8 ways to enjoy the outdoors at Holland State Park, Michigan
The Big Red lighthouse stands watch as boats leave Macatawa Bay for Lake Michigan.
Black squirrels were a delightful part of our visit to Holland, Michigan. Sadly, I didn't get a photo of the little cuties. This one is by Alex Ranney on Unsplash.
Holland State Park is one of Michigan’s many state parks along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. It’s just a few minutes northwest of downtown Holland, a small city of about 34,000 people, plus a handful of black squirrels.
Super cool, right?
If you love lakes and rivers like I do, the location is even better. Macatawa River, bordering downtown Holland to the north, flows into Lake Macatawa and Macatawa Bay before reaching Lake Michigan.
Need more reasons to visit Holland, Michigan?
There are tulips in the spring. So many tulips. Plus, forests, lighthouses, hiking, breweries and more, making Holland a great road trip destination.
If you plan to camp, plan ahead.
A spot at Holland State Park can be hard to come by, and you’ll want to reserve one in advance. We sadly watched a fellow Ram Promaster camper van drive past the Sorry, Full sign at the campground entrance, only to get turned away. Bummer, dude.
No wonder the state park is so popular. It’s an idyllic outdoor playground with not just one but two campgrounds.
Macatawa Campground is across from Lake Macatawa and about a 1-mile walk to Lake Michigan. The smaller Beach Campground sits right alongside the sandy beach of Lake Michigan.
Holland State Park guide:
Outdoor activities
Whether you prefer to stay on land or get out on the water, you have a host of appealing options for getting your nature fix at Holland State Park.
Let’s look at a few.
1 Paddle out
You can rent a kayak or paddle board, or bring your own. There are seasonal rentals across from the Macatawa Campground on Lake Macatawa.
Don’t forget your life jacket if you bring your own. Michigan law requires anyone on a personal watercraft to have a Coast Guard-approved life jacket (type I, II or III).
2 Hike Mount Pisgah Dune
This short hike — about 0.4 mile out and back — takes you above the Macatawa Campground at Holland State Park for a view of Lake Michigan and beyond. You can even see the famous Big Red lighthouse.
Find the trailhead near the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and Ottawa Beach Road. The trail system continues beyond the viewpoint, if you want to keep exploring.
3 Take a dip
While Lake Michigan seems like the more popular swimming spot, remember that it is, essentially, a freshwater ocean. There are waves and tides, as well as currents, riptides and, at times, dangerously high surf.
If this makes you uncomfortable, splash around in Lake Macatawa instead. Watch for boats in either lake.
4 Walk or cycle along Ottawa Beach Road
There’s a scenic ~1-mile stretch of Ottawa Beach Road that begins just east of the Macatawa Campground and continues to Lake Michigan.
A lighted crosswalk helps you cross the busy road from the campground to the lakeside walk, which transitions from a sidewalk to a wooden boardwalk and back to a sidewalk again.
You’ll pass by the Historic Ottawa Beach Pump House Museum and the Ottawa Beach Marina.
The Black Lake Boardwalk, along Lake Macatawa in Michigan, is open to foot, paw and cycling traffic.
5 Eat ice cream on the beach
Just west of the Beach Campground, you’ll find Beachplace at Holland Park Café. Open seasonally from 10 am to about sunset, May through September, the café has hand-dipped and soft-serve ice cream, along with sundaes, shakes and more.
They also serve food, have a gift shop and rent out chairs, umbrellas, beach wagons and volleyballs for the day.
Need another place to grab bite or a sweet treat near Holland State Park? Try Reservoir, just outside the Macatawa Campground, or Dune Dogz and Treats, west of the campground. Both are on Ottawa Beach Road.
6 Cast your line
You can book a fishing charter in the hopes of hooking a steelhead, king or coho salmon in Lake Michigan. Or, cast your line from the boardwalk or pier to fish for walleye, perch, bluegill and bass in Lake Macatawa. The charter will be pricey, but they provide all the equipment and may even clean your fish for you.
No matter where you fish, you’ll need a license.
You can buy a Michigan fishing license online or in a store like Meijer or Walmart, if there’s one nearby. At the time of this blog posting, a day license is $11.
An annual fishing license is:
$26 if you’re a Michigan resident.
$11 for ages 65 and up.
$76 if you live out-of-state.
7 Take the pups to the dog beach
Clyde enjoys the dog beach at Holland State Park in Michigan.
Dogs aren’t allowed on the Lake Michigan beach at Holland State Park — boo. However, there’s a very small dog beach just east of the Macatawa Campground entrance, along Lake Macatawa.
Clyde peed all over it, so, technically, it’s his now. But, he doesn’t mind you visiting.
8 Cozy up around a campfire
After your day of fun in the sun, you’ll likely be ready to relax back at your campsite. Holland State Park doesn’t allow any alcohol on its grounds, even at your campsite. But, the Macatawa Campground has sizable fire rings at each site. There are no firepits at the Beach Campground, though you can bring your own.
As with all campgrounds, Holland State Park asks you to buy firewood locally. That’s so you don’t accidentally transport invasive species to the area.
You can buy firewood at Holland State Park Headquarters or at local stores and stands, such as Holland Campfire Wood or Sundown Firewood. Each stand is about 3.5 miles from the Macatawa Campground entrance.
Holland State Park guide:
Reserving a campsite
Site 72 at Holland State Park's Macatawa Campground has trees on three sides, creating a nice separation from your neighbors.
Now that you have a feel for all the great outdoor activities at Holland State Park, you’re likely ready to nab a campsite.
Here are a few things to keep in mind, based on information and pricing at the time of this blog posting:
Holland State Park is open for camping from late April through late October. The rest of the park, including its two rental cabins, are open year-round.
You can reserve a campsite up to 6 months in advance of your arrival date.
Go to the Michigan State Park & Harbor Reservations website and select Holland from the Park dropdown. Enter your Arrival and Departure dates, Party Size and Equipment. Then, select Search to see available campsites.
You can also reserve a boat slip at the Ottawa Beach Marina on the Harbor tab of the site.
In addition to your paid camping reservation, you’ll need a Michigan Recreation Passport, available online or onsite.
Michigan residents:
$14 for vehicles and $7 for motorcycles and mopeds if purchased as part of your license plate registration or renewal. Add a $5 fee if purchasing onsite.Out-of-state visitors:
$11 for a day pass or $40 for an annual pass.
The restrooms and showers at Macatawa Campground in Holland State Park are some of the nicest we've come across.
Lake Macatawa Campground
$38 a night
Open late April to late October
211 campsites — paved, gravel or grass
Up to 6 people each
Mostly shady
Most are electric only
Firepits
ADA sites available
Beach campground
$50 a night
Open May 1 to October 1
98 campsites — all paved
Up to 6 people each
Most are electric only
Mostly sunny
No firepits – portable firepits allowed
ADA sites available
Other Holland State Park amenities
Playgrounds
Modern bathhouse with free showers
Public restrooms
2 electric vehicle charging stations
Sand volleyball
Picnic shelters
2 offroad electric track chairs
These chairs, which allow those with mobility issues to traverse the beach and even shallow water, are free to borrow. To reserve one, call 616-399-9390 at least 24 hours in advance. Chairs are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Holland State Park guide:
Other things to do
New Holland Brewing has indoor and outdoor seating, a bar and a gift shop in downtown Holland.
Want to experience more of Holland, Michigan? Here are a few ideas:
Delight your tastebuds at New Holland Brewing downtown. They’re open for lunch and dinner, and they take reservations for those busy summer months. I recommend their Dragon’s Milk bourbon barrel aged stout.
Attend the Tulip Time Festival in May, when millions of colorful blooms brighten the town. Be sure to include Windmill Island Gardens in your tulip-viewing itinerary. The 5-story DeZwaan windmill, the only authentic Dutch windmill operating in the U.S., is open for tours.
Stop by the Holland Farmers Market downtown for produce, pickles, kombucha, cookies and more. Days and hours vary by season. No dogs allowed.
Visit Tunnel Park along Lake Michigan to admire the sand dunes. The tunnel archway leading to the beach makes for dramatic photos. However, dogs are only allowed from October to April and must be on leash.