Empire Township Campground

Offering the accommodations you need for all the ways you camp; in a destination that delivers: Sleeping Bear Dunes, Lake Michigan beaches, miles of hiking/biking trails, Traverse City, and more. A place where food, art, and events are abundant in everyday life. Whether you’re looking for an enjoyable weekend, a family vacation, or planning your entire season, this is the place. Families have spent a century vacationing and building memories here; we created a place that allows you to do the same with your family and friends.



Indigo Bluffs RV Park & Resort

Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html

Garey Lake State Forest Campground

Platte River Campground is located in the southern district of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the lower peninsula of Michigan. This year-round facility is one of the most popular campgrounds in the park. It is within walking distance of the Platte River and a short walk or drive away from the Lake Michigan shore. Hikers can access many of the areas day use and backpacking trails just north of the campground. Summer temperatures range from the upper 70s to 90s during the day and 50s to 70s at night. Winters are cold, with daytime highs in the 20s to 30s and lows in the 10s and 20s; snow is usually on the ground from late November through March. Natural Features: The campground lies in a wooded area within walking distance of the Platte River and less than two miles away from the beaches of Lake Michigan. Although the lakeshore is long and narrow, it has northern hardwood and conifer forests, abandoned farm meadows, wetlands, lakes, streams, bogs and splendid examples of a glacially formed landscape. The most prominent features in the park, and those for which it is named, are the perched sand dunes above Lake Michigan. The overlooks at Sleeping Bear, Empire and Pyramid Point bluffs are about 400 feet above the lake. With 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and numerous inland lakes and streams, the park is wonderfully water-oriented. Recreation: Campers can hike, canoe, kayak and fish on the river or the lake. There are canoe rentals at nearby Platte River Point, where the river meets the lake (the point also has beach access for those wishing to drive there). The Platte Plains trail system boasts more than 25 miles of trails, some of which can be accessed a short walk away from the campground. Trails to the primitive White Pine backcountry campground are also close by. Facilities: This facility is well-maintained, well-organized and offers a wide variety of sites, including back-in and pull-through sites with electric hookups for RVs, tent-only sites, walk-in sites, group sites (hike-in, tent-only) and a nearby backcountry campground. Each site has a campfire ring and picnic table. Each loop has restrooms with flush toilets and sinks. Hot showers are also available. The group sites allow no more than 25 people per site; pets and RVs are not permitted in them. ACTIVITIES Picnicking: Picnic Tables Visitor Center: Ranger Station Day Use Area: Amphitheater

Platte River Campground

## Overview

D.H. Day Campground is located in the northern district of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the lower peninsula of Michigan. 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS A MAP OF D.H. DAY CAMPGROUND: [**www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/dhdaycamp.htm**](https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/dhdaycamp.htm)

This rustic campground is one of the most popular in Northern Michigan and is open (weather permitting) from the first Friday in April through the last Sunday in November. Reservations are required May 1 through October 15. Campsites are within walking distance of the Lake Michigan shoreline and a short drive to many popular features in the park. Summer temperatures range from the upper 70s to 90s during the day, and 50s to 70s at night. 

As with all NPS sites Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is following all CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting public spaces found at: https://www.cdc.gov/.../pdf/Reopening_America_Guidance.pdf This includes routine cleaning of outside surfaces, showers and restrooms, plus twice a day deep cleaning/disinfecting of showers and restrooms using EPA approved disinfectants against Covid-19. Our campground offices have implemented once a day disinfecting at opening, then all touched surfaces will be disinfected after each group uses the office, barriers have been installed on the desks, our staff wear masks, and only one group will be allowed into the office at a time. For more on how the NPS is responding to Covid-19 you can also go to: https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/public-health-update.htm Please call the visitor center at 231-326-4700, ext. 5010 if you have a specific question about one of the park's safety measures. 

## Recreation

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's rustic D.H. Day Campground is beautifully wooded. Campers can swim, canoe, kayak, fish and relax along the shoreline of the campground. The multi-use Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail passes through the campground opening up 20+ miles of biking and hiking. There are canoe and bicycle rentals nearby in the village of Glen Arbor. The historic village of Glen Haven is a short 15-minute walk away. Multiple hiking trails, the Dune Climb, and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive are just a short drive away. D.H. Day Campground is the perfect launching point for a fun-filled stay at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

## Facilities

With 81 beautifully wooded campsites, shared water spigots, and vault toilets, D.H. Day provides a more rustic camping experience. 

Free hot showers are available at Platte River Camground, located 17 miles south along highway M-22. 

Each campsite has a parking area, large picnic table, fire ring and tent pad. Firewood is also sold in the campgound via a self-serve vending trailer. 

## Natural Features

D.H. Day Campground lies in the middle of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near the historic village of Glen Haven. The spacious wooded campsites are no more than a 5-minute walk to the Lake Michigan beach. Features include northern hardwood and conifer forests, old farm meadows, wetlands, lakes, streams, bogs, and splendid examples of glacially formed landscapes. The beautiful, perched sand dunes, for which the parked is named, are just a few minutes' drive from the campground. 

## contact_info

For local information, please call (231) 326-4700 or call (877) 444-6777 for general information. 

## Nearby Attractions

D.H. Day Campground is within minutes of the lakeside Village of Glen Arbor and the Historic Village of Glen Haven. The Dune Climb and Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive are a short drive to the south. The Alligator Hill Trail is less than a mile away. The Crystal River winds its way to Lake Michigan just a few short miles to the north. The harbor town of Leland is approx. 30 minutes away and is the gateway to both North and South Manitou Island. 

## Charges & Cancellations

**Campers must notify the campground office at 231-334-4634 if they will not arrive within 24 hours of the check-in** time or their reservation will be cancelled; 

• They will be charged a $20 no show fee and forfeit the first night’s recreation fee for the campsite.

• Staff will hold a campsite until 2:00 pm on the day after the scheduled arrival date.

**Other www.recreation.gov fees include:**

• **Any cancelled reservation refund** will have a $10 service fee withheld.

• **Switching to dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates:** $10 change fee.

• **Cancelling a reservation, the day before or on the day of arrival:** $10 service fee AND forfeit the first night’s camping fee.

• **Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid** but will not be subject to an additional service fee.

• **Group Site Reservations cancelled less than 14 days before the arrival date** will pay a $10 service fee AND forfeit the first night’s camping fee

For a complete explanation of all recreation.gov change and cancellation policies visit [**https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies**](https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies)

D.h. Day Campground

DH Day Campground - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Lake Ann State Forest Campground

Veterans Memorial State Forest Campground

This quaint campground sits on the majestic Platte River shaded by a thick canopy of Michigan hardwoods. It is located in Benzie County, just 2.5 miles southeast of Honor via US-31 and Goose Road.

This campground is managed by Interlochen State Park.

It is home to 26 sites for tent and small-trailer use. It provides visitors with excellent canoeing and trout fishing opportunities and and is also located near the Platte River Hatchery. Campground amenities include vault toilets and potable water from well-hand pump. This campground allows ORVs to be ridden from your campsite to access local roads open for ORV use by. All other ORV use within the campground is prohibited. Find more information about ORV use on DNR Forest Roads or roads open to ORV use in Benzie County by visiting their respective web sites.Sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No reservations.

Platte River State Forest

Permits for White Pine may be obtained at the Platte River Campground Ranger Station during the summer or from the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center the rest of the year. This camp has 6 sites and is located about 2 miles from the Trail's End Road trailhead on the Platte Plains hiking trail south of Empire just off of M-22. The camp is located about 1/2 mile from the Lake Michigan shore where you can obtain fresh water. There is no well water at White Pine, so if you use water from Lake Michigan, it must be treated before drinking it.

White Pine Backcountry Camp

Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html

This rustic trail camp sits along the tranquil shores of Lake Dubonnet in Grand Traverse County, just five miles northwest of Interlochen via M-137, US-31, Gonder Road and Lake Dubonnet Trail.

Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp

Municipal

The owner is very friendly and accommodating. When I called back in February to reserve a July 4th weekend spot, she let me know that she only had one primitive spot available but assured me we would be comfortable. The site is nestled in the pines, offering plenty of shade and the temperature was a pleasant 70.

The campground is close to Sleeping Bear Dunes (15 mins) and Traverse City (30 mins). We enjoyed traveling to the city for Cherry Festival and returning to a quiet campground.

It was a nice campground for our needs and I could see it being a great place for group camping. I work full time from the camper so I probably wouldn’t stay here again since the showers cost money, the restrooms are vault toilets, and there is no laundry. But again, this is a great campground for a weekend away.

Great for Primitive Camping

We stayed at site 20 which was large, and super spacious. There was our own private trail to the vaulted toilets which were always clean,  stocked with T.P. And had a clean trash bag in place. Site 20 was very secluded. Site 20 had no electricity, but there is a side of the park with electricity. At night the campground was quite. Showers are .50¢ for three minutes and water was hot. Ice is $3 for a 7lb bag. The campground was out of firewood when we arrived so am unsure if that price but the camp host was very helpful on where to find wood. Nearby ORV trails made for a fun filled vacation. 

Piece of heaven 

This place was alright, they let us stay in an emergency site when they were full until we could get a site the next night. The site wouldn’t be ready until after 11 the next day and they made us move all of our stuff out of the emergency site so it could sit empty, and wait until 11\. We wanted to go get breakfast and come back at 11 but we would have had to pack everything up and unpack again two hours later. That was the only inconvenience. Hey had some cats that were really cool. Not too loud, some sites are pretty close together.

Empire Township Campground

Save more with PRO

Do you own or manage this property?

About This Campground

Access

Stay Connected

Site Types

Features

For Campers

For Vehicles

Reviews

2022 Explorer Giveaway