Hoffmaster campground sits in a back-dune forest a short walk from Lake Michigan's beach, with shaded sites under pines and hardwoods. The 4-site park offers showers, flush and vault toilets, and electric hookups for $25 per night. Sites fill quickly in summer, so reserve well ahead.
Semi-modern state park campground in a back-dune forest setting with tent and RV-capable sites and family-oriented amenities.
Weather and SeasonsFall delivers the best conditions. September through early October brings highs in the 50s–70s°F and nights in the 30s–50s°F, with lower crowds and forest color peaking on the dune trails. Weekdays are quiet; early October weekends still draw campers but not at summer levels. Summer is warm but crowded, and multiple reviewers report mosquitoes and biting flies. Bring repellent. Spring wildflowers, including trilliums, appear on the forest floor in April. The park operates April through mid-October.
Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies wooded dunes at 656 feet elevation, with trails winding through mature forest to Lake Michigan's sandy shore. Nearly 3 miles of beach stretch along the coast, though high water levels occasionally narrow the strand. Black Creek runs near some campsites. Trails climb to dune overlooks above the tree canopy, and the Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center sits nearby. The forest canopy provides shade across most sites.
Geological RegionLake Michigan coastal sand dunes / back-dune forest
Scenic ViewsDune overlooks and Lake Michigan shoreline views; wooded forested campsites with occasional creek views from some sites.