Bay City State Park Campground offers a variety of seasonal options for glamping near Auburn, Michigan. Located along the Saginaw Bay shoreline of Lake Huron, this area sits at a modest elevation of 585 feet and experiences warm summers with highs in the 80s and cold winters with frequent snowfall. The terrain is mostly flat with sandy beaches and forested areas, making it popular for family-oriented camping across multiple seasons.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Bay City State Park Campground has water access points for anglers. "We saw white egrets blue heron, sand pipers and their babies. There is a long paved bike path we had a dear pass within 6 feet of us and enjoyed hiking out to the watch towers," notes Jennifer H.
Winter recreation: Seasonal activities extend beyond summer months. "If you're looking for the great outdoors, in the middle of nowhere camping, this is not it. But if you want a fun time with the kids, I would recommend it," says Matt S., highlighting the park's year-round appeal.
Geocaching adventures: The park offers geocaching opportunities for treasure hunters of all ages. "They have campground hosts that facilitate free activities organized by the park. We did a kids craft and enjoyed hot cocoa or coffee Saturday morning and then returned after dinner for Back-to-School bingo and popcorn," reports Sarah S.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground maintains high standards of cleanliness. "Rangers working the area are very friendly. Many options to choose from in terms of camping, from rustic, tent to fully functional cabin lodging. Bathrooms are well spaced between the campsites you, and have showers along with some vending machines outside of them," writes Nathan V.
Campsite layout: The spacing between sites varies by location. "The sites near the entrance are very crowded together and filled with large loud groups. (please don't park any extra vehicles hanging out over the road…)," reports Deb M. about Bay City, showing that site selection matters.
Evening programs: River View Campground & Canoe Livery offers organized activities. "Everyone seemed to abide by the noise curfews around 11 pm and it seemed rather quiet through the night given the amount of campers around. The rustic sites along the river in section 'N' were very large and spacious spots," notes Phil M.
What you should know
Electricity access: Extension cords may be necessary at some sites. "Make sure to come with an extension cord - one member of our party had their power halfway into their neighbor's site through a bunch of bushes," advises Deb M. about Bay City.
Site booking strategy: Pine Ridge RV Campground offers varied site sizes. "Some camp sites are squished up to others. Other camp sites have plenty of room. So when you are stuck in a spot that is tight it kind of ruins the experience. Weird thing is, the bugger sites are the same price," mentions Kristin T.
Late check-in process: Some parks accommodate late arrivals. "We came in late for just a place to rest before heading further north. Drop box available after 10pm(summer). Between 8p-10p there is a yellow phone to check in with. Can book day of until 8pm online," explains Tanner G. about Bay City.
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly amenities: Covenant Hills Camp caters to families with children. "We had a large group of families with varying ages and abilities. We used multiple different styles of cabins and a few RV sites, as well as various buildings for activities. All in all, it was an incredible time and I highly recommend it," writes Heather M.
Playground considerations: Facilities for children vary by location. "The playground is extremely outdated and rarely used — it's telling that you almost never see kids riding bikes or playing in the park," notes Kris H. about Pine Ridge, suggesting families might prefer other options.
Activity planning: Family glamping near Auburn often involves scheduled programming. "The grounds were well maintained for a rustic campground but, bathrooms and meeting buildings were adequately upgraded and offered pleasant amenities, such as a game room, large gym and decent air conditioning," Heather M. mentions about Covenant Hills.
Tips from RVers
Hookup challenges: Otter Lake Park Campground offers various site types. "The sites do not have grass so it is a bit messy- may be tough for larger units to navigate around. Campground is small and the people are nice," cautions Andrea B.
Site selection priorities: RV glampers should research specific sites. "Nice pull through sites, some are tight, but none are impossible. Knowledgeable and friendly staff. There's private land on either side and a dirt bike track that the neighbor owns on the north end, so if you've got a light afternoon napper, stay away from that end," advises Mitchell C. about Pine Ridge.
Power management: Electrical capacity varies between parks. "The park needs to upgrade the electrical system as this was putting a strain on their electrical equipment," notes Amy D. about Sleepy Hollow, suggesting RVers be prepared with surge protectors.
