Ely Lake Campground

I really don't care about the toilet thing, I prefer to pee outside, but the bugs, the smell, the dirt, made it more bearable to go outside. They did provide a little trees air freshener to combat the smell which I found hilarious.
Anyway, beautiful sites, mosquitoes weren't too bad, it was a quiet weekend with no one neighboring my site.
It's a 10 minute drive to lake Michigan if you get "the ick" from Lake Ely cause it is a bit slimy, which I personally don't mind.

This was a beautiful campground that was exactly what my boyfriend and I were looking for on our 2 night getaway. Spacious campsites, with everything you need but still primitive enough to feel like you can enjoy the nature. Our site was right on the lake and it was beautiful. HOWEVER. Throughout our first day there, we were really sketched out by the type of people that were there. Many of them seemed to be living there maybe? Either way, we were questioning our safety (and we’re no bitches). Then nightfall came and we went to bed, and have never experienced a noisier camping experience in our lives. There was someone riding around a two-stroke motorcycle that sounded like a chainsaw ALL NIGHT, turning it off and starting it again every half hour, riding it around past our tent until 4am. There were people partying on a boat on the lake blasting music and screaming at each other- we could hear every word all night. The couple across from us got in some huge argument and were yelling at each other from probably midnight till 4am, and their baby was wailing the entire time. We kept hearing popping noises too- I think someone was shooting some kind of gun. It was freaking horrible, and so disappointing that such a beautiful place was ruined by the people that were there. We left before our second night. Give it a try if you dare, and I wish you luck for better people you’ll be sharing the camp with.

Side note- the water from the spickets isn’t drinkable.

Ely lake has been a location my family spent summer and fall weekends at since i was a kid. I have great memories there dating back to the early seventies. Sadly while checking the website to possibly camp this weekend 06/01/2019 it was immediately apparent they have hiked the price over 40% since last year. This is awful. I drove through the campground to see what they have added to justify this. Absolutely nothing. Outhouses still not touched, nothing has changed to justify a hike this significant. It is very sad to see a price increase like this that simply pushes people whom love and appreciate the outdoors and this campground to seek another campground simply because overlooking this increase is something i cannot do out of principle personally.
considering selling off state land surrounding allegan county, closing cherished campgrounds due to "lack of attendance" and increasing others a few miles away over 40% does not bring outdoor enthusiasts to camp and make memories it pushes them away. Very sad.

This was our first venture from a location posted to Campendium- We are in a tent but one day hope to Up- grade. This was a roughing it weekender trip, so no facilities was ok by us. We just had a heavy rain storm so a dirt road to get to the location was weighing on our minds, BUT it was fine- the road was a well packed dirt road. We finally arrived unsure- we went right, there where campers but it was a tad muddy for a tent- we back tracked and went left- less mud and we found our spot- Right in front of the small Lake- So we paid $12 cash/check only and claimed our home for the night- Vault toilet - decent- clean pump water. There was some bits of trash on the ground- not a big deal, just picked it up. Small semi sand "beach" picnic area- We had campers to both sides- with trees for privacy and a fair distance apart. Quiet - till about 2am a couple came drove in and decided to take a quick dip (they where a bit loud) but their visit was short and they were on thier way again. Woke early to a quiet light fog and people fishing in small boats. Ranger made early rounds to check up- Putting new trash bags in park cans. Waved as he went by. Over all- it was a perfect first find. PS- Close to Saugtuck (must visit!) And Holland ;)

A lot to do at this campground besides camp, but camping was fun. Fire pits are available, pump water is here, lake is great for swimming, fishing and kayaking. Hiking trails are great as there are about 4 miles of hiking within the campground. Can always hike to Swan Lake from Ely Lake and that is less than 4 miles one way. There are bike routes very near also. Love the large campsites and the distance we were from all the camp neighbors. We were even able to set up a solar shower.