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

Leelanau State Park Campground

We were lucky and found an open site but they filled up by mid afternoon. Reservations might be the best way to go here. 

  

Our site had nice distance between the next camp but others are closer together. We had lots of room- enough so that the dog didn’t even get disturbed by other campers. Our camping area was beyond the car- think a straight line back the opens up into a circular camping area. Some sites are right on the water and provide sunset beauty. Vault toilets and water are available. They had a sign advertising a local place offering showers for a small fee. 

  

We walked over to the lighthouse. They give tours and have a camp store/gift shop. There aren’t really any trails there but you can get to the water in a bunch of places. 3 miles down the road is another part of the state park. There are some very nice hiking trails here. They are wide and go in loops giving options for distance. We went to the overlook and then down to the beach. Sadly dogs aren’t allowed on the beach so Dakota rolled in the sand at the edge and we continued hiking. 

  

Make sure you visit the small towns and wineries/cideries. There is a lot to do on this peninsula.

A beautiful area with only a few camping options

I don't know why i found this so funny, but I kept seeing signs about garlic mustard. 

Aside from this, the water was beautiful, the walking/hiking trails are beautiful. We did a day visit and really enjoyed seeing the different kinds of vegetation that they had growing there. The family loved it for sure. The beach was clean and made for a great time.

Garlic mustard 

**Campground Review:** Leelanau State Park is a gorgeous campground on the very tip of the Leelanau Peninsula which is surrounded on 3 sides by the crystal clear waters and sandy beaches of Lake Michigan. Though only 15 minutes outside of the village of Northport, it feels very remote. The wooded campsites are relatively spacious, some with a great amount of privacy, others very open and right on the water. All have firepits and picnic tables, but we were not able to find water spigots near the sites on the lower level, those closest to the lake. They can accommodate everything from small tents to large campers and even have a couple of small camping cabins for rent. There are pit toilets scattered throughout the campground (which are rather stinky compared to other campgrounds we’ve stayed in, but this seems to be how all Michigan State Park pit toilets smell), and no showers. Showers are available for $2 at Traverse City State Park, which is about an hour south of this campground. TC is the major city on the peninsula and the one you must drive through to leave the peninsula. In addition to opportunities to swim, kayak, sail, paddle board, etc., this park has gorgeous hiking trails located a few miles south on the peninsula, a playground for the kids, a fully restored 19th century lighthouse, and a cool museum dedicated to the use of Lake Michigan during WWII. As the fog rolled off the water and in and out of the campground during our visit, we realized the importance of this historic lighthouse for the area surrounding the peninsula.

**Video:** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27J0AgpsbEU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27J0AgpsbEU)

**Product Review:**  As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I was able to test the new Roanline market place at [roanline.com](http://roanline.com/). They carry a number of different brands and I selected the [United by Blue 25L Rift Backpack](https://journal.roanline.com/2017/01/06/3-pieces-of-gear-to-help-you-weather-winter-in-the-east/) to test out while camping at the Leelanau State Park campground in Michigan. We used this pack while hiking on the beautiful trails within this state park. This pack fits in as well on the trail as it will in the boardroom, or commuter train. It has a sleek profile and clean, tight lines which give it all the class of a briefcase while offering the versatility of a backpack. I expect it to last many years of regular use.

**_What I like most about this pack:_**

1\. Quality construction with a compact, efficient use of space.

2\. The specialty pockets hold everything for which they are intended: laptop, smartphone, water bottle / travel mug, etc, while still allowing space for plenty of extra layers, lunch/snacks, etc. It has more volume than it looks like from the outside.

3\. It is super comfortable and stays in place even on the bike.

4\. The single carrying handle is well-placed, strong, and very comfortable – nice one!

**_Some things I wish this pack had:_**

1\. A hydration hose “slit. This seems like an oversight, because the main pouch easily holds a large water bladder.

2\. A waist-belt, making it more comfortable with the pack weighed down.

3\. An integrated rain fly. I am afraid to get this pack dirty – it looks too nice!

**Product Video:** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNbzM_-q2EU&amp;t=2s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNbzM_-q2EU&amp;t=2s)

**Product Link:** [https://journal.roanline.com/2017/01/06/3-pieces-of-gear-to-help-you-weather-winter-in-the-east/](https://journal.roanline.com/2017/01/06/3-pieces-of-gear-to-help-you-weather-winter-in-the-east/)

Ranger Review: United by Blue 25L Rift Backpack (Roanline) at Leelanau State Park

This state camp is at the very tip of the leelanau peninsula.  It had great views of lake Michigan and you could see fox island off in the distance.  A lighthouse is apart of the park and is an excellent addition.   Unfortunately there was not much of a beach area and the camp had minimum hiking trails.  Great spot to stay for a family looking for a weekend getaway.

leelanau

I love driving down M22 to this state park. It’s rustic with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. There are a few sites which are right on the sand which I recommend if you don’t mind a little sand in your tent. definitely check out all of the quaint little towns in the area, especially Glen Arbor and Sutton’s Bay!

One of my favorite places to camp in the lower peninsula. 

We arrived on a busy weekend without camping reservations in hopes there would be some openings or cancellations. That wasn't the case when I pulled up to the booth and saw the _campground full_ sign.

The kind Ranger informed us there we're no openings and she started going through our other camping options in the area. She could see the slight dismay in our faces about the potential that we might have to backtrack 30-45 minutes.

Thats when she told us that, if we wanted, we could camp in the "general use" area by the playground and cookout grills, as long as we could break camp by 9 am! Then she helped book some open campsites for the next few nights for out party of 3 adults, 3 kids and 2 German Shepherds!

The best part is that the views, campsites, lighthouse, and nearby trails matched the high quality care the Ranger gave us. We will be back soon, and this time with reservations!

Wonderful campground with beautiful scenery!

While I imagine it must get really busy during the peak of summer, I have to say this is one of the cooler campgrounds I've been to. The camp site could NOT get any closer to Lake Michigan. Well maintained and clean. The state park it's part of is centered around its history as lighthouse grounds signaling the entrance to the Grand Traverse bay. The park still has the the historic lighthouse(which you can enter and climb for a fee), the siren building that doubles as a museum about the numerous shipwrecks in the area, and gift shop that sells ice cream. With miles of trails and Northport only a short drive away, you'll have good time.

Amazing Views, History, and Trails

Awesome campground with lots to do. Can check out the lighthouse. Close to Northport with cute shops. A great way to experience Lake Michigan.

Family favorite 

Stayed here on a chilly late September weekend with very few other campers around. Loved it. It's remote, rustic and the lakefront is scrubby and unspoiled. We had one of the waterfront sites and could hear the shore sounds all through the night. The location, while removed from the bustle of touristy areas, is a great starting/ending point for exploring the peninsula with all its Lake Michigan vistas and quirky little bars. Loved it.

Rustic and lovely

Loved this campground. Quiet and surrounded by lake shore. Not a lot of sites and they are well spaced. Some are right on the lake...bring your kayak! Pit toilets only as I recall. Nice swimming beach and plenty of parks, wineries, brewpubs, and cute little towns to visit in the area. Historic lighthouse at this park as well. 

Nice spread out sites on shore of Lake Michigan 

Great park. Sites near water are great. Far enough away but close to town if needed. Great area.

Relaxing rustic

My hands down all time favorite campground!  Although rustic (I personally LOVE) this campground is literally ON Lake Michigan. Sites on the shore or you can choose a site in the trees. You can fall asleep and wake up to the sound of Lake Michigan. Campground is small but that’s what keeps its charm. Beautiful summertime and fall is especially beautiful. Grand Traverse lighthouse right next door.  Be sure to explore walking trails that dump you out on a beach so beautiful- you do have to drive or bicycle to these trails that are a bit south of the campground. Leelanau peninsula so quaint with small villages of Northport, Leland, Sutton’s Bay. No flush toilets. No dump station.   I’ve tent, trailer, van camped and also rented cabins several times. I have camped here in summer, fall and winter. I love this campground so much I can’t decide which season I love best. 

Heaven on earth

Tent camping on the water, it does not get any more beautiful than this! 

Close to town 
Fire pits 
No hook up at the tent sites 

Breath taking views

Perfect views, secluded sites and hilariously aggressive squirrels.

Absolutely a great campground. 

This place is beautiful! Stayed at site 27, right on the beach and the views, the sounds, and the breeze couldn't be beat!

Gorgeous shoreside camping

Unfortunately this campground is one we don’t see a need to return to. It’s worth a one time visit but is missing several key things we enjoy about camping. 

Pros: 
Campground shares a common area with the light house, walking over to the lighthouse was a fun experience. The new playground was a hit for the kids, one of the best playgrounds we have experienced at a state park. 

Park provided several out houses, they do a very good job keeping them clean. 

Lighthouse provided an area to sit and watch sunset, beautiful sunset! 
Walk past the fog building and follow the trail to the water :) 

The views and trails are beautiful, local towns are super cute and easy to get to.

Site 4 is shaped weird but beautiful small view of the water and sits up high so you overlook it. 

Site 3 is a long site, level and straight back. Nice site for campers 

Site 2 fits a pop up nice and has a path to site 3 good for group camping 


Cons: raccoons are insane! They are not afraid of anything. We were very good about putting everything away so we only had them visit our site a few times but the dumpster is full of them. They will walk right up to you. Not enjoyable at all! Bugs are pretty bad as well, mainly at night! 

No shower house for those who would need one. Lake was lined of film so you couldn’t even rinse off. 

There is no beach, you have water front which is beautiful but no beach. The water front is very rocky, and full off a brown sticky film that smelled bad, if you went over to the lighthouse it got better but still nasty. 
Nearest beach was a 5 minute drive and a 2 mile hike, it was fun but not ideal with tons of little kids. 

We have been camping for years, tent, RV, hammock. Doesn’t matter what you are in as long as you are having a good time. Unfortunately the camp host ruined it for us, we did have our RV on this trip, 100 degrees and we have two littles. We were on a two week camping trip, spending the first 5 at this site and then heading to another, we left after 3. We notified neighbors if we needed to turn our generator on and tried not to since we have solar, with the high temps we needed to a few hours at a time. Quiet hours are after 10pm- 8 am so technically we could run it all day, understanding the desire for the nature noises we limited it. The campground  host told us at 8pm our inverter generator needed to be turned off, at this time our littlest was finishing her breathing machine so we couldn’t and she got an attitude, we felt we were very respectful the entire time about this, the DNR notified us that we were okay and it was not a problem at all but we were over it by then. 
(this bad experience toward the end was due to our choice to bring an RV over tent.) If tenting you would not run into this issue. 

If we take away our issue with the camp host inability to communicate respectfully we still would have left early. 
Maybe it was a bad year for the water, I should have looked into the beach area prior to going. Not enough pros to go again. 


Beautiful trails and scenic sites 

This is a quiet campground near Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes with amazing views of Lake Michigan. We stayed at site 42 right across the dirt camp road from the lake. Not many RVs so the nights were quiet. Vault toilets needed to be pumped empty when we visited near the end of the season in August but they were cleaned everyday. Great location for our family to visit Suttons Bay and Sleeping Bear Dunes with plenty of bike trails and beaches in the area. Closest town is Northport with a full grocery store. Campground has firewood and ice on site plus some basic supplies at the gift shop. 

Quiet camping near Traverse City

this rustic campground is small but very cute. my girlfriend and i stayed here and had a great time. we went to the lighthouse museum which was $2 fee for kids (up to 18 yrs old!) and hiked to the manitou overlook. very pretty scenery everywhere you go- but that is as expected in northern michigan! ❤️

very cute

I camped here for one night while I was on a business trip up North, and unfortunately didn’t get to experience much, but I did some recon and I am super eager to go back. This campground is all rustic, but it is by far one of the most beautiful campgrounds I’ve ever seen. The campground is at the tip of the Leelanau peninsula, there are some amazing hiking trails in the area, and I noticed a lot of artists like to come here and do their thing. The morning I woke up to pack and leave, I saw a lot of artists around with easels and sketchbooks being inspired by the beauty which this area provides. I’ve been bugging my wife about it ever since I went there, I can’t wait to go back and really camp there.￼

An artist’s paradise

Beautiful sites on the water. Very pretty! 

Great Rustic Sites Right on the Water

This is one of my favorite campgrounds. Just beautiful. I had planned on doing more site seeing but ended up just setting my chair on the beach and taking in the lakeshore. Nice rustic campground. Very quiet.


Beautiful

No hookups, No problem! Very quiet campground on the Shores of Lake Michigan. Sites are large and private with large fire rings and picnic tables. Vault toilets only but they are kept very clean. 

Very peaceful lakeside campground

What an awesome campground.. not a bad spot here.. next time we come,we will not get one on the lake,the ones on the other side of the road.provide trees for hammocks and trees for emergency tarping situations.. great place

