[MainStreet]

I usually camp at Grand Haven, on the beach...but this year I took a chance after some research and Google Earth and booked Hoffmaster for a few days and a couple different trips to the Jackpines Rustic Hike-in sites at Ludington State Park.

Does anyone have an opinion about Hoffmaster for camping and how is the beach?

Has anyone done the hike-in at Ludington?...their saying 3/4 of a mile to one mile walk or bike in...sound lovely...primitive camping doesn't worry me...foot traffic does...I want solitude for the Ludington bookings.

[dmetro]

As far as camping at Hoffmaster goes, I can tell you quite a lot. In my opinion, you'll find it to be a lot better than Grand Haven. While Grand Haven (In my Opinion), is nothing short of a parking lot, all of the sites in Hoffmaster are wooded, private, and shaded, although none of them are lakefront. The restrooms and other facilities are all newer and immaculately maintained, and as a bonus, if you have children, there's a playground. Moving on to the beach, it has it's pros and cons. While it is a beautiful beach, it's somewhat isolated from the rest of the campground, and it's a little bit of a hike from your campsite. It really didn't bother me though. Overall, I would definitely reccommend visisting Hoffmaster Park at least once, and I'm sure you'll be back countless times if you enjoy good camping!

[michiganmoon]

Originally Posted by dmetro

As far as camping at Hoffmaster goes, I can tell you quite a lot. In my opinion, you'll find it to be a lot better than Grand Haven. While Grand Haven (In my Opinion), is nothing short of a parking lot, all of the sites in Hoffmaster are wooded, private, and shaded, although none of them are lakefront. The restrooms and other facilities are all newer and immaculately maintained, and as a bonus, if you have children, there's a playground. Moving on to the beach, it has it's pros and cons. While it is a beautiful beach, it's somewhat isolated from the rest of the campground, and it's a little bit of a hike from your campsite. It really didn't bother me though. Overall, I would definitely reccommend visisting Hoffmaster Park at least once, and I'm sure you'll be back countless times if you enjoy good camping!

I agree with this. Hoffmaster is a beautiful park with towering sanddunes. The beach closest to campgrounds is not as nice, due to the stream that flows out to the lake there that has a dark brownish tinge to it. A short walk to the south and it is as pretty as a beach can get.

[magellan]

When I was a kid, we spent every summer camping at Hoffmaster for a weekend or short week. It's a great park, nicely shaded, plenty of kids, great places to bike. The campground beach IS quite a hike from the campground, but it's a beautiful trail through the dunes. Or you can drive over to the day visitor beach within the park and it's not as far of a walk to the beach.

Be sure to check out the nature center and do the trail hike if you get a chance. It ends on a big boardwalk way up in the dunes overlooking Lake Michigan (or at least the boardwalk was there when we hiked it about 10 years ago).

The golf course just up the road from Hoffmaster is not bad, and you can drive up Lake Harbor Rd to Mona Lake bridge for fishing, or head further North to Norton, then Lincoln and follow the signs to Pere Marquette Beach.

muskegon, michigan - Google Maps

Have fun!