Benzonia offers RV campers convenient access to the Leelanau Peninsula and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Area temperatures range from 70-85°F during summer months with frequent afternoon thunderstorms from June through August. Most campgrounds in this region stay open from May through October, with limited facilities operating year-round.
What to do
Trail access for ORVs: Manton Trails RV Park provides direct trail access for off-road vehicle enthusiasts. "Great campground. Booked two nights and had to request a third it was so perfect. We went up because it advertised ORV access right from campsite. It's really handy to not have to trailer over to the trailheads," notes Jen L.
Lakeside recreation: At Lake Leelanau RV Park, campers can explore the waterways. "Lake Leelanau is a large enough lake to spend the day exploring, but protected enough for swimming, kayaking, small sailboats, and paddle boarding. Lots of great fishing, cycling, and hiking in the area, too," explains one visitor.
Family activities: Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort offers numerous amenities for active families. "This is a very large campground that is usually full during the summer. There is no shortage of activities here: a small pond/beach, pool, jumping pillow, dodgeball, bike trails, ATV trails, crafts, parades, etc. It's great for the active family, particularly those with elementary & middle school age kids," reports Allison H.
What campers like
Privacy options: Some RV sites near Benzonia, Michigan provide secluded camping spaces. "We had an electric only site and it was very private. Facilities were extremely well maintained," reports Matthew E. about Kampvilla Park.
Clean facilities: Visitors consistently praise the cleanliness of campground bathrooms in the region. "The bathrooms here is VERY clean and updated - much nicer than most campgrounds," notes one camper about Lake Leelanau RV Park.
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer well-sized camping spaces. "Large, beautiful campground... Our site was $65.63 a night. We were in Site #4A (premium site). We had full hook-up with a blacktop pull-through. We travel towing a 14 foot trailer and were able to fit both in our pull through site along with my jeep," shares Julia H. about Vista Green RV Resort.
What you should know
Site placement considerations: RV parking configurations vary significantly between campgrounds. "Sites at this campground are lush with grass, but on the smaller side. It's right on Lake Leelanau, and they even rent boat slips. A large number of campers here are seasonal residents, so keep that in mind if that's not your vibe," advises Allison H.
Reservation timing: Summer weekends and fall color season require advance booking of 3-6 months for most campgrounds near Benzonia. Holiday weekends often fill 6-8 months ahead.
Amenity variations: Wild Cherry RV Resort offers limited on-site facilities. "The park is called a 'resort' which is a little misleading because there are very few amenities. There is no swimming pool, no tennis courts, no shuffleboard, no fitness center, no playground, in fact there were not even bathrooms/showers," notes Nancy W.