With a diverse landscape and hundreds of activities to pursue, camping in Michigan with the family pet is a rewarding experience. However, campers with pets need pet-friendly campgrounds to avoid an unpleasant vacation experience. Fortunately, many private and most all public Michigan campgrounds accommodate pets and offer activities that accommodate them.
Significance
People who camp with pets do so because the pet is a part of the family and deserves a get-away-from-it-all vacation too. Besides, pets encourage owners to exercise. With pet-friendly campgrounds at nearly all Michigan state parks, and hiking trails at many of them, the opportunities to support daily exercise are boundless.
Benefits
Camping with the family dog can lend itself to interesting activities. It is not unusual to see the family Labrador retriever taking the lead in the bow of a canoe paddling through the tranquil waters of the Two-Hearted River near Tahquamenon Falls State Park or jogging behind a mountain bike at Sleepy Hollow State Park in Laingsburg. A hunter looking to bag the daily limit of Canada geese with his trusty Golden retriever at his side will find Van Buren State Park in South Haven a likely stop-over.
Considerations
Pets are not permitted on beaches except in limited areas; check with the proprietor or park ranger. Many facilities only allow pets in designated areas in the campground; again check with the management. All campgrounds require owners to keep pets on a leash no longer than six feet in length. Campers must immediately clean up after their pets, so take along a plastic bag, a pooper-scooper or heavy-duty paper towels anytime a pet is walked. Deposit the pet's leavings in a trash receptacle; do not throw the waste into the woods.
Warnings
Dogs are curious creatures. Campgrounds, by their very nature, are in areas teeming with wildlife. Although encounters with bear and porcupine are limited in the southern reaches of the state, they are not uncommon in the northern lower and upper peninsulas. Heed the rules and always leash pets. Failure to do so can result in an unpleasant encounter with painful quills that may result in a detour to the local veterinarian. Although bears are by nature shy creatures, they will not hesitate to charge if threatened. A barking, snarling dog presents just such a threat, so it is best to keep pets close-at-hand at all times.
Costs
Unlike standard lodging units such as hotels and motels, campgrounds do not normally charge a fee for pets. When making reservations, it is best to ask about such fees. Whether with a pet or not, standard camping rates of $12 to $33 per night, as of January 2008, apply in Michigan state parks. Costs in state forest campgrounds vary substantially. While there is no charge for undesignated/dispersed camping, the rate for equestrian sites is $20 per night. Private campground rates vary significantly, depending on amenities, location and season. Contact individual facilities for up-to-date information.
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