Michigan's Lower Peninsula offers many options to campers, and the eight-county area around Grand Traverse Bay in the northwest region of Lower Michigan has literally dozens of campgrounds within the state park and state forest systems alone. The Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, administered by the National Park Service (NPS), offers several campgrounds, including camping on the Manitou Islands. Fishing, pristine sand beaches, historical areas, and miles of hiking trails are just a few of the attractions of this region of Michigan.
State Parks
Michigan has many state parks, five of which are located in this region of the state. Leelanau State Park, located at the northern tip of the Leelanau Peninsula in Leelanau County, is a 1,300-acre park with a rustic campground on Lake Michigan's shore and many miles of hiking trails.
Interlochen State Park is just south of Traverse City in Grand Traverse County. This 200-acre park on two lakes has nearly 500 campsites, both rustic and improved. It borders the Interlochen Music Camp, internationally known for its programs for young musicians.
Traverse City State Park is an urban park two miles from downtown Traverse City. This park has 343 improved sites on its 47-acre expanse; group sites and cottages are also available.
Orchard Beach State Park is in Manistee County near the town of Manistee. This park's 166 improved sites are on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan; beach access is provided by a staircase leading down the bluff.
William Mitchell State Park is situated between Lakes Mitchell and Cadillac, in Wexford County. A historic canal running through the park connects the two lakes, and campers at the park's 221 improved sites and one cabin can enjoy opportunities for wildlife viewing and excellent fishing.
State Forest Campgrounds
Michigan has hundreds of thousands of acres of state forests, and the northwest Lower Peninsula offers more than two dozen rustic campgrounds on these lands. Water and vault toilets are available at all camps, which can accommodate tents and small trailers or campers. Most have access to one of the lakes or streams found in this region of Michigan, and some of the state's best fishing can be found at areas like CCC Bridge State Forest Campground on the Manistee River. Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground caters to equestrian users riding the Shore to Shore Trail and has facilities for horses. Many more state forest campgrounds can be found by following the link in the resource section for the State Parks and Trails Map.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a huge park along 35 miles of Lake Michigan coast. Back-country camping at camps accessible only by foot may be found at the White Pine Backcountry Camp and Valley View Backcountry Camp. These camps have five and six rustic sites with no running water, so campers must pack in their own. White Pine campers with proper filtration gear may get water at Lake Michigan, half a mile hike away from the camp. D.H. Day campground has 88 rustic sites accessible to RVs and other vehicles. Running water, fire rings, and vault toilets are provided, but no electricity. The Platte River Campground has close to 300 sites that vary from walk-in tents and group sites to fully-improved RV sites with water and electricity, modern bathrooms, and showers. Access to the Platte River offers good fishing opportunities, and the camp has its own fish cleaning station. Large group sites are located at various locations around the park.
There is a link in the resource section leading to information on fees and reservations, and another leading to a download-able visitor's guide. The site also has a map showing locations of camps.
Manitou Islands
North Manitou Island, which offers campers the opportunity to choose their own campsite, is very popular with backpackers. The one campground on the island has eight sites and a fire ring. All water must be filtered from natural sources.
South Manitou Island has three camping areas. Bay, Popple, and Weather Station Campgrounds each offer rustic camping on the Lake Michigan shore, two with sandy beaches. Bay Campground, located on a deep bay on the eastern shore, has a mile-long pebble beach.
A link in the resource section leads to Manitou Island Transit's site, a ferry service providing transport to these islands. Anyone wishing to visit the Manitous should visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes site for rules, regulations, fees, and reservations, and the link referred to in section three gives access to this information.
Even More Campgrounds
Numerous privately owned campgrounds dot the region, mostly catering to RV campers. Many of these campgrounds offer many amenities and improved facilities but cannot give access to many of the experiences available to visitors to the state and national park systems. A link in the resource section leads to a site where you may find information on these campgrounds. Counties in the area include: Wexford, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Missaukee, and Manistee. Simply enter the county name for which you desire information.
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