Cabin camping near Grayling, Michigan offers options for visitors seeking accommodations beyond traditional tent or RV setups. Located in north-central Michigan where the AuSable River flows through town, Grayling sits at approximately 1,150 feet above sea level with a climate characterized by warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Summer cabin campers should prepare for average July temperatures around 80°F during the day, dropping to 55°F at night.
What to Do
Hiking through old growth forest: At Hartwick Pines State Park Campground, cabin guests can explore Michigan's largest contiguous stand of old-growth white pines. "There are lots of trails for biking and hiking, a day use/mucc logging museum that's kinda throughout this one area of woods. Beautiful new and old growth," notes Rachel K.
Kayaking or tubing the AuSable: Paddle Brave Canoe Livery & Campground offers organized river trips from their cabin locations. A recent visitor reported, "We also did the 4-hour tubing trip and rented tubes from Paddlebrave—it couldn't have gone better. The river was beautiful and the whole experience was smooth and well-organized."
Winter activities: Hartwick Pines cabins remain open year-round, serving as basecamp for cold-weather activities. "Open all year, nice park, big rig friendly, has full hookups. We enjoy hiking here. The old logging museum is interesting to walk around & check out," writes Cindy C.
What Campers Like
Spacious cabins with basic amenities: Gaylord KOA offers cabin accommodations with convenient access to their facilities. "This is a relatively large CG, just under 100 wooded sites, which are reasonably spaced for a private CG. The CG is very clean and well maintained," explains Ray & Terri F.
Themed weekend events: Families particularly enjoy the special programming at certain properties. A visitor to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park noted, "I love going to the Halloween themed weekends with trick-or-treating at the campground. People decorate their sites, dress up, and hand out candy."
Lakefront cabin options: Otsego Lake County Park provides waterfront cabin rentals. "The park is beautiful with many sites having lake views. The campground has 4 cabins to rent right on the lake," reports Lydia T.
What You Should Know
Reservation timing matters: Cabin availability becomes extremely limited during peak seasons. At South Higgins Lake State Park Campground, "Getting a site here during the summer can be very difficult. You will want one of the sites closer to the lake. If you want one of these sites, you will need to be ready to book the site 6 months in advance," advises Stu E.
Varied cabin standards: Cabin amenities differ substantially between properties. Some feature only basic furnishings while others provide more comforts. "We actually stayed here in a cabin to celebrate our anniversary. I would recommend the single room cabins, they are affordable and have a cute front porch," shares Brittny B. about Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park.
Limited connectivity: Cell service and internet access can be spotty in cabins around Grayling. At North Higgins Lake State Park, one visitor reported, "Don't expect to make phone calls, the cell service (AT&T) was very spotty."
Tips for Camping with Families
Beach access considerations: Families seeking cabin camping with swimming should check beach proximity. A visitor to Otsego Lake County Park noted, "The playground is the classic old playground with swings and slides and some big tires to climb on. The water was mostly sand with some rocks."
Children's programming: Organized activities keep young campers engaged at certain properties. At Higgins Lake-Roscommon KOA, a visitor observed, "We have stayed twice at this campground. Both times it has clean, quiet and enjoyable! Sits on the shores of Big Bradford Lake which appears to be an all sports lake. The beach is very clean!"
Educational opportunities: History-focused cabin stays provide learning experiences. At Hartwick Pines, "The Chapel in the Woods is beautiful. The kids loved learning about the area and the wood mill camp," writes Valerie W.
Tips from RVers
Seasonal considerations: Weather patterns impact cabin availability and conditions. A Hartwick Pines visitor noted, "Best State Park I have ever stayed at! Large sites, private, sits way back in the woods/pines! Showers and bathrooms are clean!"
Bathroom facilities: Cabin campers often rely on communal facilities, which vary in quality. At Otsego Lake County Park, a visitor observed, "The bathrooms and showers are old and not the best. There is no place for washing dishes and the camp sites do not have water hook up."
Supply planning: Most cabins require visitors to bring specific items. As one visitor to Paddle Brave mentioned, "The gift shop was a nice bonus, offering fresh coffee for just $1 every morning and stocking plenty of essentials in case you forgot something at home."
