Cabin camping near Columbus, Michigan provides access to wooded natural areas within an hour's drive of Port Huron and the Lake Huron shoreline. The terrain features a mix of hardwood forests, inland lakes, and rolling hills typical of southeastern Michigan's glacial landscape. Winter cabin rentals often require advance booking as temperatures regularly drop below freezing from December through February.
What to do
Lakeside recreation: At Lakeport State Park Campground, the shoreline offers unique rock collecting opportunities. "I have found the most beautiful Petoskey Stones at Lakeport. I have also found a large pudding stone. My husband brings his chair down to the water and I walk the short shore for hours and hours looking for rocks," notes one visitor.
Hiking trails: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area provides extensive trail systems connecting to the beach area. "Park offers lots of private sites! We stayed in site 118 and could not see neighboring sites! The site was very spacious and offered picnic table, fire ring, paved pad, and electrical hook up," writes a reviewer.
Family activities: Port Huron KOA features additional entertainment options. "There is go karting and more with the connected fun park. Reserve well in advance!" advises a camper. Another mentions, "Tons to for kids, multiple pools including a zero entry, jumping pillow, ice cream stores, old west town hayrides, train rides($), multiple parks, and next to small water park."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Holly State Recreation Area cabins provide a secluded feel within the forest. According to a camper, "Sites were spacious, we loved the national forest." Another visitor writes, "We stayed in the rustic Aspen loop and it was fine for early season but come peak season, the sites lack privacy and are kind of small."
Clean facilities: Many cabins have access to well-maintained shower houses. A visitor to Pontiac Lake Recreation Area notes, "The bathrooms and showers were nice and clean with hot water. Site 71 wasn't the most private but still nice. The spots are all pretty private due to trees and vegetation."
Year-round availability: Bald Mountain Recreation Area offers cabin options during all seasons. "There is however two rustic cabins that are available for rental year round. They are popular with hunters and scout troops. The cabins sleep about 10-15 people if remember correctly. They are rustic, so they don't have electricity or heat but there is a large wood burning stove," explains a reviewer.
What you should know
Reservation timelines: Book cabins well in advance, especially for summer weekends and holiday periods. A visitor to Port Huron KOA advises, "Reserve well in advance!"
Shower costs: Some county parks charge for shower use. At Groveland Oaks County Park, "The showers cost 25 cents and we heard some people complain but we thought that the showers were immaculate and the time allowed was quite sufficient for a nice shower without wasting water."
Electrical limitations: Power hookups can be limited or distant. A Pontiac Lake Recreation Area camper cautions, "If you are hoping to hook up to electrical, bring extension cords; some hook ups are exceptionally far away from the designated RV parking pad."
Seasonal differences: Facility availability changes throughout the year. A Groveland Oaks visitor noted, "We would think that different times of year provide different experiences and we camped for a week in early May so we were able to experience quiet mornings and afternoons."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Cabin camping sites with swimming options are popular for families with children. A reviewer at Lakeport State Park comments, "This place is amazing! They are right on beautiful Lake Huron with sandy beaches and clean clear water. They have tons of campsites with electronic hook ups and fresh water spouts throughout the park."
Indoor amenities: Some cabins provide more comfort for families with young children. At Addison Oaks County Park, "Tons of trails for hiking and biking. They have kids activities on the weekends, a lake for swimming, great playgrounds and everything is really clean."
Organized activities: Many cabin campgrounds host scheduled programs. One camper at Groveland Oaks noted, "We joined a group site and meet up every major holiday at Groveland. We feel like we went up North without the driving four hours. The park is well laid out and includes a ton of fun activities for young and old."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Cabin campers should consider the surrounding terrain. A visitor to Groveland Oaks County Park notes, "The full hookup area is away from most of the weekend traffic with a short cut to get to where all the kids stuff is located."
Early season stays: Spring camping offers quieter experiences. A reviewer mentioned, "We camped for a week in early May so we were able to experience quiet mornings and afternoons, great walks with our four legged camper and incredible views of swans, geese and ducks as they introduced their new little ones to the area."
Seasonal site closures: Be aware that maintenance may limit availability. A camper noted, "We asked at the front bldg. why the website said the campground was full, but there were several openings in the south section. The workers said that they have to upgrade the electrical system this fall on the southern side and they have closed some campsites in the south in order to help with the electricity issue."
