The Midwest doesn’t always get a lot of love, because the weather is cooler and stormier than other parts of the country. However, when it comes to camping, this is one of the best areas to have some fun! There is so much to see and do throughout the Midwest and you can easily move from one campground to the next until you have experienced everything on your list.
Best RV Campgrounds in the Midwest
Brown County State Park Campgrounds, Indiana
by Elizabeth Nicodemus at Flickr
There are three different Indiana campgrounds available at this state park in Nashville, Indiana and they are Buffalo Ridge, Taylor Ridge, and Racoon Ridge. You will love the Olympic sized swimming pool, especially after a long day hiking the eighteen miles of trails or riding along the twenty-five miles of mountain bike trails. There is also a recreational center filled with activities and the camp store is perfect if you forgot to bring something from home.
Grand Marais Recreation Area Campground, Minnesota
You will find this Minnesota campground right next to Lake Superior in the state of Minnesota. As you explore this campground, you will be happy to see that there is the Sweetheart’s Bluff nature area, a harbor break wall, ball field, playground, community garden, and cobblestone beaches. You can easily walk into downtown Grand Marais since it is only three blocks away. This is perfect for those nights when you just don’t feel like cooking anymore.
Hayward KOA, Wisconsin
You will find the Hayward KOA in Hayward, Wisconsin and if you visit there with your family, do not plan on seeing your kids from the time they wake up in the morning until they come back to your campsite for lunch or dinner.
You can easily rent kayaks and tubes to explore the Namekagon River, but make sure you spend enough time at the waterpark as well. This campground is always having themed weekends, so you may want to plan your stay for the one that interests you the most. Throughout the day, do not be surprised if you are offered s’mores for free from one of the campfires that are burning. This may be one of the best RV campgrounds in Wisconsin.
Wilderness State Park Campground, Michigan
Many of the campsites at this campground have gorgeous views of the Lake Michigan, but that is not the only reason why you will want to reserve your camping spot here. You can easily wander along twenty-six miles of Lake Michigan shoreline or you can choose to hike the twenty miles of trails to see how much of the local wildlife you can see.
At night, you will want to venture over to the dark sky preserve to gaze up at the stars. Wilderness State Park campground is one of Michigan’s premier campgrounds.
Platte River Campground, Michigan
photo credit NOAA at Flickr
If you have always wanted to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan, you must plan on camping at the Platte River Campground. There are quite a few RV campsites, but you may want to reserve one that offers a pull-through option instead of back-in. One of the best things to do during your stay is to attend one of the ranger programs that shares the Native American legend of how this area acquired its name.
Blue Bell Campground, South Dakota
The Blue Bell Campground can be found at Custer State Park in the state of South Dakota. There are seven other campgrounds within this same state park, but this is the one campground that is considered the best of the seven.
Just outside your RV doors, you will see the Black Hills, granite spires, and herds of bison in the distance. There are many different educational programs held in the evenings, but make sure you take the time to venture out on one of the many hayrides through the park.
Lake Sakakawea State Park Campground, North Dakota
Water-lovers will want to reserve their RV spot at this campground early, because everything books quickly. Boating and fishing are the two most popular activities at this campground, but you can also rent a bike for a bike ride and go swimming.
If that isn’t enough for you, other water activities include windsurfing and paddling. There is also an amphitheater and playgrounds to keep everyone busy during some downtime.
Lighthouse Point, Ohio
Out in Sandusky, Ohio, Lighthouse Point is waiting for you to pull your RV in. There are only twenty-five RV sites at this Ohio campground, but they are all considered luxurious options. You can easily sit outside your RV and relax, but you may prefer heading over to the Cedar Point Shores Waterpark. You can rent jet skis at the local beach and parasailing is available there as well.
Palmer Gulch Campground, South Dakota
Palmer Gulch is also known as the Mount Rushmore KOA and you will find it located within Hill City, South Dakota. The RV sites are slightly close together, but you won’t notice with everything you have to do while you are there. Your days can be spent panning for gold, swimming in the two pools, enjoying the waterpark, and riding a horse or four-wheeler.
The live music and nightly movies are a lot of fun, as well as an excellent way to meet new friends. This campground may become your favorite campground in South Dakota.
Merry Mac’s Campground, Wisconsin
This campground is over in Merrimac, Wisconsin and since it is a day-use property as well, it can get quite crowded during peak season. However, that shouldn’t stop you from having some Wisconsin camping fun there!
You can climb all over the inflatables in the swimming pond before going fishing and getting dunked in the tank. This Wisconsin campground also has themed weekends, so you can easily find one that your entire family will be interested in participating in.
These are some of the best RV campgrounds in the Midwest, and you can easily explore this entire part of the country by doing a whirlwind month-long camping trip. Or you can choose weekend getaways to see one small area at a time. While you may not have a favorite campground yet, by the time you have stayed at all these, you will have one for future visits. Every campground in this country offers something different, so you must choose your campsites carefully if you want to experience the best camping trips for your needs, as well as the needs of your family.
Looking for other regions to camp? Check out our articles about the best oceanview campgrounds in Texas.
