Lower Lake Michigan State Park Recommendation?

[Mike Johnson]

Hey guys and gals,
We would love to go back to Michigan this summer and stay at one of the state parks on the lower half of Lake Michigan, say from approximately the Muskegon area on south (we've been able to stay at a few on the upper half previously but never on the lower half) while visiting friends. "Unfortunately" there are about 11 parks or so in that stretch. Don't want to just read the DNR info--far rather hear some personal favorites of pop up buddies who love and understand camping.
What we love is peace and quiet (no Chicago crowds hopefully!), shade, beauty (we're photographers) water (want to be as close to the Lake as possible), and biking/hiking. Anyone have a recommendation for a real favorite state park on lower Lake Michigan? Thanks!
Mike

[springer02]

We like Hoffmaster State Park between Muskegon and Grand Haven. Unless you want a lot of foot traffic by your site, get into the loops that are a little further from the lake, though.

Everyone from all of the loops has to go through that one to the beach.

There are some very shady sites of decent size. Quiet hours are sometimes enforced, sometimes not so well. Still, for a Michigan Park, we like it.

[popupbound]

We were in Muskegon State Park last summer.  It is a beautiful park.  We had site #61 in the north campground and it was great.  It was right near the steps to the beach.  There was a dune behind our site.  There are some pictures of the park and site here Muskegon State Park.  Good luck with your choice

[esclark]

We're from the Chicago area (gasp) and have heard that Hoffmaster is great also.  I've also heard to avoid Grand Have SP and Silver Lake SP.  Grand Haven is a small cement parking lot from what I've been told (never been there).  Silver Lake attracts the dune buggy teen-20's crowd do to the off road trails there.  

I know Ludington is wonderful (been there).  I doubt you would be able to get in for this summer though.  It fills up fast.

[edhawk]

We were at Muskegon State Park this past weekend.  Site #54 right by the boardwalk with steps leading down to the beach.  This is one of our favorite campgrounds, but it does get filled up.  Nice facility, dump station, electric hookups, bathrooms with showers, etc.  The views are fantastic, from the dunes right behind your campsites, to the sunsets viewed from the boardwalk/decks/steps.

I have a few dozen pictures that I will try to post somewhere.  If you would like to see them sooner, reply to me.

[springer02]

Grand Haven State Park is, literally, a parking lot.  There are NO trees and the sites are very close together.  The only plus is that it's right on Lake Michigan.

Tena

[mklawz]

Warren Dunes State Park is my personal favorite.  I've been going there since I was a baby, and I also proposed to my wife there.   The campground is decent - tho when I logged onto the MI DNR for Warren Dunes they said they had to cut over 4000 ash trees down due to the borer disease.  So I'm curious what it looks like.  I know it's booked thru July at least, but they do have some non reservable sites.