Burt Lake State Park Campground offers spacious camping sites on the shores of 17,120-acre Burt Lake in northern Michigan. The park's elevation of approximately 600 feet above sea level provides water access with nearby forest cover. Sites in the west loop feature lake views with open, grassy areas that accommodate both tent and RV camping. Most glamping options near Alanson, Michigan are seasonal operations running from May through October.
What to do
Bike the Little Traverse Wheelway: The 23.5-mile paved trail runs near several campgrounds, including Petoskey KOA. "Cycling dream trails," notes one visitor, while another mentions, "We wanted to figure out the best scenic bike route to get into Petoskey and beyond toward Charlevoix to go along the shorelines as much as possible."
Visit Mackinac Island: Make a day trip from Tee Pee Campground, which offers views of the Mackinac Bridge. "We realized we forgot pillows and a few other essentials and were able to make a 20-30 minute drive to Cheboygan to Walmart," shares a visitor. The campground is "conveniently located to Mackinaw City and the shuttle boats to Mackinac Island."
Enjoy water recreation: Burt Lake provides excellent opportunities for boating and fishing. One camper at Aloha State Park Campground notes, "Great Park, we always try to park in the boat basin. Indian River is the best area to cruze on the water." The park sits on Mullett Lake, connected to Burt Lake via the Inland Waterway.
What campers like
Large, well-spaced sites: Burt Lake State Park Campground receives praise for its accommodating sites. "Lots were easy to back into. Lot sizes are huge! Nearly every lot down the hill (west loop) has a nice view of the lake," notes one camper. Another adds, "Camp site was HUGE! I believe ours was like 40x65!"
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the area maintain good standards. A visitor to Young State Park Campground comments, "The facilities were clean and the grounds themselves were a pleasure to walk around. The camp store was the best stocked one I've seen yet."
Proximity to towns: The area offers easy access to nearby communities. "The campground is very convenient to downtown Petoskey but the traffic on Hwy. 31 can be horrible at peak times," notes one camper. Another visitor adds, "The park is a typical KOA with tons of amenities and things going on."
What you should know
Campground size affects experience: Some parks can get crowded in peak season. A visitor to Petoskey KOA notes, "This is a nice KOA with nice facilities and amenities. We camped there in July and our first impression when we drove in was 'wow, this place is busy!'"
Site selection matters: When booking at Burt Lake State Park, consider that "some lots are a little off to themselves in a corner, if you want more privacy or peace and quiet." At Magnus Park, "sitting between the town and the water, the backside of the camp area is the hospital with loud cooling fan towers running constantly."
Limited phone service: At some campgrounds, connectivity can be limited. One camper at Burt Lake State Park mentions, "Horrible phone service...but, maybe that's a good thing ;)" This can be a consideration for those needing to stay connected.
Tips for camping with families
Look for recreation amenities: Chandler Hill Campground gets high marks from families. "We've camped here for two years in a row and we LOVE it! Everyone is so friendly. Camp sites are nicely spread out and our 4 kids have a ball. They just updated their playground area as well!"
Consider seasonal activities: Young State Park offers special programs. "We were here for the halloween weekend. They did a great job with the trick or treating by shutting down all vehicle traffic and by having a site decorating contest," shares one camper who received second place in the contest.
Choose a park with beach access: For families with children, water access is important. At Burt Lake State Park, "If you like the beach, you'll easily get out in the water over 100 yards and still be safe (roughly 3 feet or so). Bring your kayaks too."
Tips from RVers
Check hookup details: Before booking, verify what utilities are available. One camper notes about Burt Lake State Park, "There is no water or sewer hook up. The lot lines are strange, they run on an angle. Bring extension cords for the electric service."
Consider maintenance and amenities: At Petoskey RV Resort, facilities can vary. "If you have a big Class A RV and need a full hook up and a pool, this place will work. We paid $165 a night and were surprised that it was just a gated community for RVs with a pool," shares one visitor who found some amenities weren't functioning.
Look for level sites: Site conditions affect setup ease. "Our site was level, paved and had a paved patio and was full hook-up with cable and WiFi," notes a visitor to Petoskey KOA, while another at Petoskey RV Resort mentioned, "Our site had a nice paved pad, but it wasn't level and the concrete was painted so we were slipping off the levelers."
