Best Tent Camping near St. Johns, MI

Recent Tent Reviews in St. Johns

303 Reviews of 15 St. Johns Campgrounds

• 

  Jim M.

  Scout

  

  Dec. 17, 2024

  Oaks Campgrounds

  Greedy and ignorant

  So I checked in today to stay for a week and noticed that there is no one here. I must have ended up at the wrong campground, because I usually camp around other nomadic campers and I was having bad anxiety being the only person there.  The people run this decided to play games with me.

  First I told them i am leaving and they had the audacity to try and say they will charge me 30 bucks for plugging my wifi in so I can text my friend with my phone since it only runs off wifi and an argument ensued.

  They suggested I use their office wifi.

  I walked up to it after I unplugged my damn wifi trying to text my friend, there was no password on their office window. It wasnt free. So i walked back to my camper, plugged my wifi back in, texted the idiot who runs the place demanding the password so i can text my friend and they didnt respond, so its like they were trying to entrap me into paying them 30 bucks just for using my wifi. I told them there will be a problem. So I got in touch with my friend, my friend arrives and I made sure they gave me my full refund back. I was gonna lose it if they kept trying to interfere with me trying to reach my friend.

  I do not recommend this campground. It is more like a storage unit for campers. 

  Still trying to find where all the nomadic people are camping right now.

• 

  Christina M.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 13, 2024

  Walnut Hills Family Campground

  I’d give 0 if I could

  This campground used to be all about family and friends.  Camping friends that became family.  40+ years camping there, generation after generation.  So many wonderful people.  But the new owner has changed that camping experience for a lot of people.  Seasonals and reoccurring weekenders.  In fact over the last 2 years he has lost over 40+ seasonal families.  Many who have been there 10,20 even 30yrs.  He has done some much needed improvements but for what he is trying to charge people it’s ridiculous.  Believe all the bad reviews.  And the good reviews, well he pays for those by offering discounts for good reviews or free Wibit passes. The so called lake that he advertises is a nasty little pond that I’m sure is swimming with ecoli .  , the Wibit is small and priced outrageously at more than $35 on most days and is riddled with holes and barely filled with air in most days. Which also makes it dangerous.  The store does not have much to offer and what they do have is priced ridiculous.  There is one bathhouse and a couple nasty outhouses.  The owner also lies so much and thinks everyone else are fools.  He doesn’t live in MI so you won’t ever see him either.  Spend your money somewhere else.  For what he is charging it is not worth it.

• 

  Lynn T.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 21, 2024

  Walnut Hills Family Campground

  Expensive for the area. Expensive lots, wood, & parking

  Has gotten increasingly expensive over the past few years with nothing added in for the increases. No longer allowed to bring in local firewood. Must purchase from them. Many lots have flooding and you’re expected to camp in it. 

  Also beware if you have plans to buy a wristband for the water bounce attraction that it is not for a day that they have contracted to have bus loads of kids coming in to also use it.  Your kids will get knocked off and be afraid and you won’t get your $$ back. 

  They charge high for everything here. I’m actually surprised the showers are still free. But maybe next year they will charge for that too.

• 

  Cathy E.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 17, 2024

  Crooked Lake Rustic Campground — Pinckney Recreation Area

  Rustic & Friendly

  The staff were so kind and helpful. I visited in my off-grid ready camper van, and staff helped us choose a site that had good views and felt private (SITE #22). It was a little slanted, but it didn't bother me. We could see the lake and had an outhouse right nearby.

• P

  Paul K.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 14, 2024

  Camp Clear Sky

  Charming campsite near Grand Rapids.

  Enjoyed our stay!

  Outdoor kitchen with running water and flush toilet were unexpected amenities. 

  Not to mention the chickens keeping us company!

  Will definitely stay there again when we’re in the area!

• 

  Reservations L.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 13, 2024

  Lake Chemung Outdoor Resort

  Great for year-round camping - Winter camping as well

  Love this campground for it's friendly people to it's great amenities. They have an indoor pool, sauna, putt putt, playground, lake  Great for Winter camping as well.

• J

  Julia H.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 29, 2024

  Frankenmuth Jellystone Park

  Fun RV park and very close to downtown

  Our site was averaged out to $82.71 a night with the weekly rate discount.

  We were in Site# 306 (a deluxe plus RV site - be aware that some of these are back-ins and not clearly labeled on the site map - we had to change sites to a pull-thru). We had Full hook- up with a gravel pull-through.
  We travel towing a 14 foot trailer and were able to fit both in our pull through site along with my jeep.
  The site was easy to level.

  Our site was not shaded with zero trees. We weren’t able to sit outside because of the direct sun until after 8:30pm.
  This was a smaller lot with our neighbors fairly close.

  The deluxe plus lot comes without a concrete patio but with a picnic table and fire ring. They do sell firewood and will deliver to your site.

  There is free WiFi. They do not offer Cable TV but there are quite a few channel options.

  There is not a community outdoor kitchen or community fire pit.

  They do not provide garbage service at your site so you must walk to garbage dumpster.

  You are allowed to ride personal golf carts. They also allow you to rent pedal bikes. They do not provide golf cart rentals.

  They do have a heated indoor and heated outdoor Swimming pool and one hot tub.

  There is a Playground. They also offer Gaga ball, basketball sport court, and volleyball courts. There is a Game room for kids. They have a Putt putt course and Jumping pad.

  They have a great general store. There is a separate Activity Center for kids.
  There are tons of scheduled activities for kids like wagon rides, arts & crafts, scavenger hunts, obstacle courses, etc. Activities are scheduled all day from 9am to 8pm.

  There is a snack bar on site from 4pm-9:30pm where you can get hot dogs, brats, pretzels, nachos, ice cream, etc.

  The streets are mostly paved and good for riding bikes.

  This is an RV park with cabins to rent also. Tent camping is also allowed.

  They have two shower houses. The shower house has the typical stalls. There is a great area to hang clothes and store your toiletries in the shower stall. These are kept very clean.

  There is a laundry facility. It is a cash only facility, but they have a change machine in the arcade room. There are approximately 4washers and 4 dryers. It is approximately $2.75 to wash and $0.75 to dry a load.

  They do not have a fenced in dog park. There are areas to walk dogs though.

  Flies were an issue and bug spray was needed.

  There were no trails to hike off of the campground.

  Some fun things to do outside of the campground are Frankenmuth FunShips (chocolate & wine tasting), the Golden Ticket Trolley, the Bavarian Belle (popcorn & sodas) River Place Shops, wineries, and Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland store. This RV park is less than a mile to downtown/River Place Shops where there is tons of shopping.

• 

  Ronald B.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 29, 2024

  Hell Creek Ranch & Campground

  Great Campground

  Great out of the way campground. It was nice and quiet. Bathrooms were clean and well kept. The gentleman that checked us in moved things around so we could all be together not on different sites well away frome each other. Would definitely go there again.

• 

  Rachel P.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 15, 2024

  Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground

  Decent

  We just got done with a 3 night stay at Sleepy Hallow. The campsite itself was great, nice a roomy while also being wooded. The bugs were pretty intense, but bug spray helped. They are working on the natural gas pipeline nearby, so there was lots of construction noise. Verizon service was basically non existent other than at the beach. The dog beach was small and full of algae.

• 

  Kimberly W.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 14, 2024

  Hide Away Park Campground

  THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING

  Thank you to EVERYONE who takes time to REVIEW! ….WHEW!! This year seems every place is FULL or Closed for repairs or High polluted numbers. many are struggling finding someplace to go, and People do READ REVIEWS, and this “ OLD HAG”

  Really needs a class in “ consumer relations “ I have been in retail for 30 plus years and THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT, there is NO. “ what did you do to deserve to be treated THAT way? GOOD LUCK finding a NEW JOB when you don’t have one because THIS joint gets shut down do ton Bankruptcy….. hahahaha… you may think you’re smart NOW, but when you get served a dose of you’re OWN medicine out in the REAL WORLD.. well, I’d  give anything to see that…

  Making people’s lives miserable who just want to have a good time? How fucking miserable are YOU?

• 

  Gary G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 12, 2024

  Bruin Lake Campground — Pinckney Recreation Area

  Great staff, good hosts, not bad

  Camped here thru the 4th of July weekend. The staff kept noise and other stupidity tamped down. They say quiet time is all the time, and I love that.

  Typical MI state park, sites are electric (30a and/or 50a) only.

  No real beach, but there is a swimming area. Picked up Detroit TV stations easily, good for the rainy mornings we had.

  With T-Mobile, Internet service was practically non-existent. Phone calls & texts worked. The camper across from us said it was the same for Verizon.

  One section is mostly paved & ADA sites, the "upper" section is grassy and/or dirt. Both restroom/shower buildings were fine, I just wish they had posted times when they'll be closed for cleaning.

  All in all, we'd have no problem returning here.

• C

  Charleen B.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 8, 2024

  Hide Away Park Campground

  Never come here!!

  First off I can’t even give it a zero star!!! But was going here for 5 years and definitely will be the Last!! Seems office has new rules now you can’t roll your 12 by 15 carpet mats out NOMORE but a 3 by 5 mat!! Who wants that little shit if you have furbabies coming in and out of your camper? Just a lot more dirt on your inside space!!Abssolety NO SERVICE!! You gotta stand in one spot just to hold a conversation on you phone!! No WiFi to check your Home ring camera!! No WiFi even if you try and USE YOUR OWN HOT SPOT!! So not even a fire stick 😩Most off lady in the office very unprofessional!! Ask her for a discount and she got the nerve to say I DONT GOT TIME FIR THIS!!! Excuse me miss grouchy, costumers are always to be satisfied!!! You got time to take our $$$$ at least have a POSITIVE ADDITUDE !!!! This probably why your campground was so EMPTY This year but best luck to you in the future!!! NEVER AGAIN!!

• C

  Coral C.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 5, 2024

  Ionia State Recreation Area — Ionia Recreation Area

  Walk In

  First let me say the rustic area is walk-in only. I was unaware of this until we arrived. Luckily our site was in the front and not a terrible walk. 3 sites in the middle, grouped together, would be nice for a group to book together. Rustic side is right next to the boat ramp. Inside of the state park is a nice beach for swimming, with concessions. A lot of fishing spots, even if you are bank fishing. Check in window is in the back of the park. Wood and ice available.

• C

  Coral C.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 5, 2024

  Bertha Brock County Park

  A favorite spot

  Bertha Brock is a great place for families. Brining our kids here from Grand Rapids is quick and easy. It is generally quiet, especially on non holiday weekends. Occasionally there is chopped firewood up front, you get a goof amount for your money. Relatively close to town if you need to purchase food or other gear. Bugs (mosquitoes) can get pretty bad, bring lots of bug spray! Near ionia state park with a nice beach for swimming or boating (no wake). Campground manager is very nice and helpful if needed.

• 

  Rachel P.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 17, 2024

  Ionia State Recreation Area — Ionia Recreation Area

  All Around Great!

  We just got back from Ionia State Campground, and we had the most lovely time! First of all, I did some research ahead of time to find a more private camping spot, and ours did not disappoint. After looking around the campground, there were numerous spots that were very secluded and private. There were beautiful walking trails all around, and the lake was very pretty.

  I had read other reviews saying that the bathrooms were terrible. I did not find them to be all that bad. They were certainly dated, but I found the bathrooms and showers to be kept as clean as they could be. I have also read that the bathrooms will be completely replaced at the end of this year.

  The one downside I did find was the beach. I thought that the infrastructure at the beach needed work, particularly the rinse off station and the benches. We only went over to the beach for ice cream, so this didn't bother me personally.

  We loved it and plan to come back!

• 

  Edward C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 1, 2024

  Bishop Lake Campground

  Great state campground.

  Well maintained and up kept with some neat features and trails.

  Avoid the vending machines.

• D

  Dawn W.

  Traveler

  

  May. 20, 2024

  Pine Ridge RV Campground

  Great location to Frankenmouth

  We love this campground. It’s quiet and well maintained. The owners are friendly and willing to help. Wood bundles are available for purchase and they deliver to your site. No tents allowed but pop-up are welcome. The bathrooms are key for me and are very clean. There shower are private and are quarter operated. This is our go-to when in the area.

• 

  Tammy S.

  Scout

  

  May. 13, 2024

  Tyler Creek

  Campground

  Campground and pool is nice. Owners are unapologetically rude to guests when there is any issues. Had a minor parking issue with a neighbor when I moved my vehicle onto their parking spot on sunday for 20 minutes because they weren't there all wkend and I was spraying weed killer. The neighbor showed up and complained at the club house. The owner came to my lot and started yelling at me about how i have no right to do that. I apologized while he was yelling at me and he slammed his buggie door and drove off. As soon as I moved my vehicles I went to that neighbor.to apologized and she said no big deal. I gave the owners a bad review on line and now I am being kicked out. How is that right?! I follow the rules and keep my lot clean. I don't deserve to be yelled at and treated in such a rude manner. IF you decide to camp there don't speak to the owners unless you have to... this has happened to other guests too. Many have moved to other places because of the way they talk to people.

• 

  Tammy S.

  Scout

  

  May. 13, 2024

  Tyler Creek

  Tyler creek campground

  Owner is rude and unapologetic for being so.

  Poisonous plants and creatures are usually pretty to look at. So is tyler creek until you speak to the owners for any reason and then they are rude and venomous. If I were you I would spend my hard earned money somewhere else.

• 

  Gary G.

  Scout

  

  May. 3, 2024

  Waterloo Portage Lake Modern — Waterloo Recreation Area

  Vicious dogs not on 6-foot leash as required

  The 6-foot leash rules are very clearly stated. There are many campers whose dogs remain the exception and don't abide by the rules. My leashed dod has been threatened by vicious larger unleashed dogs as I walk my dog more than once this month. So the camp host or ranger should , after warning the offending campers once, call the county animal control. This situation is way out of control.

• J

  Joann S.

  Scout

  

  Feb. 29, 2024

  Eaton County Fairgrounds

  Wonderful quiet sites.

  My husband and I had a wonderful experience the website was well informed; pull in and pick your own site and the site manager will come by and collect your money for night stayed. In fact, we enjoyed it so much we called to ask for another night, without hesitation, and any disruption to our camping they came by later that evening, and collected for an additional night ( just as the website advised), Charlotte is a wonderful town with wonderful events. This fairground camp area very clean and well organized. Well done Eaton county, see you in May 2024. 💯

• 

  Evamarie I.

  Scout

  

  Jan. 21, 2024

  Walnut Hills Family Campground

  Love love loved camping here!!!!!!!!!!!

  We was able to get a site last minute for the week prior and weekend of Labor Day. Also a river site, lots and lots for kids to enjoy they really loved the dance party on Saturday and Sunday night. The bounce thingy on the pond. We also brought our kayaks and spent a couple days on the river. Really enjoyed and will return

• 

  Stuwart H.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 7, 2023

  Moon Lake Campground

  USED to have camping sites near the lake.

  Grew up here. I believe the campground area was shut down in 2012-2015.

• S

  Sue

  Scout

  

  Oct. 7, 2023

  Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground

  Hike in Site “F” Private

  I took a day hike back about a mile to site “F”. It was pretty private with a day site about 75 feet away so if anyone hiked in to use the day site, you might have to contend with close neighbors. Otherwise, a great spot with water access.

• 

  Kacey T.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 6, 2023

  Barry's Resort & Mobile Home Park

  Might as well rename it chomo resort. Nothing but a bunch of pedophiles!

  If you have kids keep far away from this place. It's full of sex offenders and people who condone it. Sick place. Even the management is in on it. These people are disgusting. As boots said "The Hills Have Eyes Compound "

• 

  Darla B.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 5, 2023

  Barry's Resort & Mobile Home Park

  Disgusting

  Disgusting place

• 

  Desaree G.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 4, 2023

  Barry's Resort & Mobile Home Park

  Watch your children

  They protected a register, sex offender, who was meeting up with what he thought was a 12-year-old   This place should be ashamed of themselves     0 in review 0000000000.