife frequently visit campsites. "Lots and lots of raccoons, that aren't shy at all!" cautions a Wabasis Lake camper about the local wildlife population.

Shallow water bodies: Many lakes in the region have gradually sloping bottoms. "The lake is effectively a plate, so don't expect to do much fishing from shore. The water is incredibly shallow. (But that makes for a very nice beach!)" mentions a Wabasis Lake visitor.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Choose sites near play areas for easy monitoring. "There is a playground in the center which was very handy for our little ones. They could play and we could watch from our site," recommends a Wabasis Lake camper.

Beach alternatives: Consider campgrounds with pools during swimmers itch outbreaks. "We have loved this campground for its sites right on the park, and great beach area with park at the beach also. Lots of trails for hiking and exploring but unfortunately this summer swimmers itch got us!" cautions a visitor to Wabasis Lake.

Activity scheduling: Weekend programming often includes special events for children. "Your kids will LOVE this place-we had a blast! Train rides, Pool, Scavenger hunt, trails, bike rides, there just weren't enough hours in the day! We should have reserved an entire week!" exclaims a Scalley Lake Park Campground visitor.

Tips from RVers

Site selection for privacy: End sites or those along perimeters offer more space. "This campground is very nice compared to some others we've been too. Sites are fairly wooded (lots of pine trees) and not too crowded," notes an Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA visitor.

Dump station timing: Plan departure to avoid Sunday morning dump station lines. "While we don't have a big rig, I did notice the backup of campers at the two campground dump stations Sunday before 1pm checkout," explains a camper from Hoffmaster State Park.

Electrical considerations: Sites vary in amperage availability. "Our campsite was nice! The sites were large enough that it could hold a large camper and two vehicles easily," reports a Steamboat Park Campground visitor who appreciated the full-hookup options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best campgrounds near Rockford, Michigan?

The Rockford area offers several excellent camping options within driving distance. Wabasis Lake County Park near Greenville provides reservable sites with water and toilet facilities, making it a convenient option for families. For those willing to drive a bit further, Hoffmaster State Park Campground offers family-friendly camping with sites backing up to a creek and trails perfect for kids to play. The park also features easy access to Lake Michigan beaches. Other notable options include Duke Creek Campground near Cedar Springs and Newaygo State Park Campground, which offers both drive-in and boat-in access. Most campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and access to recreational activities.

What tent camping options are available in the Rockford area?

Tent campers near Rockford have several quality options to choose from. Dutch Treat Camping & Recreation offers both rustic camping and full hookup sites, with amenities including fishing, swimming pool, and a gagaball pit. The campground is family-run and features clean bathhouses, making it ideal for tent campers seeking basic comforts. For a more rustic experience, Ionia State Recreation Area provides tent sites with access to hiking trails and water activities. Tent campers can also consider Scalley Lake Park Campground and Cabins, which offers walk-in tent sites with water and toilet facilities. Most tent camping areas in the region provide fire rings and picnic tables, with varying levels of privacy depending on the specific campground and site.

Are there campgrounds with lakes for swimming near Rockford?

Several campgrounds near Rockford offer excellent lake swimming opportunities. Lake Michigan Campground at Muskegon State Park provides direct access to Lake Michigan beaches via steps leading from the campground. The shaded sites keep camping temperatures cooler, and the clean bathhouses offer plenty of hot water. Another option is Lake Macatawa Campground — Holland State Park, which features a walking path to Lake Michigan and proximity to downtown Holland. For inland lake swimming, consider Newaygo State Park Campground, which offers boat-in access and water recreation. South Channel Campground provides unique access to both Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan, though campsites are noted to be close together. Most lake-adjacent campgrounds in the area fill quickly during summer months, so advance reservations are recommended.