I always adore Michigan's state parks. And Holland's holds its own. Huge sandy beach to plunk down your towel and take a dip in the Big Lake. Lots of walkable space, too, for beachcombing or watching boats cruise through the channel. Excellent views of Holland's famous "Big Red" lighthouse. Camping available, too. Sand seems more littered these days with washed up debris. On busy days Ottawa Beach Road backs up for miles. For the best chance to avoid traffic arrive super early or wait until late afternoon when the families have headed home. No lifeguards. Swim at your own risk. Motor vehicle permit required. read more

We stayed at the beach campground. It's a paved parking lot with hookups. The spots are relatively large and we went with full hookups. The bathhouse was nice and quite clean. Several individual private showers were a nice touch. It's a short walk to the water and public beaches. Open air fires are not permitted which is a disappointment but they do allow covered elevated fire pits if you want to carry such a thing when going camping. One thing I do not like is the open access to the camping area. Anyone accessing the public beaches can drive right into the camping area. I prefer more secure situations such as gate access. read more

Our stay at the Macatawa campground was great. The site had a fair amount of shade and it also had some privacy. The office staff was friendly and helpful for any questions we had about the campground or nearby spots. The one suggestion I would make would be for the bathrooms to be cleaned in the early morning before campers wake and another midday spot to get things ready for the evening. Honestly even more set schedule would be helpful as they were closed several times at peak hours for cleaning. The beach front for the main Holland State Park is in desperate need of trash cans on the beach. While I understand that maybe staff doesn't want to pickup trash frequently from the sand locations, it would help cut down on trash on the beach. I picked up several pieces from section 2 to the pier and there was no trash nearby. I placed it near the flag pole as I figured staff would have to change the flag sometime. Overall it was a nice time spent and would come back again with a trash bag for my beach travels. read more

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The campground is along a busy road that seemed to be the drag-strip for locals. Traffic and loud cars made for a less than stellar experience. I tend to camp to find nature and peace, don't want to camp on a drag strip! If you don't care about camping with constant road noise, then this may be what you would like. We had company who paid for a visitor tag the one evening we were there during "shoulder" season. Most of the sites were empty, yet rangers issued a ticket for parking incorrectly! No warning! No gentle "even though we're practically empty, we will issuing tickets". The rangers patrolled though routinely never spoke to us, or acknowledge our presence. Just seemed to cop an attitude. They wouldn't even make eye contact much less talk to us. We were 4 sixty plus individuals checking out the park, not rablerousers trying to cause problems. We didn't clearly understand the strictness of the rule enforcement, would think rangers might be considerate of first time visitors especially during the slow season. Instead by ruling with a heavy hand and large fine we would not go back. While restrooms and showers were relatively clean, as campground bathrooms go, regular maintenance was being ignored, one sink and one toilet ran continuously and several of the showers had broken plumbing parts. We'd paid for two nights up front, but the rangers managed to irritate me enough that we left after one. I would hate to be there during busy season, will not return, and would never recommend staying at this campground! Found the dune behind the campground to be full of litter and just did not find anything good about our trip to Holland town or park! read more

We loved our first camping visit to Holland State park for 4 nights and 3 days. The state park is conveniently located beside Lake Macatawa and is a quick 6-7 min walk and enjoy the lake on a good weather day. The park was very well maintained, restrooms clean and spotless, showers well managed. Campers are super friendly and a lot of kids making it a very family friendly location. Staff were very helpful and to the point. There's a variety of camp hosts events happening every week and good trails inside the state park. Beware of ticks if you have pets on the trails as a precautionary measure. read more

Holland State Park - Parks Near Me - Holland, Michigan

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What a beautiful area, we stopped in on our road trip, got free public parking and walked the boardwalk to the beach/sand line and back - loved seeing Big Red, the Sailboats, Kayakers, and more. Such a beautiful day. Friendly people and culture! Worthy of a stop! read more

Holland State Park - Parks Near Me - Holland, Michigan

It was a sunny day in October and I wanted to have a picnic at the beach. Nate and I loaded up the car and hit the road from Grand Rapids and headed towards Holland State Park. There were quite a few families there, enjoying the sunshine and views of the lake and lighthouse, and playing on the playground. It was quite windy and a bit chilly, but we enjoyed walking along the shore and dipping our toes in the water. There were people swimming on October 17! The water wasn't ice cold yet, but definitely not warm. Nate and I ended up eating our lunch in the car since it was so windy, but there are several nice picnic tables available here. The parking lot was a little small so I imagine it gets pretty packed in the summer. The biggest bummer was that in October 2021 the restrooms were already closed for the season. Luckily there's a gas station nearby, but something to be aware of. It was fun to see the lighthouse, known as "Big Red," although it looked like it could use a new coat of paint. We weren't able to walk out to the lighthouse since it was on the opposite side of the channel and I'm not actually sure if you can get to it. I'd love to come back to this beach in the summer. There is a campground at this state park too. read more

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Beautiful beach and area off of Lake Michigan told hubby next year I would love to return and stay more then 1 day - very clean beach read more

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I loved my ice cream the sky was clear, the water was cold, and everyone just seemed so happy to be outside. If I lived closer, I would be visiting this beach on a regular basis. read more

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The beach here is one of the best beaches for all ages family fun. The views and sand are out of this world nice. If your near Holland Michigan you have got to go here at least once but please arrive early as it fills up fast on a nice day. Definitely a world class beach. read more

Loved everything about camping at this place! The bathrooms were clean, the beach was close by along with walking paths everywhere. The general store had any item you could have forgotten. read more

This is another awesome state park that we recently visited on the western side of Michigan. It has alot to enjoy for the entire family, and a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. We stopped by for the afternoon to just enjoy the weather, and lay about on the beach. There is a huge parking lot on site, and they can accommodate small and large vehicles. This state park is like 142 acres and there is plenty to do for the entire family. read more

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Stunning beach on Lake Michigan. There is plenty of parking. There is a play ground for kids and the channel to the lighthouse is a good place to bird. There are always boats to admire as well. It is windy and not the best place to swim as there is a long stretch of beach to walk to get to the water. There is a lovely food shack on site during the tourist season that has surprisingly good food. The black bean burger is my favorite! There are plenty of picnic tables to enjoy the food and views. read more

From a tourist's perspective, Holland State Park seems to be the 'main' beach of Holland. And it is beautiful! The whole surrounding area is incredibly walkable, and I think that is the best part. Of course, you have the large beach, Macatawa Bay, shops, restaurants.. You can even climb Mt. Pisgah! One thing to lookout for over the weekend is the parking. It. is. insane. When we came on a Saturday, the line to park took almost an hour to get through. Not sure if that was just changes with covid or they need a new system.. This beach is an absolute must if you are visiting Holland. It is also home to the Big Red lighthouse! read more

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If you are lucky enough to get to this beach on a beautiful day, then you're lucky. We stayed at the campgrounds next to the beach and watched the crazy line of cars trying to get into the park on a Saturday. Our son drove up to join us for the night and waited in line for an hour at the gate just to get to the guard station and be let in to the park. So plan your visit accordingly. The beach is amazing. Beautiful clean sand, volleyball courts, vendors and bathroom house that isn't just vault toilets. There is no driving into he beach but it's a good walk so bring a beach cart or carry light. The water is very nice. Plenty of DNR on the beach to keep it clean and watching visitors. We loved it. read more

It's so beautiful and relaxing here, and it's the perfect weather this sunny day in May. The walk throughout was so nice. It's clean and peaceful here. Parking is plentiful. I felt safe and calm just being near the water and just sitting to people and scene watching. Worth the stop! read more

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When visiting Holland, stopping by Holland State Park to visit the big red lighthouse is a must. There is a small beach to enjoy on a warm day, watch the sunset or have a picnic. read more

Holland State Park - Parks Near Me - Holland, Michigan

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Love this state park so much! They have a massive beach (that isn't dog friendly) and plenty of pathways (that are dog friendly). You can get pretty close to the awesome & absolutely ICONIC Big Red Lighthouse, which I really appreciate and love to see! :) I haven't explored much else here too, but looking at the maps a bit, there are definitely a lot of trails you can walk as well throughout the park that look interesting and a change from laying on the beach if that's not really your style. I look forward to coming back one day soon and exploring these paths myself! read more

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What can be a better place than Beach in Summer that too after 2.5 months of staying at home.Good place to take a dip and play some games with your fam. Pros: ---- Plenty of Parking You can walk till the old light house Kids play area Restrooms Lot of food spots close by( Walkable) Looks like the main light house is accessible only by boat or through private property( Not sure. Find out Beach is crowded and none of them wearing masks. read more

Holland State Park - Parks Near Me - Holland, Michigan

Absolutely beautiful! This is a must! You cannot come to the area and not see this place. Picture perfect thats for sure. read more

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I didn't know Michigan had a surf community but I guess there is one! I saw about 25 surfers and wave runners playing in The (ocean like) Lake Michigan waves on this chilly fall day! I'll be back. Dressing warm with a beach chair, cooler, and hot tea! Enjoy the sunshine, Jennah read more

Holland State Park - I was lucky enough to capture views of surfers at holland state beach on this chilly fall day! - Parks Near Me - Holland, Michigan

One of my favorite Michigan state parks! A classic with the cute town of Holland with so many good restaurants right around the corner this this a great place to take the family. Stopped here on a snowy winter day for a sunset. read more

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Walk in , September 17. No full hook ups available. Said they had nice quite spot in the pines. Campsite was covered in oak trees and next to a very busy road. Acorns falling all night and the dog barking at squirrels. Plus no water, electric only. And mufflers on cars apparently optional . Walmart parking lot would be quieter. read more

BEACH: This is the beach you want to go to if you're looking for that third coast atmosphere! It's the postcard beach, with tons of boat watching on the channel, gawking at the lighthouse Big Red, pier jumping, and general shoreline chaos. There's a surf shop with all your snack and sand castle building needs plus restrooms and showers. There's a board walk on the north end near the volleyball courts for strollers and coolers to make it down the sandy way. It's a state park, so you pay for all this, but it's so worth it. This is not the beach to go to if you don't want seagulls begging for your scraps or volleyballs landing in your lap. Holland has plenty of other small, quiet beaches for the introverted beach comber. Try Tunnel Park, or better yet, James Street, Riley Street, or Kouw beaches just a little further north. CAMPGROUND: I've been staying at this campground every summer since I can remember, I can't even count how many birthdays I've spent in a tent by the campfire. We always try to stay in the "Pines Loop" as the sites seem to be more shaded and secluded PLUS the bathhouse was recently re-done and has very nice individual shower rooms and spacious restrooms. This section of the campground is a short walk from the main beach, across the street from paddle board and kayak rentals, next to Ottawa Beach Inn restaurant, short walk to Dune Dogs and Ottawa Beach General Store (ice cream!), and next to Mt. Pisgah for great hikes/workout/lakeshore views. Keep an eye out for poison ivy in the perimeter of the sites, but other than that, A+ campground with fun daily activities planned for kids as well, a couple playgrounds, and a volleyball court. read more

We went to Holland State Park for Mother's Day weekend, and since our spot was towards the back of the campground/park, we were so close to Lake Michigan, the wind was carrying sand all the way to our campsite, so we had a mini private beach right next to our camper for the kids and dog to play on. The main beach was right there, so we were able to watch from the camping section of the State Park to the lighthouse right on the sand, which is a solid quarter of a mile each way. We're not athletic enough, so walking on sand to and from the lighthouse was exhausting. Plus, my kids started to get tired on our way back so I had to let the smaller one (who is still almost 40 lbs) ride on my shoulders. But, the view was breathtaking and we can also hear the waves (if you read my other reviews, you can see that we seem to enjoy campgrounds near water). The bathhouse was very clean, the grounds were clean. I think the only thing I was really disappointed about was that the "campground" was literally a giant parking lot, kind of defeating the whole idea about it being in nature when you're in a park. Maybe it was just our spot, but we only had electricity hookup. I supposed I'll just call it even since we were just a few spots from the beach. When we were looking for a place to stay in Holland, we were mostly just looking for a place to lay down our heads at night since we were there for the Tulip Festival and the State Park was less than a 10 minute drive from downtown Holland, so I guess, for all intents and purposes, it fulfilled our needs. It is not a partying campsite and they don't allow alcohol. That makes sense being so close to the beach. I would not want to step on a glass bottle walking to and from the light house. read more

This review is for both the state park and the state park campground: Campground: - check in process was very easy for a drive-in Monday night. Staff was very friendly and got us checked into our site in no time. - bathrooms and showers were very clean. Each shower is gender-inclusive and in a doored stall so maximum privacy is ensured. - sites are....meh. We were placed near the woods at Site 191 that was suggested for tent camping. Our site was very spaced out, almost too spaced out. One side was for tent/electric hookup, middle was for the car, other side was for fire/picnic table. Just didn't make a lot of sense. - super sunny and packed. We were lucky enough to go when it was hardly busy nor was anyone there, so it was spaced out for those that were there. There is one section that is gorgeous and wooded/shaded....then there is the other side that it basically a parking lot with some random patches of grass and one bathroom to accommodate tons of sites. - location: this is where it's flawed. The location of the campground isn't close enough to the beach to walk there, nor is it close enough to Holland to walk there either....it's just in the middle. Not ideal unless you want to drive everywhere. - overall: 3/5 stars. For $33 a night, plus passport park pass of $9, it was pushing it in terms of value. State park: - amazing beach access. Drive right up to the parking lot and walk mere feet and you're on the beach. - beach amenities: bathrooms, sand volleyball courts, paved sidewalk paths, lighthouse, and more. - great view for the sunset! - the trails are where this park really lacks. If you're a hiker looking to actually hike, skip this park. There aren't a lot of trails as the main focal point of this park is the beach. - dogs aren't allowed on the beach. - overall: 3.5/5. A good state park.....for beachgoers and those that plan to just have a place to stay and go to the beach. read more

Holland State Park - Parks Near Me - Holland, Michigan

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Nice! $10 for the day. Lots of open space on the beach. Couldn't figure out a way to go fishing or where to ride bikes if you're not camping at the campground, but we were tired from a long day on the beach and decided to go home. read more

Holland State Park - Lighthouse, beach - Parks Near Me - Holland, Michigan

Management adheres to 3pm check in even though sites are available and staff is sitting in the office doing nothing. Ridiculous making campers sit in the parking lot till then. I recommend using the after hours yellow phone to check in or just proceed to your reserved site and go back later to do the paperwork. And be aware they forbid alcohol in the park, only park in the state that has this rule. read more

The waters of Lake Michigan are beautiful and relaxing any time of the year but here at Holland State Park it's so much more enjoyable. The beach here goes on forever and is very well kept and the park rangers and employees are very helpful. The sand volleyball nets are in great shape and there's 16 of them to choose from. The restrooms are very clean as well and there's rarely a line even on a busy day. The little restaurant serves great food and they do a great job of getting your order to you fast and just the way you like it. The lighthouse is beautiful and you can walk out on the break wall about 1000 ft and watch the sunrise or sunset. Fishing on one side and swimming on the other. Everyone has an option. The beach also has char coal grills if you want to bring a group out and enjoy the day and barbecue. 2 cabins on site to rent and a every park if you want to take the family on vacation. Also it's a short walk into the quaint town to get groceries,ice cream, quick bites to eat or have a nice meal at the local restaurant. Give the piece of heaven a try and you'll be happy you did. read more

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Beautiful small beach with volleyball nets and a great lighthouse. Have been here numerous times, it never disappoints. read more

Holland State Park - Sunset at the beach. - Parks Near Me - Holland, Michigan

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Awesome very sandy area! View of Lake Michigan as far as your eyes can see. You pay $6 to get in and park :( The walk is very sandy. I say it's worth it! read more

Holland State Park - Parks Near Me - Holland, Michigan

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Small, i crowded beach. Nice lighthouse on the side to go check out. Decent bathrooms, though it's incredibly dark in there. Nowhere to eat or drink, except a small beach cafe near the restrooms that didn't look open. It would be nice for a food truck or two to park there for refreshments and/or ice cream at least. Overall, I enjoyed this beach for its quaint and peaceful atmosphere, but as for beach setting, Grand Haven is much much better. There's a pier next to the lighthouse with tons of graffiti, and it's not a great look for photos. read more

It is a beautiful park right next to the historic red lighthouse of Holland. Lots of beach and kept up well.

This place is beautiful. I went to the area for a business trip, but I was eager to get to Lake Michigan's shore. I shot pictures that do not give the place credit at all. The beauty of the sunset there is something that cannot be described or reflected in a picture. You have to be there to understand. read more

**This review is for the beach campground** Holland State park's beach campground is located just behind the main parking area for the beach. There is a nice dune separating the two but unfortunately it means you can pretty much count out any view of the water. The sites are glorified, parking spaces, crammed and completely paved, you have to bring your own fire pit and they are not allowed on the sand so you're basically camping on a parking lot with no view. Most of the sites are filled with enormous RVs and the massive trucks used to pull them. There are signs everywhere that says NO TENTS (we saw some anyway but not sure if they had obtained permission). If you are on the inside loop be advised there is just a very small strip of sand separating you from your neighbor. We were on the outside loop to the east and our site faced a dune which was nice. The bathrooms were clean and the site hosts were friendly (the other campers were not, this was the least friendly campground we've ever been to). The playground for the kids is on the beach. Park staff had some great programming for the kids and a stargazing class at sundown. It wasn't a terrible experience, but not our favorite. If you looking for a camping experience on the beach I would say try to stay at Grand Haven or one of the very end sites here. read more

Holland State Park - Site 325. - Parks Near Me - Holland, Michigan

This was definitely the perfect getaway for a day off. Roughly about an hour and a half from Lansing, I packed my car and drove down. The beaches along the western portion of Michigan are definitely a sight to see. Once you drive further into town it goes down to two lanes and speed limit does slow which makes sense. When you arrive there is two lanes to pay, one is for those who have a Michigan recreation pass, and the other is for daily parking which is $9. If you arrive early enough the lines are usually not to bad and move rather quickly. For my first experience, I thought it moved fairly quickly and I was amazed at the ample amount of parking that was available. After a short stroll from my car to beach, I unpacked my stuff and headed out by the water. There is a snack bar on site as well as a boardwalk. To the far left of the beach there is also a beautiful red light house to take pictures of. Overall, this should definitely be added to your list of places to visit if in the Western part of Michigan. read more

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We went here on a slightly cooler day in August 2 years ago with my family to see the lighthouse and walk along the beach. Sometimes, Lake Michigan can change and the winds kicked up, the rain came in fast and the park was closed for tourists safety. It would be nice to come back to stay on a sunnier warmer day to appreciate this area more. The lighthouse is beautiful and it was a very nice park read more

Campground Not Ideal - just an OK stay overnight Most recent stay was 6/30/16 - I'm "late" in posting my review ~ We camp in a Little Rig "Tear Drop" style RV only 15' long w/o toilet or shower ~ plus we like to eat outdoors using the picnic table and set up our dining canopy for sun and weather protection and thus rely on condition of campgrounds facilities and being nearby our site ~ so our critique is focused in that area. We were close to restroom/shower building which were ok and typical of state park. No hooks or shelves for your stuff but shower stalls were separate private rooms accessed from outside separate door (unisex style) all tiled walls w/small bench but no rubber mats on floor (wear your clogs). Access to toilets and community sink area through separate door. Area was very messy and dirty - didn't have hooks or shelves for your stuff - no paper towels for visitors use to clean up after themselves - only air dryer and probably reason for it being messy - not a pleasant experience . . Park was very crowded during our stay; sites very close together/cramped very minimal privacy between sites not typical of state park. Gravel site pads fairly level asphalt interior roads. Disclaimer: As I write this review it occurred to me that there might be 2 sections (old & new) and most likely we were in older section sites 117 thru 172 [Woodstock loop]? I Believe the Pine Loop Sites 001 thru 116 might be larger w/more privacy not squeezed and restroom/showers were more modern. read more

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This is one of my favorite places along Lake Michigan: a.) wide sandy beach, like Warren Dunes, but a less rowdy crowd; b.) some shady spots for afternoon respite like Saugatauck, but not so far a walk to the parking lot; c.) interesting and easy approach with shopping opportunities, unlike Van Buren State Park; and, d.) though I love the Traverse City area, the water here is swimably warm more of the summer. read more

It is a beautiful park to spend a relaxing weekend. You have to get in early if you want to park inside ($9 parking fee). The beach is nice, just wish people can take care of their own trash when they leave. read more