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Silver Lake State Park Campground

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

Sand dunes, lake swimming, and ORV access put Silver Lake State Park Campground squarely on the itinerary for campers who want activity close at hand. Situated in Mears, Michigan, the park sits within reach of the Silver Lake Off Road Vehicle Area, where both foot traffic and off-road vehicles share the dunes. The Little Sable Point Lighthouse, built in 1874, is also accessible from the park, and nearby outfitters rent pontoon boats, kayaks, and dune buggies for those who want more options on the water or sand.

The campground is laid out in loops on both sides of the main road, and that road runs narrow enough that arriving after dark can complicate setup. Sites on the lake side are consistently preferred by campers, and as Christie V. puts it, "definitely want to stay on the water side if you can get a campsite." Shade is plentiful, with large trees covering most of the dirt sites. That canopy keeps temperatures noticeably cooler inside the campground than outside it, which can be welcome in summer heat but worth knowing if you need sun for solar panels.

Site spacing is tight. Reviewers consistently note that sites feel cramped during peak season, with multiple setups crowding adjacent lots. Electric hookup placement varies by site, and at least one reviewer found the box positioned on the wrong side for their RV configuration, requiring an extension cord. Power poles are sometimes shared between sites. Bathrooms are cleaned daily and include unisex shower stalls. Erin H. notes that "sites were very level for trailers," which is useful for RV campers concerned about setup on uneven ground.

Reservations fill fast, especially around holidays and summer weekends. Cell coverage is workable on Verizon but sparse on T-Mobile and Sprint-based networks. The park is open year-round and accepts pets. A party store is located just down the street for resupply. Campers looking for places to camp around Silver Lake State Park have nearby options as well, including Dune Town Camp Resort and MI Base Camp/Silver Lake RV Rentals for campers who want a different setup in the same area.

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Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

Check in your campsite reservation and occupy your campsite no later than 3 p.m. one day after your scheduled arrival date to avoid being automatically cancelled. If you need to arrive later, you must adjust your arrival date by calling 1-800-44(PARKS) or by going on-line to www.midnrreservations.com . If you don't check in or update your arrival date, our system will automatically cancel your reservation and youll incur the loss of two nights' fees, the non-refundable reservation fee, $10 cancellation fee and the reduced-stay fee. Staff are unable to override this process.

RV Road Trip Guides

Map & DirectionsSilver Lake State Park Campground is located in Michigan near Mears

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

Follow US-31 to the Hart or Shelby exit then follow signs to Silver Lake State Park Campground.

Address

9679 W State Park Rd
Mears, MI 49436

Coordinates

43.66163719397009 N
86.49492738502272 W

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Connectivity

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    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

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Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

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

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups

Drive Time


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Reviews24 Camper Reviews - Silver Lake State Park Campground

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5 Stars

4 Stars

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2 Stars

1 Star

38%
33%
21%
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4.0

out of 5

24 Reviews

Many campers appreciated the excellent location with beach access, clean facilities, and large shaded sites. However, noise from off-road vehicles and late-night activities was a recurring concern, making this better suited for those seeking an active rather than peaceful camping experience.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile
Reviewed Jul. 4, 2026

Great Spot!

I've camped here twice, and the experience was great both times. Restrooms/showers are nice and clean, and there are plenty of electrical outlets at each site. Beautiful views of the lake, and close to nearby shops.

Site11
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Sean M., July 4, 2026
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Sean M., July 4, 2026
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Sean M., July 4, 2026
Reviewed May. 29, 2024

Nice and clean, but one and done

Nice large site with clean restrooms and friendly staff. Very busy however and right on the road causing traffic noise late into the night. Quick walk to beach area. Play area for older kids, not so much for younger ones. One and done for us.

Site19
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Holly G., May 29, 2024
Reviewed Aug. 2, 2021

Close to dunes

Mainly RV’s. Little privacy. Shaded. It’s close to dunes which is its only saving Grace.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 4, 2021

Not a fan

I wasn’t a fan of this campground. Silver Lake and the beach are the main attraction here. It’s also close to the sand dunes as well. The sites were not that big and most of the sites are electric only. Our electric box for our site was in the front passenger side of the lot. Aren’t most RV plugs in the rear driver side? Any way when I went to complain the response I got was basically “oh well”. Ended up having to buy a $75 extension cord so we could stay here. We also had poison ivy all over our site. Probably won’t be back.

Site204
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Clint , July 4, 2021
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Clint , July 4, 2021
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Clint , July 4, 2021
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Jun. 25, 2021

Beautiful Dunes

Incredibly tight spots making it difficult to back campers into. Multiple vehicles, tents, etc at a majority of sites making it feel even tighter. Nicely shaded, deep fire rings, and very clean. Great playground, right next to the beach.

Site83
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Amy B., June 25, 2021
Reviewed Oct. 18, 2020

Great location near the dunes

This is a good-sized campground with loops on either side of the road. None of the sites offer much privacy and in the busy season you can feel pretty packed in. But the location is awesome due to its proximity to the Silver Lake Off Road Vehicle Area, Lake Michigan, Silver Lake and the Little Sable Point Lighthouse. 

If you are into off-roading across sand dunes, this is the park to stay at, although this isn't by any means a quiet place to getaway. In addition to the dunes, which are available to off-road vehicles and pedestrians to enjoy, there's another part of the park that has a cool lighthouse from 1874 and there are some nice views all around the park. 

Cell service was decent on Verizon but non-existent for a Google Fi phone (which uses Spring and T-Mobile towers). 

Make sure you check your rig size against the site you are planning gon reserving as many sites have odd shapes or require some maneuvering due to the placement of trees and fire pits. Also, be aware that the road through the campground is quite narrow so you'll need to take your time and, if at all possible, arrive when you still have daylight available to see everything. 

Note that 20 and 30 amp is available at all sites, but you often are sharing a power pole with several other sites.

Bathrooms were in good shape and offer unisex shower stalls outside the restrooms, which is always nice.

Site79
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Ari A., October 18, 2020
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Ari A., October 18, 2020
Reviewed Aug. 17, 2020

Busy, wooded campground on a beautiful lake and dunes

This state park is on Silver Lake, and close to Lake Michigan. There are dunes between Silver Lake and Lake Mchigan, with a large ORV area. The ORV crowd dominates this busy, but nicely wooded campground. So lots of traffic as people are taking their Jeeps, trucks and dune buggies out to the dunes constantly. We were there this summer, during Covid pandemic, and found most campers refused to wear a mask to the restrooms. Aside from that, we enjoyed a spacious shady site at an end of a loop, and enjoyed a mid-week stay with no loud neighbors! We enjoyed the beach at Little Sable Lighthouse, a 5 minute drive from the park instead of the shallow, sandy but crowded (for a pandemic) beach on Silver Lake within the state park. Mac Woods Dune Rides is a super fun ride on the dunes, and only a few minutes away.

Site220
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jul. 31, 2020

Amazing lake shore

Standard state park amenities... when we arrived we were surprised how small the trail was to get tour site, but it was really packed with people. The beach area was amazing and looking out onto silver lake with the dunes in the background was unbelievable. They had a nice playground with a rope type climbing set up. I’ve attached a photo. We signed up for the sand dune rides which were available in town. Very fun and worth the money if you don’t feel confident driving your own truck in the dunes. This was a multi stop trip and did not want to take a chance with our tow vehicle but could see ourselves doing a full weekend here and giving it a try. It does attract a lot of people so it is not quite the restful camping we did on the rest of our trip but very enjoyable none the less

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  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Marc W., July 31, 2020
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Marc W., July 31, 2020
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Jul. 30, 2019

Family Fun

There are two sides to the state park. One is the water side on Silver Lake and the other is across the street. Definitely want to stay on the water side if you can get a campsite. Must book well in advance. Most amazing piece of real estate on the coast. The lake is shallow for quite a ways and the kids can wade out into the swimming area at the beach. Sandy bottom and clean water. Clean bathrooms and updated play ground. Beautiful view of the dunes. Lots to do in the area as well. MacWoods Dune rides, Pontoon boat/Jet Ski rental, little Sable Lighthouse (also a state park), Craig’s Cruisers Family fun center (go carts, mini golf, bumper boats etc..)

  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Christie V., July 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Christie V., July 30, 2019
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Christie V., July 30, 2019
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Jul. 5, 2019

Awesome place, but not for young ones!

If you are an adult with other adult friends... this is the place to be. However, if you have young children, this place can get a bit rowdy and loud due to the type of campers it attracts. Fantastic views of the dunes, easy access to everything, nice beach on Silver Lake. This is a total party place!

Reviewed May. 24, 2019

Nice

Nice busy park but on the water on the one side. Great location to the dunes. Fun area to camp when there for the dunes.

Reviewed Oct. 15, 2018

Dune Rides!

We had a blast on the dunes at Silver Lake. You can get an off road vehicle tag there. We took the Jeep but there were people there in all sorts of off-road capable vehicles. It is a nice way to get an adrenaline rush and beautiful views of the lake all at once.

Month of VisitMay
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Reviewed Jul. 30, 2018

Camping and Off Roading wonderland

A variety of campsites, plenty of trees. Boat launch available. Great area for hiking, biking, boating, fishing. Pontoon, kayak, Jeep, sand rail and dune buggy rentals nearby. Amazing sunsets! Popular location for off-road vehicles. Busy on weekends. Reservations fill fast. Great clean restrooms and shower facilities

  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Wendy B., July 30, 2018
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Wendy B., July 30, 2018
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Wendy B., July 30, 2018
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2018

Great location!

This campground is split and on both sides of the road. One side is up by the water and the other side is more wooded. The campground itself is beautiful and the accommodations were clean and well maintained.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Danielle R., July 20, 2018
Reviewed Jul. 16, 2018

On the water

The campground is on Silver Lake and offers a beach and playground for the kids. Full of tall trees for shade and perfect for a hammock beside Silver Lake. There are pavillons for a group to gather, a boat ramp and volleyball court. The camping spaces are close...some are paved. Beautiful view of the dunes. Tight for large campers...better for pop-ups, hybrids and tents.

  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Jennifer H., July 16, 2018
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Jennifer H., July 16, 2018
Reviewed Aug. 31, 2016

Exceptionally beautiful

Dunes and beaches to explore with some wooded areas and a pond. Really nice layout: you camp along a small lake that’s separated from Lake Michigan by a sandy beach. And on top of that it faces west for amazing sunsets. Cute lighthouse. Jeeps on dunes are pretty annoying :( Campsite views are exceptional. Everything’s quiet, clean, well cared for, nice and simple. Sites are mostly pretty open so not much privacy. But the views make it stand way way out.

Reviewed Jul. 22, 2016

Holiday Park Campground

Silver lake is one of the most beautiful areas you can go in all of Michigan. With dunes of it's own, & a perfect, calm crystal lake - it's great for swimming, kayaking and photography. Holiday Park campground was on the south shore of the lake, had a swim area, boat launch, and was immaculate. Pets were allowed and sites were very level for trailers. All sites had electric hook ups and they are sectioned out by environment, like woods, lakeside, up on the ridge line, and there's even island sites. I prefer the lake and island sites if you can get them. There's something about waking up to that lake that is dreamy!

  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Erin H., July 22, 2016
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Erin H., July 22, 2016
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Erin H., July 22, 2016
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2016

Great for the ORV trails

Campsites were pretty standard - fire-ring, picnic table, electrical hookups, but I don't think there was a parking pad. Restrooms & showers were clean. There's a boat ramp in the campground, and a little general store a short walk away. The off-roading was a blast, and there are places to rent jeeps if you don't own a vehicle that can handle it.

The engine revving on the main road and the partying at the campground consistently went pretty late into the night. Even with it being a little noisier than we were expecting, we had a good time. We probably won't be making it back to this campground though.

Reviewed Jun. 27, 2016

Silver Lake State Park

Silver Lake offers sandy dunes for off roading, a beach for swimming and trails. There are many camping sites in which the terrain varies. Restrooms are cleaned daily and there are showers. Silver Lake is a pretty popular park so it can get noisey if you go on a holiday weekend so plan ahead if you want a quieter visit.

  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Noah R., June 27, 2016
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Noah R., June 27, 2016
  • Review photo of Silver Lake State Park Campground by Noah R., June 27, 2016
Reviewed Jun. 7, 2016

lots of off road vehicles

sites: some sites on water. not very private/some trees. many shaded sites. sandy sites. can get noisy. amenities: quite busy. other attractions: metal detecting popular. lighthouse. beach. off road vehicle trails. dunes. swimming. tourist town near. I would go back again.

Reviewed Jun. 5, 2016

Great park and close to dunes

A great location on the west side of michigan with dune or brewpubs to enterain. Great beach at the the campground and boat launch. Great care on the bathrooms with cleanings daily and seperate showers. Great huge trees with shade which makes it cooler at the park than it really is. Great truck with firewood in evenings and so much to do in the dunes with my Jeep I love it here

Reviewed Mar. 28, 2016

My favorite place on earth.

I have been coming to this campground since birth, so for 30 years now. My family has come here since the 70s. The park is in a great location, within walking/biking distance of town. They have a beach for swimming and a boat ramp as well. The bathrooms are cleaned each day and there are plenty of individual showers. The sites are big. The only downside is they are almost all dirt and the trees are large and many so not much sun gets into the campground. It can feel much cooler in the park than outside of it. But that's not a big deal because you will probably not be there much during the day. There is so much to do around silver lake. Renting boats or ORVs, go karting, biking, shipping, Mac Woods dune rides, walking on the dunes, swimming, going to Little Sable Point lighthouse, getting ice cream at Whippy Dip, the list goes on and on. There are a few other campgrounds in town but this is by far the best value and location. They have a firewood truck that drives around and sells wood. Also there is a party store just down the street for any other needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do photos reveal about Silver Lake State Park Campground's facilities and setting?

Silver Lake State Park Campground showcases a beautiful waterfront setting with tall shade trees perfect for hammocks. Photos highlight the sandy beach area on Silver Lake with stunning sunset views, playground facilities for children, and boat launch access. The campground features a mix of wooded sites and lakeside spots, volleyball courts, pavilions for group gatherings, and well-maintained restroom facilities with separate shower areas. The surrounding landscape includes the iconic sand dunes, a lighthouse, and scenic hiking trails, offering a perfect backdrop for outdoor photography.

Where is Silver Lake State Park Campground located relative to the sand dunes?

Silver Lake State Park Campground enjoys a prime location in relation to the famous sand dunes. The campground sits along Silver Lake, which is separated from Lake Michigan by the dune system. This proximity makes it an ideal base for dune adventures, with easy access to the designated off-road vehicle areas popular for Jeeps and dune buggies. The campground's position offers beautiful views of the dunes, and many visitors specifically choose this location for convenient dune recreation. Several rental facilities for off-road vehicles, sand rails, and dune buggies are available nearby for those wanting to explore this unique landscape.

What camping options are available at Silver Lake State Park in Michigan?

Silver Lake State Park offers diverse camping options with sites distributed on both sides of the main road. One section sits closer to the water while the other provides more wooded surroundings. Sites include standard amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and electrical hookups. The terrain is primarily sandy, with some paved sites available. Campsites vary in privacy and shade coverage, with many featuring tall trees perfect for hammocks. Some waterfront sites offer beautiful views of the lake and spectacular sunsets. The campground's popularity means reservations fill quickly, especially during peak season.

What do campers say in reviews about Silver Lake State Park Campground?

Campers consistently praise Silver Lake State Park for its beautiful location and excellent amenities. The campground receives high marks for its clean facilities, with bathrooms and showers cleaned daily. Many appreciate the shade from tall trees that keeps the area cooler, the sandy beach for swimming, and convenient boat launch. While visitors love the proximity to dunes for off-roading adventures, some note that the campground can get noisy and crowded, especially on holiday weekends. Sites vary in privacy, with some directly on the water offering spectacular views. The campground's location within walking/biking distance to town is another highlighted advantage.