roadtripper2345741

This is a really nice area to camp for free. Good Verizon service, dumpster, porta-potty, covered pavilion with grills, and regular sheriff patrols.

I camped on the hard gravel area near the pavilion. There's another easy place to park along the road to the right of the pavilion as you face the gulf. Tides fluctuate on the beach, and they were high during my visit, so know the local tide times if you choose the beach. There was also flooding in the area and some closed roads. If there has been a lot of rain, and google maps is sending you down a secondary road, reconsider. I got some practice backing up.

The dumpster and porta-potty are emptied weekly. Gators are rare on the beach, but I saw two of them during my stay. You probably want to be careful of your dog running around in the wetlands behind the dunes.

I spent my days walking up and down the beach. People were friendly. The area gets a lot of day use: fishing, picnicking, and beach walking. You probably want to do your shopping before arriving. Lake Charles has about everything that you would need but is an hour away.

I stayed here here overnight in early May. Camping was $15 for an electric site with water. Admission was $4. Well-spaced sites with shade. Nice bathrooms. Steep hill down to the campground. Bring your bug spray. A storm passed through that night with thunderboomers that rattled my rib cage There are hiking trails but we just walked the different campground loops.

Wilson Lake is a small campround within walking distance to a small lake. Everything is well-maintained. There are a mix of full hookups and primitive sites. My site had electric, water, and sewer. Concrete pad, picnic table and fire ring. Firewood is $5. It's about a 15 minute drive to Fort Madison ,which has grocery stores and other services. On a Monday night, there were only 4 sites occupied, including the host. Showerhouse nearby. Pet exercise area nearby. The road in wasn't great--some gravel.

The only negative was that the check-in process was a bit confusing. Everything worked out when the host arrived in the evening.

On a Tuesday, there were only three first come, first served campsites available. Half of the campsites (the best ones—lakeside) are seasonal. The rest were reserved for at least 1 week and sometimes for three consecutive weeks). My site was squeezed on both sides by huge trailers and lots of cars parked on the grass. A major highway was directly behind my site—lots of truck traffic which quieted at night. Verizon was good at times and then would unexpectedly drop to no service for an hour or more.

Now for the pros. The views of Lake Michigan, the beach to stroll upon, the amenities for $21 (electric, dump station, flush toilets, $1 hot showers, picnic table, fire ring). Another uncrowded picnic area and beach is Bailey Park—only 3 miles south. Menominee, Michigan, a beautiful little city on the lake, is only twenty minutes away.

Magnolia is a very small town. There is a campground and a breakfast/lunch cafe. Sites are grassy (with some mud) and fairly close together. There are are about 10 total sites. Some have full hookups; others do not. There is a sign indicating that you shouldn't camp in an electrical site if you don't need the electricity. On my recent stay, there was only one other camper (motor home). The water is good. There are multiple free tv stations. And its only about a mile from the interstate. Price was right. Good stop on my way to the Badlands.

Very nice older campground with lots of trails and views nearby. Campground host was present recommending sites and providing info. Biggest negative for me was that some of the electrical connections are on the wrong side, but my site was spacious enough to angle towards the post to connect, while still remaining level. Excellent value compared to Wisconsin state parks across the river.

Well-spaced sites, pit toilets, garbage service, water from a spigot, nice beach area, some short trails through the woods and along the bay shore. Some daytime generator noise depending on the luck of the neighbors. I had three very restful nights here. Sound of trains in the distance. About one-third of the sites in each of the three loops of first come, first served. Multiple options mid-week.

I stayed here during the first week of May. The biggest negative was that check-in was quite confusing. The check-in kiosk implies that the campground is first-come, first-serve, but the campground takes reservations, and every site had some kind of reservation sign on it without the date filled in. When I called the telephone number posted, I was told the ranger handles reservations. He/she didn't pick up the phone.

Anyway, given that it was a week day, and only four campers were set up, I just took an open site and set up. The campsites are nice with many full hook-ups. There's also a separate dump stations, bathroom, and showers. 30 and 50 amp service available. Concrete, level pads.

There are nice hiking trails and a road around the small lake. Fishing was taking place. The campground host arrived around 5 pm and confirmed that my site was open/available to me.

I camped here on 9/16 to 9/18. When I went to the iron ranger to pay, it was duct taped over. I asked the camp host what the fee was, and he said that because the water and bathrooms were being shut off that day, camping would be free and that I could stay after the campground officially closed on 9/17. Since I was self-contained, I did not need water or the bathrooms.

Temperatures were in the low 70's during the daytand in the high 30's at night. Sites are well-spaced.. Some folks use generators so pick wisely if you do not like the noise. There is an atv trail suitable for hiking (I saw no atvs). Also, the road from the campground down to Hwy 16 is about 0.8 mile and follows along a stream. Immediately across the road is the North Cove day use area, which has an open bathroom even when the campground's bathroom is closed.

I slept so well here. There were deer everywhere and horses graze in the meadow behind the campground.