Camping sites near Eastport, Michigan cluster along the eastern shoreline of Grand Traverse Bay and around inland lakes like Torch Lake and Elk Lake. The region features a mix of sandy shorelines and dense wooded areas with elevations ranging from 580 to 800 feet above sea level. Winter temperatures typically drop to 15°F while summer averages reach 80°F, creating a camping season that generally runs April through October with peak rainfall in September.
What to do
Kayaking on interconnected lakes: From Chain-O-Lakes Campground, visitors can explore the region's waterways. "Chain O'Lakes Park has it all: trails to hike, horses to ride, boats to row, and fish to catch! After an adventure-packed day, you can return to your nearby campsite for some rest and relaxation," notes Brett F.
Hunt for Petoskey stones: The shoreline at Fisherman's Island State Park is a prime location for finding these unique fossils. "There are plenty of sites all along the shore of Lake Michigan! It gave the illusion of our own private beach... Waking up to the sound of crashing waves was so relaxing," shares Magy C., who found the experience enjoyable even during storms.
Winter cross-country skiing: Young State Park maintains trails that remain accessible during winter months. Nancy W. reports that "in talking to locals this place is wonderful in the winter and great for cross-country skiing with trails that wind through wooded areas."
Explore local towns: Many campgrounds offer access to nearby communities. According to Hailey C., Chain-O-Lakes is "super close to torch lake and lots of great small towns. Only an hour away from sleeping bear dunes and like 30 minutes from traverse city."
What campers like
Lake views from elevated sites: Whitewater Township Park Campground offers distinctive hillside camping overlooking Elk Lake. "The sites are beautiful and spacious. The park itself is positioned on a hillside next to a lake. We had a site at the top of the hill which I recommend," suggests Sarah S.
Clean facilities: Consistent maintenance is frequently mentioned in reviews. According to Zebadee, "They do a great job maintaining and improving site each year. Their bathrooms are very clean daily."
Spaced-out waterfront sites: Barnes County Park Campground offers waterfront sites with adequate spacing. As Brady notes about another area campground, "It gave the illusion of our own private beach even though we had a camper at the site next to ours it was still very private because of all the trees in between."
Walking distance to small towns: Thurston Park Campground provides easy town access. Stephen K. writes, "Cute little quiet rv park located in a cute little town. There's a party store and small grocery store within walking distance."
What you should know
Reservation timing varies widely: Some campgrounds require planning 6+ months ahead while others offer last-minute availability. At Barnes County Park, Mark N. notes, "The campground uses a service where you can digitally reserve your desired campground in real time!"
Seasonal campground closures: Most campgrounds in the region close between mid-October and April. Wooden Shoe Campground specifically operates "May 13 to Oct 1" according to their official season.
Site quality differences: Even within the same campground, experiences can vary dramatically based on site location. At Leelanau State Park Campground, Melissa M. cautions, "Site 4 is shaped weird but beautiful small view of the water and sits up high so you overlook it. Site 3 is a long site, level and straight back. Nice site for campers. Site 2 fits a pop up nice and has a path to site 3 good for group camping."
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife can impact camping experiences. According to Melissa M., "raccoons are insane! They are not afraid of anything. We were very good about putting everything away so we only had them visit our site a few times but the dumpster is full of them. They will walk right up to you."
Tips for camping with families
Check playground access: Several campgrounds feature playground facilities. At Young State Park Campground, one camper discovered "the new playground was a hit for the kids, one of the best playgrounds we have experienced at a state park."
Consider beach quality carefully: Beaches vary significantly between locations. Melissa M. found at Leelanau that "There is no beach, you have water front which is beautiful but no beach. The water front is very rocky, and full off a brown sticky film that smelled bad."
Plan for recreation options: Some parks offer structured activities. According to Jami M., Young State Park provides "Park ranger, crafts, and beach area for the kids."
Pick kid-friendly hiking options: Trail difficulty varies between locations. Nancy W. reports, "The park has a typical rustic campground feel. The park covers 560 acres which encompasses a campground, hiking trails, a large beach area with concessions, boat launch, picnic area, playground, baseball diamond, basketball courts, and fishing pier."
Tips from RVers
Check site layout before booking: RV sites vary significantly in layout and accessibility. Kenneth K. reports that Leelanau sites are "in great condition" while Colleen S. notes that at Traverse City State Park, "Sites are small and pretty close together but shaded with electric at site (134)."
Leveling challenges at some campgrounds: Some locations require significant effort to level rigs. As Clint G. mentions about Barnes Park, "Site 69 was large enough for our class C 31ft motorhome, didn't take much to level."
Generator restrictions: Some campgrounds have strict generator policies. One reviewer at Leelanau State Park reported being told "at 8pm our inverter generator needed to be turned off" despite quiet hours not starting until 10pm.
Seasonal site conditions: Weather impacts site conditions throughout the year. According to Clint G., "It did rain pretty hard plus wind and with lots of trees many branches and such on top of our rig afterwards. That doesn't bother me but if it bothers you, you may want another place being this has lots of trees."
