Tall trees shade most of the sites at Barnes County Park Campground, and some of those trees drop branches in a hard rain. That detail matters if you're arriving in a Class C or larger rig, though reviewers note that site 69 handled a 31-foot motorhome without much trouble on leveling. The campground sits within Barnes Park on the Lake Michigan shoreline near camping near Eastport, with a handful of sites close enough to the water that campers can reach the beach in a short walk through the trees.
Beach access is a consistent theme across reviews. Wide stairs lead down to the water, and the shoreline draws visitors who come specifically to collect rocks or watch the light change at sunrise and sunset. Amy D. notes "many people enjoying rock collecting and watching the sunrise and sunset," which gives a fair sense of how that stretch of lakeshore gets used. Dogs are welcome at the campground itself, but reviewers flag that pets are not permitted on the beach, so plan accordingly.
The bathrooms get cleaned multiple times a day. That consistency shows up in five separate reviews mentioning cleanliness, and several campers specifically call out the bathhouses as a reason to return. Sites vary in spacing; some are close together in open sections, while others have more tree cover and separation. Reviewers recommend sites 55, 60, and 10 for those who want more favorable positioning.
Full hookups go up to 60 feet, with electric and water available, plus a dump station and WiFi. The campground runs from mid-May through mid-October and accepts reservations online in real time, which matters here: the better sites fill early in summer. One reviewer paid $36 per night for tent camping and found it on the high end, so factor nightly rates into your planning. For other options in the region, Thurston Park Campground and Wooden Shoe Campground are worth comparing. Book well ahead for July and August weekends.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsBarnes County Park Campground is located in Michigan near Eastport
Public CampgroundAddress
12298 Barnes Park Rd
Central Lake, MI 49622
Coordinates
45.11098015 N
85.36069028 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 8/14/26- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 user
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 8/14/26
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 user
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Market
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- WiFi
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 30 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 35 min from Traverse City, MI
- 2 hrs 17 min from Midland, MI
- 2 hrs 23 min from Bay City, MI
- 5 hrs 20 min from Green Bay, WI
