1. Sterling State Park

    1. Sterling State Park

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    Monroe, MI

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    Sterling State Park

    3.5 (40 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Sterling State Park Photos

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    Saranya D.

    This review is only for the beach. It had great reviews everywhere so decided to try it out for the 4th of July weekend. Recreation passport is required to enter and it expires with your number plate. It's valid for all Michigan state parks. This is the only Michigan park on Lake Erie. There were lot of shade trees near the lake on the beach, picnic tables, restrooms and plenty of parking space. Good lengthy beach but was poorly maintained. Garbage and junk all over the area. Beach needs major clean up. I've never encountered so many smokers at the beach. Not suitable for family with kids.

    At the beach. At the beach. At the beautiful, beautiful beach
    Kevin J.

    I'm on a mission to bang out a bunch of reviews I never got around to which is likely gonna equate to a bunch of low star assessments as if someplace was really all that I probably would have reviewed it already. I've been to worse parks than SSP but it's definitely in the lower tier. I doubt I'll ever go back. The trail around the lagoon was pretty nice; I hiked maybe half of it but there's lots of nice trails in southeast Michigan. I can't speak on the campground. For me the draw was the beach back in the sweltering August of 21. My second floor loft with no windows and no air conditioning had gotten to be unbearable as the summer dragged on so by the end of that August it seemed all I did was go to work and go to the beach. Within the span of one week I swam in Lake Michigan, hurrah!, Lake Huron, hurray! and Lake Erie, yeesh! Don't get me wrong. It was refreshing but I could feel how dirty that water was. I didn't feel like I wanted to shower after Huron and Michigan like I did with Eerie. The beach at Belle Isle on the Detroit River seems cleaner than here. I did caption my one photo with an old Peanuts movie reference "at the beautiful, beautiful beach" but pretty to look at and pleasant to be in are two different things. Fermi 2, the nuclear plant that almost lost us Detroit lurks in the background belching out smoke. I have no doubt it's a hell of a lot cleaner than a coal plant but it's still difficult not to envision three eyed fish a la The Simpsons. I don't know what the best bet for swimming in a natural body around here is but I feel like the shallowest and most polluted of our Great Lakes ain't it. There's gotta be some smaller lakes inland.

    Nuclear steam towers in the distance

    Went for a day visit and had an okay experience. Walked the shoreline with my partner and enjoyed looking at the large trees and shells scattered along. For the most part the beach was clean, other than a used tampon applicator spotted in the middle of the shoreline. The sand had just been raked and had not settled yet which made walking difficult. Most camping guests were fairly respectful of the beach, although I was alarmed that there were many children swimming as a lightning storm started to roll in. The beach houses and RV spots are really close to the shore which is kind of a bummer if you're looking to enjoy the Great Lake. The nuclear steam towers in the distance did not bother me, I personally thought they were interesting to see.

    Site 24
    Lori L.

    One of our favorite places to camp cant ho wrong if u want paved bike walking trail, kayaking, beach time

    Alfred B.

    This park is very large. There is a large lakefront with a good opportunity for swimming. Use caution as there are not lifeguards and currents run past this location rather swiftly. In the park are a number of small bodies of water. There was, apparently, a coal dump around there somewhere now within the confines of the park. There is a unique water discharge project going on involving releasing groundwater into the lake somewhere offshore. It is a popular place for picnics There is camping on site. Across the lake is a nuclear plant at Monroe, Michigan, and another large coal burning plant to the south. It is a strange site to see while enjoying the park. There are plenty of play areas for children. Parks within the park. The facilities are very good. The rest rooms are kept clean.

    Beach area on Lake Erie
    Renee M.

    Nice place to camp. Park it's self was nice and clean. Bath houses and shower areas were nice and clean. Lots were nice and deep. It was nice to be able to sit at the camper and not feel like we were out by the road where everyone was walking by. The beach was beautiful! Lots of shade trees to take some shelter from the sun.

    Diana G.

    Had an amazing time with my family at this lake. So neat to swim in a fresh water lake and have an amazing time with my family. Lots of tables and not too crowded. Great play ground. But we mostly hung out and swam.

    Lake Erie after the storm rolled out
    Elise B.

    We visited for a camping trip labor day weekend, and the campground was 100% full. This is a park primarily full of campers with RVs. Our 2 person lightweight tent was the smallest I saw on the whole site! Overall the campground seemed family oriented and wasn't overly loud despite being full. We say DNR officers making rounds too. Appears that the camp host offers services and activities primarily on weekends, and theres even a "little library". It has full bathrooms and showers which were reasonably clean. This is a VERY urban campground, little to no tree cover on the camp sites. The beach is fairly nice but be aware that the sand closer to and into the water is like 90% broken up shells. I wouldn't go swim or go more than a foot into the waves without water shoes! Despite the smoke stacks and Fermi nuclear stacks, it can be quite scenic. Theres also a nice long nature trail and plenty of fishing areas (both with a fishing pier or to use a boat). As with all Michigan parks there is a fee for entrance or you need a rec pass, and there's a cost to camp. Weekends in summer you'll definitely want to reserve online. I recommend a site on the outside of the loop nearer the lake.

    Beach Area
    April D.

    This is a great state park! First time visiting, it is small but it has great trails, beach area, picnic area and restrooms. They offer camping here as well. My trip was a mini day trip and we had a blast! Walked the beach and picked up some awesome shells! The bathrooms were also amazingly clean! Would very much recommend, it is small but that's what makes it great!

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    11 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    This park is pretty nice. There aren't many trees and the lake is kind of murky sometimes. The beach is nice to walk on.

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    9 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Beach was clean and nice. Well taken care of. It was a bit windy and chilly on the day we went, so we didn't go in the water.

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    7 years ago

    Very pretty and clean. Amazing views! Loved the camping area and beautiful Lake Erie. The boardwalk was nice as well.

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Awesome fishing. Nice grounds. Need to get pass online before you go. Off boat ramp you can catch large and small mouth bass.

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    9 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Sterling State Park

    Review Highlights - Sterling State Park

    The really nice thing about this park is that it does have a lot to do; the beach is on Lake Erie, with a boat launch.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    Camp Lord Willing RV Park

    Camp Lord Willing RV Park

    3.5
    (13 reviews)
    5.0 mi

    Idk about you but if I'm temporarily living somewhere I don't want it to be where the workers are…read morerude and can't do their job properly and I NEVER complain this is actually the first time I've ever even left a review but with how important it is to get a spot due to my boyfriends job this lady sent me over the edge. Called to put our name on the waiting list by a younger lady she told us to call in 5 days (also a Monday) due to a group of construction workers possibly leaving. Called Monday and an older RUDE lady picked up claiming she couldn't find the name and couldn't talk to the other women that got our info. She said she could put our name on the list now and I asked how many people have been put on the list in the last five days and she said about seven so I said that completely screws us and she said do you want me to put your name on the list or not very rude nonhelpful and she hung up on me. so my boyfriend called right after me and then she was able to find her name on the list Even though I gave my first name and last name his first name and last name and she was just so rude to me. Good thing we found covered wagon a lot cheaper just as nice and the people are very sweet and helpful.

    This is an absolute gem of an RV spot. The camp hosts were awesome and good people. Downtown Monroe…read moreis close and a sweet little town. We were there during rain and cold and we loved being there. The neighbors were nice and there were only a few run-down RVs. The spring and summer would be great and I hope to come back. The owner recently passed so they are doing their best. This place is good for some energy recharging on some water. Someone wrote a review about prejudice back in 2018... This is the least discriminatory place you will find with many ¨God loving and generous folks¨ just waiting to say hi and give you a wave. People also kindly mind their own business yet still acknowledge that you are human.

    Monroe Co. / Toledo North KOA

    Monroe Co. / Toledo North KOA

    2.2
    (26 reviews)
    17.3 mi

    Went down for a family friend's birthday party with our little travel trailer. Overall, a pretty…read moremediocre/decent experience. The good: The water slide was awesome. Well-kept playground, tasty and reasonably priced food at the Snack Shack, pleasant employees. The luau party was fun, the kids were treated great everywhere we went. Some other comments mentioned racist attitudes, but my mixed-race group had no problems that I observed with either the staff nor the clientele. Drunken fight / argument between 4-5 at the rental cabins across the street from our campsite. Why is this in the "plus" column? Security responded quickly, de-escalated the situation, and stayed nearby to monitor without bringing in law enforcement pre-emptively. Everyone went to bed safely, everything was quiet before midnight, and nobody had to wake up in jail. The bad: Highway noise kept us up at night - VERY close to the highway. Tight campsites - I couldn't let my dog off on a 20' leash because the neighbors kept complaining she was encroaching on "their space." Paying $3 extra per night because I have two kids (instead of one kid) under the age of 6 is ridiculous. No pool; only a lake with questionable-smelling warm water. Game room was musty and had an air hockey table that had an out of order sign that looked older than my kids. Mini golf course could really use someone with a leaf blower to get all the sand and debris off of it. Our site had no picnic table because a neighbor had "commandeered" it and had three, but we stole it back while they were away. There should be documented policy on what's minimally available at each site. Bad yellow jacket problem. This was overall a pretty good campsite. My kids had fun. But even with a KOA membership, it's roughly $10-$20/night more than my nearby comparators (Holly's Groveland Oaks and Frankenmuth's Jellystone), and I don't think we got $20/night more enjoyment than those places.

    Phenomenal experience great place to camp.. everyone here is very friendly and helpful...will be…read morebooking a site again in the future

    Photos
    Monroe Co. / Toledo North KOA
    Camp site
    Camp site
    Beautiful scenery

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    Beautiful scenery

    Sterling State Park - beaches - Updated July 2026

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