Several campgrounds near Eastport offer amenities for RV enthusiasts beyond the standard hookups. Most parks in the area sit at elevations between 600-900 feet above sea level, with access to both inland lakes and Lake Michigan shores. Seasonal availability varies widely, with most independent parks operating from May through mid-October due to northern Michigan's harsh winter conditions.
What to do
Kayaking on Bass Lake: Honcho Rest Campground in Elk Rapids sits directly on Bass Lake, perfect for peaceful paddling. "Bass Lake is great for fishing, boating, or kayaking," notes a camper from Honcho Rest, which offers direct lake access for water activities.
Explore local wineries: Wild Cherry RV Resort provides convenient access to Leelanau Peninsula's wine region. "Within walking/biking distance of 2 local wineries (Forty-Five North and Aurora), nice restaurants, and great backroads that are off the beaten path and away from nearly all traffic," reports one visitor.
Trail hiking and recreation: Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort features a network of trails on their property. "There is a small pond/beach, pool, jumping pillow, dodgeball, bike trails, ATV trails, crafts, parades, etc. It's great for the active family," explains a recent camper, highlighting multiple recreation options.
What campers like
Clean, modern facilities: Lake Leelanau RV Park receives consistent praise for its maintenance. "The bathrooms are absolutely immaculate and each family bathroom includes a toilet, sink, and shower. There is a very nice laundry room with multiple washers and dryers," reports one visitor, showing the park's commitment to cleanliness.
Level, concrete sites: Many parks feature upgraded site pads for easier setup. "Our site had an improved gravel parking area for camper with a finished concrete pad with a picnic table," notes a camper at Wild Cherry RV Resort, which operates from May through October.
Resort-style amenities: Petoskey RV Resort offers premium facilities. "Great facility and staff. Country club camping at its best. Motor homes, 5r and Travel Trailers. Beautiful grounds were well maintained. Very dog friendly," shares a guest at this upscale property.
What you should know
Site layout challenges: Some parks have awkward hookup placements. At Kalkaska RV Park, a camper noted, "Our site is a pull through site that required us to do quite a bit of leveling. The hookups are rather far away so we needed extensions."
Seasonal considerations: Many parks close completely during winter. "We were here off season, daily rate was $40. There is a lot to do in this park, zip line, pool, walking trail, lake," explains a camper at Timber Ridge, one of the few year-round facilities.
Bathroom access varies: Not all parks provide restroom facilities. As one Wild Cherry RV Resort guest mentioned, "While most RV campgrounds have centralized bathrooms with flush toilets, sinks, and showers, this one is lacking those amenities," highlighting the importance of self-contained RVs at some locations.
Tips for camping with families
Choose parks with organized activities: Timber Ridge offers structured entertainment for children. "There was a lot for the kids to do and we never really left the campground the 2 weekend we camped here. The pool is clean. Kids loved the activities they had scheduled," explains a family camper.
Look for family-friendly layouts: Starlight Campground designs their grounds with families in mind. "Great campground for a family! Swing set, walking trail, ORV trail, pool, volleyball, pickle ball court and other games! This campground is extremely clean and has beautiful bathrooms/showers," shares a visitor.
Cabin options for non-RV families: Some parks offer alternative accommodations. At Honcho Rest Campground, "There are also 2 different styles of cabins available for rent, clean bathrooms with showers, and a laundromat on site," explains a camper, noting options for families without RVs.
Tips from RVers
Extension cables may be needed: Site layouts vary significantly between parks. At Kalkaska RV Park, campers note that "hookups are rather far away so we needed extensions," highlighting the importance of carrying additional connection cables.
Check dump station availability: Not all parks offer on-site dump services. "They have a pump out service twice a week for $10 each time," explains a visitor at Kalkaska RV Park, providing an alternative to fixed dump stations.
Leveling challenges: Many sites require equipment for proper leveling. "Our site, #20, had an improved gravel parking area for camper with a finished concrete pad with a picnic table. Site, and whole campground was clean and well maintained. Our site was a full hookup but had one small issue where the drain dump was slightly uphill from the camper, so we had to work with the drain hose to empty tanks," shares an RVer at Wild Cherry Resort.