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Maple Bay State Forest Campground provides rustic, pet-friendly campsites on the shores of Burt Lake, about 25 minutes from Mackinaw City. The campground features approximately 32-38 sites available on a first-come, first-served basis for $15 per night, with pets welcome at all locations. Campers can bring their dogs to enjoy the beachfront where the water access makes for excellent swimming and boating opportunities. The smallish sites accommodate both tent and smaller RV camping with pets, though the campground lacks modern amenities like showers or electric hookups. Camp Petosega, another pet-friendly option nearby, offers more amenities including water and electric hookups at most sites, plus a beautiful beach area on Pickerel Lake where dogs are permitted on leash.
The hiking trails surrounding both campgrounds provide excellent opportunities for walking dogs, with the trails at Camp Petosega particularly well-maintained for pet exercise. Burt Lake's shoreline allows dogs to cool off during summer months, though pet owners should be aware of seasonal mayfly hatches in May which can make outdoor activities less pleasant. Pit toilets and water pumps serve as the basic facilities at Maple Bay, while Camp Petosega offers full shower buildings with concrete floors, vent fans, and both detachable and overhead shower heads—making cleanup after muddy dog walks more convenient. The campground roads at Maple Bay can become quite busy, especially on weekends, so keeping dogs leashed and supervised is essential for safety around the popular boat launch area.
"The beach was convenient to walk to and we enjoyed the 3 amazing fire work shows you can see on the 4th of July from the beach."
"We were here two days and fell in love with the town, the surrounding area, and never got tired of beautiful views of Lake Michigan. "
"the potable water spigot near our campsite (just a short walk away) was still on!"
"Beaches are not dog-friendly (as is the case throughout Michigan, although dog beaches are starting to make headway). There is a dark sky park nearby - don't bother."
"Dog park and beach area for dogs. Large, grassy recreation area and nice playground. Park hosts on site with daily activities for campers. Town is nearby with restaurants, shopping, etc."
"Staff was helpful, neighbors were friendly, bathrooms were clean, and it's right on the lake! Very pet-friendly, very busy. Reserve in advance."
"There is an off-leash dog park but it was pretty small for our lab to get a good run in. The laundry was nice and clean but a bit expensive $2.25 per load. "
"Lake Michigan beach is about a 5 minutes drive."
"We reserved site 83A for our family of 5. we were in close proximity to the newly constructed bathhouse complete with dish washing stations. it was a full campground on the Friday night that we were there"
"The Straits State Park in Michigan's Upper Penninsula sits on the North end of the Mackinaw Bridge in St. Ignace."
from $22 - $42 / night
Check Availability"This park is operated by Emmet County and offers a very remote feel yet it is only 15-20 minutes from Petoskey, Michigan. "
"The best place to camp in northern Michigan. Should be more well known."
"The park is run by the City of Petoskey and sits on 21 acres in downtown Petoskey overlooking Lake Michigan. "
"The location makes this campground. Stayed 6 nights as it was so relaxing."
"Then, for $15 a night, we found this beauty along the northwest shore of Burt Lake, one of the larger inland lakes in northern Michigan. "
"Pros: Location! 25 minutes from Mackinaw City, 10 Minutes from Pellston for supplies. Right on Burt Lake. Clean pit toilets. Generally not too crowded."
"A lot of geese tho, and my dog did get skunked. Also the spaces are Packed in pretty tight. Buts it a great location and it’s all about the water anyways!"
"Right on Mullett Lake, close to town for easy access to food, but really enjoyed kayaking lake"
from $30 - $34 / night
Check Availability"This lot (a premium lot) comes with a concrete patio with a round table with four chairs, two Adirondack chairs and a fire pit and a charcoal box grill."
"The pool was great for swimming, and mackinaw city is a great place to walk around and explore!"
TravelerThe owners were constantly driving around and correcting people. Rules are okay but they were over the top. They would even stop and just stare at our site while we sat outside.. it was very odd. Also not kept up at all. The playground was old and my 30 lb dog slipped out from under the “dog park” fence because it was so high off the ground where they were allowed to be unleashed, luckily we got her and she’s ok.
GuideLarge, level electric sites. Very large campground in general. Since we were there in September and mid week, it was quiet. Bath house clean, but a bit outdated. Nice beach and swimming area. Dog park and beach area for dogs. Large, grassy recreation area and nice playground. Park hosts on site with daily activities for campers. Town is nearby with restaurants, shopping, etc. Burt Lake is stunning. Bring your kayaks, boats, and fishing gear.
ScoutWe spent a 4th of July weekend up in Petosky with our family. It was a perfect mixture of rustic modern camping. The facilities are nice and clean and the campground is well kept. Even on a busy holiday weekend it was so enjoyable. The beach was convenient to walk to and we enjoyed the 3 amazing fire work shows you can see on the 4th of July from the beach. The only downside is that no dogs are allowed on the beach which is kind of a bummer. There is a great dog park however in Petosky nearby.
LegendThis is a great campground if you like to bring your boat along too. We were able to tie our boat up and use it all weekend. The campground is beautiful with an awesome dog park as well.
LegendWooden Shoe Campground in Ellsworth, Michigan is a small campground set on a hill above Ellsworth Lake. This park is great if you want to sometime explore Michigan’s waterways. When we visited the park, it was about 25% full which made it very quiet and relaxing. There are some great sites that overlook the lake that are inviting for an evening fire and enjoying a pleasant view.
The park has 45 RV sites with water, 30 amp electric, cable TV, and internet. There are seven designated tent sites in a heavily wooded area with some glimpses of the lake. Some sites have a nice amount of shade while those towards the front of the park are more open and have a better water view. Picnic tables and fire pits are at each site. The main road throughout the park is paved, in good condition, and easily navigable with even large RV. There is a dump station at the entrance of the park that is easy to get in and out of. A camp host is on site. The price per night to stay here is $25 and they offer a super inexpensive price of $125/week. Reservations can be made by emailing a reservation request or calling the city.
The town of Ellsworth is quite small with a couple of shops and restaurant or two. The quaint coastal town of Charlevoix is 10 minutes away where you will find plenty of shopping, restaurants, a pretty harbor, weekly live music (in the summer), a farmers market and really great library with a large room that has a great selection of books for sale for a few bucks. The towns of Boyne City and Boyne Falls are about 20 miles away and also worth visiting if you have the time. For dog owners, Boyne city has an off-leash dog park and Boyne Falls has a large ski resort that is perfect for walking dogs in the summer. The larger town of Petoskey is about a 45 minute drive but well worth a visit.
If you want to “get away” and enjoy water activities this is a good place to come. There is a canoe/kayak boat launch just down the hill from the park that puts you in a narrow stretch of water that connects Lakes Ellsworth and Saint Clair. A short (approximately 1 mile) paddle into Lake Saint Claire lands you in a beautiful nature preserve administered by the Little Traverse Conservancy. Be sure to visit Friske’s Orchard which has a fruit stand, bakery with pizza and sandwiches, general store and petting zoo and is only six miles away on Rt. 31.
The good things about this park are the price, access to pretty water for kayaking/canoeing/fishing and the view from some of the sites. You are not too far from some of northern Michigan’s most popular towns yet only paying $25 night. The small size of this park gives it a quieter feel than some of the nearby state parks that have hundreds of sites. When we were there about half the campers appeared to be seasonal who come to enjoy the boating and fishing. Many of these people were not there during the week which made the park super quiet.
A couple dings for this park are that many of the sites are not level and even pitching a tent can be difficult. The bathroom/shower facilities are old and run down. The main bathhouse is located in the front of the park with port-a-potty’s scattered about. Some of the sites are close together and give a crowded feeling.
Overall, I would say this is an average park which is why it gets three stars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vBh0Dej5Ro
ScoutMake reservations early! This is a beautiful state park with the best of pure Michigan woods and Lake Huron sandy dunes and beaches . Very family and pet friendly but also quiet and peaceful for couples who just wanna get away . Only drawback is low signal cell service but hey getting off the grid is what’s its all about. Unplug and recharge yourself. Electric hook up availability 20/30 amp . Hiking and biking paths , a cute play ground , sandy beach with volleyball area all walking distance from campsites! Friendly staff , we love this park !
ScoutFriendly staff very accommodating. Pet friendly has small dog enclosure at front as well as mini golf and playgrounds. Lots of trees and wooded areas to feel more remote without the driving. Very peaceful.
GuideEdit: as of right now this listing is all jacked up. Coordinates are incorrect, "French Farm Lake Road" on Google Maps or 45.7621519, -84.7673995 will get you there. There is no water, trash services, or showers. Just 6 primitive sites with fire pits
We first came to French Farm Lake Rd to do a hike while staying with a local Boondockers Welcome host. We were excited to find our first real free camping in Michigan, and so close to Mackinaw City.
We showed up late Wednesday morning and just perfectly timed it when a couple had been packing up their camp, as there are only 6 or so sites and all were full. The sites back by the boat launch seem better for large groups.
We took site #1, which is one of the better sites IMO. Don't forget to grab a registration sheet on your way in (found near the camping sign before site #1). I had very little issue backing in our 24 ft class c with a utility trailer (37 ft total), though I had to maneuver the trailer into an opening off to the right of our driveway, as to find a more level spot. Only had to use one block under each front tire to level, with plenty of room to pull forward to unload my motorcycle. Plenty of wood around for a fire, though people had firewood for sale on the roadside when driving into the area.
Beware of sandy roads and make sure to scout before pulling in with your big rig. There is one opportunity to turn around via a parking lot of the right hand side when first entering French Lake Rd. The next spot would be what I think are sites 3 & 4, which is a big wide open lot also on the right, and also very sandy. The last would be the boat launch area at the end of the road, though that could prove impossible if there are a bunch of vehicles parked back there. So scout on foot first.
There are a few sites that would accommodate big rigs, the only way to know is to come check. It's kinda frustrating to be in states without dispersed camping, because there are a few spots that I would deem worthy, but alas you must stick to the designated sites. There are plenty of spots for a quick night's sleep in a van or smaller RV, just beware of the ranger. I've only seen them out here in the afternoon so far though.
My review is mostly based off of what we've been able to find in the area, this campground would not score as high if it were in WA or somewhere with endless options.
And as per usual in the Midwest, bring plenty of mosquito and fly products. They weren't horrible at our campsite, but evening walks are definitely not happening again.
The lake isn't anything special by my books so we skipped paddling here, though there appeared to be people fishing if that's your gig. Tons of trails suitable for hiking or biking, again, nothing too exciting on that front.
Come check it out!
ScoutVery friendly staff and clean park. Family friendly and pet friendly, beach was close by and clean. Reservations were very easy to make online and allows you to pick your site.
Brutus, Michigan, located in Emmet County, sits just 15 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge at an elevation of 623 feet. The area experiences warm summers with average highs of 80°F and cold winters dropping to 15°F. Camping options near Brutus range from rustic sites to modern facilities, with most open from April through October when temperatures remain above freezing overnight.
Hunting for Petoskey stones: Visit Petoskey State Park Campground where the shoreline offers prime hunting grounds. "Lots of Petoskey stones if you know where to look," notes Laura B., who adds that the beach features "crystal clear water, sugar sand, and tons of Petoskey stones."
Boating on the inland waterway: Launch from Aloha State Park Campground to access Mullett Lake and connecting waterways. "Indian River is the best area to cruze on the water," says Edmund P., who regularly visits the area. The park provides direct lake access with boat launch facilities.
Night sky viewing: Experience exceptional stargazing at Wilderness State Park Camping, one of Michigan's designated dark sky areas. "Best star gazing in the LP," according to Ted B., while Tracie S. calls it "the only dark park in Michigan" with "beautiful expansive night views of the sky from the beach. Worth sleeping on the beach during meteor shows."
Biking the trails: Access the paved North Western State Trail from Mackinaw City KOA. "There are great places to ride bikes outside of campground. From the campground, there is a nature trail that you can take your bike that leads you to the North Western State Trail," explains Julia H., highlighting the connectivity to broader trail systems.
Spacious campsites: Many visitors appreciate the generous site sizes at Burt Lake State Park Campground. "Camp site was HUGE! I believe ours was like 40x65!" exclaims Myron M. Kerry P. confirms this, noting "Lot sizes are huge! Nearly every lot down the hill (west loop) has a nice view of the lake."
Clean shower facilities: Camp Petosega receives high marks for its modern facilities. "The shower building in Loop E is new and one of the best showers I've had well camping, all concrete, nice vent fans, heater to keep you warm, detachable shower head and overhead one," shares Samantha D.
Lakefront proximity: Most campers value the easy water access from their sites. "It felt like being at the ocean! There were nice trails to walk and we could see a light house off in the distance. Our dog really enjoyed swimming," says Jennifer G. about Magnus Park, showing the appeal of waterfront camping with pets.
Family-friendly atmosphere: The campgrounds cater well to families with children. "We went during 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," Craig F. shares about his experience at Petoskey KOA.
Seasonal insect issues: Be prepared for bugs during peak summer months. "Very buggy in June, come prepared," warns Brittany B. about Wilderness State Park. Another camper notes, "Gnats and fishflies were bad while we were there" at Aloha State Park.
Variable site privacy: Some campgrounds offer more seclusion than others. "The sites vary is size - some are close together," reports Don B. about Burt Lake State Park, while a reviewer at Mackinaw City / Mackinac Island KOA described their experience: "This was a smaller lot with our neighbors fairly close."
Limited amenities at rustic sites: For those seeking a more primitive experience, understand what's available. "This campground had some rustic features. The water pumps here did not drain well, the nearby dumpster did smell like a dead animal," notes Brittny B. about Maple Bay State Forest Campground.
Weather variability: Northern Michigan weather can change quickly. "My first day was cold, rainy and windy. Second day was nice and sunny," reports Shelly S. about camping at Straits State Park.
Beach access considerations: Choose sites with safe water access for children. At Maple Bay State Forest Campground, "The lake is really large so it is great for boating," but Katie B. warns, "The water has leeches which was a pain with my 2 year old. She got one every time she went in the water."
Pool alternatives: When natural swimming isn't ideal, look for campgrounds with pools. However, timing matters as Nicole P. explains about Mackinaw City KOA: "They offer a Swimming pool. There is a Playground. They also offer Gaga ball, horseshoe, and corn hole."
Reserve water-view sites early: The most popular family spots fill quickly. "Reserve in advance," advises Anna E. about Magnus Park, adding that it's "Very pet-friendly, very busy" during peak season.
Safety considerations: Be aware of traffic patterns in campgrounds. As Katie B. notes about Maple Bay, "The campground does not have a host and dnr only came in the morning to check tags. The week we were here we had fireworks and a lot of noisy campers well past midnight."
Site selection for large RVs: Choose campgrounds that can accommodate your rig size. "Be sure when you book that you put down the correct size of your rig as they have site management down to a science," recommends Chris R. about Petoskey KOA.
Hookup availability: Full hookups are limited at some campgrounds. At Straits State Park Campground, visitors should note the amenities: "The site we had was really small and close to others. It was a short walk down to the lake and a great view of the bridge. It was pretty expensive, we paid $39 + $11 for a Michigan park pass."
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven sites at some locations. "This campground has tiny campsites that are very uneven," shares Katie B. about Maple Bay State Forest Campground, which can be challenging for RVs without proper leveling equipment.
Access road conditions: Consider the approach to campgrounds. "Getting to the site in our RV was a little tricky because of all the trees and cars parked everywhere," reports Nancy W. about Petoskey KOA, highlighting the importance of knowing access limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Brutus, MI is Petoskey State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 29 reviews.
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