Michigan is a novel state, particularly on the subject of tenting. Lots of people are likely to deal with tenting within the higher peninsula, or U.P., the place individuals affiliate “wilderness” with widespread cabins and forests.
Nonetheless, it is best to by no means skip out on tenting within the decrease peninsula, or L.P., as a result of it has a ton of nice campsites with wonderful options too.
The truth is, there are dozens of nice tenting websites in each of Michigan’s peninsulas and this state is right for tenting as a result of it’s surrounded by three of the 5 Nice Lakes.
Solely the borders that Michigan shares with Indiana and Ohio are just a little shy of campgrounds. The border the U.P. shares with Northern Wisconsin is equally dotted with campsites.
Earlier than you intend your subsequent Michigan tenting journey, it is best to grow to be acquainted with sixteen of Michigan’s finest spots.
Take a look at tenting websites within the subsequent door states:
North Port Huron Jellystone Park – BEST for Youngsters
Located instantly throughout the road from Lake Huron in the midst of Michigan’s Thumb space, North Port Huron Jellystone Park encompasses greater than 90 acres. Previously often called Lake Huron Campground, it not too long ago joined the Jellystone household of campgrounds.
The 400 campsites accommodate all types of tenting types from tents to pop-ups to massive RVs. As well as, there are 38 cabins obtainable for hire. This contains Cabin Village the place clusters of particular person rustic items are gathered round outside kitchens to supply areas for giant teams.
Positioned on a personal 20-acre lake, this campground presents a brand new Water Zone swimming pool complicated that includes a full water park with mini slides, an exercise pool, and a kiddie pool with spray options. Different new options added not too long ago embrace pedal carts, strolling bridges and nature trails, miniature golf, a gem mining station, and leaping pillows.
Dunes Harbor Household Camp
This family-friendly campground relies alongside the gorgeous Silver Lake. Only a mile from the Sand Dune ORV entrance, it’s an ideal place for these in search of journey. Stroll the seashores of Lake Michigan, go to the Sable Level Lighthouse, or take pleasure in a few of the many facilities of the campground.
These embrace all types of household actions, akin to horseback using, archery, film nights, or arts and crafts actions. Water lovers will just like the heated swimming pool with a slide and kayak leases.
The campground has 128 full hook-up websites, 55 of which face the waterfront. There are additionally 36 water and electrical energy hook-up websites in addition to rustic cabins. Further-large and group tenting spots can be found too.
Sleeping Bear Dunes-Platte River Campground
Miles of sand seashores, lush forests, and crystal-clear inland lakes, that’s Sleeping Bear Dunes Nationwide Park.
There are over 100 miles of mountain climbing trails that may be skied or snowshoed in winter. Whereas the mainland Lake Michigan seashores are an excellent spot to swim and sunbathe in summer time. Adventurers can float the Platte and Crystal rivers.
The campground itself is open year-round and options each back-in and pull-thru websites with electrical hook-ups. There are additionally walk-in tent websites and hike-in group websites. Facilities embrace flush and vault bogs, scorching showers, a dump station, and firewood.
Platte River Campground in Sleeping Bear Dunes is just a spot for individuals who’d prefer to spend a peaceable weekend or trip in nature.
Mackinaw Mill Creek Tenting
A favourite spot for locals and vacationers alike for greater than 50 years, Mackinaw Mill Creek Tenting sits on 200 wooded acres alongside a mile of shoreline. With views of the Mackinac Bridge and the Straits of Mackinac, it presents greater than 600 campsites and cabins to swimsuit each camper’s wants.
These embrace price range websites for tents and campers, RV websites with 50-amp electrical, water, and sewer companies, and cabins starting from one room to two-story three bedrooms with indoor plumbing.
Campers can take pleasure in bike leases, train space for his or her canines, and a full 18-hole golf course, the Mackinaw Membership. Properly maintained loos with flush bogs might be discovered conveniently positioned all through the campground. Indoor facilities embrace an arcade and sport room in addition to a park retailer.
A full-sized basketball courtroom, heated pool, and three separate playgrounds enable for outside enjoyable. Trails for mountain climbing and biking abound together with free seasonal hayrides and shuttles to the Mackinac Island Ferry.
Harbortown RV Resort
Conveniently situated on Lake Erie in Southeast Michigan between Detroit and Toledo, Harbortown RV Resort might be your own home base for exploring the realm that shines with historical past, recreation, and way more.
Take pleasure in fishing, boating, and paddling on the lake or interact in prime {golfing}. You too can go to the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, in addition to different locations of curiosity. Just like the River Raisin Battlefield, the Navarre-Anderson Buying and selling Publish, or the Martha Barker Nation Retailer.
The RV park itself options 80 massive pull-thru websites with full hook-up and 20/30/50 amp service, which might accommodate even the most important RV coaches. Cozy log cabins can be found too.
Furthermore, the campground boasts plentiful resort-like facilities, akin to a pool, arcade video games, mini-golf, batting cages, and others. It’s, subsequently, an excellent alternative for households.
Warren Dunes State Park
Warren Dunes State Parks is among the most lovely locations you possibly can go to in Michigan. With 1,952 acres and three miles of shoreline, you’re in for an excellent journey.
It options a few of the finest campgrounds in Michigan with 185 fashionable camp spots (all with electrical hookups), 24 rustic campsites, and in addition 3 rustic mini-cabins to hire.
Warren Dunes State Parks has actions for each season of the yr. You’ll be able to take pleasure in sandboarding, mountain climbing, paddling, birdwatching, or a pleasant salt-free swim in summer time. On the opposite facet, within the winter you possibly can take pleasure in sledding, sandboarding, cross-country snowboarding, or search for wonderful ice formations.
Tahquamenon Campground
Discover the virtually 40 miles of mountain climbing trails, 13 inland lakes, and 20,000 acres of pure magnificence at Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
This state park boasts two of Michigan’s best campgrounds.
Decrease Falls Campground has two fashionable campgrounds with a complete of 90 campsites preferrred for individuals who merely need to recognize nature with out having to fret about on a regular basis chores.
Electrical energy, a hearth pit, a desk, scorching showers, and flush bogs are all obtainable at these fashionable websites. A picnic space with shelter, a playground, and an in-situ eatery are additionally obtainable.
Tahquamenon Falls Rivermouth Unit options 136 fashionable and rustic campsites all with a ship launch alongside the Tahquamenon River.
These are excellent for individuals in search of a real journey. They don’t have electrical energy, however they do have a picnic desk and a hearth pit. Showers can be found on the Fashionable Unit for a couple of bucks.
This campground is a bit more non-public than the earlier one. Right here you possibly can go fishing alongside the riverbank or stroll over to Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior and stroll alongside the sandy seaside.
Ludington State Park and Campground
Comprised of forests, marshlands, wetlands, sand dunes, and sandy seashores located between Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake, Ludington State Park and Campground is 5,300 acres with a number of miles of shoreline alongside each lakes.
It presents 360 campsites and three one-room cabins amongst its three fashionable campgrounds – Beechwood, Cedar and Pines. The Cedar campground additionally has eight tent websites situated on a separate loop that shouldn’t have electrical energy however are inside strolling distance to showers and restrooms.
For extra rustic campers, there’s the Jack Pine Hike-In Solely Campground. It presents 10 tent websites which might be accessible solely by mountain climbing or bicycling in.
The principle campground features a stretch of the Huge Sable River that gives campers with tubing, paddling and fishing alternatives. Campers also can benefit from the 5,000-acre Hamlin Lake which presents a ship launch and a four-mile canoe path that gives paddlers with an adventurous journey.
Hikers can benefit from the greater than 21 miles of marked trails that traverse wetlands, forests and dunes. The park is open all yr and hosts guided snowshoe hikes within the winter months.
Taquemonon Falls State Park
This state park is a jewel in Michigan’s U.P. crown. Recognized for its wonderful and scenic waterfalls, hundreds of vacationers flock right here yearly simply to see the falls and hundreds extra keep to camp close to the falls.
The state park boasts over forty miles of mountain climbing trails and wood trestle-style trails constructed into the panorama for simpler foot journey.
In the event you keep in one of many 4 campsites on this large state park, you possibly can select to remain close to one of many Nice Lakes, or perch your self nearer to one of many 13 inland lakes belonging to the park.
Tent tenting is commonplace, however there are just a few RV and pop-up camper websites obtainable on a first-come, first-serve foundation. Reservations are extremely really helpful, particularly in the course of the summer time when tenting is the preferred.
Listed below are the 4 campsites inside Taquemonon Park:
Camp workplaces are in two of the 4 places, relying on whether or not you’ll keep close to the higher falls or the decrease falls.
A diner and brewery are situated close to camp 33, in case you don’t have sufficient camp provisions and also you don’t really feel like touring far to get camp groceries or meals for the night time.
Wa-Wen Camp Resort on Drummond Island
That is tenting at its wildest and but most posh. The island is about up for ATVs and UTVs, golfers, and a half-dozen different actions not typically related to tenting.
You will want to drive your car onto a ferry from the mainland on the tip of the “thumb of the mitten” of Michigan on its japanese shores, after which drive into the resort from the touchdown level on Drummond Island. Whereas the resort caters largely to RVs and different tenting automobiles, you possibly can arrange a tent in your web site in case you favor.
By way of the “posh” tenting, there’s a shuffleboard, a heated pool, wi-fi web and satellite tv for pc TV, a basketball courtroom, and you’ll deliver your pets for a further charge.
Swings can be found for the youngsters and a wildly well-liked exercise provided is scuba diving for shipwrecks. Shipwrecks within the Nice Lakes area are so widespread that there are a whole lot of ships at relaxation on the lake flooring which might be well worth the scuba exploration. (It’s essential to have both a scuba license or be keen to take a scuba class on the resort earlier than trying a guided dive.) In the event you don’t deliver a car or tent by which to camp, it’s not a giant deal; there are cabins to hire.
Porcupine Mountains State Park
This state park is affectionately referred to by Michiganders as “the Porkies.”
Tens of hundreds of Lake Superior shoreline are included within the scenic mountain views of this park, and a lot of the tent campsites are nestled excessive up within the mountains. The breathtaking views, the rivers, and Lake Superior itself is what deliver the campers right here.
In case you are the sort that likes to “tough it,” there are 63 backcountry campsites right here situated off the crushed path.
You should definitely obtain a park map and at all times have it available earlier than you enter the park so to discover your means round. Park ranger stations are current, however they’re far between.
Holland State Park
Holland State Park ranks among the many most visited state parks in Michigan. And it‘s not arduous to inform why. Due to its proximity to 2 lakes on the identical time – Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa – this state park boasts loads of swimming and fishing alternatives, paddle leases, a ship launch, in addition to volleyball courts, and a playground.
It presents two massive campgrounds – the Lake Macatawa Campground with over 200 paved, grassy, in addition to wooded websites, and the Seashore Campground with 98 paved websites and 31 full hook-up websites. There’s additionally a cabin that may accommodate as much as 6 individuals. All through the park, you will discover picnic tables, grills, restrooms, altering areas, and a seaside store.
Word that for its reputation, this state park can get somewhat busy, so we advocate you arrive early, particularly in the summertime months.
Wilderness State Park
Combined campsites that enable tents, campers, and RVs are scattered in Michigan, however at Wilderness you’ve got the entire above choices.
There are even tent-only campsites and a campsite with nineteen hookup websites for RVs. There are a dozen-plus campsites inside the park, making this Lake Michigan shoreline park a scorching spot for summertime tenting.
It’s prone to be most packed for Independence Day weekend, and once more on the finish of summer time. Even Michiganders will guide far upfront to camp right here.
Examine some top-quality tenting devices:
Lakeport State Park
For a novel tenting expertise that mixes tenting with seaside life, try Lakeport.
It’s located on the banks of Lake Huron and incorporates plenty of cozy little cabins for hire within the occasion that you simply forgot your tent or there are holes in your pop-up.
Sandy seashores host vacationers who keep onsite in addition to those that simply come to play within the waves. On a transparent day you possibly can sunbathe, look out over the lake for miles, fish, swim, boat, and so forth..
All fashionable conveniences, together with plumbing and electrical energy, are supplied. Moreover, a camp retailer is current in case you have to choose up sunscreen or snacks.
Sleepy Hole State Park
When you’ve got little ones and you’re involved with the large lakes washing them away from the shore, take into account tenting extra inland.
Sleepy Hole is situated twenty minutes north of Lansing, on a a lot smaller lake.
Right here, you possibly can nonetheless swim, fish, water ski, jet ski, boat, and so forth., with out worrying in regards to the riptides of the larger lakes. Like Lakeport, there are many sandy seashores to play, excavate seaside treasures, and picnic.
Maybe probably the most attractive function of this campsite are the mobility aids supplied for individuals with bodily challenges. You’ll be able to hire these aids upfront to arriving on the park, and along with your campsite reservation.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Camp and Resort
Named for the well-known cartoon bear, this franchise of campsites boasts numerous fashionable conveniences for campers, together with loads of RV websites and hookups.
If the youngsters get bored, don’t fear. There’s a pool, water park, sport room, mini-golf, and way more.
Actually the one factor that makes this tenting is the place you sleep at night time and whether or not or not you spend any time on the close by lakes.
Lighthouse Village
One in every of Michigan’s southernmost non-public campgrounds, it targets the camper/RV/pop-up teams of campers.
With 250 websites with hookups, you’re positive to get a spot no matter while you come. Extra not too long ago, “glampers” have come to “glamp” right here with their actually strong coach-style campers and “glamp” gear.
Actions are restricted to outside recreation like mountain climbing, swimming within the St. Joseph River, and fishing, however if you’re simply in search of a really enjoyable weekend with solely the frills your gear brings, then you definitely would possibly prefer it right here.
Oak Grove Campground/Chippewa Touchdown
This non-public campground is situated within the Northwestern area of the decrease peninsula. Two large websites exist to which you’ll paddle up in a canoe as much as your chosen spot, or you possibly can drive in and hook as much as electrical energy and plumbing.
There’s WiFi, they usually do enable pets within the park, one thing numerous state parks chorus from doing. Primarily no matter you are able to do on the close by river, together with tubing and fishing, are the obtainable actions.
It’s a really quiet and peaceable spot, and loud noises are discouraged so that every one campers can benefit from the sounds of the encircling woods and the effervescent sounds of the river.
Tenting is often by membership solely, so that you do should buy a season move or membership to camp right here.
Camp Dearborn
This centrally-located decrease peninsula campground may be very distinctive. The youngsters might or might not discover its distinctive options boring, relying on their degree of curiosity the place historical past is worried.
Apart from the 191 combined RV/tent campsites, Camp Dearborn boasts a brief drive to the close by museum full of Michigan’s automotive historical past’
It’s a quiet, out-of-the means, off the freeway kind of campground with loads of issues to do close by if the youngsters don’t need to hike or play outdoor.
Good Sources for Discovering out Extra About Tenting in Michigan
With over a thousand campgrounds on this state, you’re positive to seek out someplace to camp. Every campground has its personal options that you could be or might not discover alluring. If you wish to discover out extra in regards to the campgrounds in Michigan, there are a variety of assets that may assist.
- Pure Michigan: Board of Tourism
- Particular person metropolis/area journey websites
- State Division of Parks and Recreation
- Federal Park Listings for Nationwide Parks in Michigan
- Non-public park listings
- Vehicle membership guides to tenting in Michigan
- Journey planning websites that supply tenting data
In case you are simply beginning to plan your tenting journey on this or to this state, there is no such thing as a time like the current. Non-public campgrounds are opening sooner than state or federal parks, which could provide you with a bonus to reserving alternative campsites.
Hold an in depth eye on the state and nationwide parks’ web sites for data on when the campgrounds in every are planning to reopen for the season.
It additionally helps to name forward for updates and availability earlier than you reserve a tenting spot as some campgrounds don’t test their availability all through the day and replace their websites hourly.
The very last thing you need to do is guide a campsite on-line solely to seek out out that it was technically not obtainable while you booked. Then you’ll have to discover a totally different spot and make a brand new reservation. It’s sensible to make all your campsite reservations a month upfront to your arrival.
Tenting in Michigan FAQs
With its immense 60,000 acres of land, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is taken into account Michigan’s largest state park. For that greater than half of it’s old-growth forest, it’s additionally believed to be the wildest space of the Nice Lakes State.
The charges for RV tenting differ from park to park, relying on the facilities, location, and the season of your go to. However basically, the costs fall between USD$ 30 and USD$ 80 per night time.
In the event you’re looking for a spot to boondock in Michigan, the Higher Peninsula is the suitable choice. Other than free tenting in a number of nationwide forests, you can even attempt Hovey Lake Dispersed Campground or Gratiot River County Park. It would take a somewhat lengthy drive, however you’ll be rewarded with pristine waters and breathtaking pure magnificence. In the event you want to keep within the Decrease Peninsula, state forests are a very good begin.
The tenting season in Michigan begins in early Might and lasts by way of late September. For individuals who favor heat climate and fewer crowds, autumn is one of the best time to go to Michigan. In the event you take pleasure in tenting in winter, a number of campgrounds are open all yr spherical.
