Tent camping options near Stevensville, Michigan concentrate primarily within a 15-mile radius of town. Most sites sit on sandy soil typical of the Lake Michigan watershed, with oak and maple providing partial shade at established campgrounds. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during the day, dropping to 60-65°F at night, with higher humidity levels common from June through August. Rainfall peaks in spring months, creating occasionally muddy conditions at tent sites throughout the area.
What to do
Beach access points: Covert/South Haven KOA Holiday sits approximately 15 minutes from Lake Michigan beaches. "The best part is that it's a 3 minute drive to a public beach with great swimming and a beautiful sunset," notes a camper from nearby Sweet Cherry Resort.
Blueberry picking: Seasonal berry harvesting becomes available at several campgrounds from July through early September. "This KOA has blueberry fields everywhere on the property. For a period of time in summer and early fall, you can pick your own blueberries in the morning to have in your breakfast pancakes," explains a visitor to Covert/South Haven KOA.
Cycling trails: Sunflower Farm Camping provides access to regional bike paths connecting to South Haven. The nearby Kal-Haven trail extends 33.5 miles from South Haven to Kalamazoo. "We rode 47 miles round trip from Bloomingdale to Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo," reports one Covert KOA camper.
What campers like
Kid-friendly programming: Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday schedules regular activities for children during summer weekends. "Lots of fun activities on the weekends for the kids and FREE! They have movie nights, we met Disney characters, did crafts, and enjoyed the barrel train & ice cream sundaes," reports one family.
Clean facilities: Maintained shower houses consistently earn positive reviews at campgrounds throughout the Stevensville area. "Showers and bathrooms were clean. Pool looked nice," notes a September visitor to Sweet Cherry Resort, while another camper at Shady Point Campground mentions "the bathroom and showers were well maintained."
Swimming options: Most established campgrounds within 15 miles of Stevensville provide water recreation. "It sits on Bair Lake and was great for swimming," reports a Shady Point camper. At Coloma KOA, campers note the "nice pool, hot tub" though one mentions "No steps to walk in so it was very hard for our 2 smallest kids to use it."
What you should know
Seasonal timing: The camping season around Stevensville typically runs May through mid-October. "We spent 5 days here in June. The campground is clean, the wi-fi is great," notes a visitor to Covert KOA. Most campground services diminish after Labor Day.
Weather concerns: Summer storms occasionally impact the area with high winds. "A tornado passed within a mile or so of the campground and the employees were out within minutes to make sure everyone was o.k.," reports a Covert KOA camper.
Site drainage: Sandy soils prevalent throughout the region can create drainage issues after rainfall. At WaterTrail Ventures Paddle Respite, sites are "close to the river but set back far enough so that during a downpour you won't be worrying," according to one camper.
Tips for camping with families
Pack for varied temperatures: Summer evenings can cool rapidly near Lake Michigan. Bring layered clothing for nighttime temperatures that often drop 15-20 degrees below daytime highs.
Consider walk-in sites: Several campgrounds offer walk-in tent areas separated from RV sections. "Tent sites are all in one cleared area that is a short walk from the parking spots," reports a Sweet Cherry Resort visitor about the arrangement that provides a buffer from vehicle traffic.
Reserve early for holiday weekends: Campside Michigan maintains only four primitive tent sites, making advance booking essential. Similarly, holiday weekends at larger campgrounds like Coloma KOA fill by early spring.
Tips from RVers
Seasonal lot options: Many campgrounds around Stevensville maintain primarily seasonal campers. "This is a campground that is mostly seasonal campers," reports a visitor to Shady Point, while another notes, "Campground is all seasonal campers now. Owners were super nice and found room for us for one night layover."
Access considerations: Larger rigs face limited options within 5 miles of Stevensville proper. Coloma KOA provides full-hookup sites with 50-amp service, though some visitors note tight spacing: "Our site was horrid—a full hook up with a fire pit in the mud pond... It was a very expensive glorified parking spot."
