Hoffmaster State Park Camping & Beach Review

Want to camp near a great Lake Michigan beach? Hoffmaster State Park Camping is the way to go. I highly recommend this beautiful recreation area in the Lake Michigan dunes south of Muskegon. It is my favorite place in Michigan.

Hoffmaster Beach Sunset over Lake Michigan

If you have read any of my reviews, you know I am a big fan of Michigan. It is my favorite state to visit and camp in.

We have visited nearly all start parks along Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior. I would love to live at any of them. Check out the Top Campgrounds in Michigan.

Hoffmaster State Park Camping

Hoffmaster is a 1200-acre park along a 3-mile stretch of Lake Michigan. The park has a large campground, beautiful beaches, great hiking, and a large visitor center.

The park is located among beautiful dunes along America’s third coast. The campground is set in the back dune forest and has towering trees.

I love this state park so much decided to return as a volunteer campground host.

PJ Hoffmaster Campground Review

The campground has 297 campsites, most of which are electric. The four loops share three modern bathhouses.

Each shower building has standard women’s and men’s bathrooms with toilets and sinks, along with individually accessible bathrooms with showers and individual shower rooms. All have hot water and are clean and well-maintained.

Campsites include a 20/30 or 50 amp electrical pole, picnic table, and fire ring. Site sizes range from relatively small to large pull-throughs.

When I arrived, I realized my cord was not long enough to reach site 44, so I moved to site 74. This site was pretty level, but many are unlevel, so bring leveling blocks.

The lack of separation between sites makes it ideal for multiple families to camp together.

Most sites are shaded amongst tall trees. There is a massive dune between the campground and the lake, but the walk out to the beach is not too rigorous.

This park has two dump stations that provide a connector hose. I have never seen this before, but it is a nice touch.

Hoffmaster State Park Campground Dump Station

Kids will enjoy playing at the large playground or splashing in Black Creek.

The campground has ice and firewood for sale. The park staff and camp hosts are friendly and helpful.

The campground is open early in April through mid-October. It hosts a fall festival in early October.

As of November 2023, the construction projects at PJ Hoffmaster State Park are complete.

Lake Michigan Beach at Hoffmaster State Park

A big draw of this park is the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline. A beach access parking lot is on the park’s south side, but the campground has its own access.

The sunsets are amazing because the location is on the eastern shore of the lake. Please note that beach access closes at 10 pm.

There are 10 miles of hiking trails through the dunes. The park’s south-side trails are open to winter cross-country skiing.

Harvest Fest Halloween Weekend

Hoffmaster hosts a massive Halloween-themed Harvest Fest the second weekend of October. This massive event is so much fun, featuring a dance party, crafts for kids and adults, a raffle, games, a pet costume parade, a movie, and a best decorated campsite contest. Plus, the roads are closed for trick-or-treating. It is a blast!