Fort Custer Recreation Area Camping Guide — Best Sites, Reservations & Tips

Fort Custer Recreation Area

Kalamazoo County · Lower Peninsula · Augusta, MI 49012

219

Campsites

3,000

Acres

From $22

Per Night

20+

Miles of Singletrack

Season: April – November

Hookups: Electric

Pets: Allowed on leash

Reservation: MiDNRReservations.com

Phone: (269) 731-4200

Book on MiDNRReservations.com →

About Fort Custer Recreation Area

Fort Custer Recreation Area, on the site of a former World War II-era Army training post near Augusta, has become one of the premier mountain biking destinations in Michigan. Its 3,000 acres hold more than 20 miles of purpose-built singletrack trail, drawing riders from across the state alongside campers, anglers, and hikers who come for Eagle Lake and Frenchman's Lake.

The modern campground offers 219 electric sites in a wooded, rolling landscape typical of southwest Michigan's kettle-and-moraine terrain. It's a popular weekend base for mountain bikers looking to ride multiple trail systems without driving home each night.

Campground	Sites	Hookups	Best For
Fort Custer Campground	219 sites	Electric	Mountain biking, families, fishing

Heads up: This is a genuine mountain biking destination — trailhead parking and campsites near the trail network can fill up fast on weekends with good weather, especially in fall riding season.

Local tip: The trail system has loops for a range of skill levels — check trail maps at the trailhead before you ride, since some sections are considerably more technical than others.

Mountain Biking & Two Lakes

PHOTO PLACEHOLDER

The park's signature feature is its singletrack trail network — more than 20 miles of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through rolling, wooded terrain, widely regarded as one of the better riding destinations in the Lower Peninsula. Eagle Lake and Frenchman's Lake add swimming, fishing, and paddling to the mix for non-riders.

How to Get a Reservation

The 6-Month Booking Window

Like all Michigan DNR campgrounds, Fort Custer Recreation Area opens reservations exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com.

Set a CampDrop Alert

If your dates are sold out, CampDrop monitors MiDNRReservations.com around the clock and texts you the moment a site opens up at Fort Custer.

Reserve directly: MiDNRReservations.com · Park phone: (269) 731-4200

What to Know Before You Go

Hookups & Site Types

All 219 sites offer electric service in a wooded, rolling campground.

Season

The park typically operates April through November; confirm exact dates on MiDNRReservations.com.

Pets

Pets are welcome throughout the park on a 6-foot leash.

Trail Access

Trailheads are accessible directly from the recreation area, so you can ride straight from your campsite without loading bikes into a vehicle.

Directions

Fort Custer Recreation Area is located at 5163 Fort Custer Dr, Augusta, MI 49012, in Kalamazoo County, between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo just off M-96.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — it's one of Michigan's premier mountain biking destinations, with more than 20 miles of purpose-built singletrack trail accessible directly from the recreation area.

The park has 219 modern electric campsites in a wooded, rolling campground.

Eagle Lake and Frenchman's Lake offer swimming, fishing, and paddling for visitors who aren't there just for the mountain biking trails.

Reservations open exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com. For sold-out dates, a CampDrop alert will text you the moment a cancellation opens up a site.

The park typically operates April through November. Confirm exact dates on MiDNRReservations.com.

It's in Augusta, Michigan, in Kalamazoo County, roughly between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo just off M-96.