Green Lake Rustic South and Green Lake Rustic North campgrounds at Interlochen State Park accommodate pets with spacious, shaded sites near the water. Both campground sections provide pet-friendly tent and RV camping options with picnic tables and fire rings at each site. Pets must be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet at all times while in the park. The sites near the water can be somewhat close together, offering limited privacy during busy summer weekends. Campers report that the rustic campground has a quieter atmosphere despite occasional road noise, making it suitable for dogs sensitive to crowded environments. Clean vault toilets serve the rustic camping areas, while the modern camping section offers shower facilities and electric hookups for RV campers with pets.
Nearby Traverse City State Park Campground and Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort expand pet-friendly options with designated pet exercise areas and walking trails. Sites can flood during heavy rain, so pet owners should pack extra towels for muddy paws after storms. The campground's proximity to Green Lake and Duck Lake provides excellent opportunities for dogs that enjoy swimming, though some reviews mention swimmer's itch as a concern. Local veterinary services are available in Traverse City, approximately 14 miles northeast of Interlochen. The small town of Interlochen offers pet supply basics at its dollar store and local market. Temperature fluctuations in northern Michigan can affect pets, so campers should prepare for cool nights even during summer months.
$20 / night
"This park is, after all, right across the road from Interlochen Arts Center, so there's a whole lotta class that just rubs off geographically. Nice lake, good beach."
"It is on Duck Lake on the modern side and if you like rustic there is Wood Lake on the other side."
"Pets are allowed in the campground. The sites are a little tight, but if you are looking to hang out in Traverse City, this is a convenient location. Bathhouse was always well maintained."
"300+ sites, pet friendly, sites for all shapes and sizes. Open year round, with heated cabins. It's a great location, just across from Traverse Bay with just across the road."
$22 - $50 / night
"Hiking to Lake Michigan, bike trails, Sleeping Bear Dunes just a short drive away. For those with dogs, Esch Beach, at the end of Esch Road, is about 10 minutes by car and dog friendly."
"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."
$20 / night
"The foliage helps create privacy but the campsites are close in proximity overall."
"We spent most of our time at the pet friendly beach. So many places to hike and so much fun to swim. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay."
$60 - $260 / night
"This is also a pet friendly campground, so there are many dogs. Probably one of my favorite parts was dodgeball... and the multiple bike trails that connect to the VASA trail system."
"We stayed here in our little offroad teardrop camper which looked like David & Goliath when contrasted against the massive 5th wheels surrounding us."
"We stayed at this campground while doing the Michigan Shore to Shore Trail by horseback, therefore we were in the "horse" portion of the campground."
"Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp has the basic rustic camping necessities."
"Was able to check in early...because campers had checked out early and they had time to check the site...very clean...close to all the great sites around Traverse City...the only thing was where our site"
"It has everything; off of Silver Lake to swim, fish or rent a boat. Their is no reason to leave this paradise (except for groceries/drinks)."
"The shower stalls were individual and clean, the area was filled with campers and RV’s and everyone was SO friendly and the place was full of dog lovers."
"Close to traverse city and sleeping bear dunes!"
$20 / night
"It was nice waking up to hearing loons calling on the lake though. The campground doesn’t have any trails or a nice beach, but there’s lots to do nearby."
"If you are going to this state park camp at the green lake rustic sites! These sites are bigger and more spread out. I had a spot that was great for my hammock. Some right on the lake!"
$60 - $120 / night
"This KOA is just south of Traverse City and very centrally located to all that makes this area so awesome! Wineries, Sleep Bear Dunes, golf courses, and of course downtown Traverse City."
"This place is the perfect spot to camp to get away yet stay close to Home (if you live nearby!). Its great for a traveler as well."
GuideReally. Really. Quiet. Quiet hours all day and night. So nice not to hear everybody's musical selections. This park is, after all, right across the road from Interlochen Arts Center, so there's a whole lotta class that just rubs off geographically. Nice lake, good beach.
TravelerIf you love hills and woods this is the campground for you. It is on Duck Lake on the modern side and if you like rustic there is Wood Lake on the other side. It
is also across the street from Interlochen music camp and sometimes you can hear the music and concerts coming from the camp on the North side of the campground. It is peaceful and has many sites right on the water. If you want a site on the water you will need to reserve it early (6 months in advance) because they fill up fast. This campground is one of my favorites.
LegendThe 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.
LegendWooden 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
GuideWe 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.
GuideOverall the campground has a very pleasant and rustic charm. The foliage helps create privacy but the campsites are close in proximity overall. The one warning that should be more clearly indicated is that there is poison ivy surrounding every single site so please be aware if you have pets and small children. The fact that there was so much poison ivy is the only reason I gave it four stars. Lake Michigan is a short walk away and you are able to walk to sleeping bear dunes along the beach. For those who would like convenience Glen Arbor is only five minutes down the main road and has a ton of restaurants, parks and a nice grocery store.
TravelerWell wooded campground with Interlochen. Not super close to Michigan cities, but can drive back and forth to Traverse City.
GuideGreat little campground just on the outskirts of Cadillac. Great rates especially for full hookups. This was our first time at this park, we originally had a site next to the pool, but quickly realized our TT would not fit due to the trees. The front desk quickly changed our site and we were good to go. All sites were well maintained, they had a petting zoo (goats) and a store with a little game room in it. I would definitely come back.
ScoutFirst 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.
Interlochen State Park sits between Green Lake and Duck Lake in northern Michigan, approximately 15 miles southwest of Traverse City at an elevation of 837 feet. Winter temperatures can drop below 20°F while summer averages 80°F with nighttime temperatures frequently falling into the 50s. The area features a mix of sandy soil and dense forest with many campsites requiring proper leveling equipment.
Kayaking on Duck Lake: Duck Lake offers excellent paddling opportunities with abundant wildlife. At Platte River Campground, visitors enjoy night kayaking during full moons. "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," reports Nikki M.
Music experiences: The proximity to Interlochen Center for the Arts creates unique camping experiences at Green Lake Rustic North — Interlochen State Park. According to Jason C. at Green Lake Rustic South: "Beautiful state park. Very nice beach and lots of room to roam. Next to a band camp too so it's fun enjoying the music in the distance while camping or around the fire."
Biking to downtown: Many campers enjoy cycling from Traverse City State Park Campground into town. Cassondra P. notes: "We love Traverse City and being able to camp somewhat near downtown. One of our favorite things is being connected to the bike paths so we can bike to downtown area while staying on bike trails!"
Secluded waterfront sites: Green Lake Rustic North offers more private sites than the modern campground. "Small campground with absolutely stunning views of the lake! The 'beach' area is a bit rocky and I wouldn't recommend actually swimming there, but there's decent fishing and it's very quite," writes Cait C.
Trail access: D.H. Day Campground provides direct access to hiking trails and beach areas. Emmy W. reports: "Great access to walking trails and the beach. There are a few spots that are more private, but you'll likely have to book in advance."
Fall camping options: For pet owners seeking less crowded camping near Interlochen, Michigan, off-season provides quieter experiences. Doug P. from D.H. Day Campground shares: "Went there in late October of 2022 and man was it a cold night to stay in a tent. We got there late, put tents up in the dark... But once we got situated, we went to the beach to skywatch and it was beautiful and worth every second."
Site selection matters: At Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, choosing the right site enhances your experience. "What I liked best about this park was that my children were not caked in dirt. While I understand that comes with the territory of camping, this campground provides a bit more of a grassy setting and offers a nice playground," notes Ann D.
Road noise awareness: When booking pet-friendly camping near Interlochen, consider site location relative to roads. Joseph R. explains: "There is quite a bit of road noise being right off of M137 so keep that in mind if you're a light sleeper. It was nice waking up to hearing loons calling on the lake though."
Weather preparedness: Northern Michigan experiences significant temperature shifts even in summer. Kristi S. observes: "Some of the sites are located right off the main road, which leads to lots of noise during the day and night. Some sites are also very close together and fairly small."
Private campground amenities: Platte River Campground offers family-friendly features. Anne G. explains: "This campground has great amenities without feeling like urban camping. The staff and park rangers are amazing. The sites in the three loops are nicely placed so that you have foliage and space between sites."
Tent pad placement: For families with multiple tents, assess site configurations carefully. Kevin M. shares about Platte River: "The site itself was moderately large. I could have fit 2 4 person tents comfortably or 3 smaller tents. Maybe more if you don't use the fire ring. The site was also fairly isolated from neighboring sites."
Water activities: Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp provides water access for families. Kate K. reports: "I've solo camped here a few times and it's great for early morning paddles and peaceful relaxation. There is a boat launch right near by, but most of the sites have their own path right down to the water."
Site leveling: RV campers should prepare for variable site conditions, especially at rustic campgrounds. Tony T. notes about Green Lake Rustic: "The sites weren't bad but one of our sites turned into a small pond overnight during a rain storm. There are some stairs that lead right on down to the water which was really cool."
Reservation timing: For popular pet-friendly camping near Interlochen, early bookings are essential. According to Stephanie C. at Platte River Campground: "Reservations are extremely hard to get for this park. If you want a weekend campsite, you must book six months in advance!"
Campground layout: At Traverse City State Park, RV campers benefit from specific site knowledge. Emma W. shares: "There are three loops with a bathhouse centrally located in each loop. It's a well maintained campground with nice facilities."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Interlochen, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Interlochen, MI is Green Lake Rustic South — Interlochen State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 34 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Interlochen, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 151 dog-friendly camping locations near Interlochen, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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