Home to the most beautiful golden sand beaches in Michigan, Holland State Park is the ideal place for a beach day adventure. Located just four miles west of the city of Holland, Michigan, the park spans over 142 acres of rolling dunes, sandy beaches, and two lakes: Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan. The wide expanses of space, breathtaking views of the lakes, and the iconic Holland Harbor Light make this the ideal destination for your next RV adventure. The state park also offers much in terms of facilities and entertainment with two modern campgrounds, a playground for the kids, restrooms, changing areas, concession stands, an area for boat launches, a fish cleaning station, and much more.
The glorious sunsets, warm sunshine, and refreshing winds offer the most tranquil of experiences both on land and in the water. Spend the day relaxing on the beach, or take part in the numerous water and land-based activities the park has to offer. Holland State Park is great for families, friends, seniors, and children alike and a great way to enjoy the day away from the buzz of city life. With 365 days of pleasant weather, this state park is open all year round but is at its busiest during the summer months.
Holland State Park is a must-see for anyone visiting or living in Michigan who has a love for the outdoors. RV enthusiasts camp in luxuriously large campsites, some with full hookups. After camp is set up, guests can spend their weekends sunbathing, fishing, going on long walks, or simply relaxing, all while soaking up the magnificent views of boats sailing across the channel and, of course, the Big Red Lighthouse.
Located along the shores of Lake Michigan just 40 minutes from Grand Rapids, Holland State Park is easily accessible off of I-196 or US-31. The Ottawa Beach Road leads to the state park and is wide enough for RVs and larger vehicles. There are ample parking spaces available when you arrive at your destination.
There are no restricted driveways or difficult entryways, so any vehicle, no matter how large, can get in and out relatively easily. The paved campsites make it easy for RVs and trailers to park, and there are many camping spots available should you decide to spend the night.
Getting around the park is also convenient, with most areas being accessible on foot. Roads and bike trails also run along the entire park, making it easy for vehicles to navigate.
If you're visiting in the winter months, be sure to check local weather conditions before heading out, as snow is always possible.
Just between Grand Rapids and Grand Haven is the convenient Allendale/West Grand Rapids KOA campground. Centrally located and just minutes from the beaches of Lake Michigan, this campground is the perfect spot to set up camp during your next trip to the Great Lakes State. Nearby attractions include museums, raceways, Holland State Park, and car shows. The campground provides a multitude of activities, as well. Campers can enjoy the peace and serenity of the countryside, as well as spacious RV sites, most of which can accommodate even the largest of rigs. Planned events during the weekends vary by season but include hayrides, movies, and more. On-site amenities include three ponds for fishing, access to the Grand River for canoes or kayaks, as well as two playgrounds and a Water Wars feature. That is just the start, as the campground also boasts a paintball gallery, pool, jump pad, and of course, Wi-Fi. Propane and firewood can be purchased on-site if needed.
Holland State Park has two camping areas to choose from; the wooded Lake Macatawa camping loops, and the Beach camping area. Less than a mile apart, both of the camping areas are equipped with fire pits, grills, and picnic tables and are just a few meters away from the beach. The Lake Macatawa Campground is more traditional and offers 211 campsites that are in grassy wooded areas (generator use is only permitted between 8 AM to 8 PM). The Beach Campground is more modern with 98 paved campsites and 31 full hook-up sites, which allows for luxury RV living, with unlimited water and electricity use, as well as sewer hookups. The length limit for RVs or trailers is 51 feet, so there's plenty of space available to park the rig. Pets are allowed on the campgrounds, but not on the beach area, so you must read and understand the park's pet policy before setting out with your furry friends. The campground is open year-round, and reservations are available up to six months in advance.
Once you have your RV all set up, you can bring out your bikes and enjoy a day of riding by the pier and beach area. Several bike trails snake around Holland State Park and connect to over 25 miles of paved bike trails that offer scenic views of the coastline, beaches, woods, and lakes. Biking by the pier and along the Big Red Lighthouse is an experience like no other. Coastal winds cool you down as you bike past the placid lake water, enjoying moments of complete serenity.
Holland State Park connects to Holland’s system of unmotorized trails, making it ideal for hikers who love trekking along the coast. The sandy beaches and dunes fade away to a lush green landscape that is home to wildlife, with migratory birds and deer patrolling the less crowded regions. The channel break wall and dune walk stairway are popular walking spots that can be enjoyed all year round. The soft sand makes for ideal barefoot walking with the beach spread over a vast area, providing many places to explore.
Holland State Park has a three-room beach house called the Whitetail that looks out to the harbor channel and the Big Red Lighthouse. If you're looking to ditch the motorhome for a day or two, this beach house is the ideal escape. The cabin is large enough to accommodate up to six people and comes equipped with all the amenities that make it feel like a home away from home. It has a refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot, and electric heating, as well as an outside deck, which makes it the perfect cabin on the beach for families to spend the day. A picnic table, fire pit, and grill allow you to enjoy the weather and surrounding views in comfort and safety.
If you're looking for inspiration for your next photo-op, look no further. The white sand beaches of Holland State Park are just part of what makes this Michigan park so enticing to photographers from all around. The iconic Big Red Lighthouse has been photographed too many times to count but is none the less still worth snapping. The seemingly endless Lake Michigan is a great place to catch a sunset, and for a unique perspective, consider heading out on the boat and capturing the shoreline from the water. For boat lovers, there is an inlet near the lighthouse to watch ships come and go. No matter where you wander through the park, you won't want to leave the camera in the pop-up.
If all the spaces are full at Holland State Park, you won't have to go far to park your campervan for the night. There are various other state parks in the surrounding area, including Van Buren State Park, less than an hour to the south, and Fort Custer State Recreation Area just over an hour to the southeast. Van Buren State Park is another beachside park and offers hundreds of electric sites for RV campers. Fort Custer State Recreation Area is located inland and is equipped with hundreds of electric sites for RV camping in a more wooded surrounding.
If you're visiting Holland State Park in the summertime, you won't want to forget to pack your bathing suit along in the Airstream. The calm, cool lake water is enticing enough without the sun beating down and offers the greatest relief from the heat. The lake water is safe, clean, and refreshing to swim in during the peak season when the weather is hot, and the water is calm. Lifeguards are present on the beach at all times, and markings are present in the water as warnings to prevent swimmers from swimming out too deep.
When the sun is out, and you are in the mood for some fun beach activities, nothing beats a game of volleyball. Multiple volleyball courts have been set up in soft sand areas of the beach, allowing for a game of singles or doubles with friends and family. If you forget to bring a volleyball along in the campervan, don’t sweat, as the concession stand offers an array of items, including beach volleyballs (and much more).
The pier and walkway that runs along the beachfront is the ideal spot for fishing. Make sure to bring your fishing gear along with you in the motorhome, as the harbor channel is a popular fishing spot, and in-season, it rarely disappoints. If you prefer to fish via boat, there are canoe and kayak rentals available, as well as a carry-in boat launch. You'll find plenty of relaxing spots on the water to enjoy the silence and hopefully reel in a keeper. There's a fish cleaning station next to the boat launch area, allowing you to clean and gut your catch, so you can have it grilled and ready for a delicious supper.
The calm, cool waters of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan entice campers to get out on the water and enjoy the sunshine during the hot summer months. If you didn't haul your own boat behind the rig, but you still want to enjoy the water, no need to worry; paddleboard, canoe, and kayak rentals are available at the Macatawa Boathouse on the Lake Macatawa side campground for a small fee. A carry-in boat launch area allows you to take your boat out into the water.
