Cedar Campground — Ludington State Park, near Ludington, Michigan, is a fantastic destination for campers looking to enjoy both nature and comfort. With a mix of tent sites, RV spots, and cozy cabins, it caters to a variety of camping styles, making it a popular choice for families and groups.

This campground is packed with amenities, including clean bathrooms, showers, and a camp store for those last-minute needs. Visitors rave about the beautiful hiking trails that wind through the park, offering stunning views of the double lakes and the iconic Big Sable Lighthouse. As one camper noted, “The hiking trails are some of the best,” and many appreciate the chance to explore the unique landscapes.

For water lovers, Cedar Campground provides easy access to both Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake, perfect for swimming, kayaking, and fishing. The designated dog beach is a hit with pet owners, although some wish it had a bit more space. While the sites can be close together, the wooded surroundings help maintain a sense of privacy. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Cedar Campground offers a great mix of relaxation and adventure.

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/buy-and-apply/rec-pp

Cedar Campground — Ludington State Park

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Ludington. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Ludington. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Ludington

The Best Ludington, MI Campgrounds | MI Camping

This campground is right on the beach and is gorgeous. They have lots of trails to walk to keep you busy, and a wonderful view. 

Picture perfect 

There is really a lot to do here. They also have small cabins! It's a beautiful area with diverse scenery with a dam and fishing area, and also further down stream canoeing! Also a great picnic area to just relax and get away from the world.

Lots to do with cabins!

Ludington offers sand dunes and several miles of beaches along Lake Michigan with many trails and forested areas. Most camp lots are large and sandy with electric and water hookups. There are also mini cabins for rent if you are not into tent camping. Very well maintained park considering how popular it is.

Ludington State Park Campground, MI 

This campsite was very nice, clean, ammenities galore. Beautiful hike to Big Sable lighthouse, which was wonderful, but take water and good shoes for walking in sand!

The crowd was the only negative. Sites were all full, not a lot of seclusion or separation between. Was just not our preference, but may be for some. We were in a tent, most others were in RVs. Tons to do though, hiking, kayaking, games, etc. definitely worth a shot. 

Nice, Crowded

Had a wonderful time with my family! Lots of activites, ludington is a great town with lots of resturants. Beautiful scenary with great fishing. 

Ludington State Park

Although the Ludington State Park is a very popular and busy state park, as it is right on the beach, this is an amazing state park to visit. The beauty of the trees and dunes as you hike around are astounding and grow you to have a great adventure throughout your visits here. I overall recommend this state park, especially if you live in Michigan or nearby states!! Two thumbs up!

Beautiful Wonder of Michigan

This campground was AWESOME. Miles and miles of hiking trails, dunes, and beaches. We stayed for 9 days and still hadn't done all of the exploring we wanted to do.

Amazing For outdoor enthusiasts 

**Campground Review:**

We were totally surprised at how much this park had to offer! What a gem [Ludington State Park](https://www.midnrreservations.com/LUDINGTONSTATEPARK) is right on Lake Michigan surrounded by tall sand dunes, dense woodlands, and lakes – all of which make for a great outdoor playground. The park is 5,300 acres and lies just north of downtown Ludington (which is super cute and has a couple of great brew pubs.) The campground has three loops for RVs and tents and another area that is a walk-in tent only section.  Sites in the center of the loops are more open whereas those on the outside back up to a tall wooded berm providing shade and a bit of privacy. It is a typical state park where some sites are level and some are not and they vary in length. All sites have a firepit and picnic table and easy access to the electric post. Sites don’t have water or sewer but there is a dump/water fill station on your way into/out of the park that is really easy to get in and out of. And there are some water fill-up stations in the campground. The park has modern restrooms that were cleaned daily and never a mess during our visit.  We camped here in the fall, so the summer crowds were not gone but I can imagine this park is very popular in the summer. 

We took full advantage of the hiking trails and loved that we could just walk out our door and have access to 18 miles of trails. The hike to Big Sable Lighthouse was beautiful as it wound through the woods and out over the dunes. All the hiking trails are great but be aware that some go through areas open to hunting and we did encounter a couple of deer hunters. The other hike that is really pretty is the Skyline Trail which gives you a great birds-eye view of Lake Michigan and the giant sand dunes. 

Some other great features of this park are the four-mile Canoe Trail that winds through the marsh, access to bank fishing from boardwalks and a very nice boat launch, and two concession/rental pavilions where you can get food and drinks and rent paddleboards, bikes, canoes, row boats, tubes, and kayaks. The parks beach area is the biggest draw and has a large parking lot and bathrooms making access very convenient. 

**Product Review:**

As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I get products to test products and gear from time to time. On this trip to [Ludington State Park](https://www.stateparks.com/ludington_state_park_in_michigan.html), I tried out a pair of [Oofos Women’s OOlala Sandal](https://www.oofos.com/collections/womens-oolala-sandal/products/womens-sandal-oolala-satin-marsala?variant=19099972037). 

The very first thing you notice about these shoes is how the thick and soft the foam is and how shock absorbent they are.  These are ohhhh so squishy and comfortable! You will also feel the tremendous arch support which I have never found in flip flops or sandals before. This is such a welcomed feeling since I suffer from plantar fasciitis and the arch support alleviates this pain and is feels great under my high arches. At Ludington State Park, I spent a lot of hours hiking and jogging so after long periods of exercise, I slipped on these shoes and got amazing relief and comfort as if I was walking on clouds.

The sandals are roomy and comfortable and I didn’t feel like the strap was too tight or too loose across my foot. The size I ordered ran true to the size and width I normally wear. There are lots of color and style choices that will appeal to a wide range of people. I choose the marsala color and really like the way they look. The price may be higher than other brands of flip flops or sandals but I think you will be amazed and the ergonomics design of this shoe that is also stylish and so comfortable. I did have a bit of trouble adjusting to the strap that runs between my toes as it was wider than what I was used to. But after a few days my feet seemed to adjust and all was well. 

Another reason to buy a pair is that this company donates $10 of every pair of the Project Pink collection sold to breast cancer treatment research. You just have to love a company with a philanthropic attitude. I would definitely recommend these shoes for anyone, especially those with foot pain and wanting extra support. They were recommended to me and I want to pass on that recommendation as they are everything as advertised on the website.

Ranger Review:  Oofos Women’s OOlala Sandals at Ludington State Park, MI 

On Lake Michigan, as well as next to Hamlin Lake. There is a river between the two (but a dam at the beginning by Hamlin) that is all easily accessible. Lighthouse, dunes and woods for hiking. Paved paths for biking. Kayaking on any of the water. Town is nearby for any food, shopping, etc. Campsites are big enough but close and there are several.

Gorgeous location, packed campground

Ludington offers both modern campsites and backcountry hike-in sites. We opt for the hike-in sites because they're very spacious and private, with easy access to Lake Michigan. There are 10 backcountry sites, which share two pit toilets and a water pump. Each site has a fire pit and a picnic table, and the park offers firewood delivery daily so you don't have to hike with it. If you need showers or flush toilets they are a 1 mile hike away in the main campground. The hike to the sites is very easy as it's also the sand path to the Big Sable Lighthouse. Crossing the path and going over a small sand dune will land you right on the beach. These sites are very popular because they're so great, so I would highly recommend reserving 6 months in advance for any summer weekends.

Spacious and Private Hike-In Sites

This is an awesome campground. We had a great spot where we could hike up the dunes and see the sunset. Definitely would stay here again. 

Beautiful!

3 campgrounds in one. If you want to be near Lake Michigan, more in the woods or near Lost Lake. my favorite is Beechwood near Lost Lake/Hamlin Lake.  Bring your boat or kayak or rent them from Hamlin Beach. 

Must book 6 months out unless you get lucky when someone cancels. Family friendly activities daily! 

The wildlife is amazing! Deer everywhere! Just watch out for those raccoons! They are aggressive and not afraid of people. Tent campers be sure to keep food in your vehicle if you want anything left by morning!


Best state park!

You’ll want to book early in the season, otherwise you won’t be lucky enough to get a campsite. There are many trails for hiking and biking, two separate beaches (one on Lake Michigan and one on hamlin lake), a perfect spot to float down the river, and nice walk to the lighthouse, and not a far drive from beautiful downtwon Ludington. Lud state park is one I’ll always come back to!

One of my favorite campgrounds to visit, along with a beautiful beach. 

Most campgrounds you go to have grass on the sites. The majority of the sites we saw were completely dirt including ours. They have a ton of sites, but they're right on top of each other. We enjoyed the walk to the lighthouse. We thought it would be nice for someone that has difficultly walking that far and through sand if they had a shuttle like service for handicap or disabled people.

Dirt everywhere

This state park is truly beautiful. Great dunes hiking and kayak spots.

The RV area was crazy crowded when I visted. Kids running around everywhere. Enough people that it's as busy as a city block. This was late July, it's probably like that all summer.

Gorgeous park, crowded camping

Beautiful

Ludington State Park is comprised of 5,300 acres of scenic sand dunes, sandy beaches, the iconic Big Sable Point Lighthouse, wetlands, marshlands and forests. It is situated between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan with several miles of beautiful shoreline along both lakes. A one-mile stretch of the Big Sable River runs through the park and provides excellent opportunities for fishing, paddling and tubing. The park has more than 21 miles of marked hiking trails through dunes, forests and wetlands. For the more adventurous paddlers, the park’s 4-mile canoe trail through Hamlin Lake and its bordering marshlands, provides a challenging trip. A boat launch is available for access to the 5,000-acre Hamlin Lake.

The park is home to three modern campgrounds, including Pines, Cedar and Beechwood, with a combined total of 360 campsites and three mini cabins. The Cedar Campground includes eight tent-only sites that are located on a separate loop. These tent sites do not have electricity, but are within walking distance of the restrooms and showers.

The iconic Big Sable Point Lighthouse is open for tours May through October and is maintained by the non-profit Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association. In addition, volunteer lighthouse keepers come to stay for two weeks and help staff the visitor center and gift shop. A fee is required to climb to the top of the lighthouse.





Love Love Love this state park!

We have camped here for generations. Absolutely love this place. So much to do! Kids love tubing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, hiking, and campfires. The park also has special programs and activities all week long. There is little cell signal so it is a great place to turn off the electronics and just relax. We have tried many state campgrounds but this is the only one we keep coming back to. This park has just so much to offer everyone.

The perfect peaceful spot!

A very busy campground with lots of things to do. I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet it was during quiet hours.

Very well maintained family campground, with very pleasant staff.

Ludington State Park is a state gem. From spacious camping spaces and super clean amenities to water activities and trails galore this place jas it all. For every age there are daily park activities the entire family can enjoy. Learn about Lake Michigan or how to identify poison ivy out on the trails. Ludington State Park is also a great place to enjoy the famous Lake Michigan Sand Dunes. Skylime trail showcases the very best of the park shoreline all the way back to town. Oh did I mention the lighthouse. Hike or bike there you can climb to the top and see for miles. Staying at the campground? There are three very different ones to choose from. Each with shower/bathroom facilities cleaned twice daily with lost of hot water. Don't have a camper you can tent camp at any spot or hike in to go rustic. Don't have any gear? They offer small cabins in each camp area for those who can't rough it too much. Oops we need toothpaste...don't worry the park store is in walking distance from all campsites for all your camping needs. From Bugspray and hotdogs to firewood and raingear they have you covered. Oh last but not least amazing sunsets every clear night. From water the land Ludington has it all. It's right in out home state and we love it.

Home away from home!!

Having never been to Michigan before, this campground shows how beautiful the state is. The campground was lovely and beautiful. Other campers were respectful and even after leaving my IPhone in the restroom someone actually turned it in. You can ride bikes, you can kayak, you can walk some trails, float down a river, or go to Lake Michigan.  Restrooms were nice. There are also sand dunes and a lighthouse within walking distance of campground. If it wasn’t so cold there in the winter, it would be my ideal place to live. 

I loved this campground 

It is a great campground for a base camp! It is right next to Hamlin lake which has canoe &amp; kayak trails. Very beautiful scenery. The hiking trails through the forest and dunes are excellent

Excellent for canoening and hiking!

Right in between Lake Hamlin and Lake Michigan. The perfect spot to do literally anything. Ridiculous amount of trails, wildlife everywhere and so many spots to camp. Beaches and sand dunes and forest trails, lighthouses. Literally everything. We always make it a point to come visit at least once a season, if not more in the warmer months. 

Favorite Park in MI

Make sure to book a site near the dunes. This place is perfect and books up quickly.

Perfect dune camping

Every we come up to Ludington State Park for our annual camping trip with my parents and Sister. It is a great place to be as a family. The sights are right on top of one another as is typical in Michigan State Parks but when you get a few sites it works out really well(it is my reasoning of 4 stars). Nice camp store, lots of hiking and swimming!

Yearly Family Camping

This is one of my favorite State Parks’s in Michigan. Lots to see and do! Can’t wait to go back there!!

Always a favorite

Absolutely fantastic place to camp. They just about cover everything you could ever ask for in a state campground. You have to book your dates far in advance to get in here, but for obvious reasons. A+ camping experience!!

One of the best campgrounds in Michigan

This campground easily has the best beach I have ever been to in Michigan. 

It’s vast, has plenty of space and parking. The sand is always pure without straw or trash. There is a playground nearby and a very unique river running out to Lake Michigan. I witnessed a proposal the last time I was camping in the area. Family friendly, and serves great ice cream at its beach store. 

Could use a few more volleyball courts but overall it’s fantastic. 

Only major concern is the horse flies near the river running into Lake Michigan. The dunes nearby have hordes of flies that bite. Be warned! Haha. 

Best Beach Ever

This campground is beautiful, don’t get me wrong. But trying to get a site is next to impossible since they’ve outsourced reservations. Camped there every year since I was born for 18 years and have so many good memories. Back then you could pull up and reserve your site for the following year right then and there. It was sooo simple! Now the price has skyrocketed to camp and can’t even get a site. Sucks, but is what it is. Wish I could say we’d be back, but not sure. Would like to someday so my kids can experience the campground I grew up on!

Disappointed

I have been to several state parks and most are very similar but Ludington State Park isn’t like any that I have been to. There is so much to do without even leaving the park. &amp; there is a dog beach right next to the day beach area which is a huge plus! 

Beautiful State Park

This gem of a state park is phenomenal. Camped here in cabins three times over two winters. Cabins with bunks (will sleep 5 total), mini fridge, electricity and heat. Outside pit toilet. Hiking trails are some of the best. Beautiful lighthouse, dunes, beach, inland lake (Hamlin Lake), river and Lake Michigan. Very quiet and snow-covered in winter. Gets very busy in summer. So many activities for all ages. Kayak rentals in summer. Great fishing. Guided snowshoe tours and lamp light snowshoe hikes in winter are awesome. Camp store. Several playgrounds. Beautiful new beach house. 

Winter cabin and snowshoeing/hiking

This is one of the best state campgrounds in michigan. There is lots of wildlife and 352 campsites at this campground. There are lots of things to do in the area like hiking and water sports. 

Best campground in michigan

This state park is huge.  There are a lot of hiking and biking trails. There is access to Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan.  The sites are not huge, but not too bad.  You can also kayak and tube down the river. There is a light house that you can hike to and tour.

Best State Park in Michigan

we stayed one night, arriving late after mechanical troubles, we missed out on all the park has to offer, which turned out to be more than we had expected.  
Had to catch the ferry the next morning, but from what we saw, and from talks with people staying there who were regulars, a place we want to go back to.

we want to go back

This is one of my favorite campgrounds! Full service with bathrooms, showers and camp store. You have easy access to Lake Hamlin and Lake Michigan for great swimming. Float down the creek to Lake Michigan or go hiking to the light house. There is so much to do here and it has easy access to Ludington for groceries or restaurants. It is a large campground and not a lot of privacy. We prefer the loop closest to Lake Hamlin. The walk in sites are also great for a backpacking light experience but they are truly walk-in by about 1 mile. 

Family favorite 

Reservations were in Pine
Our site was under water

Tanya was kind enough to move us to Cedars

Large sites
Camp store in Cedars
No WiFi
Beechwood had best reception 
Bathrooms seemed to be closed getting cleaned when I went down

Electric and water ONLY
Off premise dump station- approximately 3 miles away

Lots of bike trails
Lots of hikes
Sable Lighthouse a must see

Cedar Campground has the largest sites

Loved this park, loved all the trails and the designated dog beach was a huge perk! With as much beach front as there is here, I wish the dog beach would have been a bit bigger, but still a dog friendly place. The sites were a little closer together than I prefer, but still nice /wooded/quiet! 

Great park with lots of trails 

Although this campground is a little crowded and busy, the park itself makes up for it. The double lakes make for unique hiking trails, including one that wraps through islands over water! The fall colors are so beautiful too. 

Beautiful fall colors and amazing hikes

As far as campgrounds go, this one is pretty good. If you don’t need seclusion, privacy, quiet and you want amenities (hookups, clean bathrooms and showers, general store) then check this place out. The surrounding area is beautiful with hiking, biking, kayaking etc. The campground has 3 sections, all sandwiched between Lake Michigan and Hamlin lake. 

Great for families

Great cabin for winter camping. Electricity, heat, microwave, mini fridge. 2 sets of bunks, sleeps 5. Table with chairs. Wonderful hiking. 

Photos of Cedar Campground — Ludington State Park

Real photos from real campers