Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Cedar, MI

Leelanau Pines Campground welcomes pets at all 182 sites on Lake Leelanau with waterfront access for dogs and owners alike. Dogs can swim in designated areas along the shoreline where the water forms a natural sand bar perfect for wading. The campground provides full hookup sites with electricity, water, and fire pits where pets can relax with their owners. Lake Leelanau RV Park offers similar pet-friendly accommodations with well-maintained grassy sites and clean facilities. Rustic Retreat cabin near Cedar permits dogs with advance notice, providing a secluded wooded setting for pets and owners. All campgrounds enforce standard leash policies when pets are outside camping units. Most campers report friendly staff who readily assist with pet-related questions and provide information about local pet services.

The Lake Leelanau area offers multiple pet-friendly hiking opportunities within short driving distance. Dogs can accompany owners on kayak trips up Victoria Creek where wildlife viewing opportunities abound. Nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore permits leashed pets on specific designated trails but restricts dogs from beach areas and most hiking paths. Local state forest campgrounds like Lake Ann provide more rustic alternatives with pet-friendly policies and direct lake access for swimming. The Leelanau Peninsula features several dog-friendly wineries including Boathouse Vineyards where pets can join owners on outdoor patios. Summer temperatures in the region typically remain moderate enough for comfortable dog camping, though limited shade at some lakefront sites may require additional cooling measures for pets during peak afternoon heat.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Cedar, Michigan (135)

    1. D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    53 Reviews
    Glen Arbor, MI
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 326-4700

    $10 / night

    "The foliage helps create privacy but the campsites are close in proximity overall."

    "We spent most of our time at the pet friendly beach. So many places to hike and so much fun to swim. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay."

    2. Traverse City State Park Campground

    51 Reviews
    Traverse City, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 922-5270

    "Pets are allowed in the campground. The sites are a little tight, but if you are looking to hang out in Traverse City, this is a convenient location. Bathhouse was always well maintained."

    "300+ sites, pet friendly, sites for all shapes and sizes. Open year round, with heated cabins. It's a great location, just across from Traverse Bay with just across the road."

    3. Platte River Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    61 Reviews
    Beulah, MI
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 326-4700

    $22 - $50 / night

    "Hiking to Lake Michigan, bike trails, Sleeping Bear Dunes just a short drive away. For those with dogs, Esch Beach, at the end of Esch Road, is about 10 minutes by car and dog friendly."

    "One of my Favorite places in Michigan to camp. Out of the way without being out of the way. The walk in sites are a very short walk and well away from the other sites."

    4. Green Lake Rustic South — Interlochen State Park

    34 Reviews
    Interlochen, MI
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 276-9511

    $20 / night

    "Every year I camp on the Green Lake side of Interlochen State Park, and this year was the first year I allowed a guest - my fiance."

    "Not super close to Michigan cities, but can drive back and forth to Traverse City."

    5. Leelanau Pines Campground

    10 Reviews
    Cedar, MI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 228-5742

    $103 - $130 / night

    "Plenty of beautiful views of the lake! You’re tucked away from the main road but also close enough to enjoy nearby Sutton’s Bay ( which is worth a visit)"

    "This is a great location based around Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes areas."

    6. Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort

    22 Reviews
    Traverse City, MI
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 947-2770

    $60 - $260 / night

    "This is also a pet friendly campground, so there are many dogs. Probably one of my favorite parts was dodgeball... and the multiple bike trails that connect to the VASA trail system."

    "We stayed here in our little offroad teardrop camper which looked like David & Goliath when contrasted against the massive 5th wheels surrounding us."

    7. Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp

    9 Reviews
    Interlochen, MI
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 922-5280

    "We stayed at this campground while doing the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail by horseback, therefore we were in the "horse" portion of the campground."

    "Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp has the basic rustic camping necessities."

    8. Rustic Retreat

    4 Reviews
    Lake Ann, MI
    5 miles
    +1 (231) 649-1445

    $55 - $75 / night

    "Brennin, Jamie, and their dog Rue are gracious hosts."

    "I let Jamie know and without asking or expecting, she refunded me and wished me luck with our situation. The cabin was cute and cozy, I slept like a baby, definitely going to come here again."

    9. Lake Leelanau RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Lake Leelanau, MI
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 256-7236

    $36 - $109 / night

    "It's right on Lake Leelanau, and they even rent boat slips.  There is a tiny beach, fun for an afternoon dip with the kids."

    "It is beautiful, peaceful campground on Lake Leelanau which is located on the Leelanau peninsula in between West Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan in close proximity to the little town of Lake Leelanau, Suttons"

    10. Holiday Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Grawn, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 943-4410

    "Was able to check in early...because campers had checked out early and they had time to check the site...very clean...close to all the great sites around Traverse City...the only thing was where our site"

    "It has everything; off of Silver Lake to swim, fish or rent a boat. Their is no reason to leave this paradise (except for groceries/drinks)."

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Showing results 1-10 of 135 campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Cedar, MI

832 Reviews of 135 Cedar Campgrounds


  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 8, 2017

    Traverse City State Park Campground

    Great Proximity to Downtown, Beach, and Breweries.

    The location of this campground is great and it's best feature in my opinion! This park is just two miles to downtown Traverse City (one of Michigan’s most popular resort towns), a quarter mile from a pretty beach and the beautiful blue waters of Lake Michigan, and it sits along the TART Trail which is a 10.5-mile bicycle trail running through the city.

    While the park is small at just 47 acres, it holds pretty many campsites – approximately 350 (and two cabins). Campsites are set among tall pine trees so there is a bit of shade but that also means that they are sandy with little grass. Roads are paved and narrow if you are trying to maneuver with a large (40+ RV) and you may have difficulty backing into your site with the numerous trees lining the road. All sites are back-in with electric. Sites and patios are sandy with varying degrees of levelness. There is a dump station and water spigots are scattered throughout the campground. Picnic tables and fire pits are at each site. Sites are $31/night ($49/night for the cabins) and reserveable online.

    This park is right on US-31/M-72 which means there is easy access in and out but it can be noisy if your campsite is close to the road. Expect the campground to be very busy on weekends and in the summer and tightly packed.

    Amenities include: picnic area, beach, fishing, hiking/bicycling trail, three bathhouses, playground area, camp store, pet walk (no off-leash dog park).

    Outside of the park there is a lot to do in Traverse City. Early July is the ever-popular Cherry Festival which lasts for a week. But you better book your campsite early if you want to enjoy all the festivities (which happen to be close to the park). The summer farmers market is great and held every Wednesday and Saturday. Early in the season, asparagus is plentiful and locally-grown asparagus is the best you will ever have being super sweet, tender, and inexpensive. For beer drinkers, consider paddling the beer trail that takes you from Boardman Lake to Lake Michigan and past numerous breweries where you pull over for a pint. If it's ice cream you want, you have come to the right place. There are multiple creameries with Moomer's being our favorite and for some reason eating it right at the farm stand was the best.

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2017

    Wooden Shoe Campground

    Great place to relax and enjoy the water.

    Wooden 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

  • Jill B.
    Apr. 21, 2019

    Traverse Bay RV Resort

    Very high-end class A Resort

    We have spent six weeks at this park for the last 6 years. We attend a horse show circuit near by. It is the creme de la creme of RV parks. The sites are individually owned (and leased out) and many of the owners have made their lots very nice. The park is limited to Class A, Fifth Wheels and Class C only. This park is dominated by big, very nice class A's.

    We have a 5th wheel and have appreciated the amenities very much. Great wifi, curbside garbage pickup, trails, dog park, and many others. You are limited to 2 dogs, and they are very strict about leashes and picking up poop. But, that keeps the place looking nice.

    We enjoy it very much and it is so close to the horse show, it cannot be beat. Because they are such a popular place to stay during the show (July - mid August), they sites book up a year in advance.

  • N
    Jun. 23, 2022

    D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    D.H. Day Campground

    Overall the campground has a very pleasant and rustic charm. The foliage helps create privacy but the campsites are close in proximity overall. The one warning that should be more clearly indicated is that there is poison ivy surrounding every single site so please be aware if you have pets and small children. The fact that there was so much poison ivy is the only reason I gave it four stars. Lake Michigan is a short walk away and you are able to walk to sleeping bear dunes along the beach. For those who would like convenience Glen Arbor is only five minutes down the main road and has a ton of restaurants, parks and a nice grocery store.

  • Macy M.
    Jul. 5, 2020

    Rvino - Camp Cadillac, LLC

    Great private campground

    Great little campground just on the outskirts of Cadillac. Great rates especially for full hookups. This was our first time at this park, we originally had a site next to the pool, but quickly realized our TT would not fit due to the trees. The front desk quickly changed our site and we were good to go. All sites were well maintained, they had a petting zoo (goats) and a store with a little game room in it. I would definitely come back.

  • Kristina M.
    Jul. 14, 2021

    Log Lake Campground

    Would never visit again

    First off we couldn’t park our trailer until a boat trailer was moved from our site. Then there was glass, rusty nails, and trash all over the site so we had to do a quick clean up of site before unpacking. It only got worse as night time came as the campers next to us drank and partied all night with half the campground, every night for our entire four day stay. They even smashed into our vehicle as they wrestled and sprayed silly string on each other at 1 a.m. When we ran to town for a few items we came back to their kids playing near our camper. They seemed to personally know the care takers as they were partying with them, so nothing was done about any of it. The following day we again went to town and these people allowed their guest to park in front of our camper, next to the hitch. The beach area was un-swimmable and full of trash, cigarette butts, duck poop as well as dog poop because it was used as a dog park. There were also old clothes and shoes left all over the beach area. The bathrooms were dirty and left with no soap. The woman’s bathroom looked recently painted but the men’s bathroom was completely disgusting. The showers had old food in them and you had to pay for tokens to use them. The trails were ok, the frisbee golf area also looked good. But that’s about the only good thing about this park. We would never pay money to stay here again.

  • jodi L.
    Jun. 8, 2021

    Young State Park Campground

    Young State Park

    Very 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.

  • R
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Orchard Beach State Park Campground

    no beach access

    Pretty standard Michigan State Park campground. Nice staff. Park maintenance is currently building a wood fence to keep folks away from steep bluff edge. Views of Lake Michigan fairly limited. If these were improved, this would be a much more popular park. I was very disappointed that their stairs to beach had been eroded near its base so you could no longer access beach but had to drive to one of two local beaches. I stayed one night and unfortunately had to camp next to a group who had a very barky, anxious large dog. Some folks need to leave their poorly trained dogs at home.

  • S
    Jun. 14, 2020

    Rvino - Camp Cadillac, LLC

    Not fancy, but nice

    Really nice little campground. Not fancy, but clean and well kept. Pool and petting zoo for the kids. Small store with ice, few necessities and ice cream. Pond in the back on the small river for fishing. Quite a few seasonal campers. Anywhere from rustic to full hook up. Pet friendly. All gravel/dirt/grass sites. Most have trees. Fire pits quite small. Bathrooms very nice and updated.


Guide to Cedar

Cedar, Michigan camping areas offer year-round options with variable seasonal conditions. Most campgrounds near Cedar are situated within a 20-minute drive of Lake Michigan shoreline access. Winter temperatures typically range from 15-30°F while summer averages 70-85°F with moderate humidity compared to southern Michigan.

What to do

Kayaking Victoria Creek: Paddlers can access this waterway near Lake Leelanau. "We launched the kayak & could keep it there on the grass at the lake. We kayaked the lake Leelanau then went up into Victoria Creek it was so cool. There was a duck blind in there and shore birds," notes a visitor to Leelanau Pines Campground.

Late season camping: October offers less crowded conditions with unique experiences. At D.H. Day Campground, a camper reports, "Went there in late October of 2022 and man was it a cold night to stay in a tent. We got there late, put tents up in the dark, ate dinner late from a local watering hole. But once we got situated, we went to the beach to skywatch and it was beautiful and worth every second."

Biking on dedicated trails: The region offers multiple paved pathways connecting campgrounds to towns. A visitor to Lake Leelanau RV Park mentions, "One of our favorite things is being connected to the bike paths so we can bike to downtown area while staying on bike trails!"

What campers like

Private wooded sites: Many campgrounds offer secluded spots among trees rather than open field camping. A visitor to Rustic Retreat describes it as "Gorgeous property with a huge canopy of maple trees, lovely campfire spot and a cute cabin. Slept like a log."

Clean restroom facilities: Unlike other rustic areas, many Cedar-area campgrounds maintain well-kept facilities. A camper at Platte River Campground says, "Bathroom facilities were excellent and clean. Firewood is available to purchase in the campground."

Natural swimming areas: Local lakes offer sandy beach access without the rougher conditions of Lake Michigan. "The water was practically a sand bar along the shoreline," notes one visitor about pet-friendly swimming at Leelanau Pines Campground, adding that it's "Great for swimming!"

What you should know

Seasonal variation in crowd levels: Summer months bring significantly higher visitor numbers. A camper at D.H. Day Campground reports, "Went at the end of August and lucked out to get one spot for a tent. The campground was full, so you could definitely see and hear your neighbours. There are a few spots that are more private, but you'll likely have to book in advance."

Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for comfortable setup. One visitor notes, "The staff was so helpful when they escorted us to the site & helped us back in they had levels they brought & put under one side of the travel trailer to level us."

Wildlife considerations: Bear activity occurs in the region. One camper reports being "told a black bear visits the campgrounds at least once a week, but is not much a nuisance as long as campers store their food in the car."

Tips for camping with families

Multiple playground options: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. A reviewer at Holiday Park Campground notes, "There were a lot of play grounds as well. Sites were stone and not muddy (it did rain)."

Educational programs: Park-sponsored activities provide family entertainment. A D.H. Day visitor highlights "The amphitheater with kid focused programs was a great bonus."

Water recreation variety: Multiple water features allow children of different ages appropriate activities. "The 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. There is a tiny beach, fun for an afternoon dip with the kids."

Tips from RVers

Full hookup availability: Most campgrounds in the area offer comprehensive RV services. A visitor to Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort reports, "The RV spot had electric and water so we were able to take advantage of that to keep portable devices charged and clean dishes we'd brought along."

Site selection considerations: RVers should research specific site dimensions when booking. One camper cautions, "Some pull through sites are VERY small so be careful when you book your reservation."

Early booking requirements: RV sites fill quickly during peak season. "Reservations are extremely hard to get for this park. If you want a weekend campsite, you must book six months in advance!"

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Cedar, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Cedar, MI is D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with a 4.6-star rating from 53 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Cedar, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 135 dog-friendly camping locations near Cedar, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.