We will be traveling through the lower peninsula the first part of June. We don't know exactly when we will be there or how long we will stay. Are the parks usually full? Do we have a good chance of just driving in and getting a good spot? We have a 35 ft. fifth wheel. Thanks!
They can help you find out what is available when. Although the popular parks fill up months in advance, June may be early enough you should find something nice.
We don't use the State Park System in MI any more. The price is the same if not higher than most private camp grounds with the extra fees, lack of control of campers(running threw sites, drinking, speeding, noise), most only have Electic, and old parks trees have not been trimed properly.
All of the Michigan St. parks have available drive-up campsites that are not allowed to be reserved. Even if you look up on that web site, chances are the park will still have something available. As always, call ahead the day before or the day of to the park and they will be glad to let you know what they have available. I have close relatives that work at the parks.
My guess, based on our experience with IL & WI SPs, is that weekdays you will probably find spots with little trouble, but weekends you may not. Best to arrive on a weekday, take a nonreservable spot, and book it through the weekend. You may be ok if you arrive early enough on Friday AM but I'd try to get there by Thurs. for a weekend stay.
Early June very little trouble finding a spot in any of the state parks, especially during the week! As for the poster who says it's too expensive.....please let me in on these "private" campgrounds that are under $30 bucks. You get what you pay for and in michigan state parks that means wonderful nature, many are lake front, (inland and great lakes), campfires, clean facilities and it supports the state park system.
Come to Harrisville State Park on the shores of Lake Huron! It is wonderful and you can easily walk into town for dinner and an ice cream.
Jim , MJ & Spirit of Sambuca Bear
2006 Winnebago Vectra
Jeep Liberty Toad
JTHarley wrote: Early June very little trouble finding a spot in any of the state parks, especially during the week! As for the poster who says it's too expensive.....please let me in on these "private" campgrounds that are under $30 bucks. You get what you pay for and in michigan state parks that means wonderful nature, many are lake front, (inland and great lakes), campfires, clean facilities and it supports the state park system.
Come to Harrisville State Park on the shores of Lake Huron! It is wonderful and you can easily walk into town for dinner and an ice cream.
For non-residents there is an additional daily entrance fee that puts the nightly rate over that of some private CGs, figure an extra $8 per vehicle per day, on top of your nightly site fee. If you are in an RV pulling a toad it's an extra $16 per night on top of your site fee. IMHO, the 2 MI state parks I've stayed at, I was not impressed with the CGs, the sites or the bathhouses (Warren Dunes and Ft. Custer Rec Area). For elec only, and the condition of the CGs, it was frankly overpriced... For future trips to MI I'll be looking at privates. I'd be willing to pay a few bucks more for full hookups and activities. Although I have heard that some MI State parks are better than others, I just wasn't impressed thus far.
JTHarley wrote: Early June very little trouble finding a spot in any of the state parks, especially during the week! As for the poster who says it's too expensive.....please let me in on these "private" campgrounds that are under $30 bucks. You get what you pay for and in michigan state parks that means wonderful nature, many are lake front, (inland and great lakes), campfires, clean facilities and it supports the state park system.
Come to Harrisville State Park on the shores of Lake Huron! It is wonderful and you can easily walk into town for dinner and an ice cream.
For non-residents there is an additional daily entrance fee that puts the nightly rate over that of some private CGs, figure an extra $8 per vehicle per day, on top of your nightly site fee. If you are in an RV pulling a toad it's an extra $16 per night on top of your site fee. IMHO, the 2 MI state parks I've stayed at, I was not impressed with the CGs, the sites or the bathhouses (Warren Dunes and Ft. Custer Rec Area). For elec only, and the condition of the CGs, it was frankly overpriced... For future trips to MI I'll be looking at privates. I'd be willing to pay a few bucks more for full hookups and activities. Although I have heard that some MI State parks are better than others, I just wasn't impressed thus far.
Sad to say, but DavesWife is not alone in her observations. Many people, both residents and non-residents, have indicated that Michigan State Parks, are pricing themselves right out of the camping business. Someone, either politicians or DNR management, has gotten greedy over the past couple of years, and priced the sites higher than they deserve to be when compared to state parks in other states. In addition, they have upped vehicle fees, and found innovative ways to add additional charges, to the point where people are bypassing the state parks for the private campgrounds, or even worse, bypassing Michigan altogether and going to the states that have truly scenic parks with reasonably priced campgrounds that have hookups other than just electricity. If Michigan's politicians and policy setters don't wise up soon, they will begin to see the state parks campgrounds closing as fast as our businesses are. After all, Michigan doesn't have a lock on nice scenery.
If you're going to camp in Michigan more then just one weekend get the yearly sticker. Well worth it.
And please, someone tell me where all these great private parks are for less then the State Parks even with the daily entrance fee. I see it posted all the time but hardly ever with an example. In season private parks are well north of $50 in most places. And the ones that are around $35-40 are full hookups, no trees. I'd rather have electric only with lots of woods and space between the campers next to me. But to each his own I guess.
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