If you like to camp in a parking lot, like Walmart or Cracker Barrel, you will love this lake side campground- it's a parking lot!
PROS
Toilet/shower facilities very clean
2 bars TMOBILE
Walking distance to Lake Michigan
Rangers strictly enforced beach closure each evening- lots of sirens.
CONS
Pricy state park camping at $53/night for full hook up
$8 Fee to make on-line reservations
Since out of state, we had to purchase a $39 Michigan State Park Permit in addition to paying for campsite
No senior or veteran discount
Campground is one big asphalt parking lot with painted lines to delineate each site. Absolutely no privacy from any other campsite.
Camping is slammed together as tow vehicles have to be parked next to camper/RV insufficient space to park in front of camper/RV
Must check-in before going to campground even with on-line reservation and payment in full
3pm check-in was strictly enforced--there was quite a line of RVs backed up at 230pm. Once registration opened it took us 20 minutes to register.
Needed plumbers tape to connect hose to site water faucet
Waist high weeds behind campsites
No shade and most of time too windy to deploy awning
No security gate closure overnight.
Anyone can drive through or walk in from the beach.
Lots of drive thrus by non campers
No campfire rings or lantern poles at campsites
Lots of campfire debris dumped behind campsites from those who bring their own fire pit and charcoal grills
Site 396 not level
No park WIFI
This fairly new State Park would of merited "5 stars", but the pit (aka vault) toilet smell was just tooooooo much and we weren't even close!
PROS
Park beautifully maintained and mowed throughout S
Site 109 shady
Site 109 gravel parking pad level
Moveable wooden picnic table
Metal campfire ring with cooking grate
Roadways easy to maneuver without obstacles
Quite except for train whistle close by
Partial privacy from neighbors
Toilet/shower facility in next campground (Savanna) very clean and sufficiently stocked
Very nice 12 ft wide asphalt bike trails
Night sky friendly as no street lights in campground
Firewood for sale at entrance gate
Frequent park ranger campground drive throughs
Double lane dump station
Double lane portable water fill stations
CONS
The aroma of the pit toilet between Spruce and Savanna Campgrounds could be smelled throughout both campgrounds. Disgusting!!! No hand wash station at pit toilet
Modern toilet/shower facility only in Savanna Campground
No security gate closure overnight
All trash dumpsters near campground entrance gatehouse
5pm checkin
No interpretive programs Monday thru Thursday
PROS
Senior discount
Site 32 level asphalt pad surrounded with grass and river rocks
Moveable aluminum table
Metal fire ring with cooking grate
One hook lantern pole
Site 19 very near toilets and a dumpster
Friendly and helpful gate personnel
4 bars TMOBILE
CONS
Some road noise in the distance
Electric box at rear of site pad
Sewer connection 6 inches above ground
Poor planning to demolish all but one campground toilet/shower facilities at the same time
No overnight gate closure
Don't Miss
Rustic Oak Cabin Restaurant
Mark Twain Memorial Shrine in Mark Twain State Park. Free entrance
Ride the Mark Twain Riverboat in Hannibal
Downtown Hannibal nice variety of stores and shops
Dam Visitor Center very nice--fairly new
PROS
Senior discount
Check-in via text was easy and fast
Beautifully maintained state park
Quiet during week
Pull-thru Site 102 level, concrete pad surrounded by grass
Site sufficient length for trailer and tow vehicle
Metal frame plastic plank picnic table metal fire ring with cooking grate
Dark sky friendly except for campsites 101-106
Trash dumpsters throughout campground 1
Firewood for sale $5 at entrance gate house
Huge park store!
CONS.
1 toilet and 1 shower for 48 campsites in Campground 1. Both door locks did not work. There were lines for the one toilet most of the time!!!
$6.50 Reservation Fee
Site 102 had a wonderful view of the entrance gatehouse that had blaring lights all night, the one lane dump station and a dumpster
Campground 101-106 sites slammed together; our campfire ring was 15 feet from neighbors sewer outlet
Site 102 campfire ring was 2 feet from site unmovable picnic table
No privacy from any other sites
No security overnight gate closures
Would not recommend Park restaurant
PROS
No reservation transaction fee
Senior discount
Quiet
Moveable metal picnic table on a concrete pad, pedestal BBQ grill, fire ring with cooking grate, and one hook lantern pole
Site 14 partially shady
Good condition asphalt parking pad with gravel and grass surrounding
Good view of lake from Site 14
Sites well spaced
Campground A toilet/shower building clean and sufficiently stocked. Heated but not air conditioned.
Site 14 more than long enough for trailer and tow vehicle
Dark sky friendly as there are no street lights in Campground A
Very nice 6ft wide asphalt bike trail from Campground B to Mather Lodge
(approximately 1.75 miles) CCC Hike and Bike Trail
New Visitor Center built 2021
Beautiful CCC built Mather Lodge
(restaurant added in 2012)
Grass throughout campground mowed
Firewood sold in the yards of residences along State Road 154
CONS
Site 14 extremely unlevel side to side
No privacy from other campsites
No entrance security gate to the park or any campgrounds as State Road 154 cuts thru the park
No park ranger drive thrus
Mather Lodge Restaurant OK. Don't expect much from the menu or service but it has a full bar
3 of our 4 day stay there was a religious group prophetlytizing at the Park Visitor Center WIFI only at Lodge and Visitors Center
NO TMOBILE service
PROS
Owner, Doc, an Airstream aficionado, is extremely nice and friendly
Upon arrival, we were invited by Doc to walk the 2.5 acres campground and select a site
Campsite#4 concert pad level with some shade
City water pressure good during our mid-week stay
Meticulously manicured lawn and trees throughout the campground
Gravel roadway
Campsites have concrete patio surrounded by gravel and grass
Nice space between campsites
Entrance gates closed at night (not locked)
2 washers ($1.50) and 2 dryers available in a stand-alone building
Park WIFI available, but we did not use
T-MOBILE 2 bars
CONS
This campground is located along TX35 (4-lane highway) which there was non-stop traffic noise
Bring your longest stinky slinky as we needed 25 feet to make connection at Campsite 4
Campground bathhouse is a single bathroom in a stand-alone pod-type structure, which was out of service during our 3 night stay
Our $50 reservation deposit made via Zelle (36 days prior to arriving) was changed upon our arrival to a damage deposit. We were advised if there is no damage to our campsite upon our departure,$50 would be returned after we departed and it was returned just prior to our departure
Campground web page states Military Discount Rate, but no Veteran discount
No campsite picnic table or campfire ring, but you can bring-your-own above ground campfire pit and operate off the grassy areas
No pool or hot tub
Had to sign 8-page PARK AGREEMENT upon check-in but never provided a receipt for my cash payment(no credit cards accepted)
PROS
Site 27- pull-thru gravel. Very nice moveable 6 ft metal picnic table; fire ring with cooking grate; pedestal BBQ grill
Campground very quiet Sunday-Tuesday nights
Frequent ranger drive thrus of the campground
T Mobile 3 bars
CONS
Upon arrival, power outage due to storm and lasted until dark. Check-in was not able to be completed so had to return the next day.
Paid a transaction fee for making my own on-line reservation along with a resort fee and sales tax
No senior or Veteran discount
Site 27 greatly unlevel side-to-side
Fire ring full of ash upon arrival
Street light at Site 28 that lights up all of 28 and most of 27 and 27A.
Extremely tight at checkin station. We had to park partially on AL281. There is a very small parking lot at the check-in station with no loop around
No trash receptacle in either men’s or woman’s toilets
Campground noisy Friday and Saturday nights. Lots of loud music.
Bathhouse not serviced over weekend
Large rocks throughout the campground had been painted
(by children) an unsightly vivid paint
Don’t Miss
Climbing to the top of the CCC Bunker Observation Tower
Hiking out to Bald Rock
Berman Museum in Anniston
Watch—some pull-thru sites have the camper door facing the campground roadway with the picnic table and campfire ring along the campground roadway.
PROS
Immaculate grounds throughout the campground. Always saw someone working at it.
Site 49 level concrete pad surrounded by pea gravel, with moveable aluminum table, pedestal BBQ grill, metal fire ring and wooden fish cleaning table.
Bathhouse very clean and in good working condition with soap and TP
Quiet except for occasional train whistle
Sue at gate check in very nice and helpful and then Bill escorted us to our site. What great customer service!
Security gates closed at 10p; open at 6a. No overnight entry.
America the Beautiful Pass discounted the site to$15/night…WHAT A STEAL!
No reservation transaction fee incurred
T-MOBILE 2 bars
CONS
Site numbers painted on asphalt and on electrical box
Roads are narrow in some areas
No park WIFI
Don’t Miss
Barges on the waterway
Smokin’ Jack BBQ in Demopolis
Lower Pool park with the damn and the last lock heading south
PROS
Security gate that closes at sunset and requires code for entry.
Site 81- level; gravel parking pad; 8x30 ft concrete patio; moveable picnic table; partial shade
Very nice beach
Hourly tram to the beach
Good bike paths
Very nice Campbell Lake
Bathhouse very clean and cleaning hours were clearly posted
Loved the in-park coffee shop and their cruffins
CONS
Fee charged for making my own on-line reservation
No veteran or senior discount
Arrived to a large pile of dog poop in our site
Site 81- no firepit
Site 81- absolutely no privacy from neighbors
Military jet noise from 3 nearby military installations
Roads tight
Don’t Miss In park coffee shop, Kith& Kim, cruffin pastry
Fish On Restaurant Destin
Old Florida Fish House Seaside
Acme oyster House Sandestin
PROS
Site 14- shady; 100% sand; moveable small wooden picnic table and metal fire ring with cooking grate; small clothes line permanently erected
Fairly new bathhouse which was very clean
Quiet except for Interstate 10, US90 and occasional train
Park security gate closes at sunset and requires code to enter
Campground Drive thrus by sheriff and park personnel
Very friendly and helpful volunteers
Lots and lots of squirrels.
Didn’t see any other wild life.
CONS
Paid transaction fee for making my own online reservation
Camping in cars permitted in FHU campsites
No privacy from other sites or campground roadway
No Park WIFI
1 bar TMOBILE
Don’t Miss
Live Oak is the next eastbound Interstate 10 exit, so 7 miles, which has Walmart with Murphy fuel, Lowe’s, Winn-Dixie and Publix
Watch local law enforcement speed surveillance on US90. Goes from 60 mph to 45 mph at the Interstate junction!
Robbie’s Cafe for some reasonably priced home cooking
O’Neal County Buffet in Madison for bodacious fried chicken
PROS
Site 49 level and xtra wide. Picnic table, metal fire ring with cooking grate and pedestal BBQ grill
Non-climate controlled bathhouse 20 steps away from Site 49
Saw a wild turkey walking thru the campground a couple times.
Fairly good night sky viewing as many camper turned off ALL their exterior lights fairly early in the evening.
Firewood sold at Park Store along with other essential camping items
2 bars TMOBILE
CONS
Entrance gate closed upon our 2pm Monday arrival and emails from the park stated it closed at sunset No gate code had been provided in any of the emails we received from the park. We tried to call the park office, but no answer. So there we sat blocking the only entrance to the campground and no place to turn around. Luckily a registered camper came in behind us, walked up and used his code to open the gate.
Park Office Building Laundry. Filthy. 4 washers and 4 dryers. One washer full of water and unplugged.
Site 49. 100% gravel and weeds with no shade or privacy from any other site or roadway.
Picnic table wooden top and one side bench in unusable condition.
Bathhouse for 17 campsites were 3-piece rooms(toilet/shower/sink), on for females and one for males. Bathhouse in Park Office closed for repairs our entire 7 day stay.
Park Map. I had to specifically request a park map and was provided hand drawn map which was of only the campground.
No other information provided for the park such as hiking trails, etc.
No park WiFi
A new casino is being built beginning Summer 2023 with expected completion in 2025. We were told the majority of the campsites and cabins will house the construction workers for the casino project.
PROS
Prearrival text regarding checkin and checkin documents left at campground sign, but it had rained and documents were unreadable
Deon was very helpful upon arrival
Security code for bathhouse entry
Over 65 and veteran discount
Site 312 concrete pad level
Site 312 paver patio surrounded by sand and weeds, but most sites had manicured grass.
Nicely spaced sites.
Very clean bathhouse during the week.
5 washers and 5 dryers at $2 each in Park laundromat. Office sells quarters.
Quiet.
Saw Seminole police patrolling frequently
TMobile 4 bars.
Park had WIFI but we did not connect.
CONS
No security gate so LOTS of drive-bys
30amp breaker overheated and tripped 3 times during our 7 night stay
Site 312 absolutely no shade
Not permitted to select site online when making reservations
Absolutely no bathhouse cleaning Saturday and Sunday so by Sunday evening it was pretty nasty
Price increase 8/1/22 that we had to pay even tho we made reservations during March 2022
Need to bring-your-own fire ring, but wasn't informed of this requirement until we arrived
No picnic table at site upon arrival. Notified camp office who advised one would be provided first thing next morning by park maintenance.
Day 2. No table. Stopped by camp office right before noon and reported no table delivered to site. Then the excuses started from Jodi, the park manager…only one maintenance man…picnic tables are disappearing overnight and that’s a problem…now have 3 sites that need a picnic table…staff believes other campers see a unoccupied site and drag table to their site…there were 63 tables when the season started… No mention of when picnic table will be delivered to site. We offered to help get it. Told maintenance man is working on it.
Day 3. No table.
Day 4. Stopped by office at 9am for an update on when to expect a table. Spoke with Jodi again. She had no update. Same excuses as I heard on Day 2 but she did mention that NEXT YEAR she was going to need to anchor the tables at each site so they don’t disappear. I mentioned seeing 4 tables at the firepit area. She said we are welcomed to take a table from the community firepit area and move it to our campsite but those are needing replacement boards badly(her words).
Never got a table. Just too heavy for us to drag one from the firepit area to our site, which was a bit more than a half block and the maintenance man never delivered one.
PROS
Cindy very helpful with reservations and check-in
Quiet. No traffic noise. Train whistles in distance
Insecticide fogging truck ran thru campground each evening around 7pm when no winds
Site 351 100% grass
Site 351 backed up to a canal
Moveable metal fire ring at site 351
Climate controlled, Individual shower/toilet/sink rooms with four to every 100 campsites.
Very nice complimentary pancake breakfast on a Saturday morning
Lots of birds
Security gate always closed. Must buy keycard to open gate.
CONS
Numerous pages of COVID liability release forms had to be signed and notarized at checkin
General Liability release forms had to be signed at checkin
Very tight roadways.
No turn around at end of roadway so plan accordingly.
Most larger trailer had the front of their trailer on the roadway edge
Had to park tow vehicle next to camper so limited outdoor space. We did not have sufficient space to deploy our awning
Two power failures in less than 12 hours. One was 5 hours long.
Site 351 unlevel
No picnic table at site 351. Sites with picnic table were hit or miss.
Insufficient supply of TP in park restrooms
Black ash from nearby sugar cane field burning raining down on everything---what a big mess.
Lots of construction workers staying in park who leave in their diesel trucks starting at 5am
Park WIFI 1 bar
Dont Miss in Belle Glade
Margaritas Restaurant
Banyan Tree Restaurant Nice
Winn-Dixie Grocery on Main Street
PROS
No reservation fee charged
Camp Host Chris immediately and voluntarily came to our site to lend his knowledge on backing a 28ft trailer into site A16. Very helpful and friendly!
Nice privacy from neighboring sites due to heavy vegetation
Site A16 level
Site A16 partial shade
Metal fire ring
Moveable metal and wooden picnic table
Campground WIFI
Security gate closed 6pm and assessable with code that was provided at check-in
Security codes required for bathhouse entry
3 bars T-Mobile
CONS
No senior or veteran discount
Train, plane and traffic(lots of sirens) noise was nonstop and very loud
Campsite crammed together
A16 has two large trees on each side of the 12 foot wide campsite entrance
Bring you A GAME as this campground road is very tight with lots of turns
All utilities hookups are at the rear of site A16
Not the best part of town
PROS
Dark sky friendly-no street lights in campground
100% gravel site
Metal fire ring with cooking grate
Moveable wood and metal picnic table
2 hook lantern pole
Security gate that closed at dusk with code provided for entrance
Some privacy from neighbors
Coin washers/dryers at the campground bathhouse
3 bars T-MOBILE
CONS
No senior or military discount
No campground WIFI
Site 11 very unlevel
Gravel roads to and thru campground
Tight campground road
Horrible traffic noise from US 441
PROS
A camp host came to our site immediately after we unhitched to advise that our one tow vehicle tire on the grass will get us a $250 fine from US Forest Service officer. Funny, we never ever saw a USFS officer patrolling the campground.
Entrance gates closed at 8pm requiring code to enter
Immaculately maintained park. A small army of maintenance staff always working. Even one night at 930pm in the bathroom.
Saved $156 with America the Beautiful pass
Site 32 shady
Asphalt parking pad surrounded with sandy gravel
Moveable metal picnic table
Pedestal BBQ grill
High sided metal fire ring with 2 unremovable cooking grates
One hook lantern pole
Campfire wood for sale at registration office
No street lights in campground so good dark sky viewing if neighbors have their rig lights off which most nights they were lit up which also lit up surrounding campsites
Able to get T-MOBILE signal on our T-MOBILE WIFI device
Many squirrels ate from our hand
CONS
In 8 days never saw a USFD vehicle drive thru the campground
$8 fee to make on-line reservations
Site 32 not level
Absolutely no privacy from any other site
In 20 degree exterior temperatures, both campground bathhouses had windows open, whole house fans operating in full capacity and ceiling fans operating on high. Obvious park maintenance does NOT want anyone taking a shower when interior bathhouse temperatures were in the 30s and the bathhouse was a freezing wind tunnel! It was even difficult using the toilet.
Loud and rowdy campers all weekend long—day and night. Quiet hours not enforced
Highway 19 traffic noise
USFD clearing project on east side of campground. Heavy equipment noise for 9 straight hours day after day!!!
No notice water outage for 2 hours
No park WiFi
No T-MOBILE cell service
No public phone for emergency calls
PROS
Entire site pea gravel
Moveable wooden and metal picnic table
Stainless steel pedestal BBQ grill
Metal fire pit with cooking grate
Quiet
No street lights
Bathhouse has motion activated lighting
Security gate closed at dusk and requires code to enter
CONS
No senior or veteran discount
$6.70 fee to make on-line reservations
Site 131 unlevel
Sites are pretty crammed together
Electric utility pole at each site had a light that burned all night long
Impossible to use the one washer and one dryer at each bathhouse, even at 530am! Ended up going to Front Beach Coin Laundry as it was the cleanest laundry we could find close to SP
No park WiFi
Don't Miss…
Big Mama’s on the Bayou
Bruster’s Ice Cream
Simply Seefood in Lynn Haven
Captains Table in Historic St Andrews
PROS
Quiet
Minimal streetlights
Site 435 level
Asphalt parking pad is extended as an area for the picnic table
Pedestal BBQ in good condition and free of ash upon arrival
Moveable metal and wooden picnic table
Super clean climate controlled bathhouses
Very nice, large, park laundromat with coin changing machine. Detergent sold at camp store.
Recycling available at dump station
Super bike trails
Good park WiFi
TMobile 3 bars
CONS
No senior or vet discount
15.25% resort fee charged
15% sales tax charged
$5 reservation fee charged
Site 425 no shade - we were HOT in January!
No info provided that state park does not provide campfire rings. Campfires are permitted but you must bring your own campfire ring/pit
Picnic table top rotted leaving large holes and unuseable
Two roll-off compactors for the campground located at the dump station near the entrance/exit. If you are not camping in that area you are in for a hike.
This is a review for BUCCANEER STATE PARK Waveland Mississippi where we stay during January 2023
Be sure to travel US 90 to Lake Shore Drive to avoid RR track bottom out.
Lake Shore Drive deadheads into South Beach Drive.
PROS
Site 109 level
Site 109 shady
Treasure Cove toilet/shower facility was heated and clean with ample TP
Site pedestal grill
Park roadways easily navigable
Trash dumpster at campground loop entrance, which was walkable
T-MOBILE 2-3 bars
CONS
Never saw park ranger drive thru campground in 3 days
Never found a camp host nor were there any marked in campground map
LOTS of noise! Railroad Avenue runs right behind Treasure Cove campground which is heavily traveled Railroad track behind park has 2-3 trains passing by each night
No privacy from neighboring campsites
Non moveable concrete & wooden picnic table on concrete slab
Leash rules ignored by pet owners
No overnight security gate closure
Park laundromat had machines out of service
No park WiFi
PROS
$7 Veteran discount
Wooden picnic table
No road noise.
It only 5 miles from Interstate 10
TMOBILE 2 bars
Just a couple homesteaders
Sites 1-12 Have the least pot holes in the roadway.
Site 4 has a large wood swing at pond’s edge
CONs
$8 transaction fee which basically cancelled out the $7 veteran discount
Wristbands that had to be worn at all times. We never encountered any wristband police so we didn’t wear.
Campground road in horrendous condition with non stop pot holes
Only 2 women’s and 2 men’s toilets for the entire park which are in the pool house. Since we didn’t see any other on the campground map we inquired at the welcome center/office/store and they confirmed those are it for the park.
Site#22 not level
Sites tightly slammed together
Our campfire ring was under the next sites camper slide out, so totally unuseable
Some site concrete pads have a foot drop off to the surrounding grass/dirt
Power interruption
Wifi signal interrupted every 10-15 minutes with only 8 RVs in the park.
Most sites no shade
Streetlights throughout park