Western Michigan C.G. advice

[JungleJim]

We have 3 families meeting up this June. We are thinking of trying the Muskegon area or some area along the West shores of Michigan. None of us have been around Muskegon before.

Which Michigan state park campground do you recommend:  Hoffmaster State Park or Muskegon State Park?
Or is there another campground you would recommend? Kids range from 5-10 yrs old.

I'd appreciate any personal experience anyone could share.

Thanks!

[Alter Ego]

I don't care much for Muskegon SP. Go up the road to Ludington SP. So much nicer. Muskegon is not a touristy town. The waterfront is coming along nicely but still has a ways to go before it will no longer have that post-industrial look. Just north of that is Duck Lake SP. That is just a day use park.

North of Muskegon is Michigans Adventure Amusement Park.

North of that is White Lake. The two towns on the lake are Whitehall and Montague. We're there every other weekend. (Not camping) There is a campground right in Montague that seems to be packed all summer so people apparently like it, but I've never camped there.

There are several private CGs north of Montague, but I can't tell you anything about them. North of there you have Pentwater, which is a nice tourist town. Farther yet north is Ludington with a great SP.

[miataman]

Ludington is very busy, the sites are tight, but it's a jewel - we are going there again this summer for a 3 nighter.  Nice bike loop connecting the 3 campgrounds and the lighthouse.  A pier you can tie a boat to on Lake Hamlin.  Endless beach.  Beach concession.  Campstore.

Hoffmaster is another one we return to time after time.  Easy walk to the beach from campground.  Kids sometime enjoy splashing in the creek that runs between the loops.  Not far from Michigan's Adventure.  Will flood with a 4.5" rain.

[gijoecam]

White River Campground in Montague is stellar!!  It was quite busy, but the sites were HUGE back where we were at, so it didn't feel cramped in the slightest.  It's one of the few private campgrounds I actively want to go back to again soon!

[Indiana Camper]

We are spending 8 nights in Ludington in July.  It is very hard to get in to though.  We somehow managed to get 2 sites together this year (sister and brother-in-law are going too).  You won't be disapointed there.  I am following this thread because now I regret only staying 8 nights.  I'm trying to convince my wife that we should go up a few nights early and check out another campground in the area.

[gijoecam]

Do it!!  There are TONS of other campgrounds in the area, and if you can spare the time, you won't regret it...  there's LOTS to see and do up that side of the coast!