Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Elmira, MI

Otsego Lake County Park permits dogs throughout its campground, with sites offering electrical hookups and both south and north sides available for camping. The park features water access for dogs along its sandy beach area. Gaylord KOA provides pet-friendly camping with full hookup sites and wooded surroundings, though the campground requires leashed pets at all times except in their designated dog park area. Many campers note the dog park fence sits high off the ground, potentially allowing smaller dogs to slip underneath. Both campgrounds accommodate tent camping and RV sites with pets allowed, while Otsego Lake County Park also offers four lakeside cabins where pets are permitted. Young State Park and Petoskey State Park campgrounds also welcome pets with designated pet-friendly camping areas and hiking trails.

Dogs must be monitored closely at Otsego Lake County Park as multiple campers report unleashed dogs creating problems, especially during evening hours. The park lacks formal patrols to enforce leash regulations. Nearby Pinney Bridge offers more rustic camping for those hiking with dogs, though the parking area sits 700 yards and 50 feet lower in elevation than the campground. Most campgrounds in the area maintain pet waste stations and require campers to clean up after their animals. The Gaylord region experiences heavy seasonal insects, particularly in May when gnats can be problematic for pets and owners alike. During summer months, the sandy beaches at Otsego Lake provide cooling opportunities for dogs after hiking, though owners should check each park's specific pet swimming policies before allowing dogs in water.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Elmira, Michigan (161)

    1. Otsego Lake State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Gaylord, MI
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 732-5485

    "The location of the connection point for our site 75 is on the left side of site 77 and our cable could not reach. (See photo)."

    "Otsego Lake is a great campground. It's quiet for a state park, and the sites are roomy. The sites on the outer perimeter have large trees and some have water views."

    2. Young State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Boyne City, MI
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 582-7523

    "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."

    "Some sites were not in use because of high lake levels and park water problems. Leaking pipe? The small dune area leading up to Lake Charlevoix makes you feel like you are at Lake Michigan."

    3. Gaylord KOA

    10 Reviews
    Gaylord, MI
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 939-8723

    $61 - $95 / night

    "While it was pricey at $65 night, we had a very spacious full hookup site within easy walking distance of pool. Shower house was very nice and modern, with 4 shower stalls."

    "The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location."

    4. Petoskey State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Conway, MI
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 347-2311

    "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. "

    5. Otsego Lake County Park

    5 Reviews
    Gaylord, MI
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 731-6448

    "This is a great campground South of Gaylord on Otsego Lake. I believe all sites have electric. The park is beautiful with a many sites having lake views."

    6. Fisherman's Island State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Charlevoix, MI
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 547-6641

    $20 / night

    "Driving in to the campground, wear your blinders as there's a concrete plant right next door. I camped this past week and there were signs the park hadn't been used by many at all just yet."

    "Our family really enjoyed the scenery and the proximity to Charlevoix and Lake Michigan. Unfortunately we just couldn’t quite handle the level of mosquitos there."

    7. Starlight Campground and RV Park

    4 Reviews
    Mancelona, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 535-0461

    $35 - $50 / night

    "Swing set, walking trail, ORV trail, pool, volleyball, pickle ball court and other games! This campground is extremely clean and has beautiful bathrooms/showers."

    "They made us feel like family the minute we walked through the door. We would defiantly visit again!"

    8. Pinney Bridge

    1 Review
    Mancelona, MI
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 732-3541

    $15 / night

    "This campground is hike in/walk in only. The closest parking space is 700 yards and 50 feet in elevation lower than the campground."

    9. Magnus Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Petoskey, MI
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 347-1027

    "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."

    10. Hartwick Pines State Park Campground

    18 Reviews
    Frederic, MI
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 348-7068

    "A few trails walking distance from the campground.

    The old growth trail is beautiful and really well maintained. The trees are crazy TALL."

    "Some full hookups, unusual for Michigan state parks that I’ve seen."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Elmira, MI

939 Reviews of 161 Elmira 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.

  • S
    Sep. 5, 2021

    Gaylord KOA

    Horrible

    The 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.

  • C
    Sep. 27, 2022

    Burt Lake State Park Campground

    Beautiful Lake and Park

    Large, 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.

  • A
    Aug. 29, 2017

    Petoskey State Park Campground

    Great camping with awesome beach

    We 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.

  • 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

  • Lydia T.
    Jul. 1, 2024

    Waterways Campground

    Beautiful campground in Cheboygan

    This 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.


Guide to Elmira

Elmira sits in the heart of Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula with elevations ranging between 1,200-1,300 feet. This area experiences heavy seasonal insect activity during late spring, particularly May through June. Camping facilities around Elmira range from modern campgrounds with full hookups to rustic hike-in sites with minimal amenities.

What to do

Beach activities at Otsego Lake: The state park offers a large swimming area with concession stands that rent beach equipment. "Fishing, biking, boating, and playing at the beach" are popular activities according to Rachael D., who notes the park has "basketball court, volleyball net, fishing pier, and bike trails."

Hiking through old growth forest: Hartwick Pines State Park Campground offers rare access to original pine forest stands. Lisa B. explains the park has "side trails that are less traveled so you rarely see anyone else! There is a small lake for fishing, an old logging community with some programming in busier months."

Search for Petoskey stones: The rocky and sandy beaches around Little Traverse Bay are prime hunting grounds for these distinctive fossils. "We found Petoskey stones and other fossils and swam. It felt like being at the ocean!" shares Jennifer G. about her experience at Magnus Park.

What campers like

Wide, spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the generous site dimensions at Young State Park Campground. According to Nancy W., "Campsites in the Spruce loop don't have a designated 'pad' so you can arrange your RV or tent any way you like. This was the case with groups of friends who had two or three sites and arranged them so they faced each other with common area in the center."

Lakefront camping opportunities: Fisherman's Island State Park Campground offers shoreline camping with waves lapping nearby. Magy C. shares, "There are plenty of sites all along the shore of Lake Michigan! It gave the illusion of our own private beach and even though we had a camper at the site next to ours it was still very private because of all the trees in between."

Tree cover and natural settings: Most campgrounds in the area feature mature trees. Allison H. says about Otsego Lake State Park, "It's a bit older, so the campsites are quite large compared to modern campgrounds. There are huge trees throughout, easily navigable roads, etc."

What you should know

Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have significant grade issues. Patrick notes at Otsego Lake State Park: "Site 52 and sites in immediate area was over 12" out of level from front to back. Looked like our camper was doing a wheelie."

Walk-in only access at some sites: Pinney Bridge requires more effort to reach. Doug B. warns, "This campground is hike in/walk in only. The closest parking space is 700 yards and 50 feet in elevation lower than the campground."

Seasonal crowds and noise: Many campgrounds become busy during peak summer months. Michael Z. describes Magnus Park: "Sitting between the town and the water, the backside of the camp area is the hospital with loud cooling fan towers running constantly. Not much of a campground feel to it."

Tips for camping with families

Look for campgrounds with dedicated activities: Gaylord KOA offers organized events. Amanda C. reports, "Stayed for 6 days. Staff was awesome. Sites were neat. Park was clean. Lots to do for kids."

Consider bike-friendly parks: Flat paths make recreation easier for children. Edmund P. recommends Otsego Lake State Park: "We love this park, great lake, small comfortable park and safe! Great bike riding park for little ones."

Check for playground facilities: When choosing pet-friendly camping near Elmira, Michigan, look for sites with play areas. At Starlight Campground and RV Park, Jaime found "Swing set, walking trail, ORV trail, pool, volleyball, pickle ball court and other games! This campground is extremely clean and has beautiful bathrooms/showers."

Tips from RVers

Book lakeside sites well in advance: The most desirable waterfront spots fill quickly at campgrounds offering pet-friendly accommodations near Elmira. Karen O. advises about Fisherman's Island: "I camped this past week and there were signs the park hadn't been used by many at all just yet. On the sites just a few yards away from Lake Michigan, the fall leaves and winter branch droppings remained on most of the sites."

Check utility locations and connections: Some campgrounds have specific hookup configurations. Kathie M. notes: "Potable water from hand pump and was unable (water bandit didn't fit) to fill camper water tank which was my only complaint."

Research site dimensions carefully: Campground layouts vary widely. Kim L. explains about Gaylord KOA: "We had a very spacious full hookup site within easy walking distance of pool. Shower house was very nice and modern, with 4 shower stalls. Full coin laundry was helpful too!"

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Elmira, MI is Otsego Lake State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 24 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 161 dog-friendly camping locations near Elmira, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.