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

Orchard Beach State Park Campground

The bathrooms are clean, the staff is friendly, and the lake views are spectacular. Plus, the cute town of Manistee is nearby with three gorgeous public beaches, tasty restaurants, and ample shopping. Unfortunately, the sites are as compact and close together as possible. I usually enjoy the aroma of a campfire, but in the evening if all the sites are full, a smogtacular smoke cloud hovers over this campground - if you have breathing sensitivities then sleep will be difficult. Due to erosion, the stairs to the beach have been closed which forces campers to conglomerate even more closely together.

Crowded camping

This was a great location to stop over for a rest day on my bicycle trip. After setting up camp I walked down the road to the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. I didn't see many birds but I did get to see a giant sequoia and Michigan's' champion sycamore maple trees. I followed the path down to the beach and walked back to camp along the water. The sound of the waves massaging the sandbanks is very relaxing. The beauty of this state park as well as the area around it were relaxing.

Orchard Beach State Park

This was a very nice campground, although it was pretty crowded and noisy. The facilities were nice, but very hard to keep clean when that full of people. Our favorite part was the trails down to the lake, and the beautiful overlook spots!

Nice campground 

This is a clean and beautiful campground nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan however due to high water levels there is no longer beach access.  You need to drive to the beach. The lots are very large and mostly grass. The sites on the southern end of the campground have amazing views of the lake. The pull through sites are the best.  Be careful as some fire pits are very close to other campers. 

No beach access

Pretty standard Michigan State Park campground. Nice staff. Park maintenance is currently building a wood fence to keep folks away from steep bluff edge. Views of Lake Michigan fairly limited.  If these were improved, this would be a much more popular park. I was very disappointed that their stairs to beach had been eroded near its base so you could no longer access beach but had to drive to one of two local beaches. I stayed one night and unfortunately had to camp next to a group who had a very barky, anxious large dog. Some folks need to leave their poorly trained dogs at home.

no beach access

We booked three neighboring sites on the interior of the loop for some group tent camping. The sites were generous, clean, grassy, with moderate tree cover. Theres an awesome grass avenue that runs down the middle of the sites in the inner loop, marked off so there are no tents in the area, but it gives you great removal from the campers behind you, and allows for all manner of games (KanJam, cornhole, ladders, etc).

The bathrooms are kept beautifully, there are great pavilions to gather under when it rains (which it did for an entire day of our trip), and the beach is stunning (small, but stunning).

Excellent site for group trips

Nicely shaded and decent state park, which is surprising for the limited area. There are stairs down to the “beach area” that is maybe a foot of shore. There’s a beach down the road further if you want, but it stunk like rotten fish. Still the facility was clean and moderately quiet. 

Decent State Park

This campground has the best views. The sites closest to the lake are right on the bluff. There are stairs to walk down to get to the water. When we went the water was very high so there wasn’t really a beach. Such a great place to watch the sunset

Great views

Not much to do other than looking at the beautiful Lake Michigan. Rocking as well. Off of a busy road. Great campground for landing along a route. 

Lake Michigan Lookout 

We loved the views from this campground but the campground itself doesn't have much to do. 

We went with a group of vintage campers so enjoyed our time and was nice to use the covered/enclosed pavilion area. 

The stairs were closed so not able to access beach. 

We loved doing the natural wonders tour while we were up there! Kids loved finding natural springs, seeing the over views, gravity hill and more! I highly recommend doing it if your visiting the area! 

Beautiful view not a lot to do 

I only stayed here because it was really close to a race I was running. To be Honest, this place wasn’t overly impressive. The sites were really small and not wooded, the beach was really rocky and difficult to get to, and also it down poured majority of our visit. I’d give this place 3 stars at best, even if it hadn’t rained. There are so many better places to stay in the area, opt for one of those. 

Weather put a damper 

We were here over July 4 in mini cabin. We had been back country camping before that so were happy to have a cabin for a couple nights. Mini cabin is at tip of park with nice view of lake Michigan sunsets. Cabin had mini fridge, coffee pot, ceiling fan, and I think a heater for winter. 2 sets of sturdy bunk beds. Camp sites were packed with RVs and tents. I don't think I've ever seen a more crowded camp ground. Many campers brought their own bikes, kayaks, boats so there must be lake access nearby but definitely not from this park. Beach inaccessible due to high lake waters. Outhouse was clean and well maintained. Showers a short walk away. 

Stayed in cabin in this heavy RV park

Due to high waters the past few years there is no beach. This is still a family favorite and perfect if you want to go into Manistee. 

No Beach access anymore

Great campground. Very well maintained. Nice spacious sites, not a ton of trees. There is a nice hiking trail across the street. Only drawback is that there is not beach here anymore. You have to drive to get to the lake, erosion has completely caused the beach access to disappear. 

Up north camping 

It was amazing staying here! It was my first time camping in 10 years! I plan on staying again!  So close to Lake Michigan 

Amazing 

Large packed campground. You are free to parks/pitch tent anyway you like in your site. Most are fairly level but the ones around the outside edge are a mixed bag of flat to rather sloped.  We had site 6 and had to park our teardrop on a hill. 

If you are camping in a group and get adjoining sites you can arrange campers to face each other. We used the campground as a base to explore The NW corner of lower Michigan. 

Experience depends upon what you are looking for  

Beautiful clean camping area. Lots of shade trees. The bathhouse was tidy, hot showers. Plenty of room for our big tent, supplies, and two cars. Even our dog had a tent.  The area was busy, but not annoying. By 10pm, it was quiet. Unfortunately the stairway to the beach was closed due to high lake levels. I enjoyed my stay. 

Excellent sunsets!

Camp Ground was clean and friendly. Sites were pretty close together. Great view of Lake Michigan. No beach access. No WiFi or Cell service. No pool or store. 

Boring Camp Ground

Definitely read the descriptions of campgrounds and do your research before staying here. We did and it paid off!! This park does not have a beach anymore and will bot ever probably. It was washed away by the waves and is inaccessible here. You must travel 4 miles away to Douglas park to use a beach. Anyway, we apparently had the best site in the entire campground. Site 53, was clean and beautifel for viewing the sunset and privacy. Our site faced east i to the woods as we didn't have neighbors on that side. We were also the highest campsite, so we could see everything in the end of the campground. Other sites are really jam packed ontop of each other, especially at the corner where 108, 52 and 54 are situated. 
We only stayed here to visit Ludington because that park was fully booked online but in person was half booked. 
Would not recommend if you enjoy activities outside of the campground. 

Quiet campground, not a beach at all.

Our family and I stayed in campsite B at Orchard Beach, it is a new rustic campsite and it is on top of a hill. It was clean and spacious.
The bathroom is a pretty distant walk so prepare for that. But the bathrooms and showers are clean.
You will need some good tent stakes as the ground is hard clay.
We would absolutely stay again.

Good stay!

Large open spaces, partially shaded 
Nice breeze off the Lake Michigan 
Great sunsets