Never been to McLain and it is a shame you had that experience. We just got back from Petoskey State Park (spent 2 days) and it was fabulous. We also live 1 mile from Harrisville state park and I'll tell you I've never seen so much work being done in the last 2 years. New bridges, widened hiking trails, painted tables, 2 new camping cabins.......Trust me, I've been to at least 20 michigan state parks and have yet to run into what you saw....but thanks for the heads up.
Jim , MJ & Spirit of Sambuca Bear
2006 Winnebago Vectra
Jeep Liberty Toad
MichDoc wrote: Michigan State Park campgrounds were always lacking in facilities....most have only electricity (some with only 30A or even 20A), a very few have water, and only a couple have sewers. And yet, they charge the same as a full-service private RV park with pools and other amenities.
I hear this a lot, and it certainly depends on what you mean by "facilities." If you mean concrete and plumbing, then a private park is your best bet. If you mean trees, trails, beaches, and nature, then a state park is the way to go.
I agree the $78 for 2 nights the original poster was charged is a lot. I pay $25-$29 per night, depending on the park. But most RV parks I've seen in MI are nowhere close -- many charge double that or more. To each his own, but for me, paying $20-25 extra per night for plumbing is just crazy (especially when my trailer has holding tanks).
Ken451 wrote: Well, we had our first (and likely last) experience with Michigan State Parks. We stayed two nights at Mclain State Park (UP, Keweenaw Penisula). $78 for two nights and no usable facilities. They share the power post with multiple campsites and we would have needed an additional 100' extension cord to reach it. We had to run the generator. No water hookups on site. Temporary road full of potholes, they wouldn't even bother to fill them with sand or gravel.
It was a pretty park, but we were much happier with the Hiawatha National Forest campgrounds (Colwell Lake, Brevoort Lake, Bay Furnace) where we stayed ($6 and $8 with Golden Age Passport). Unfortunately, there are no federal campgrounds in the Keneenaw. The NF campgrounds have no more (or less) facilities than Mclain, but they have more spacious campsites and more solitude...and are a lot more economical.
The old adage of "you get what you pay for" isn't true with Michigan State Parks, IMO.
Ken
You could have stayed at Hougton City Park (full hook ups, on the water and 25$ a night) and day tripped the 40 mile trip to Copper Harbor.
Jim
2007 Winnebago Vectra 40TD, 2003 Chevy S-10 4x4 ZR2, 2008 Polaris Rzr click here to see our adventures Picture Page Our Location User # 1979 Our Videos
We camped at several Michigan SP's with a small pop-up in the before-5th wheel age. A variety of campgrounds for sure. Then moved to a 5ver toy hauler, and they charged me $8 a day extra because I had a motorcycle in the back. It never hit the ground, but they wanted that extra $8 for bringing in another vehicle. Instead of staying 4 nights, we stayed one night and moved on.
2005 Ford F-250 Lariat Crew Cab FX4 4x4 6.0 PSD in Bright Red
2005 KZ Sportsman Sportster 33PL
2008 Harley Ultra -candy red sunglo
2006 Honda Gold Wing -titanium
Yamaha Grizzly 660 (his)
Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O.(hers)
C'mon folks, Michigan has been crushed with the auto industry.......just consider the extra price a "bailout". Just use your TARP funds to help us out......LOL
bimbert84 wrote: . . . and it certainly depends on what you mean by "facilities." If you mean concrete and plumbing, then a private park is your best bet. If you mean trees, trails, beaches, and nature, then a state park is the way to go.
I agree wholeheartedly. When I am camping I want to be close to trees, trails, and such. That's camping IMHO.
When I am just traveling, the other stuff is more important.
When we went to Michigan, we purchased annual passes for the car and motorhome. Since we stayed at several state parks, it worked out great.
But, I really can't see why they have to charge for both the motorhome (which never moves from it's site) and the tow car. If they charged double for 5th wheels and trailers, it might be fair but they don't. I know they charge for each motorized vehicle but someone really doesn't understand RVing.
1999 32' Adventurer (no slides) with Grand Vitara toad
Pride 3 wheel scooter http://www.scubanj.org
Only 3 states to go in the USA - some of Canada and Mexico too!
Pirate wrote: ......and what's with those 3' high fire rings? You need to put your chairs on the picnic table to see the fire, or build a huge fire, with fire wood bought from the state park of course.
Actually, I really like the new fire pits. I think the height is more like 18" but at least 3' across. Plenty of room for my Dutch oven. They also have about 6" of concrete all around so even after the fire has been going for 4-5 hours, young kids won't get burned if they touch it. You can also bring in wood from outside of the park as long as it is local. Just don't try bringing in wood from ouside the local area. We are trying to deal with critters like the Emerald Ash Borer all over the state. I don't think that's too much to ask. I was really disappointed the last time I stayed in a private park and was told to build my fire in a rusty truck rim.
Terry & Amy
2004 Hurricane 30F on P32 Workhorse Chassis
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Where are we going.....and why am I in this handbasket?
bimbert84 wrote: . . . and it certainly depends on what you mean by "facilities." If you mean concrete and plumbing, then a private park is your best bet. If you mean trees, trails, beaches, and nature, then a state park is the way to go.
I agree wholeheartedly. When I am camping I want to be close to trees, trails, and such. That's camping IMHO.
When I am just traveling, the other stuff is more important.
I agree completely. However, you can get the same trees, trails, beaches, and nature, for less than half the price, from National Forest campgrounds which are found in exactly the same area. And that's the whole point.....Michigan is charging prices normally seen for an RV park, but offering the services and amenities seen at dry-camping parks. I also will go to those campgrounds offering scenery and nature, but will go to the ones on federal land where the cost is much more reasonable, and so too are many tourists from what I'm seeing. Michigan's attempt to make up for lost revenue, by increasing costs to the loyal few that are still coming, is beginning to backfire. They're trying to reverse the concept of supply and demand, and it's not going to work. They need to replace their management team, and quick, before they lose more tourist dollars.
It’s been awhile but the last time I camped in a National or State Forest Campground they had pit toilets and you put your money down a pipe to pay for your campsite. I don’t doubt these type campgrounds have larger sites, quieter conditions, and plenty of nature but I don’t think you can compare their services & amenities with many of the State Parks, especially when you factor in the unbeatable miles of Great Lakes Beaches, modern restroom/shower facilities, 50 amp service (some), boardwalks & hiking trails, boating, hunting, and fishing opportunities, and entertainment & ranger led education programs for adults and children found at several state park campgrounds.
I think the state parks have done a pretty good job at trying to be self sustaining since being given that edict several years ago, even updating restroom/shower buildings and paving roads in several parks in the process. The problem lies in the shear numbers of state parks. The more popular state parks would have no problem making ends meet on their own but they have to share their revenue with all the parks, many of which are smaller, have much less attendance, and have no chance of being self sustaining. The answer is probably to sell off the less visited parks but that would never fly with the general public......the same general public who doesn’t want to pay tax dollars to support the park system.
We usually visit the more popular state park campgrounds and pay around $27 per night for the site and with our $24 annual sticker our per night camping cost is still less than $28 per night. I don’t know of any RV park that charges less than around $40 per night in the summer, many are in the $45 to $50 range…..private campgrounds yes, but not true RV parks. I also think the state parks have done a pretty good job with their tiered pricing structure for campsites. There is quite a range of campsite prices based on the park’s popularity.
As far as seeing “the loyal few who are still coming”, we camped 40 nights in six different state parks so far this year and didn’t see much of a drop in campground usage. I’m sure their overall numbers are down but then what business hasn’t seen a reduction in revenue in the present economy. It still is an unbelievable tough struggle to get a campsite in the summer at the more popular state parks. As many of you probably already know, at these parks if you don’t get through on the phone or over the internet to the reservation center on the exact day, six months in advance, in the first five minutes of opening, all the available sites will be gone for that day. That is one heck of a popular product with a huge demand that they can’t begin to meet. It’s too bad we don’t have a longer camping season in Michigan. That would go a long way to balancing their budget. Global Warming, hurry up.
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