Sugarloaf Lake Campground is the larger of Waterloo Recreation Area’s two modern campgrounds, with 164 sites near Chelsea. The Oaks Campground in Munith is about 11 miles away, roughly 30 minutes by car. Sugarloaf gives you big, sunny state park sites with 30- or 50-amp power and a swim area and boat launch reserved for campers. The Oaks is a nature-first private campground with large sites, 50-amp power on short-term sites, its own sand beach and floating water park, and about 120 acres of trails. Here is how they compare.
Sugarloaf Lake Campground vs The Oaks: quick comparison
| Sugarloaf Lake Modern Campground (Michigan DNR) | The Oaks Campground (private) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | On Sugarloaf Lake, north side of Waterloo | About 11 miles away, about 30 minutes by car |
| Campsites | 164 large, sunny sites, some pull-throughs, plus a lake-view tiny house | RV sites from 35×65 up to 55×120 feet, a mix of open and wooded, plus 20 tent sites; no cabins or pull-throughs |
| Hookups and power | 30- or 50-amp electric; toilet and shower building; sanitation station | 30/50-amp electric and water (50 amp on short-term sites), a gray-water drain, honey-wagon pump-outs and a dump station; no sewer |
| Reservations | midnrreservations.com or 800-447-2757; Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry | Book online; no Recreation Passport; no office check-in |
| Swimming | Designated swim area for campers only | Sand beach on a spring-fed swim lake, the Aquaglide water park (wristband) and a free Kangaroo Jumper |
| Trails | Waterloo trail network nearby; equestrian campers use its showers | About 120 acres of on-site trails for hiking, mountain biking, golf carts and day riding |
| Fishing and boating | Campers-only boat launch, paddlesport rentals; Michigan license for ages 17 and up | Fishing lake with a dock, bait at the store; paddle your own kayak; Portage Lake public launch about 9 minutes away |
| Pets | Welcome on a leash of 6 feet or less; not on the designated swim beach or in buildings | Leashed in the campground; off leash on the back trails and in the dog run; can swim in the fishing lake, not at the beach |
| Quiet hours | 10 PM to 8 AM | 11 PM to 8 AM, with kids and bikes back at the site by dusk |
| Season | Roughly May to mid-October (2025 dates: May 1 to October 14) | May 1 to October 20 |
| Best for | Campers who want a lake-only-for-campers feel, 50-amp RVs, the tiny house | Families who want a beach, water park, events and trails at camp |
About Sugarloaf Lake Campground
The Michigan DNR describes Sugarloaf’s 164 sites as large and sunny, with 30- or 50-amp electric and some pull-throughs. There is a toilet and shower building, a sanitation station, a playground and a concession store. The campground’s own swim area and boat launch are for registered campers only, and paddlesport rentals are on site. That campers-only setup is the main thing that sets Sugarloaf apart from Portage Lake, where the beach is shared with day visitors.
Sugarloaf also has a lake-view tiny house near the swim beach. It sleeps four and has electricity and air conditioning, but no plumbing, so you use the campground restroom and showers. Riders staying at Waterloo’s rustic equestrian campground can pay for showers at Sugarloaf from May through October.
State parks are funded and priced differently, through camping fees, the Recreation Passport and public investment, so a site costs less and the campground focuses on the lake and the park around it.
Who Sugarloaf Lake Campground is best for
- Campers who like a campers-only lake. The swim area and boat launch aren’t shared with day-use traffic.
- RVs that need 50 amp. Some sites have 50-amp service; at The Oaks, 50 amp is on short-term sites.
- Sun lovers. The DNR describes the sites as sunny, which suits solar setups and anyone who wants to dry out after a swim.
- Small groups who want a roof. The tiny house is a step up from a tent without a full cabin price.
- Campers on a tighter budget who plan to spend their days in the park.
Who The Oaks is best for
The Oaks is a nature-first campground on 155 acres, next to Waterloo and sharing a border with the Haehnle Sanctuary. It’s for campers who want a Waterloo-area location and a full weekend of things to do back at camp.
- Families. The beach and Aquaglide are steps from the waterfront sites, and the Kangaroo Jumper, playgrounds, gaga ball, basketball and sand volleyball sit together near the store and pavilion. Holiday weekends bring fishing contests, bike and golf-cart parades, food trucks and a DJ.
- Shade and quiet. Sites 22 to 109 sit under old-growth oaks, and sites 46 to 61 are the largest in the park with no one behind you. The drive in feels remote; as one campground employee put it, you mostly see forest, not houses.
- Trail users. About 120 acres of trails for hiking, mountain biking and golf carts start at the campground. You can bring your own horse for day riding from a nearby stable.
- Kids who want to fish. Start on the dock of the stocked fishing lake. Bait and gear are at the store.
- Longer stays. The Oaks offers monthly stays at 25% off the nightly rate on non-beachfront sites (30-night minimum), plus seasonal sites for the whole May 1 to October 20 season, with free winter storage on the site for returning seasonal campers.
What The Oaks does not have: sewer at the site, pull-throughs or cabins (short-term sites do have 50 amp). Short-term RV sites are 50 amp and seasonal sites 30 amp, all with a gray-water drain, and black tanks are handled by honey-wagon pump-outs or the dump station. For 50-amp full hookups, our sister park Walnut Hills in Durand has 80. Rates vary by date and site; see our rates page.
Visiting both
Plenty of our guests camp at The Oaks and spend a day exploring Waterloo, including the Sugarloaf side of the park and the Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center near Chelsea. Our team likes to say you can’t do everything at the campground and in the park in one weekend, which is why families come back. A common plan is a morning on Waterloo’s trails, an afternoon on our beach, and a food-truck dinner at camp on event weekends.
Want the Waterloo area with more to do at camp? Book your site at The Oaks.
Questions
How many campsites are at Sugarloaf Lake Campground?
The Michigan DNR lists 164 modern sites with 30- or 50-amp electric, plus a tiny house near the swim beach.
Is the Sugarloaf Lake beach open to the public?
No. The DNR lists the Sugarloaf swim area and boat launch as campers-only. Day visitors to Waterloo usually swim at the Portage Lake day-use area.
How far is Sugarloaf Lake Campground from The Oaks?
About 11 miles, roughly 30 minutes by car.
Does The Oaks have 50-amp sites like Sugarloaf?
The Oaks has 50-amp service on short-term RV sites (seasonal sites are 30 amp), with water and a gray-water drain at every site. There are no sewer hookups or pull-throughs; our honey-wagon service pumps black tanks at your site, and there is a dump station. If you want a full hookup with sewer, our sister park Walnut Hills has 80 of them.
When is Sugarloaf Lake Campground open?
The DNR’s 2025 schedule listed May 1 to October 14. Check midnrreservations.com for the current year. The Oaks is open May 1 to October 20.
Do I need a fishing license at The Oaks?
Not on the campground’s private fishing lake, where you may keep fish (most guests release them). On Sugarloaf Lake and other public water in Waterloo, a Michigan license is required.
Can I bring my own firewood to The Oaks?
No. Outside firewood isn’t allowed at our Michigan parks, to protect the old-growth oaks from insects carried in on wood. The camp store sells firewood and delivers it to your site.
When is the Aquaglide open at The Oaks?
Thursday through Sunday plus holiday-weekend Mondays, opening late morning, through Labor Day. Riders must be 7 or older, kids under 16 need a parent present, life jackets are provided, and campers ride free on Thursdays.
