Hidden Ridge RV Resort welcomes pets with a dedicated dog park on the property, offering a clean environment for dog exercise and socialization. Pets are permitted at most campsites throughout the Wayland area, with Gun Lake Campground in Yankee Springs Recreation Area and Hungry Horse Campground providing pet-friendly sites and trails. Hungry Horse Campground maintains clean facilities with well-spaced lots that accommodate families with pets. Campground policies typically require pets to remain leashed when outside the designated exercise areas. Kids and pets have plenty of room to play at Gun Lake Campground, which features spacious sites and dog-friendly beach access.
The hiking trails throughout Yankee Springs Recreation Area provide excellent opportunities for dog walking with varied terrain and scenic views. Most campgrounds in the region require vaccination records for pets and enforce quiet hours to minimize barking disturbances. Dog owners should prepare for seasonal considerations, as summer temperatures can reach uncomfortable levels for pets, particularly on paved campground roads. Nearby pet supply stores in Hopkins and Middleville offer emergency supplies and food. The abundance of water access points at Gun Lake Campground and Hungry Horse gives dogs opportunities to cool off during summer camping trips. Waste stations are provided at most locations, with campers expected to properly dispose of pet waste to maintain the clean grounds that reviewers consistently note throughout the area.
"First time in central Michigan and it was absolutely beautiful. The campground has a great location and lots of mountain bike and hiking trails."
"This is a campground in Yankee Spring Recreational Area in Mid-Michigan. This is a nice rustic campground near the NCT(North Country Trail)."
"This is also a short drive away from tons of beautiful walking paths."
"Dog friendly! I've been coming here since I was a kid. I recommend you stay at this place."
$50 - $70 / night
"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!"
"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."
$34 - $115 / night
"Stayed at 113 on the small lake. Narrow spot but behind is a fire pit and small dock to drop in a canoe/kayak. Bathrooms and shower was spotless."
"property, recently renovated. ( one still finishing renovations as of 4/16/22) Beach area for swimming
Two playgrounds
Field for play, basketball net, volleyball court, and state park trailers near by"
"Cute little campground in a small town in Dorr, Michigan. Lots of activities, swimming, wagon rides, jump pad, and more. Facilities were fairly clean and easily accessible."
"Multiple playgrounds, toddler pool and regular pool, jump pad, and lots of room to run around."
"We love this as an easy getaway close to home. I wouldn’t call it a beautiful campground... but it is clean, and has a ton to do for kids!"
"Great trees surrounding the property. Tons of kids - great activities for them! Campground is clean, and staff friendly."
"They also have a pool, jump pad, playground, climbing wall, mini golf and petting zoo. We stayed on their Halloween weekend and it was packed full of activities for the kids."
"The roads around the campground are paved and great for bike riding, skateboarding, scooters, or just taking a walk. They deliver firewood to your site, which is a plus."
"Love going there to ride the trails or walk my dogs the lakes are awesome great beach Great fishing awesome picnic areas nice boat launch. Most campsites are big with trees in between."
"Fort Custer is a hidden gem in Michigan. Nobody thinks to go camping near Battle Creek, but they really should reconsider!"
"A small onsite store, but not to far of a drive if you need a grocery store or other amenities. They are also very affordable for canoe and kayak rental. Great place to go!"
$32 - $80 / night
"We put our tent up on the hill tucked back up in the woods. Shade from the start!"
"The lake nearby is clean and they have a swimming spot for kids and adults. Boats and kayaks are free to use if the lifeguard is on duty. There is also fishing rods to use for free."
TravelerDefinitely the best camp ground in West Michigan! Clean sites, friendly staff, and many amenities. Camp store, laundry, showers and bathrooms, huge pool, hot tub, pickle ball courts, kids play ground, bikes, scooters, and kayaks for rent (with a kayak launch) and boat slips on the water. They have access to a dog park as well. Home away from home!
LegendHolland State Park is popular for its expansive sandy beach along Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa where swimming, sun bathing, fishing, and boating are popular activities. Holland SP has two campgrounds – the Lake Macatawa Unit and the Beach Campground (which is where we stayed and the focus of this review). The Beach Campground is essentially a parking lot as the sites, patios and roads are paved with little grass among them. It is nestled between dunes which adds to the scenic value and blocks the strong winds coming off of Lake Michigan. The Lake Unit campground is much larger (211 campsites) than the Beach Campground and has more of a state park feel with trees, grass, and fire pits.
Site description:
The Beach Campground has 98 RV sites of which 31 are 50 amp full hook-up and two camper cabins. Some sites towards the northern section of the park have great views of Lake Michigan but be warned that strong winds can come off the lake and really shake your RV. When we were there in early May the winds were very strong with blowing sand which made us really glad we were not near the water.
Campsites are plenty wide to fit your RV with slide outs and car next to it without feeling cramped. Utilities are at the very back of the site so you may need an extension for your sewer hose. All sites were level. Every site has a picnic table. There are no fire pits at individual sites but community ones are located near the beach and you are permitted to use your own fire pit if you have one.
We were able to get nearly two dozen television stations with our antenna and had no problem locking into a satellite with our roof-mounted dish. Verizon phone and hotspot worked well.
So is this park big rig-friendly? In general, yes. Our site was certainly long (and wide) enough to fit our RV and the tow car next to it. However, we did have the back five feet overhanging the sand at the back of the site. This was no problem for us because our stabilizing jacks are in between our back tires. We were also there at a time when the park was fairly empty so backing in and pulling out was no problem. The sites are all set at an angle to the main road which makes backing easier.
Campground amenities:
By far the beach is the biggest draw to the campground. The wide beach lures sunbathers out in warm weather and is popular for a walk at sunset. There is a playground, picnic area, community fire pits, dump station, boat launch and concession stand. There is one restroom/shower house that was very clean but no laundry facilities.
What we liked:
We loved that fact that this campground was so close to water and the nice paved path for walking and hiking trails in the main part of the campground. Within 50 yards from our site we could be walking along Lake Macatawa or along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan. The beach is wide and expansive and is the place to be for awesome sunsets. When we were there the beach was not crowded because it was cold and windy but it would be a great place to enjoy a good book under an umbrella. Definitely liked the fact that this was a full hook-up state park with level sites.
What we didn’t like:
The park is essentially a parking lot with little grass and trees. What really surprised us was how many cars drove through the campground that were not staying there. There apparently are no restrictions on who drives through the park so many day-use visitors came by just for a look resulting in unnecessary traffic.
Be advised there is a “no alcohol” policy in the park and campground and you have to sign a piece of paper saying you will abide by that rule. The rule states that “Possessing or consuming alcohol is prohibited in all areas of the park throughout the entire year” even inside your RV.
In order to enter the state park you must have a Michigan Recreation Passport which costs $32 for an annual non-resident OR you have to pay $11/day to enter the park even if you are camped there.
Pet:
There are plenty of places to walk dogs here and access points to water if your dog likes to swim. Unfortunately, they are not allowed on the beach but there is a long walking path and within the main part of the park are miles of hiking trails and a nice overlook. This park does not have an unleashed dog park; however, there is one within five miles at the fairgrounds.
ScoutClean and nice little park with a cool "trading post" with nice merchandise, snacks and food. They have a dog park and trails on the property with a longer bike trail that runs alongside the campground. They had a band one night and an ice cream truck come through the next. Would recommend!
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!
ScoutThe staff is very friendly and helpful. There are activities for young and old and everyone in between. The showers are clean and spacious. They have campsites to meet everyone's desires. Pets are welcome here with two fenced dog runs and trails to keep the owners exercised. I love this place and have made it a regular stop.
GuideGreat family campground - Paired with the area offers many options!
With mostly modern sites situated in hardwoods, pines, or a mixture, we stayed in the hardwoods area; however, my kids would have enjoyed the pines better for it appeared to have hammock hanging at almost every site. Well-maintained and clean restrooms had soda vending machines.
Children's play area with equipment and activity field, where several kites were hoisted high into the air, were great. Gillette Visitor Center in the State Park area about 1/4 mile away offers Explorer and interpretive programs Tuesday through Saturday, with topics ranging from nature history/preservation to information on wildlife. We enjoyed the spider and bear presentations most, but maybe that is because I have all boys! The campground beach, only a 5 - 10 minute walk from any site, was awesome! While there wasn't a lifeguard, I appreciated the "flag system" advising how safe the water is each day. Unfortunately, a red flag was flying on our visit, so we only waded at the water's edge- but - still cool to lay out on the sugar-like sand and walk its 3 mile length! I do regret not making it back to the beach for sunset as our camping neighbors RAVED about it the following morning!
My favorite part of this campground was the trails. 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. 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. Plus, the adjoining North Ottawa Dune Preserve offers an additional ten miles of trails! OMG - what a phenomenal place for a walk in the woods or trail running! One of our walks was up a 5-story staircase near the nature center, leading to an observation platform with expansive views of majestic dunes and Lake Michigan. I was impressed that a portion was barrier-free.
Some family ventured into nearby towns of Muskegon, Spring Lake, and Grand Haven to experience what they had to offer: shops, museums, World War II boats, piers to walk, and several craft breweries - all 15 minutes away! Our dogs enjoyed the visit to the unleashed dog park at Coast Guard Park that is a ten-minute drive or a five-mile walk through the trails.
Logistics to note: Campground sells ice - $2/7# bag and wood/$5.50 a bundle. We quickly realized that residences outside the park sold it at $5 for larger bundles. Area grocery stores include a Meijer superstore and Leppinks grocery. We preferred Leppinks for the quick trip and Meijer for items beyond groceries, such as that forgotten bathing suit or a propane tank for the grill. 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. Being a state park, Hoffmaster requires vehicles have a recreation passport to enter ($11/year -residents and $32/year -non-residents or a daily rate of $9). No alcoholic beverages between April 15 and Labor Day.
I talked to a ranger about coming back later this year, and he told me it is best to book months ahead for weekends because they fill up at the beginning of summer; however, cancellations are not uncommon, so watch the DNR site for openings. Weekdays usually have availability, especially the first half of the summer. He added that a great time to visit would be the weekend before Halloween as they encourage people to decorate their sites, wear costumes, and participate in trick or treating on Saturday night.
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!
ScoutThis is always my go to campground! All natural camping with plenty of nice people! One word of advise is to bring your own tp though lol they seem to always run out on Sunday mornings lol but are back up and running by mid afternoon. No showers and just outhouses but that's REAL camping right!!!? No power motor lake but there is another lake close by that is. We take the canoe with a trolling motor and hit that as well. Pet friendly. They have horse campsites and trails. Walking trails around the lake that offer nature at it's purest! I have been coming to this lake to camp for over 40 years and I hope I have 40 more years left!!!
TravelerThis campground is great, it's only 25 minutes from Grand Haven beach. The sites are well treed and flat! Lots of the activities within the park, they have a small petting zoo, sky pad, playground. Several cottages in the park as well. Well be back.
The Wayland, Michigan area offers camping opportunities across a mix of state recreation areas and private campgrounds within a 30-minute drive radius. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F, with high humidity creating occasional thunderstorms. Most campgrounds remain open from April through October, with reduced services available during spring and fall seasons.
Fishing from docks and shorelines: Deep Lake Rustic Campground provides access to multiple lakes with various fishing spots. "There's a beautiful lake to fish and kayak. Tons of hiking trails!!" notes Jessica R. The catch-and-release fishing ponds at TriPonds Family Camp Resort offer regular fishing activities for younger campers. "They had a bass fishing tournament Saturday and the winner won a free ice cream, which my son loved," mentions Clint.
Mountain biking on dedicated trails: The trail system at Fort Custer Recreation Area provides diverse terrain for cyclists. "Lots of trails for hiking, horses and mountain bikes. Roads quiet and could easily ride your road bike to nearby bike paths," notes Janet N. According to Mateo J., "the trails (hiking and mtb) were worth it. Some of the best riding in the state."
Water activities beyond swimming: Many campgrounds offer boat, canoe and kayak rentals. At Camp Michawana, "they have a lake/beach for swimming, kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes to use at the lake," mentions Bailey C. Indian Valley Campground provides river access for tubing trips. "They are also very affordable for canoe and kayak rental," adds Dixie P.
Spacious, wooded campsites: Many campers appreciate the separation between sites at certain campgrounds. At Sharp Park Campground, "sites are well spaced and we have never had a bad time here," shares Robin D. Mary Z. notes that at Deep Lake, "there is much more space at each campsite and lots of old growth trees. The sites overlooking Deep Lake are wonderful if you can snag one."
Recreational amenities for varied interests: Woodchip Campground offers several family activities included with your stay. "There is a pool, bounce pillow and basketball court," notes Stu E., while another camper adds, "there are lots of kids activities, and all activities are included with stay." According to Andrea B., "There are campsites in a circle around the playground, so you can sit at your site and watch the kids play."
Clean facilities and well-maintained grounds: Campers consistently mention facility quality. "Clean, updated bathrooms with hot showers. The campground is right on the lake with a sandy beach area for swimming," reports Jessica about Sharp Park. At Michawana, "the bath houses are huge and well taken care of," while Hidden Ridge maintains "all sites include a concrete pad, fire ring and full hook-up. 120/150 amp."
Site flooding concerns: Several campgrounds experience drainage issues during heavy rains. Jacob K. cautions about Gun Lake Campground: "Be careful what campsite you get though because flooding was a problem last time I was there. We got 2-4" of rain overnight." At Hungry Horse Campground, some sites drain better than others during storms.
Campground navigation: Finding certain campgrounds can be challenging. Rhonda B. notes about Deep Lake: "This campground was kind of hard to find. Had to stop at the gun lake campground (where the GPS took us) and ask for directions." Michael S. adds, "I made my Reservation with no issues, maps of campground looked great...Plugged the address into IPhone that was on my Reservation and when I got there not only was the address not an address, but more a spot at end of triangle in road."
Services and supplies: Some campgrounds have limited nearby amenities. Beth H. cautions about Hidden Ridge RV Resort: "There isn't much close to the campground at all. Like the closest gas station is 15 miles. Not really any fast food restaurants either. Obviously not a deal breaker, but just something to be prepared for."
Site selection for supervision: Choose sites strategically for monitoring children. At Woodchip, "We love this as an easy getaway close to home...There are campsites in a circle around the playground, so you can sit at your site and watch the kids play." Jeremy D. notes at Hungry Horse that "we have two young girls and they had plenty to do all week during our stay. Multiple playgrounds, toddler pool and regular pool, jump pad, and lots of room to run around."
Special weekend activities: Many campgrounds schedule themed events. "We came here for a fall camping weekend. Kids loved going on wagon ride to find the pumpkins and then decorating them. They really enjoyed the glow wagon ride," shares Cassondra P. about Woodchip Campground. Bailey C. adds that Camp Michawana has "a massive slip 'n slide, zip lining, and a rock climbing wall."
Mosquito preparation: Insects can be problematic at certain campgrounds. "Lots need mowing so lots of bugs, bring insect repellent," warns Cathy Y. about Fort Custer. Sue M. adds, "The mosquitos are awful. The site was a decent size and had a lot of shade, which was nice."
Dump station timing: Plan accordingly for services at busy campgrounds. Mike P. advises about Gun Lake Campground: "The dump station takes a bit to get through. We were in line for about an hour before we dumped and we pulled off our site at 1." Bob B. adds, "Since there are no water or sewer hook ups, lines at the dump/fill station can get long."
Site dimensions and accessibility: RV campers should verify site specifications before booking. At Hungry Horse, "We couldn't fit our trailer into the site we reserved. They were very understanding and found us a pull thru site to use," shares Clint. Skip C. cautions about Gun Lake: "Spaces were too tight, even with a small camper. Work People were parked half in the road, leaving us with no way to pull in or out of campsite."
Hook-up variations: Campgrounds offer different utility options. At Camp Michawana, "Campground is clean and kept up and all sites have water and electrical. Not all have full hookups though so make sure you are booking full hookup if you need it," advises Rich. Nicole C. adds about Indian Valley, "Keep in mind when booking that many of the sites don't have on site water!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Wayland, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Wayland, MI is Deep Lake Rustic Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area - TEMPORARILY CLOSED IN 2024 with a 4.1-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Wayland, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 105 dog-friendly camping locations near Wayland, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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