I've stayed at a KOA CG for a weekend that couldn't supply us power because everyone's ac kept blowing it...
I've stayed on an Ohio SP site that was covered with water and mud and so my kids had to play elsewhere and we had to have our campfire next door...
I've stayed at a private CG that had double booked and I had to switch to a site in the back...
I've stayed at a Canadian PP that charged us for a second vehicle each and every night even though we weren't using it...
I could go on and on and so could 99.9% of the campers/rvers out there.
We stayed at 4 or 5 different Michigan SPs this summer. We have reasons to go back or not for each of them, however we made the best of things and my family has awesome memories to show for it.
2007 Rockwood Roo 23ss
Me '77
DW '78
DD '04
DS '07
Maximus (slobbering camping buddy)
It isn't always about the money.......flee bag motels with filthy carpet, lord knows what on the bedspread are $50 a night at best. A decent room can be found for $85 a night. Camping is "cheap" and its all your "stuff" The bulk of Michigan State Parks are very special places. I think over the years I have stayed at maybe 30-35 different state parks and only a few have been disappointments.
Jim , MJ & Spirit of Sambuca Bear
2006 Winnebago Vectra
Jeep Liberty Toad
The Michigan State Park system is severely over priced,at least for out of state campers. We stayed 2 nights in Sterling SP and it was in excess of $34 per night with only electric hookup. For that money you can stay in a nice private park and have full hookups and cable tv. We spent 2 1/2 weeks in Michigan and never stayed in another state park and will not in the future.
First of all, as a Michigan resident that enjoys our state parks, I am sorry you didn't find McLain to your liking. I've never visited that particular park, but know that many other U.P. state parks are very nice. Some are always better than others regardless of what state you might visit.
The price you paid seems unusually high for a state park. I realize that you're an out of state resident, but still, the price seems out of whack with what we've paid.
We just got back from a visit to New England and stayed at a state park in New York. No electric, no water, no sewer. Vermont and New Hampshire state parks were the same. So I guess that having only electric in Michigan state parks is kind of a luxury. Private parks we stayed at had most amenities at what I would consider a fair price ($30-$40/night), but the scenery wasn't always the greatest.
Michigan legislators, those individuals that help set park fees, rarely if ever, are campers like the rest of us. They do reduce budgets for state agencies and Michigan's DNR often gets more than their share of cuts, IMHO. They don't seem to realize that our parks should be a major draw for tourism dollars, not a system for bleeding the camping public. But then again, they probably only stay at upscale resorts.
Please give our state parks another chance. Besides, where in Ohio are you going to find Great Lakes cleaner than Lake Erie? Heck, where in Ohio are you going to find many natural lakes at all?
My husband and I are planning on a trip to Michigan next spring / summer to visit relatives. We are looking for a campground near Sterling Heights, MI. that would have 40 foot camp sites.
Joyce612 wrote: My husband and I are planning on a trip to Michigan next spring / summer to visit relatives. We are looking for a campground near Sterling Heights, MI. that would have 40 foot camp sites.
I'd recommend Addison Oaks. The only drawback is they don't accept reservations.
Joyce612 wrote: My husband and I are planning on a trip to Michigan next spring / summer to visit relatives. We are looking for a campground near Sterling Heights, MI. that would have 40 foot camp sites.
Unfortunately, there are absolutely NO RV parks anywhere near Sterling Heights. The closest will probably be Algonac State Park, about 40 miles east, or something in the Pontiac/Holly area, just about as far west.
MichDoc wrote: Unfortunately, there are absolutely NO RV parks anywhere near Sterling Heights. The closest will probably be Algonac State Park, about 40 miles east, or something in the Pontiac/Holly area, just about as far west.
Not true. Addison Oaks is maybe 15 miles north. Pontiac Lake State Park is about 20 miles west. Both are mostly freeway drives into Sterling Heights.
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