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4.5
69 votes

Fort Custer Recreation Area Campground

5163 Fort Custer Drive, Augusta, Michigan 49012 USA

  • Independent
  • Credit Cards
    Accepted
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wheelchair
    Accessible
  • Public
    Restrooms
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“a 3,033-acre State Recreation Area”

Fort Custer State Recreation Area is a 3,033-acre park located between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. The park features three lakes, the Kalamazoo River, a campground, a swimming beach, more than 25 miles of multi-use trails and much more.

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Reviews of Fort Custer Recreation Area Campground

16 people have reviewed this location

Ratings Summary

4.8 Access
4.9 Location
4.6 Cleanliness
4.3 Site Quality
4.1 Noise

Cell Coverage

Verizon 4G/5G

Confirmed by 4 users | Last reported on August 27, 2023

AT&T 4G/5G

Confirmed by 6 users | Last reported on May 17, 2022

T-Mobile 5G

Confirmed by 2 users | Last reported on September 11, 2023
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Reviewed by
Campendium

August 09, 2015
Rated

Loving the privacy separated by the trees. Electric hook up only. 30amp available. Cool bike trails (didn't bring the bikes). Next to tenters.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $30.00

Days Stayed: 1

Site Number: 200

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
4 Site Quality
3 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

AT&T 4G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

April 01, 2017
Rated

Fort Custer is a great state park. We have stayed there a few times. The park has great mature trees, and some private sites. We did not use the showers there so I can not comment on them I used the one in my camper.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $20.00

Days Stayed: 3

Site Number: -

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise
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Reviewed by
Campendium

April 17, 2018
Rated

Great campground if you’re looking for a relaxing weekend. If you’re looking for a campground with planned activities and lots for kids to do, this is not the place for that.

PROS
-Mostly private sites
-Very clean bathroom/showers
-Great trails for hiking/biking/horseback riding
-Eagle Lake is great for swimming and kept up well
-Very shaded
-Paved roads

CONS
-Not much for small children to do-only 1 playground
-No water hookup at sites only electric
-A lot of poison ivy around campsites

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5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
4 Site Quality
5 Noise

Reviewed by
msarki

  • 149 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
August 05, 2018
Rated

On arriving to this park I knew nothing. Coming here was an experiment even though I did have some pretty good intel from Campendium. My campsite was #46. Right next to the drinking water faucet, which in no way matters. A full fresh water tank is more than sufficient for a four night stay. The only problem I had with my hidden and extremely private campsite was the electrical hookup being set too far back. Initially I parked the Ollie on the blacktop and set up camp with the emphasis on tracking less dirt into the trailer. After leveling and completing my setup I realized this plan would not work out well. My 30 amp cord would not reach the outlet. I had to use the 110 volt extension cord I carry with adapter to power up. I spent one night like this but soon discovered after having to reset the breaker three times that I needed to move the Ollie further back on the site. I did so after our morning bike ride. I rode the entire campground two times and recorded what for me would be the very best sites to choose from if I ever returned. If you like privacy, want to keep your trailer clean, level, and utilize the one 30 amp cord you might only carry then the best sites are: 15, 23, 27,31,33, 35, 41, 47,49, 65,66, 8o, 91, 97,101, 104, and 197. It becomes obvious soon when looking at the campground map that I prefer one loop to the other.

There is no alcohol allowed here in Fort Custer which is a good thing by my lights. There are a whole lot of tenters and a mixed class-representation of our voting population. Tenters tend to light more campfires which adds to the nasty smoke and smell this pollution produces and restricts those of us who prefer breathing fresh air with windows open than resorting to A/C. The one thing most of us campers do have in common however is our love for family, recreation, and exercise. There are many trails to choose from whether one wants to hike by foot or ride a bicycle. Miles of blacktop roads with 25 MPH limits that almost nobody respects (especially the road to the beach on Eagle Lake). There is also a marked “blue” trail that is mostly transversible by the typical cruising bike, however there are some areas that get a bit hairy where a mountain bike would be more appropriate. The sandy beach at Eagle Lake is surprisingly clean, long, and deep. The lake appears to be a wonderful place in which to swim. No wakes are allowed and I did not see any motor boats, only kayaks and canoes.

Early Friday morning the sign out front of the campground office entrance already stated “Full”. That told me that instead of maybe fifty occupied campsites presently in this park there would be at least two hundred and nineteen for the weekend. That meant more smoke and additional noise. Before retiring to bed at my accustomed 8PM hour I buttoned down the hatches of the Ollie and closed all the windows that were already wafting in odors from the growing number of campfires. This weekend will be a bit hellish around here as there is no rain in the forecast so fires will abound. There are no laundry facilities that I could find here. Other negatives are the lukewarm showers and the sloppy pigs who use them. Muddy floors and too many kids left unattended to their mischief. But with over three thousand beautiful acres to explore, Fort Custer is nonetheless a gem to visit, especially during the week when others have to work.

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msarki would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $27.00

Days Stayed: 4

Site Number: 46

5 Access
5 Location
4 Cleanliness
4 Site Quality
4 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

AT&T 4G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

July 02, 2019
Rated

Excellent campground, lots of buffer between sites. We came in on a Thursday thru Sunday, and it really filled up for the weekend. Lots of bike trails. Beach is nice too. Excellent place to kayak.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $27.00

Days Stayed: 4

Site Number: 136

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise
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Reviewed by
Campendium

August 12, 2019
Rated

Arrived on Tuesday and departed on Tuesday. Handicap site with level asphalt pad, and small amount of shade. Mosquitoes were our biggest problem and they were vicious. Bath house was nearby and well maintained. During weekend, most sites were filled and noise level increased proportionately. Still a very enjoyable and relaxing getaway. The beach is great! Fishing in Eagle Lake is not great but there are fish to catch while fighting mosquitoes. Park is open year round and they will clear snow from your site with reservations.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $27.00

Days Stayed: 7

Site Number: 64

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

AT&T 4G

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
August 15, 2019
Rated

I only live an hour away from this park and had no idea how nice it is. There are two loops in this park. Both have vegetation between sites, but the West Loop where my site was seems to have more than the East Loop. The trees and bushes gives a lot of privacy. They have made backing into most of the sites very easy due to the angle into the site. I was there mid week, and it was not at all busy. The bathrooms were well maintained. The showers were also big and clean although I did not use one so I cannot report on how they worked. There are hiking, mountain bike and equestrian trails. There are also 3 lakes. Eagle Lake has a very large beach and the water was good for swimming. You can also rent kayaks, canoes and paddle boards. As I was hiking, I saw places where people were also able to put in their own kayaks and people fishing from a small pier at Whiteford Lake. I will certainly return when I am looking for someplace close. The rate is $25 a night but I do think you also have to purchase a State of Michigan Recreation Pass. I cannot tell you how much they are because I purchase it when I renew my plates. One more thing which may pertain to you: My Garmin GPS took me to the entrance of the Fort Custer National Cemetery. The entrance to the park is further down a bit off the same road.

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roadtripper2930231 would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $25.00

Days Stayed: 3

Site Number: 80

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

AT&T 4G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

October 12, 2020
Rated

Fort Custer State Recreation area doesn't get near the acclamation deserved mainly because it is inland from Lake Michigan and not nearly as well known as some of the more popular lake-oriented state parks on the west coast or in northern Michigan.

Probably the main draw of the park besides the many private campsites is the outstanding trail system, well-known for challenging mountain biking as well as equestrian riding. The three lakes provide good opportunity for fishing, kayaking and canoeing, and the large beach at Eagle lake makes for good sun and swimming.

It is comprised of two circular campgrounds with 219 modern sites. Each has 20 and 30-Amp connections and there are a few 50-Amp sites. There are no full hookups sites, which as is common for Michigan State parks. There is one dump station that can accommodate two RVs at a time. This is a common ratio for Michigan State Parks, about 100 sites per dump. However, the campground is rarely full, so waiting at the dump station is uncommon except on busy weekends in season.

This is easily one of my favorite Michigan parks for exercisability. There are so many options from running on pavement with little traffic, to running on the many miles of trails, to mountain biking at various skill levels. When it is warmer, there are several lakes for water exercise as well. Overall, top-notch given the options and quality and privacy of the campsites.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $25.00

Days Stayed: 5

Site Number: 56

5 Access
5 Location
5 Cleanliness
5 Site Quality
5 Noise
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Reviewed by
Campendium

July 17, 2021
Rated

Honestly, I hate to be this person, and we’re not usually these people. BUUUT, we got there a couple days after heavy rain and the mosquitoes were unbearable. Our site didn’t have a pad so we parked in the grass. Pulling in sparked the mosquitoes to rise out of their slumber. We sat in our rv while the misquotes inspected the exterior of our van, by the thousands. opened the door to plug in to shore and let a few hundred in. Bug spray wasn’t stopping any of them. So we ended up waiting a couple hours until sun down but they didn’t care, they were waiting for us. We unplugged and grabbed a parking lot a few miles away. Could be an amazing spot, we just had bad timing.

Bathrooms were nice. And the sites are very private. No alcohol during summer months.

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This reviewer would stay here again

Nightly Rate: $29.00

Days Stayed: 0

Site Number: 199 east

5 Access
4 Location
4 Cleanliness
4 Site Quality
5 Noise

Cell Coverage Rating

Verizon 4G

AT&T 4G

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Reviewed by
Campendium

September 17, 2021
Rated

I don't want to fault the park for it being hot in the summer and there being bugs but people should know-- there were so many mosquitoes that it ruined my time there. I've done a lot of camping, both in Michigan and out, and the mosquitoes here were really exceptional. The air was thick with them. I couldn't even enjoy the park because there were just so many.

Maybe RV campers fare better, I don't know. I'm a tent camper and in the time it took me to heat a can of food my hands were so bitten up that I couldn't use a keyboard for days. The poor dog (and both of us had on bug repellent) exhausted himself whipping around to bite bugs off his legs and ended up yelping and whimpering while I tried to get us some water. It was truly a pitiful sight and we both had to take a day off from the trip to take benadryl and be groggy.

I'm not sure how this would be addressed. Usually, I'd consider returning during colder months but the campground is a huge circle of drive-in sites and greenery provides all the privacy there. When the leaves fall, it's got to look like a parking lot. If I ever had to stay in this part of the state again, I'd sleep in my car in the Walmart parking lot, I really think that would have been more comfortable.

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Nightly Rate: $33.00

Days Stayed: 1

Site Number: 151

4 Access
4 Location
4 Cleanliness
3 Site Quality
3 Noise

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Fort Custer Recreation Area Campground

5163 Fort Custer Drive
Augusta, Michigan
49012 USA
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  • Unavailable
    Parking
  • Check
    Pets Allowed
  • Check
    Restrooms
  • Unknown
    Wifi
  • Check
    Wheelchair Accessible
  • Check
    Credit Cards Accepted
Affiliation
State park or forest
Back In RV Sites Count
40
Last Nightly Rate
30.0
Longest Vehicle Length Reported
25.0
Lowest Nightly Rate
20.0
Max Length
40 ft
Max Stay
14
Season End
Year Round
Season Start
Year Round
Sites Count
220
  • Unavailable
    Paved Sites
  • Unavailable
    Fifty Amp
  • Unavailable
    Full Hookup
  • Check
    Rec Facilities
  • Unavailable
    Pull Through
  • Check
    Tent Sites
  • Check
    Dump Station
  • Check
    Big Rigs
  • Check
    Open Seasonally
  • Unavailable
    Age Restricted
  • Check
    Back In RV Sites
  • Unavailable
    Boondock
  • Unavailable
    Cabin Sites
  • Unavailable
    Dispersed Sites
  • Unavailable
    Firewood
  • Unavailable
    Fulltime Residents
  • Unavailable
    Group Tent Sites
  • Unavailable
    Laundry
  • Unavailable
    Mobile Homes
  • Check
    Permit Required
  • Check
    Potable Water
  • Unavailable
    Propane
  • Check
    Public Water
  • Unavailable
    Pull Through RV Sites
  • Check
    Reservations
  • Unavailable
    Sewer Hookup
  • Check
    Showers
  • Check
    Sites
  • Check
    Standard Tent Sites
  • Unavailable
    Vehicle Wash Permitted
  • Unavailable
    Water Hookup
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