We all love roasting marshmallows over a campfire—and you can often still do that while cabin camping in Huron-Manistee National Forests. Finding a cozy cabin in Michigan has never been easier. You're sure to find the perfect cabin rental for your Huron-Manistee National Forests camping adventure.
Northern Exposure Campground staff takes pride in our state-of-the-art RV campground. Our goal is to provide a memorable experience to campers of all ages. We are a nonprofit organization that's committed to providing our guests with clean, safe, and updated camping facilities, fun family entertainment, and a helpful and friendly staff ready to answer all your questions and assist you during your stay. Welcome to Northern Exposure Campground, thanks for staying and helping us be the best RV camping destination in Northern Michigan!
$30 - $45 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
Traverse City State Park is a 47-acre state park set in a more urban setting and featuring .25 miles of beautiful beach on the Grand Traverse Bay. The park is located only 3 miles from downtown Traverse City, one of the Michigan's most popular resort towns. The park was established in 1920 on about 16 acres of land after the logging industry began to wane. In 1921 and 1939, parcels were added to increase the park's land area. The original inhabitants of the land were the Ottawa branch of the Algonquin Indians.
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
$25 - $65 / night
Pop open your lawn chair and relax by the crackling fire. Most sites have room for 4 folks, a camper or tent, a boat, a dog or two and a few kiddos :D We have a tiny cafe, a small playground, a fish station, warm showers and bike/kayak rentals! Hop on the Betsie Valley trail for a 3 mile adventure to ice cream, beaches, shops...so much! We are not a big concrete pad RV park, we are a nice small family owned campsite. We try and keep it quiet and calm (but still fun!) If you are looking for the far North Electric Forest, this is not the place. What we are is a great base-camp for all your awesome Northern Michigan adventures!
$33 - $85 / night
We are a full service RV park and campground with accommodations to fit any taste or budget. We feature full hook-up and electric sites, wooded tent sites, and rustic family and group campsites. We also feature cabins, a bunkhouse and a 1966 Airstream Safari rental. We are located in the heart of the Manistee National Forest close to the Pine Rive, Manistee River, Tippy Dam, and the North Country & Big M Trailheads. We are a 25 minute drive from the historic towns of Cadillac & Manistee, and a 1 hour drive from Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes. Make Twin Oaks Campground your basecamp for adventure in Northern Michigan!
$11 - $90 / night
Big Rigs, RVs, Fifth Wheels, Pop-Up Trailers and Tents are welcomed to escape to Traverse City’s wooded retreat! With Cabin Rentals, wireless internet (please request this when making a reservation), spacious and shady sites, heated pool, a variety of activities, camp store and goodie shop, and clean bath houses, Timber Ridge has all of the bases covered.
$60 - $260 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
$100 / night
Offering the accommodations you need for all the ways you camp; in a destination that delivers: Sleeping Bear Dunes, Lake Michigan beaches, miles of hiking/biking trails, Traverse City, and more. A place where food, art, and events are abundant in everyday life. Whether you’re looking for an enjoyable weekend, a family vacation, or planning your entire season, this is the place. Families have spent a century vacationing and building memories here; we created a place that allows you to do the same with your family and friends.
Indigo was named after the shades of blue that dominate the surrounding landscape. Leelanau, the peninsula we are located on, is a Native American name meaning “Land of Delight”. That's all the inspiration we needed to create one of the country’s most distinctive outdoor lifestyle resorts.
Guide
Beach was big and beautiful but you had to drive to get to it unless you love walking with a bunch of beach stuff in a bathing suit. Hamlin lake is close by and is a good spot for fishing.
Scout
Very nice park, walkway to the public beach, paved path behind the grounds. Modern, clean bathhouse. Not a lot of privacy between spots, big mature trees all through the grounds. Right by municipal airport with lots of flight activity.
Guide
Camp staff very friendly and park is well maintained. Nice hiking trails nearby and a 20 minute drive to a whole lot of entertainment!
Guide
Our site was great, easily fit a 17 foot trailer and a tent. Trails down to the water were appreciated by our kids. Neighbors are pretty close all around but that didn't matter until our last night. Several new campers rolled in at 10pm and proceeded to throw an absolute rager of a party until 4am - on Labor Day weekend. So overall a great campground but I wish there had been enforcement of quiet time or some kind of consequence for such horrible camping manners.
TravelerThe campsites are spacious and feature trails that lead directly to the Tippy Dam Backwater. There’s also convenient access for launching a boat on either the Manistee River or the backwaters side of the dam
Guide
This was a great campground, quiet and peaceful in the cherry orchard area of west Michigan, near Glen Arbor and Traverse City.
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.
Only other negative is that there are no trees for the majority of sites for shade cover.
This was a good spot for a two night stay as it’s close to the Sleeping Bear National Dunes and also many local wineries.
Have fun!
Legend
Great cabin for winter camping. Electricity, heat, microwave, mini fridge. 2 sets of bunks, sleeps 5. Table with chairs. Wonderful hiking.
GuideWell, the spots are very small and you have to park sideways. Nothing can beat the price of staying in Traverse City. If you have your own camper, the showers are nice. You’re right downtown and there’s a catwalk over the beach.
Guide
Excellent owners! Super friendly that work hard to keep the place really clean. Its been in business since 1941 I believe.
They have 20 sites. The ones by the river are where we stayed. (sites 4&5). They also have some little cabins. They also do kyak rentals, with drop off and you boat back to their own landing. Super convenient.
We stayed the weekend and fully enjoyed it. We stayed in site 5 and had the river as our front yard. Electric is provided at each site, and they do have a dump station.
The ONLY downside I had, and I knew full well going into this and it didn't bother me, it is on M115, a fairly busy road. I know that might be a deal breaker for some, but was easily overlooked for the view we had, the kindness of the owners, and the cleanliness of the facilities and grounds. Most folks wont care, but some purists (Just know that I'm usually a boondock, REAL desolate camping kind of guy), wont like the traffic aspect. I didn't let it bother me.
I give 5 stars because they cant do anything a bout the location, obviously, so I rated on our experience. We had an excellent time, and will come back again.
Scout
So if you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy a nice atmosphere, and have friendly people that run the campground, don't camp here!! I've camped in this campground for 15 years. Until this past season trying to give the new owner the opportunity to make this campground awesome again but the owners are RUDE. They don't care how the campground is maintained from grass cutting(or lack of) to fire pits full to trash/litter on sites and moldy bathrooms, minimal operating toilets, power issues when hooking up to the outdated power system and to getting assigned a site that was not booked for due to over booking sites. Then there is the blatantly disrespect to the customer's who usually are supposed to be always right but the owner is straight out of New York which is loud and has rude comments about campers that they do not care for and they are not afraid of who hears it. I can go on and on about what the campground is and how campers who are there to relax and enjoy the atmosphere shouldn't have to worry about catching something from a bathroom visit. So just saying that this place is a campers beware!!
TravelerGreat campground with beach access. It’s great to be in the forest, then take a quick walk over to the beach.
Campground was busy, but very quiet. Neighbors were friendly.
GuideWe were camping in mid-October. It was chilly out and raining, but the bathrooms there were still nice! It has a good location in Traverse City, but unfortunately the park isn’t connected to the bay. There is a walk over bridge, so you don’t have to cross the road! But the park is right next to a busy road and near an airport, so it was a little noisy. Inside the camper it wasn’t too noisy from cars though. If a person is looking to be in Traverse City to camp just be near the city then this would be a great place to be, but if you’re looking for quiet, nature, and easy access to swimming then it’s not my #1 choice.
Scout
Large open spaces, partially shaded Nice breeze off the Lake Michigan Great sunsets
Scout
We stayed here for the first time over Labor Day weekend. The campground great with a lot of amenities for young and old alike. We will definitely be going back, and would recommend this campground to anyone.
Scout
Stayed on pull through site, did require some leveling as driver side was considerably lower. Delivered firewood to your site. No TMobile cell service & limited TV reception. Dropped a set of keys and they mailed them back to me at no charge.
Scout
This cabin is a joy to stay in. Brennin, Jamie, and their dog Rue are gracious hosts. As OG locals to traverse City, brennin and Jamie are plugged into the goings on in the area, as well as a plethora of sweet spots to check out that aren't totally overcrowded with fudgies. The cabin is big, can easily fit a family, has electricity, and basically everything you need to have a good time. Easy to get to, you can drive right up to the cabin and load in. But also, you're straight up in the middle of the woods. One of my favorite places to stay for sure!
ScoutStayed out here for an art retreat and loved it. Gorgeous property with a huge canopy of maple trees, lovely campfire spot and a cute cabin. Slept like a log.
Legend
The park is beginning to look its age. Stayed 4 nights while visiting the Traverse City area. Crowded with families making use of the last couple weeks before schools return. Rained well one night and our grass less site turned nasty. Good Verizon signal and has water available at several stations around each camping loop. Great location, however, to visit Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Scout
We stayed 4 nights. The kids loved the playground. The boys enjoyed the basketball court. Bathrooms & showers were clean. The whole campground is well maintained, clean & peaceful. The staff was welcoming and friendly. They were very present and always out working on things. We'll definitely be back!
ScoutCame up here for my anniversary getaway with my fiancé, booked for two nights and the second day had an emergency come up and had to leave! I let Jamie know and without asking or expecting, she refunded me and wished me luck with our situation. The cabin was cute and cozy, I slept like a baby, definitely going to come here again. Thank you so much Jamie!
Scout
This campground appears to occupied by many of the manager's family and friends. His campsite has a water view. Our site was right next to the manager. Noisiest campsite in the park.
The manager was nice and accommodating. However their site generated a lot of noise well past quiet hours. Our site was level and had a terrific view of the lake. After seeing the restrooms and showers we chose to use our trailer only. Most sites were level and shaded. Dirt pads. Water and electric only. Additional fee for dumping. Fire wood was reasonably priced.
We did not have internet nor cell service (Verizon/T-Mobile). Few amenities
Scout
We had a great time. The park is SUPER clean and well-maintained. Lots of things to do in the park and being in Ludington, lots to do in the area. All sites are level concrete slabs and full service. Grass is trimmed around the pads, they have sprinklers that water the grass at night. We would definitely stay here again and recommend this campground.
GuideWe stayed here in our little offroad teardrop camper which looked like David & Goliath when contrasted against the massive 5th wheels surrounding us. This did not prevent us from enjoying the lake, the park, the pool, bike riding, fly fishing, etc. It felt like endless things to do, whereas in most campgrounds the trouble is finding something to do. You can easily argue that the owners treat this as a true resort and the cleanliness, and friendliness clearly shows. Would 100% go back and probably will next year.
The Boardman river is only 10 minutes away and support incredible fly fishing.
Traveler
Park had vacancy when I called late Friday afternoon for Saturday. So if you want to stay in the Ludington area but can't get into the State Park, this is good. Just about 2 miles from the State Park beaches and less than 2 miles into downtown. There is a designated paved trail that runs right through the campground. You can easily ride bikes downtown where there is a large variety of restaurants and/or brewery. The whole downtown area is very cool with city parks/beaches/marina/shops. Office staff was very friendly and professional. We camped in the "rustic" section, meaning no electric or running water on site. Bathroom was relatively clean and near our site. Crowd was not too rowdy and pretty chill. Lots of kids ;-) and dogs ;-(. Best features are location (at nothing, but near everything). Worst features mentioned by others - there is no fence between the campground and the busy road, road noise, the cemetery does not bother us. Ludington State Park has MANY excellent opportunities hiking, biking, watercraft, beach bumming. Highly recommend the State Park....but it is very hard to get into in the summer. Stay here instead and you'll be half way between the State Park and Downtown.
TravelerOur family and I stayed in campsite B at Orchard Beach, it is a new rustic campsite and it is on top of a hill. It was clean and spacious. The bathroom is a pretty distant walk so prepare for that. But the bathrooms and showers are clean. You will need some good tent stakes as the ground is hard clay. We would absolutely stay again.
ScoutWe stayed in this cabin for an entire summer and it was dreamy, so happy to share with others now.
GuideIt is a nice spot to quick stop and sleep. It’s is nice and close to town. However right next to the cemetery, so if you have superstitions and are weirded out by post death. Our spot was butted up to the road too which was busy most of the night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Huron-Manistee National Forests?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Huron-Manistee National Forests is Northern Exposure Campground & RV Park with a 4.9-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Huron-Manistee National Forests?
TheDyrt.com has all 59 cabin camping locations near Huron-Manistee National Forests, with real photos and reviews from campers.
