Minimal Accommodations, port-a-jon. Close to Charlevoix. $17/night. Walk-in sites. Lakeshore sites. HUGE sites. Most sites can easily fit a few tents. Firework for sale by independent supplier near office. Kayak to the island. Pretty quiet and peaceful. Large campground. Less people on the South end. Very tame wildlife.
Smaller beach areas but beautiful water and coastline! Not the most well kept vault toilets but the rest makes up for it
This is our favorite campground in Michigan. We don’t usually like camping at state parks because they get so crowded, but this one is different. There are several sites right on Lake Michigan. Many sites provide a great deal of privacy, and you get our own stretch of beachfront. It’s a perfect spot to find Petosky stones, or just enjoy the lake. Even if you’re not lucky enough to get a spot in the water, there is access to the lake in a few locations throughout the campground. The location is great- right outside of the cute town of Charelvoix, and not far from Petosky and Traverse City. Reserve your site early- all the good spots on the lake get booked right away.
This campground is amazing! If you want to stay on the water (Lake Michigan), which is highly recommended, be sure to book early. The sights go fast! There is an awesome spot just before you pull in to the park that is great for rock hunting and hanging on the beach. When you first arrive you stop at the main office to get your car passes and check in. Driving to your site you’ll follow Lake Michigan and it’s beautiful. Lots of places to stop to get out and take it all in. Our campsite had stairs down to the water and was perfect for us because of our little kids. We could block them off and didn’t have an issue with them going down to the water without us. A lot of the water sights are right on the beach and would love to try those out once my kids are older. At the end of the park there is a place to park with different hiking trails and a creek. We love to hike along the creek for a bit and then hike through the sand dunes. My kids loved running up and down the sand dunes. We finished off our hike walking along the shore looking for petoskey stones. Which we found a lot of. Their are lots of different hiking trails throughout the park as well and a lot of people where kayaking. If you want to check out Charlevoix, which is also highly recommended, it’s only a 10 min drive to get there. They fight to keep the town small so if you need something like a can opener the only place is k-mart for inexpensive things. That also is very close by. This campground is highly recommended by me and my family.
Sites are spacious, clean and right on the beach. It's lovely to star gaze at night and wake up to lapping water in the morning. The major downside that they do not broadcast is that there is a massive power plant up the beach that is quite the eye sore.
One of my families favorite campgrounds, we go every year the weekend after school is out for the summer.
This park is absoutely one of my favorites! I have been here often and always camp at the sites facing the water. However, the back camping is also nice. You have to reserve your spot early in the year for summer camping near the water but sometimes luck out with one or two days open. The only downside to this park is there is a HUGE cement plant at the entrace. It is loud and a complete eyesore. Why they would ever allow that, I have no idea. If you camp in the back of the park or at 76+, you do not see or hear or see this factory.
If you want water, then this is the park for you. Fisherman’s Island SP has six miles (8 km) of the Lake Michigan shoreline with fifteen sites right along the water. The campground is divided into two loops, the North and South with 80 sites total. All sites are $13 per night. If you are lucky enough to score one of the dozen or so sites right on the water, you will be treated to easy beach access and beautiful sunsets over Lake Michigan. Understand that this is a rustic campground with small sites, no electric, scattered water spigots, and pit toilets. There is a day use area, hiking/biking trails, and a picnic area which is about it. Most people come here for a relaxing get away and to be on the water.
All sites have fire pits and picnic tables. (Firewood is sold in the park on an honor system and is available anytime. The price when we visited was $10/large plastic tote full or $4/bundle which we found very reasonable compared to other locations. Michigan DNR asks that you not bring firewood into the campground due to concerns of environmental pests that can be transported.) Some of the sites say they will fit a 40’ RV but be careful as roads are narrow and there are low-hanging tree limbs.
One of the most popular activities in the park is searching for Petoskey stones known for their beautiful honey-comb like pattern. These are actually not stones but pieces of coral that existed in warmer waters that covered the land hundreds of millions of years ago. The parks’ six miles of shoreline are a perfect location to search for these treasures.
The park is located just south of the town of Charlevoix. This is a charming coastal town with a beautiful harbor set on Lake Charlevoix with a picturesque lighthouse. We were there in late June and attended the annual arts and crafts fair which was great but the library’s book sale was a real winner. The summer farmers market is on Thursdays and every Tuesday evening there is live music at the waterfront amphitheater.
A slice of heaven awaits you at this state park. With your own beach front on beautiful Lake Michigan, it's hard to look around and not be in awe of what surrounds you. The only thing unlikeable is the cement factory, accompanied with its sounds, polluting the shoreline to the right. I will return for fall camping, far away from the factory.
This is a "must-go-to" state park! The shoreline is spectacular. If you can, get a campsite right on the water, you won't be disappointed and be sure to look out for Petoskey Stones as your walk the shoreline, there are tons!
