Pure Michigan Camping – Hoffmaster State Park

Although there are incredible camping locations across the country, Michigan has some of the most beautiful places to spend a long weekend, your summer vacation, or even just an overnight. When you live someplace it’s easy to overlook the beautiful attractions that are right under your nose since we all tend to think a “vacation” has to include driving half-way across the country before setting up in a campground. However, if you look a little closer to home you might be surprised at the great places that are less than a day’s drive away.

One of those beautiful, close-to-home spots in West Michigan is P.J. Hoffmaster State Park. Located between Muskegon and Grand Haven, Hoffmaster has a lot to offer travelers or day trippers alike. The park has more than 10 miles of hiking trails full of wildlife and even recognizes metal detecting as an important activity within the grounds. Cross-country skiers will find a three-mile trail at their disposal, and will also find the nearby Muskegon Winter Sports Complex within easy reach.

The 1,100 acres of wooded lands at Hoffmaster State Park are enough reason to visit, but the park also offers more than three miles of Lake Michigan shoreline for the beach lovers in your group. There are trails leading to the dunes, scenic overlooks for watching those incredible West Michigan sunsets, and plenty of spots to throw down a blanket and soak up the sun, or, the contents of a good book.

Founded in the 1960’s, the park was created in honor of Percy James Hoffmaster, the first chief of Michigan state parks and Director of Conservation. Hoffmaster State Park beaches are often called the most scenic in Michigan. The park is overflowing with natural beauty and outdoor activities, but there are plenty of things to do if the weather turns wet too.

Hoffmaster State Park’s Gilette Visitor’s Center sits at the top of the park’s scenic sand dunes and includes a museum, interactive exhibits, and a classroom where visitors can learn about the seasonal wildlife that calls the park home. Like many of the park’s offerings, the Gilette Center is open year-round with limited hours in the winter.

For campers, Hoffmaster State Park has anything and everything vacationers could want. The campground remains open from early April to late October and features nearly 300 sites for tent campers and full hook-up RV’s. There is water, sanitation, and electrical service, and an on-premise convenience store. The campground also includes a playground for kids and is pet-friendly too.

For campers who don’t want to stray far from the woods, there is plenty to do right on the grounds. For those who wish to get a taste of culture and even get in a little shopping, P.J. Hoffmaster State Park is close to two great West Michigan towns. Grand Haven, or Coast Guard City, USA, is only a short drive South and features a beautiful riverfront park, unique local shops, and variety of flavors for the foodies.

Just North of Hoffmaster, visitors can find plenty to do in the up-and-coming big town/small city of Muskegon. Currently experiencing a wonderful rebirth, Muskegon offers downtown shopping, museums, a great variety of restaurants and regular music festivals all summer long. Tour the USS Silversides for a bit of World War II history, or spend the afternoon learning about the local history while touring the Hackley and Hume Historic Site.

No matter what brings you to West Michigan, whether you’re coming from out-of-state with family and friends or you live close by and want to discover some of the great places that are right in your neighborhood, P.J. Hoffmaster State Park has an incredible variety of activities and opportunities for travelers of any age. Hook up and hit the road, and come on over to experience the incredible West Michigan sunsets from one of the most picturesque places in the country.

If you’re looking for a way to get there, let The Camper Connection help you with all of your RV and Camper needs. You can rent from one of our incredible team members, choose from our huge inventory of campers and RVs, and drive on over yourself. Or, contact The Camper Connection branch near your destination and let us deliver, setup, and then pack up and return the camper you choose so you don’t have to. We’ll do all of the work so you can have all of the fun.

In West Michigan, reach out to our team and they’ll help to ensure your vacation is as good as it gets. The Camper Connection offers much more than rentals too. If you are an owner looking to put your camper or RV to work, contact us and let’s discuss our Owner Rental Program. If you are looking to make some extra money, check out our information on starting your own branch of The Camper Connection and we’ll help you become a successful business owner with guidance and resources straight from our experienced team.

We can help make sure your vacation is a success – contact us at The Camper Connection and we’ll help you hit the road in comfort and style.