147 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campers in the Glen Arbor area of Michigan have several good options, including Manton Trails RV Park with its roomy sites and well-maintained bathhouse. Day Group Campground sits close by, giving campers a more basic experience while still keeping hiking trails within easy reach. These two places have different setups that work for different camping styles. Glen Arbor puts you right by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore where you can check out beaches and views. The hiking trails around Glen Arbor range from easy walks to tougher climbs. Lake Michigan is right there too, so swimming and kayaking are common activities when the weather's warm. You should book early during summer since spots fill quickly. If you visit in fall, you'll see great colors and deal with fewer people. The small towns near Glen Arbor host festivals throughout the year that many campers enjoy visiting. Glen Arbor works well as a home base whether you want full facilities or something more stripped-down.
"One of my favorite parts of MI. 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. The campground is 4 miles from Glen Arbor and barely a mile walk to Glen Haven."
"This is one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. It is all walk ups so plan accordingly though the park service is might changing it to reservation. The sites are wooded and semi private."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"If you stay it’s worth the drive 30 minutes north to visit Glen Arbor for the day!"
"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."
from $22 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Close to Empire and Glen Arbor! We would stay here again!"
"It has a fire pit, nearby bathrooms, WiFi, and was in short driving distance to the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Traverse City."
"Located on busy US-31, but with pedestrian bridge over 4 lanes to beach. TART (Traverse Area Recreation Trail) access from campground. Easy biking to Traverse City or Acme."
"Bathrooms were clean, sites were average size for Michigan state parks. Close to the bike trail, though a little noisy from the nearby airport and roads."
from $48 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Sailed tonSouth Manitou from Glen Arbor. Some group camping."
"The island does have drinking water but you have to hike from your sites ot get it our you can get water from Lake Michigan and make it drinkable."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $120 / night
Check Availability"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)"
"The campground was very shady and situated right on the lake. We stayed in Site #50 and could carry our kayaks across a small grassy field to put in at the edge of the lake."
from $103 - $130 / night
Check Availability"Located just a short drive away from many attractions."
"The campground is close to Sleeping Bear Dunes (15 mins) and Traverse City (30 mins). We enjoyed traveling to the city for Cherry Festival and returning to a quiet campground."
"Weather Station Campground is located on South Manitou Island and offers 20 individual sites and 3 group sites nearby. "
"A relatively short hike and simple hike, Weather Station offers some great scenic views of Lake Michigan."
from $35 - $60 / night
Check Availability
ScoutWe looked into this location but from the information we found, it's closed and was purchased for private use. Too bad, looks like it could have had some great potential.
TravelerOur site, and most sites, we're very shaded. Bathrooms and showers were very clean. The rangers working were fantastic. In a great location to visit nearby sites!!!
LegendJuly 8, 2026, 82 degrees Make sure you goto michigan reservations as it’s confusing for first come first serve.
Site 22, 2 bars 5G on T-Mobile Flat Sandy grass, pit toilets. Trash dumpster on the way out. Good rustic camping, bugs were not bad, mostly flat and only a few campers during the week. Horse, bike and hiking trails right next to the CG. We saw a few loons near the boat launch.
TravelerThis campground was absolutely breathtaking. The showers and bathrooms were so clean and easily accessible. 10/10 experience all around.
LegendJuly 3-7th, site 489, Easy check in and the water fill up was next to the dump station.
The dump station only has two drains and the cap is in the middle of the island to dump. The site was flat with trees, our 21’ fit well with our truck.
30amp, metal fire ring with old picnic table. Looks like water will puddle during rains.
Newer shower and bath facilities are amazing. The showers are separate and private from the shitters. The lots are Michigan sand and rock, very little gravel and grass, bring ant killer for the site.
Some sites are paved asphalt.
Firewood was$23 for 3 bundles Cash App or Venmo near the general store.
Water fill stations throughout the park but the spigot does not allow a house hookup. Fill up at the dump station. The south lot area was full and very crowded, narrow asphalt road with lots of trees, larger 5th wheel campers would be better on the north section.
There is a Pine Nature Trail that runs on the west side of the south area. About 2 miles but part of the trail has not been cleared from recent storms. A great place to bring your SUP and kayak. Peaceful lakes in the area.
ScoutThis was our first time in orchard beach and we will definitely return! This campground was so clean, the sites were large, the bathrooms were immaculate, and the staff was kind and helpful! We had a site backing up to the fence of the drop off and we could hear the water all night. The view is absolutely beautiful, I was bummed to miss the sunset on our first night. We took away a star because of the blocked off stairs. We were under the impression that there would be water access so that was disappointing. But! We had a blast and made friends with our site neighbor and will definitely recommend this spot to friends!
TravelerSix or so full hook up sites in the campground (several are seasonal/permanent sites). The sites are spacious, woodsy, shaded with nice grass for the kiddos to play in. The owners, Rocky and Richard were friendly and available if needed. They even filled our campfire ring with wood before we arrived. There is a porta potty on site, but otherwise expect to use your camper for bathing needs. The 25 min drive into traverse city felt easy even with toddlers in toe. The town of Cedar is small but quaint.
LegendJuly 2026, Rustic camping with large mostly level sites. The boat launch area separates the 600 (north) vs the 700 (south) sites. No electric, hand pump for water and pit toilets spread throughout the area.
T-Mobile had 1bar LTE but I could get 5G at Interlochen CG.
Picnic tables and steel/concrete fire pit. Showers available at Interlochen CG, short drive or walk a mile through the woods and cross the main road near the entrance to the boat launch.
Bugs were not bad, trash dumpster near the entrance and some road noise since the CG runs parallel to the main road.
LegendJuly 2026, Rustic camping with large mostly level sites. The boat launch area separates the 600 (north) vs the 700 (south) sites. No electric, hand pump for water and pit toilets spread throughout the area.
T-Mobile had 1bar LTE but I could get 5G at Interlochen CG.
Picnic tables and steel/concrete fire pit. Showers available at Interlochen CG, short drive or walk a mile through the woods and cross the main road near the entrance to the boat launch.
Bugs were not bad, trash dumpster near the entrance and some road noise since the CG runs parallel to the main road.
Camping in Glen Arbor offers access to over 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The area sits at approximately 600 feet above sea level with summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F during peak season. Winter camping remains available at select campgrounds where temperatures regularly drop below freezing between November and March.
Kayak Platte River: The river provides a popular route for paddlers looking for gentle currents suitable for beginners. "We do a lot of camping all throughout Michigan. We are from Traverse city and this is our go-to campground. We camp on full moon nights and hit the river for night kayaking," notes a visitor to Platte River Campground.
Explore historic sites: South Manitou Island contains preserved homesteads and a lighthouse with daily tours. "There is a Light house that has daily tours, a ship wreck and old growth ceder trees you can hike to along with the dunes," explains one camper who visited South Manitou Island Group.
Winter stargazing: Late season campers can enjoy exceptional night sky viewing when crowds thin out. "We went to the beach to skywatch and it was beautiful and worth every second," reports a camper who visited D.H. Day Campground in October.
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the natural separation at certain campgrounds. "The sites in the three loops are nicely placed so that you have foliage and space between sites but also close enough for larger groups to spread out and still feel like they are camping in a group," notes a visitor to Platte River Campground.
Lake access: Waterfront campsites provide both recreation and convenience. "Site 3 has easy access to an overlook which we made use of for photos of a storm that rolled in over North Manitou Island," describes a camper at Weather Station Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained restrooms and shower facilities matter to campers. "Bathroom facilities were excellent and clean. Firewood is available to purchase in the campground," reports a visitor to Platte River Campground.
Reservation requirements: Most popular sites book months in advance. "Reservations are extremely hard to get for this park. If you want a weekend campsite, you must book six months in advance!" warns a visitor to Platte River Campground.
Wildlife considerations: Bears have been spotted in some camping areas. "There was a bear spotted in the group area during our stay," notes a camper at Platte River Campground, who advises, "DO NOT LEAVE FOOD OUT!"
Water sources: Campers on islands need proper filtration equipment. "There is no access to clean drinking water at the campground, so plan on filtering water from Lake Michigan, or walking approximately 1.5 miles to the dock area to collect water there," explains a visitor to Weather Station Campground.
Choose campgrounds with programming: Some locations offer educational activities. "The amphitheater with kid focused programs was a great bonus," shares a visitor to Empire Township Campground.
Bring tick prevention: Several campers reported tick encounters. "The ticks are bad this year and we heard several people in the park talking about having a tick on them," warns a camper who visited Platte River Campground.
Consider ferry schedule implications: Island camping requires extra planning. "I'd also recommend bringing more food than you think you need, in case the weather turns and the ferry can't pick you up on the day planned," advises a visitor to South Manitou Island Group.
Site selection considerations: Not all sites accommodate larger rigs comfortably. "The pull through sites are a U-shaped paved driveway. Some pull through sites are VERY small so be careful when you book your reservation," cautions a visitor to Platte River Campground.
Hookup options: Full-service sites are limited but available. "The site had full hookups and was considered to be one of the premium sites. It included electric, sewer, water, cable, and WiFi when it worked," reports a camper who stayed at Indigo Bluffs RV Park.
Leveling challenges: Some sites require additional equipment. "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," explains a visitor to Leelanau Pines Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What campgrounds are available in Glen Arbor, Michigan?
Glen Arbor offers several excellent camping options. D.H. Day Campground is one of the most popular choices, located just 4 miles from Glen Arbor within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This rustic campground features wooded sites with easy access to Lake Michigan beaches and the Heritage Trail. For RV travelers, Indigo Bluffs RV Park is conveniently situated close to both Glen Arbor and Empire, offering well-maintained facilities. Other nearby options include Platte River Campground, Empire Township Campground, and for a unique experience, South Manitou Island offers group camping accessible by ferry from Glen Arbor.
What are the best times of year to go camping in Glen Arbor, MI?
Summer (June through August) is peak camping season in Glen Arbor, offering warm temperatures perfect for swimming in Lake Michigan and exploring the dunes. This is especially true at Lake Leelanau RV Park, where summer visitors enjoy the beautiful lakefront setting. Early fall (September-October) is another excellent time, with smaller crowds and spectacular fall colors along the M-22 corridor. Leelanau State Park Campground offers stunning Lake Michigan views during this colorful season. Spring (May-early June) can be pleasant but expect cooler temperatures, especially at night. Winter camping is limited, with most campgrounds closing for the season.
How close is Glen Lake Campground to Glen Arbor?
While there isn't a specific campground called "Glen Lake Campground," several camping options are available near Glen Lake and Glen Arbor. Wild Cherry RV Resort is approximately 6-7 miles from Glen Arbor and offers proximity to Glen Lake. For those seeking a National Park experience, Platte River Campground in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is about 12 miles south of Glen Arbor. Both locations provide convenient access to Glen Lake activities while enjoying the natural beauty of Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula. Most campers find these locations provide an easy 10-15 minute drive to Glen Arbor's restaurants and shops.
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