Muskegon State Park and Holland State Park anchor the camping areas near West Olive, Michigan, with the region offering multiple options that welcome pets. The Lake Michigan shoreline in this area features sandy beaches and forested dunes rising up to 200 feet above lake level. Winter temperatures average 27°F while summer averages 71°F, creating distinct camping seasons with most facilities closing between November and March.
What to do
Beach access with pets: Holland State Park Campground maintains specific rules regarding pets on beaches. "The beach is wide and expansive and is the place to be for awesome sunsets. Definitely liked the fact that this was a full hook-up state park with level sites," notes Nancy W., though she adds, "Unfortunately, they are not allowed on the beach but there is a long walking path."
Hiking the dunes: Hoffmaster State Park Campground offers extensive trail networks. "In addition to several trails within the campground, 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," writes Shelly B. The park features a 5-story staircase to an observation platform overlooking Lake Michigan.
Winter recreation: The cold months offer unique activities at Muskegon State Park. "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," reports Melissa M. The park maintains winter-accessible cabins when most campgrounds close for the season.
What campers like
Family-friendly amenities: Allendale-West Grand Rapids KOA receives praise for its activities. "The pool, the hayride, the night hayride, two parks, jump pad, and feeding the goats kept them busy. There was a lot to do so we didn't feel the need to leave," shares Heather V. The campground includes air-soft shooting ranges and play structures to occupy children.
Pet accommodation: Oak Grove Resort & Campground provides convenient access to pet exercise areas. "It is next to an 11 mile bike/walking trail. The showers and bathrooms are beautiful and very clean," notes Melissa S. The location allows for morning dog walks along the bike path that connects to Lake Macatawa.
Cleanliness standards: Multiple reviewers mention clean facilities as a priority. "The showers and facilities though are of the cleanest and well kept in all of Michigan's state parks," writes Ryan L T. about Grand Haven State Park, while Whitney A. reports about Hoffmaster, "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."
What you should know
Site configurations: Grand Haven State Park Campground has an unusual setup. "The RV area is a concrete parking lot where you're feet from your neighbors. The whole area is well kept and there's tons to do on the beach," explains Kelsey G. Sites lack individual fire pits, requiring campers to bring their own or use community fire areas.
Reservation timing: State parks fill quickly during peak season. Stephanie C. advises, "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: Regulations vary by campground. "No alcohol campground also, so everyone had nice tumblers walking around," notes Skip C. about Holland State Park. State parks generally prohibit alcohol between April 15 and Labor Day, while private campgrounds like Dutch Treat Camping allow it year-round.
Tips for camping with families
Off-peak visits: Muskegon State Park Campground offers special seasonal activities. "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," shares Shelly B. after speaking with a ranger.
Selecting sites: At Holland State Park, site location matters. "The best thing about the beach campground is it's closer to Lake Michigan & the campground has beach access," explains Cynthia K., adding, "The best campsite is 348. This site gives you a good view of the beach outside your rig. Other good campsites are 347 & 349."
Budget considerations: Most state parks require recreation passports. A ranger informed Shelly B., "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)." This fee applies even when staying at campgrounds.
Tips from RVers
Hookup information: Dutch Treat Camping & Recreation offers complete services. "Sites are level with full hookups 50 amp. Owners are very accommodating to your needs," states James P. Kaitlynn B. confirms this accessibility: "Drove in with our class A pulling a trailer and called ahead, friendly staff was able to accommodate us with a pull through spot that was easy access."
Parking considerations: Space constraints affect certain campgrounds. At Holland State Park, Cynthia K. advises, "The road is a bit narrow which made backing out travel trailer in a bit tricky, not impossible." Nancy W. notes about Grand Haven State Park, "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."
Dump station timing: Hoffmaster State Park experiences congestion at certain times. Shelly B. observed, "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." Planning dump station use outside peak checkout times can save considerable waiting.