Waterloo Portage Lake Campground

Open — Open year-round with reservations available. From December 1 to April 1, winter camping is offered Thursday through Saturday only. Modern restrooms and showers are available April 1 through December 1; a portable toilet is provided during winter months.

About

Waterloo Portage Lake Modern Campground is located within the 20,000-acre Waterloo State Recreation Area, the largest state park in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The campground features 136 spacious sites divided into three loops (north, central, and south) with a beautiful tree canopy. Each site has 30-amp or 50-amp electrical service. The campground sits on Portage Lake, with a designated swim area accessible via a paved path in the nearby day-use area. The campground includes modern toilet and shower buildings, a sanitation station, playground, and recycling facilities. The adjacent day-use area offers a beach house with concessions, boat rentals, an 18-hole disc golf course, and picnic shelters. The park provides access to 11 inland lakes, over 50 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, and excellent fishing opportunities for bass, panfish, and pike. Waterloo Recreation Area is located near Chelsea, Ann Arbor, and Jackson, and is home to the Gerald Eddy Discovery Center (currently closed for renovations through February 2026), which showcases the park's geology and natural habitats. The park offers diverse activities year-round including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, equestrian trails, and hunting.

Directions

From I-94, take exit 150 for Mt. Hope Road. Head north on Mt. Hope Road for approximately 2.5 miles, then turn west onto Seymour Road. Continue for about 1.75 miles; the campground entrance will be on your right.

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