Newaygo, Michigan / State Campground, Hardy Pond

October 2017, Weekday-weekend, 2-nights, Campsite 84

View of Hardy Pond from campground

Reservations and check-in

The last time we had camped in Newaygo State Park was almost 40 years ago, and I did not recall much from that stay. This campground is primitive like the state forest campgrounds, and the rate is the same; $13 a night. Since it is a state park, rather than a state forest campground, you can make a reservation and choose your campsite prior to arrival. The online information was not very detailed, and we wanted to wait until we arrived to get a better look at the sites. After I learned the office is not staffed this time of year, we decided to make a reservation online. The campground is quite a distance from the self-registration kiosk and phone. If we had not made a reservation, we would have had to drive through the campground, choose a site, drive back to the registration booth, and then go back to set up. Not a fun thing to do while towing a fifth wheel! And, it would have added 20 to 30 minutes to our check-in time.

Close quarters on site 84, if you have a large RV with slides

Campsite 84

This campsite says it can accommodate a camper up to 40', and that the site is lakefront. It is not lakefront (it is across the street), and the picture on the website for this site is not accurate at the time of this post. If you have a large RV, be aware of the following:

• If your RV is 30' or longer, and you want to use your awning, there is only one place to back in between two trees, unless you do not plan to have a fire. A smaller trailer could easily be parked away from the fire without needing to squeeze in between the two trees. Our fifth wheel is 30' with two slides.
• We could not park on this campsite arriving from the direction indicated on the one-way signs. Fortunately, we arrived on a Thursday when there was minimal traffic. My husband turned around on site 85, and then backed onto the site from the other direction. Apparently other campers have had a similar problem, because two of the posts across the road on the bank were not in the ground securely (i.e. someone had temporarily removed them to make room while backing in). I thought I was going to need to pull one out, but my husband said he did not need it.
• The corner was too tight to depart in the correct direction, also. It is quite a distance back to site 98 where the one-way starts, so I walked out with my cell phone to make sure no one was arriving when we left.

View toward Hardy Pond from campsite 84

Other than the tight maneuvering onto the site between the trees, this is a spacious and secluded site. The water is partially visible across the road, as there is not a campsite across the street. There was a picnic table in the empty area overlooking the water.

Poplar campsites 83, 85, 86, 87; Oak campsite 13

There are several nice campsites in this park. Site 83 overlooks the water, and it is mostly dirt. Many people tried to camp on site 83 starting the day we arrived. It had been reserved, so every time someone set their stuff on the site, and then returned from the check-in kiosk, they then picked up their belongings and left. We did not see any campers set up on this site before we left. The no-show policy is two days after arrival, so it is possible the site was released after we left Saturday morning.

Campsite 83

Site 85 is a mostly dirt site, like 83, and there are a few trees to worry about, like site 84. I liked site 87 because it is spacious, level, a bit grassy, and you can walk out to the overlook from the campsite. Site 86 is also a sunny, somewhat grassy site. 

Campsite 13

There is a playground in Oak campground loop. Several nice sites in this loop (37 - 43) are just up the bank from the boat launch and dock area. Campsite 13 is a spacious site near the bank, although the water is not visible.

Facilites

This campground has hand pumps for fresh water, and the restrooms are outhouses. Fortunately, we were able to get by without needing additional water, because there were particles floating in the water we started to put in our jug from the hand pump, and the color was brownish. The sanitation station was open, and the water was on.

View from bench in swimming area

Recreation: boating, swimming, hiking

The boat launch and swimming area are both located between Oak and Poplar campgrounds. The water is not very deep by the dock, and I imagine the ramp is mostly used to launch fishing and pontoon boats. 

Swimming area

The beach area is not very big, although the water and sand was nicer than I expected. There was a bench next to the beach with a nice view of the water. Life jackets were hanging on a rack by the swimming beach. 

View from hiking trail

There are a few miles of hiking trails in the campground, and there is a frisbee golf course in the campground. A good portion of the hiking trail is on the top of the bank along the water.

Let me know if you have any questions!