Camper submitted image from Otsego Lake State Park Campground - 1
View All
Camper submitted image from Otsego Lake State Park Campground - 2
Nature
Camper submitted image from Otsego Lake State Park Campground - 3
Facilities
Camper submitted image from Otsego Lake State Park Campground - 4
Roads
Camper submitted image from Otsego Lake State Park Campground - 5
Activities

Established Camping

Otsego Lake State Park Campground

Review Campground Win Gear

Do you own or manage this property?

Claim Your Listing

Otsego Lake State Park Campground, near Gaylord, Michigan, is a solid choice for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors with a touch of comfort. The campground offers a nice beach area for swimming and relaxing, along with a dog beach for your furry friends to enjoy.

With sites that come equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, it’s perfect for gathering around the fire after a day of exploring. Visitors have mentioned that the bathrooms and showers are clean, though some could use a bit of an upgrade. As one camper noted, “The park was pretty packed, but it served its purpose well.”

For those who love water activities, the campground features a fishing pier and boat launch, making it easy to get out on Otsego Lake. If you’re up for a little adventure, there are hiking trails nearby, including Pine Baron trails, which are just a short drive away.

While some campers pointed out that the sites can feel a bit close together and that road noise can be an issue, the friendly atmosphere and beautiful surroundings make it a worthwhile spot for families and groups. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, Otsego Lake State Park Campground has plenty to offer for a fun and relaxing getaway.

Description

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

Suggest an Edit

Location

Otsego Lake State Park Campground is located in Michigan

Detail location of campground

Directions

From I-75 South take Exit 270 Waters exit. Turn left onto Marlette Rd then right onto Old 27. The park will be located approximately 3 miles on your left hand side.

Address

7136 Old US Hwy 27 S
Gaylord, MI 49735

Coordinates

44.92828786 N
84.68909367 W

Open in Google Maps

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Fair
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Cabins

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

46%
25%
17%
10%
10%

4.0

out of 5

24 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 12, 2024

Nice surprise

First time camping here. Site 72 had a nice view if the make. Very nice park. Bathrooms s d dhowers ckean for really need to be upgraded. They have a ni. ce dog beach bit no real wslking trails as it is only 64 acres. Very nice beach! Already booked our next trip there.

Site72
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Barbara K., July 12, 2024
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Barbara K., July 12, 2024
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Barbara K., July 12, 2024
Reviewed Jul. 1, 2024

State Park in Gaylord

The park has a small sandy beach the swim area is sandy. The playground needs some updating. A lot of the sites back up to the busy road and you can hear road traffic noise all day and night.

Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Oct. 14, 2023

Not bad in Gaylord area

We visited in mid-October. The campground was fairly empty. One complaint we had was that most of the electrical outlets are shared between 2 or 3 sites. The location of the connection point for our site 75 is on the left side of site 77 and our cable could not reach. (See photo). The other issue is that the campground is very close to the main road and you can hear the traffic. Otsego Lake is a pretty big lake and there is a beach area and even a dog beach section. There is a playground area that also has a small baseball field. There are two water fill stations as you enter the park, which is a good idea (also water and two dump stations on the exit side).

Site75
Month of VisitOctober
Reviewed May. 22, 2023

Bugs were insane

Visited Otsego Lake SP during May and the gnats were relentless. Literally millions by our tent and fire. It was cold so didn’t get to check out the lake but the bathrooms are horribly outdated. This park needs a face lift asap. If you’re going to stay here. Go for site 63 or 64. Gives you lake access

Site64
Month of VisitMay
  • Play button icon
  • Play button icon
Reviewed Jul. 1, 2022

Not great, but serviceable

We bailed out early on our UP vacation, and needed a place to stay - this SP won.  Based on the map, we expected the camping equivalent of an old Motel 6:  that's what we got.  We stayed in the far north loop, site 53.  Nothing on this side of the park loop road is even remotely level.  Power is a single outlet station per 2 campsites, ours was on the left (passenger) side of our camper.  We had to practically park in the site next to us as our power cord is not infinitely long.  Sites are really close together.  The park was pretty packed (trailer+3 cars in many sites - wha???), and made for difficult driving on the road.  The shower house/bathroom was clean, but really old - lots of chipped tiles, janky showers, poor lighting.  Beach area on the North Loop was also less than spectacular.  Again, this was just a place for us to stay a single night, and it served that purpose well.  Would not go back again, unless I was in the same situation.

Site53
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Sep. 19, 2021

Nice park but…….

Site 52 and sites in immediate area was over 12” out of level from front to back. Looked like our camper was doing a wheelie. Check in nobody around signs said use yellow phone on board. Is this safe during covid? I called 800 number listed on board on cell phone the lady was mad and said I had to use yellow phone. Another lady used yellow phone and couldn’t hear the person on the other end. Just a bad system. Never had a camp site so out of level. You can’t see slopes or grades in the reservation pictures.

Site52
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Aug. 15, 2021

Nice state park

This is a state park so the main attraction is the location. It’s on Otsego Lake and has a really nice beach and swimming area. They also have a fishing pier and boat launch. It’s close to Gaylord and the city Elk Park. Bathrooms were in ok condition but not great. Most of the sites were dirt sites. The couple nights we stayed here there were storms so some of the sites had a river running through them including ours. Not too bad of a campground though for a state park.

Site143
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Clint , August 15, 2021
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Clint , August 15, 2021
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Clint , August 15, 2021
  • (16) View All
Reviewed Aug. 6, 2021

Otsego lake county park

Stay in the south lot for a larger sight, the main park is nice, good play area for the kids and nice boat launch

Site66
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Brian H., August 6, 2021
Reviewed Jul. 18, 2021

Worth a visit.

This is a very pretty and well maintained family oriented State Park Campground that's situated on the southern shores of Lake Otsego. About 10 minutes from Gaylord. The lake has that touristy up north lake vibe. Campground is heavily used Memorial day through Labor day. No issues getting a data signal for my phone (T-mobile 5G).

If you're looking to get away from people, this isn't the campground for you. I personally prefer a more of a rustic, the less people the better, type campgrounds.

Site135
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Jason N., July 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Jason N., July 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Jason N., July 18, 2021
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jun. 14, 2021

Otsego Lake State Park

Beautiful park. Every worker was extremely kind and helpful. The bathrooms and showers were clean as was the whole park. Will be coming back here for sure!

Site101
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Hannah P., June 14, 2021
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Hannah P., June 14, 2021
Reviewed Mar. 1, 2021

One of our favorites

Without a doubt this is one of our favorite campgrounds.  It's a bit older, so the campsites are quite large compared to modern campgrounds.  There are huge trees throughout, easily navigable roads, etc.  There are two sections to the park, one a bit smaller with a gorgeous new bathroom.  The other larger section has older facilities, but clean. There are a couple beaches here, some more popular than others.  Since there is a boat launch, kayak rentals, and small café at this state park, it can get busy in the public area during the summer.  The campground is along a paved bike path.  It's not far from the closest town, which has a couple restaurants, shops, etc.  The only drawback to this park is that it abuts a very busy road and can have a fair amount of road noise if you're on that side.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Allison H., March 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Allison H., March 1, 2021
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Allison H., March 1, 2021
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2020

Beautiful

Beautiful scenery. Decent sized sites. We had a blast! Would recommend.

  • Play button icon
Reviewed Apr. 25, 2020

My favorite park

We love this park, great lake, small comfortable park and safe! Great bike riding park for little ones.

Reviewed Aug. 30, 2019

Great views but close to a Hwy

Got into the park late (around 1030) but it was a great clear night. Spacious campsites with both a bench and picnic table. Bathroom with showers was clean. Great views and access to the lake but much closer to Hwy 27S than we thought...could hear cars starting in the AM. Also the Park Ranger Sam was very nice and stayed open a few minutes past close so we were able to register. Thanks!

  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by D G., August 30, 2019
  • Walking along the campsite with a view of the lake
    Play button icon
Reviewed Aug. 28, 2019

Decent mondern state park

A nice park that has a lot of amenities. Basketball court, volleyball net, fishing pier, and bike trails. Bathrooms were kept neat and tidy. Showers were clean and water was hot. Camp staff were friendly and around to answer any questions. Some cons to the state park. The sites are close together, which is to be expected with modern sites. If you want super quite this place won’t be that, there is a busy road old 127. Though the place has a lot of options and things to do. Fishing, biking , boating, and playing at the beach.

  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Rachael D., August 28, 2019
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Rachael D., August 28, 2019
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2019

Great Campground, Clean and Quiet

Otsego Lake is a great campground. It's quiet for a state park, and the sites are roomy. The sites on the outer perimeter have large trees and some have water views. The lake is clean, and in addition to the main beach there is a dog beach and multiple access points away from the crowds. The bathrooms were older but clean and well-maintained. 

There is some easy hiking on the other side of the lake, at Pine Baron trails. We also enjoyed going to nearby Gaylord for mini golf, restaurants, and an elk park.

Site89
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Jess O., July 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Jess O., July 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Jess O., July 25, 2019
Reviewed Oct. 1, 2018

Nice wooded sites

One of my favorite campgrounds. Sites are nice and large with established trees. Be sure to read the site descriptions as several can be uneven. Bathrooms are new on the smaller side of the park.

  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Andrea B., October 1, 2018
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Andrea B., October 1, 2018
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Andrea B., October 1, 2018
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2018

Roomy sites. Lake views

We have been camping here for many years and love it every time. This is the first we'd camped in the fall and enjoyed the solitude. During the summer months it is very busy (especially on weekends) and difficult to get a site unless you reserve well in advance. The sites have been enlarged with plenty of space per site. Most of the sites overlook the lake. It appears the park is upgrading its restrooms with one new, one relatively new and one older one. We enjoy the central location to places we like to visit. We went to the Straits one day, picnicked in a state forest one day, shopped in both Gaylord and Grayling. It's also central to some of the best trout streams in the eastern U.S.

The downside is the sites are all sand. This is a problem when it rains. No matter how hard you try to clean your shoes, you end up tracking in wet, dirty sand.

Site68
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Nick W., September 30, 2018
Reviewed Jul. 14, 2018

Just south of gaylord mi

A great campground about 20 min south of gaylord, on otsego lake, as with most michigan state parks they have nicely taken care of campsites and easy access to bathrooms, the beach from our site was a little bit of a hike but there was easy access to the lake via stairs, electrical is available and there was a good combination of rvs and tents so all are welcome, they offer actinities for kids on the weekends, and they usually have holiday happenings

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Noel S., July 14, 2018
Reviewed Jun. 25, 2018

Nice state campground

Nice paved path through the campground, great for kids riding bikes around camp. They also have a playground with a cool old fashion slide. As far as state parks go, I rate this campground a well although personally I'd prefer a quieter national forest campground with fewer people.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Amy K., June 25, 2018
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Amy K., June 25, 2018
  • Review photo of Otsego Lake State Park Campground by Amy K., June 25, 2018
  • (6) View All
Reviewed May. 22, 2018

Great for families and socializing

This campground is great for families and people in groups. Book far in advancs though. A ton of spots and well maintained amenities (bathrooms, beach area, small general store). Closed during the winter. The large beach area is not dog friendly but at the north end there is a dog designated area for lake access. The lake itself is nice (one of the shallowest in the area), great for boating (motorized and non). There isn’t any hiking in the state park. You’re close enough to town for other activities.

Reviewed May. 8, 2017

Peaceful park.

Otsego Lake provides a needed escape from the city while still being close enough to a happening town that one can camp and get into town for a nice dinner. The lake and campsite are clean. Michigan state parks can't be beat.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Otsego Lake State Park Campground have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Otsego Lake State Park Campground has water hookups and sewer hookups.

  • Are fires allowed at Otsego Lake State Park Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Otsego Lake State Park Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Otsego Lake State Park Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Otsego Lake State Park Campground does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Otsego Lake State Park Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is fair, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is good.