Muskegon State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Muskegon State Park is a breathtakingly beautiful natural haven located in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Boasting a wealth of scenic viewpoints scattered all over its 1,233 acres, this state park exposes nature and all its glory to those paying it a visit. This Muskegon County park is home to two lovely lakes: the two-mile-long Lake Michigan and one-mile long Lake Muskegon. This eco-friendly and family-friendly park also features densely forested dunes, capricious sand dunes, miles of scenic hiking trails surrounded with gorgeous vista points, and an ever so lively Snug Harbor.
Opened in 1923 with an original area of 840 acres, the park also features the replica of a Civilian Conservation Corps-built blockhouse which was destroyed by a fire in the 1960s. The park has gorgeous sandy beaches built at the lakes by Works Progress Administration in the late 1930s.
There is a wide variety of recreational activities that are offered at the park, ranging from swimming to picnicking, from fishing to boating, and from hiking to camping. Visitors who struggle with mobility or who use wheelchairs to get around can also join in the fun! The park has several track chairs available for visitors to use on a first-come-first-served basis. These electrical chairs can handle off-road terrain and help visitors explore areas of the park they may not have been able to with an ordinary wheelchair. The chairs can drive through snow, sand, a maximum of eight inches of water, and can easily handle the trails.
RV camping is also offered at the park with two campgrounds featuring electric hookup sites and modernly built restrooms. The park is open on a daily basis all year round. Spring, summer, and fall are the most popular times to visit the park. However, the park offers winter recreation at its popular Muskegon Winter Sports Complex that includes ice-skating, sledding hills, cross-country ski trails, and an Olympic-style luge track. Muskegon State Park is a great place to visit any time of the year, so make it your next RV camping destination.
RV Rentals in Muskegon State Park
Transportation
Driving
Muskegon State Park is easy to access by car or RV. Located in close proximity to the town of North Muskegon, this park is just four miles to the western side of the city. If you need supplies or want to grab a quick bite to eat, you can head to the town of Muskegon which is located just over the bridge. RVers traveling along the US-31 or the I-96 to the park won't encounter any heigh restrictions or obstacles. Once off the highway, the roads leading to the park are well maintained and spacious enough for you to navigate with your RV.
Once inside the park, there are no strict driving rules. A Recreation Passport is required to enter the park and you can easily get one at the park’s contact station. Make sure to grab a park map as you drive into the park. This will come in handy to help you navigate inside the park, from the lakes and beach to the campground and hiking trails, and from the historic blockhouse to the woodlands and sand dunes.
Parking
There are plenty of parking options inside the park including at the park entrance and parking areas scattered around the campgrounds. If you are camping at the park, you can go ahead and park your RV at your campsite and explore the rest of the park on foot or bike. Motorcoach parking is also available.
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Muskegon State Park
Campsites in Muskegon State Park
Reservations camping
Muskegon KOA
There aren’t many better ways to see the beauty of the Michigan Great Lakes region than with a visit to the charming Muskegon KOA. In close proximity to some of the best areas in Michigan, from the sandy beaches to the Michigan Adventure Park, there’s plenty to see and do. Muskegon KOA is a relaxing place to enjoy scenic views and have easy access to all the surrounding sites and attractions. On-site amenities include Wi-Fi, fishing, and bike rentals. Sites can accommodate rigs up to 65 feet, and propane and firewood are available on-site for purchase.
Lake Michigan Campground
The pet-friendly Lake Michigan Campground, built on Lake Michigan, features 105 campsites and has two loops: the North Loop and the South Loop. Half of the campgrounds are open all year long, while the other half are only open from April until October.
Lake Michigan Campground has a number of amenities including 30- and 50-amp electric hookups, ADA-accessibility, restrooms, sanitation stations, and drinking water. You’ll also have a fire ring and picnic table at your site for you to enjoy. All campsites can be reserved up to six months in advance.
If you choose a camp at one of these sites you'll be surrounded by the beauty and shade of majestic hardwoods. You'll also have access to a nearby playground, which children can enjoy playing on. Both loops are a short distance from Lake Michigan, but the North Loop is closer and has stairs leading directly on to the beach. This campground is also close to the Winter Sports Complex, which can is open during the winter months.
Channel Campground
The Channel Campground features 139 sites that are divided between two loops and are available from April until October. It is located on the channel between Lake Michigan and Lake Muskegon so campers can enjoy the scenic views from both the lakes. If you stay in the Loop 1 your children can enjoy the communal playground a short distance away, while campers in Loop 2 can enjoy close proximity to the volleyball area and the horseshoe courts.
Sites in this campground are pet-friendly and ADA-accessible. You’ll also have 30- and 50-amp electric hookups available, as well as access to modern restrooms and showers. Most campsites feature grass or asphalt pads under the shade of beautiful hardwoods. If it’s too far of a walk, you can also just use one of the many vault toilets around the campground. You’ll also have a sanitation station nearby, as well as drinking water. The parking pads and lots are paved for your convenience and can accommodate large RVs. Bring up to six people and two vehicles to a single site for a great camping adventure. You can book your stay up to six months in advance.
First-come first-served
First-Come, First-Served
There are no campgrounds that are on a first-come, first-served basis only.
Alternate camping
Yurt
You can also stay in the park's yurt during your motorhome visit to Muskegon State Park. This is the ideal choice for accommodation if you are looking for something a step up from camping, but not as glamorous as a cabin. The yurt can be found a short distance away from the North Loop of the Lake Michigan Campground. It can sleep a total of seven people at a time and is equipped with two stacking cots, two wooden bunk beds. The yurt also has a solar lantern, chairs and a table, a skylight, and a wood stove. The yurt is in full shade and is situated on a raised deck, so you don't need to worry about your lodging getting waterlogged. Unfortunately, the yurt is not outfitted with electricity.
The yurt also has a fire pit and a picnic table for your use and you can enjoy sitting outside underneath the stars. The beach, communal water spigots, and restrooms with flushing toilets and hot showers are within 200 feet of the yurt.
Mini Cabins
If you are looking to stay in a cabin, you can choose between the park's two mini cabins. They are situated in the North Loop of the Lake Michigan Campground and can each sleep a maximum of four people. The mini cabins are furnished with two bunk beds, an electric heater, a refrigerator, a microwave, and chairs, and a table. They also have electrical outlets for visitors to use. Outside, you will find a fire pit and a picnic table for you to enjoy a BBQ and eating outside in nature. Bring along your BBQ supplies and don't forget about s'mores for dessert.
You can use the vault toilet that is adjacent to the mini cabins if you don't want to walk far, or you can make use of the communal restrooms, which are within 200 feet from the mini cabins. The beach and communal water spigots are also nearby.
Seasonal activities in Muskegon State Park
Off-Season
Ice Fishing
You can still enjoy the delight of fishing even in the freezing winters that Michigan is known for. Ice fishing is a unique way of fishing where you catch fish by making holes in the ice over a lake or river. Immerse yourself in a unique, unforgettable, and more upscale fishing experience with your friends or family at Muskegon State Park’s well-maintained ice fishing spots.
Sightseeing
There is no shortage of nature at Muskegon State Park. The park’s more than 1,000 acres feature diverse ecosystems ranging from brilliantly blue lakes and plain coastal marshes to the windswept sand dunes and dense woodlands. The park’s scenic landscapes and abundant wildlife will surely make your heart skip a beat. Other than the natural beauty and wildlife, the park also offers an impressive replica of a historic site. A colonial-style blockhouse was built by Civilian Corporation Corps in 1935. Unfortunately, the original wooden outpost got destroyed by a fire in the 1960s. However, you can still visit its replica that stands in its place.
Enjoying Winter Sports
When the temperature falls to a freezing point, life usually slows down, but not at Muskegon State Park. During the ice-kissed season, usually lasting from November until March, the park’s Winter Sports Complex offers immense opportunities for fun. There is an ice-skating trail that transitions into the park’s woodlands, many cross-country ski trails, and snow-covered sledding hills.
The most extravagant of these winter offerings is an Olympic style luge track. This is the same place where US Olympian Mark Grimmette used to train for the Olympics. If you visit the park during the winter months, the Winter Sports Complex is a must-see.
In-Season
Hiking and Biking
Muskegon State park’s 12 miles of hiking trails offer impressive scenic beauty to soak in while indulging in a pleasant hike. Some popular hiking trails are the Dune Ridge Trail and Devils Kitchen Trails, which boast over four miles of footpaths that overlook the park’s scenic vista points including Lake Michigan and Lake Muskegon.
Other trails include the Lost Lake, Loop to Loop, Scenic Ridge, and Hearty Hiker. The trails are well maintained and not overly challenging, varying in length from 0.17 miles to five miles. If you bring along your bike you can cycle along a 2.5-mile-long bike route starting from the beach area at the eastern side of the park all the way to the town of North Muskegon.
Attending the Fall Harvest Fest
Muskegon State Park holds a festival in October each year, called the Fall Harvest Fest, which is meant exclusively for the campers. This family-friendly festival is filled with a variety of fun games and activities like face painting, campsite decorations, parades, and lots of nice little prizes. Halloween celebrations also take place at this festival with great pomp and splendor. Halloween festivities include trick or treating, costume shows, pumpkin carvings and much more.
Enjoying Water Sports
The water bodies of Muskegon State Park are bustling with a variety of recreational opportunities. You can launch your boats from Snub Harbor into Lake Michigan and Lake Muskegon. You can also enjoy fishing at the park’s lakes, but you’ll need a fishing license for that. Another exciting activity available is swimming. Lots of enthusiastic swimmers rush to the beach to beat the summer heat during their visit to the park. You won't want to miss out on all the amazing aquatic adventure you can have during your RV road trip to Michigan.
