Is Fort Custer Group Camp first-come first-served or reservation?

Fort Custer Group Camp accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Fort Custer Group Camp before I book?

Yes! Fort Custer Group Camp has 17 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

Are there showers at Fort Custer Group Camp?

Fort Custer Group Camp does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Can I have a campfire at Fort Custer Group Camp?

Fire policies at Fort Custer Group Camp: Sites provide fire pits; standard park fire rules apply (no additional, site-specific fire policy provided in sources).. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

How many campsites does Fort Custer Group Camp have?

Fort Custer Group Camp has 2 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Fort Custer Group Camp?

Pets are not allowed at Fort Custer Group Camp. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Fort Custer Group Camp?

Fort Custer Group Camp offers: Restrooms. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Fort Custer Group Camp?

Popular activities at Fort Custer Group Camp include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Fort Custer Group Camp

3.57

7 reviews

Summer Destination

Featured in:Group Camping Michigan#3 Spring Camping Michigan Winter Camping Michigan

Real-Time Availability

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Quick Facts

787 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

2 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book on Michigan DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

787 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

2 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book on Michigan DNR Official Website

Get Directions

Fort Custer Group Camp

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Nightly fee: contact the park (Nightly Fee: Contact the park). To reserve the group camp area call 269-731-4200.

No paid fee categories listed.

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Michigan

Provider

(269) 731-4200

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Campground Map

Fort Custer Group Camp

42.3242, -85.3576

Nearby places

Located between Augusta, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo (exact distances not provided)

Weather at Fort Custer Group Camp

Best Time to Camp at Fort Custer Group Camp

Summer brings the best conditions, with daytime highs in the mid-70s to mid-80s°F and reliably dry weather. Whitford Lake and the Kalamazoo River are warmest for swimming and boating during these months, and the forest canopy and wildflowers peak. Trails are in prime condition for hiking and mountain biking. Wildlife viewing is excellent, especially for waterfowl and songbirds. Expect mosquitoes and ticks. Summer weekends see higher crowds, so reserve well in advance.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Summer best conditions; mid-70s to mid-80s and warm waters for swimming/boating.

Planning Tips

About Fort Custer Group Camp

Fort Custer Group Camp offers two primitive group sites in Fort Custer Recreation Area, each accommodating up to 60 people. Both sites include vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. The Whitford Lake site has hand-pump water access, while the Kalamazoo River site has no potable water on-site.

Rustic group-use camp areas (two group sites) within Fort Custer Recreation Area.

Weather and SeasonsSummer brings the best conditions, with daytime highs in the mid-70s to mid-80s°F and reliably dry weather. Whitford Lake and the Kalamazoo River are warmest for swimming and boating during these months, and the forest canopy and wildflowers peak. Trails are in prime condition for hiking and mountain biking. Wildlife viewing is excellent, especially for waterfowl and songbirds. Expect mosquitoes and ticks. Summer weekends see higher crowds, so reserve well in advance.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground sits in heavily wooded, rolling terrain at 787 feet elevation, part of a landscape shaped by glacial kettles and waterways. Whitford Lake Group Camp sits between two small lakes with the Blue Trail running through the site. Kalamazoo River Group Camp borders the Kalamazoo River in a wooded area near the historic Riverside Cabin. The thick forest canopy provides shade but creates habitat for mosquitoes and poison ivy.

Geological RegionHeavily wooded, rolling terrain with multiple small/kettle-style lakes and river frontage

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsMIDNRReservations.com (the DNR description also gives a phone number to reserve: 269-731-4200)

Total Campsites2 campsites

Best CampsitesWhitford Lake Group Camp has hand-pump water and the Blue Trail runs through the site, making it more convenient for groups needing water access. Kalamazoo River Group Camp sits on the river and shares a vault toilet with the boat launch but has no potable water, so groups must bring their own or fill up at the park office.

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Amenities available

Rustic group-use areas with picnic tables, fire pits and vault toilets. Whitford Lake Group Camp has a hand pump for water; Kalamazoo River Group Camp shares a vault toilet with the boat launch and is noted as having no potable water available (campers may bring water or obtain it from park office/campground in summer). Reserve by calling the park office.

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

Group Sites

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Fort Custer Recreation Area offers multi-use recreation across the park including hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, lakes with a swim beach, and paddling/fishing on small inland lakes. The group camps are located within this larger recreation area.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsReported hazards and nuisance issues include heavy mosquitoes and abundant poison ivy in warm months, potential trail-user conflicts where mountain bike and hiking routes overlap, and confusing roads/trails after dark (visitors report getting lost).

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

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Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

3.6

7 reviews

Mixed Reviews

Fort Custer Group Camp has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews

No user reviews provided specifically for the Fort Custer group camp in the supplied content. Available actual review text refers to the equestrian camp area and praises electric equestrian sites and trails.

Review Summaries

Based on 7 reviews

What Campers Love

Review(s) included praise for the equestrian camp: electric sites for equestrians and great riding trails.

Based on 7 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Scout troops, church groups, or college outdoor clubs who want a forest base camp close to a sand swim beach and mountain bike trails. The Whitford Lake site is the easier pick, it has water on-site and the Blue Trail runs right through camp.

Skip if

Anyone expecting running water at both sites will be caught short, the Kalamazoo River site has none, so bring every drop you need. No showers, no electric, and the wooded terrain breeds serious mosquitoes and poison ivy from late spring through summer.

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Black Creek State Forest Campground sits along Black Creek near Sanford, offering 23 rustic sites on a first-come, first-served basis. The wooded setting draws paddlers, anglers, and trail riders looking for quiet creek access without the price tag. Sites run $20 per night. Expect vault toilets, hand-pumped water, and no electrical hookups.

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Yankee Springs-Equestrian Campground

Yankee Springs Equestrian Campground sits in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area about 35 minutes from Grand Rapids, offering 25 primitive sites designed for horse camping. Each site includes a corral or picket pole, fire ring, and picnic table. Fees run $20 per night.

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Yankee Springs Group Camp

Yankee Springs Group Camp sits in Michigan's glacial lake country between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, offering group camping among rolling hills and kettle lakes. The campground accommodates tent and primitive group sites with vault toilets and access to Gun Lake's beaches and an extensive trail network. Summer weekends fill quickly, so reserve early.

Yankee Springs Gun Lake Campground

Yankee Springs Gun Lake Campground sits on the shore of Gun Lake in Michigan's Yankee Springs Recreation Area, offering 200 sites with beach access, boat launch, and trail connections. The campground has modern amenities including flush toilets, showers, and electric hookups, with nightly fees ranging from $17 to $28. Sites fill quickly on summer weekends, so early reservations are essential for waterfront spots.

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Island Lake Recreation Area offers two primitive group sites in a mixed hardwood and pine forest, each accommodating up to 50 campers. Sites include fire rings, picnic tables, potable water, and vault toilets. Reserve by calling the park office.

Highland Recreation Area

Highland Group Camp accommodates up to 100 people on a single rustic site at 1,060 feet elevation in Highland State Recreation Area. The $12/night fee covers vault toilets, picnic tables, and a fire ring in a wooded setting. No electrical hookups or showers.

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Warren Dunes- Youth Group Use Area Camp

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Waterloo-Group Use Area Camp

Waterloo-Group Use Area Camp sits within the Portage Lake Unit of Waterloo Recreation Area, a 20,000-acre glacial landscape in southeast Michigan. This primitive group field accommodates up to five sites and provides vault toilets. The campground offers direct access to Portage Lake and miles of trails for hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing.

Hungerford Equestrian Group Campsite

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Hungerford Equestrian Group Campsite sits in the Huron-Manistee National Forests near Big Rapids, managed by the U.S. Forest Service specifically for horse camping groups. The foothill setting offers spacious sites with vault toilets, potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Riders access trail systems through maple and oak forest, while hikers and bikers also use the area during the seasonal operating window.

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Van Buren Youth Group Camp

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Campgrounds

Fort Custer Recreation Area

Fort Custer Group Camp

From Michigan DNR

Official information for Fort Custer Group Camp from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

These rustic group use sites are available for groups of up to 60 (per Kalamazoo County Health Department regulation). The sites provide picnic tables, fire pits and vault toilets. To reserve the group camp area, please call 269-731-4200.

The Whitford Lake Group Camp is between Whitford-Lawler and Jackson Hole lakes. It has a hand pump for water and a vault toilet nearby. The Blue Trail goes through the site.
The Kalamazoo River Group Camp is on the Kalamazoo River, near the Riverside Cabin, and shares a vault toilet with the boat launch. There is no potable water available (campers can bring water or get it from the park office or campground in the summer).