Kathie M.
Legend
LegendNorth Higgins Lake State Park Campground
Overnite stay in cabin
One nite stay in cabin. Cabin had electricity, mini fridge, electricity and bunk beds. Only complaint was cabin was close to fairly busy road.
Cabin Camping near Johannesburg, MI
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Cabins at Otsego Lake State Park and Hartwick Pines State Park Campground include electricity and basic furnishings. Most cabins provide mini-refrigerators, bunk beds, and simple seating. Heating options vary by location, with some offering electric heaters while others remain unheated. "One nite stay in cabin. Cabin had electricity, mini fridge, electricity and bunk beds. Only complaint was cabin was close to fairly busy road," noted one visitor. Bathroom facilities are typically located in centralized shower houses rather than inside individual cabins, requiring short walks to access restrooms and showers.
Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. Gaylord KOA offers modern cabin accommodations with more amenities than state park options, while Beaver Creek Resort maintains cabins open year-round. Many campgrounds require two-night minimum stays for cabin rentals. Reservations are particularly important during summer months when demand peaks. Pet policies vary significantly—some cabin locations like Otsego Lake County Park welcome pets while others restrict animals entirely. A camper shared that Jellystone Park in Grayling "has very nice amenities for families" including "single room cabins...with a cute front porch—the bed was even comfortable."
Most cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Cooking facilities vary widely, from cabins with no cooking provisions to those equipped with microwaves or outdoor fire rings. Firewood is available for purchase at most locations, often through self-service honor systems. Picnic tables typically accompany cabin sites for outdoor dining. Small markets or camp stores at locations like Beaver Creek Resort provide basic supplies, though guests should arrive prepared with essentials. For more substantial grocery needs, Gaylord offers the closest full-service stores, approximately 10-15 miles from most cabin locations.
Best Cabin Campgrounds near Johannesburg (50)
1. Otsego Lake State Park Campground
"Got into the park late (around 1030) but it was a great clear night. Spacious campsites with both a bench and picnic table. Bathroom with showers was clean."
"One complaint we had was that most of the electrical outlets are shared between 2 or 3 sites."
from $41 - $80 / night
Check Availability2. Gaylord KOA
"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."
"Large sites, amazing hosts, does charge for a band for kids to do activities like jumping pad etc. this includes a bike rental and golf but was an added charge."
from $61 - $95 / night
Check Availability3. Hartwick Pines State Park Campground
"Well maintained grounds, with a fire pit and picnic table. State park, so no WiFi. AT&T is 1 bar. Restroom and showers are updated and clean."
"Large wooded campground with nice sized sites, picnic table, fire ring, electric hook up, flush toilets, and year round activities."
from $41 - $100 / night
Check Availability4. Clear Lake State Park Campground
"We got back from our 5 year anniversary trip, and this time we stayed at Clear Lake State Park! It was a beautiful campground. It’s was busy but not too busy, if you know what I mean?"
"Camp site was very level, having a picnic table and bonfire pit at each site. The bathrooms here are very well maintained as well as the showers."
from $32 - $120 / night
Check Availability5. Otsego Lake County Park
"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."
"Nice for a state park campground. Lots of trees, sandy beach, updated playground and good boat launch."
6. Alpen Bluffs Outdoor Resort
"With a whopping 271 sites, including a fantastic mix of 30 cabins and 14 yurts, there's something for everyone."
from $98 - $345 / night
Check Availability7. Gaylord South/Bradford Lake KOA
"This is a privately owned campground tucked away not far from Gaylord, MI. There are no laundry facilities onsite but the bathhouse is well maintained."
"Sits on the shores of Big Bradford Lake which appears to be an all sports lake. The beach is very clean! Close to the ORV trails for those that enjoy off-roading."
from $64 - $94 / night
Check Availability8. Beaver Creek Resort
9. Elkwood Campground
from $40 - $50 / night
Check Availability10. Sturgeon Valley Campground
"Island lake/Huron River Hudson Mills, Sturgeon River, Pine River MI. Also, Hiawasse River, TN"
Drive Time
- 1 hr 19 min from Traverse City, MI
- 1 hr 46 min from Midland, MI
- 1 hr 49 min from Bay City, MI
- 1 hr 58 min from Saginaw, MI
Recent Cabin Photos near Johannesburg, MI
23 Photos of 50 Johannesburg Campgrounds
Lydia T.
Otsego Lake County Park
Lydia T.
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Rachel K.
Hartwick Pines State Park Campground
Nancy W.
Camp Petosega
Barbara K.
Onaway State Park Campground
Barbara K.
Young State Park Campground
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Maria L.
Hoeft State Park Campground
Cabin Reviews near Johannesburg, MI
370 Reviews of 50 Johannesburg Campgrounds
Samantha S.
TravelerClear Lake State Park Campground
Sweet Little Getaway
We got back from our 5 year anniversary trip, and this time we stayed at Clear Lake State Park!
It was a beautiful campground. It’s was busy but not too busy, if you know what I mean? There’s electricity, full bathrooms with showers, private beach access, and they had wood and ice for sale. There were definitely a lot of kids around, and it appeared like there was a lot of group camping (which this campground’s layout was perfect for)!
We stayed on site 271 in the Lower Campground. The site itself was a good size, big enough for our tent, canopy, our Ford Escape, plus the provided picnic table and fire ring. There were significantly more RV’s and trailers than there was tent campers, but that’s not that’s not a huge deal. It wasn’t really buggy, which is always an added bonus while camping. We were very close to the beach, which was so amazing and convenient. At night, it was so dark and so clear that you could faintly see the Milky Way!!
The beach was beautiful too. It wasn’t busy until closer to noonish, but that makes sense. The water we was clear, and really there wasn’t a lot of debris. The lake allows for paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and swimming. It also allows for motorized boats, though in my opinion the lake isn’t big enough for that (besides a motorized fishing boat)…
Our neighbors weren’t crazy loud, the general environment was peaceful, and overall it was a super relaxing trip! We would definitely go back again!
Nancy W.LegendMagnus Park Campground
Great Location to Downtown and Lake Michigan
This park has some strong positives that outweigh the negatives so depending on what really annoys you about a campground determines whether you may or may not like this place. The park is run by the City of Petoskey and sits on 21 acres in downtown Petoskey overlooking Lake Michigan. Petoskey has a really cool downtown with great restaurants (we liked Beard’s Brewery, Palette Bistro, and Grand Traverse Pie Company), shopping, a free art center (Crooked Tree), parks, and a pretty marina with a scenic breakwater lighthouse. If you have never been to this part of Michigan, you should definitely come for a visit.
The campground is very popular because of the price and location with about 1/3 of the park occupied by seasonal or monthly rentals of people that have been coming for many years. There are 71 sites which can be used for RVs or tents. Roads are paved and sites are grass/sand. There are fire pits and picnic tables at each site and a nice large grassy area in the front of the park near Lake Michigan with multiple picnic tables in a common space.
There are many positive attributes of this park. The location of this park could not be better and the price of $30/night (water, sewer, 30 amp electric; $28 for electric and water only) is a great deal. (Especially because other private campgrounds in the area are easily $60+/night in the summer season.) They have free wifi that worked well and we were able to get over-the-air antenna television channels. You are really in a prime location with Lake Michigan in front of you. Many of the sites in this park have a great view of the lake (especially sites 1-16). Running through the park is the Little Traverse Wheelway which is a paved bike path spanning from the cute towns of Charlevoix to Harbor Springs. (If you don’t have a bike with you there are plenty of rental places nearby.)
Now for the negatives. The bathroom/shower houses are old and tired but were clean. The park sits between a hospital and water treatment plant, one of which can be smelly on warm days the other of which has a very loud HVAC system generating lots of noise. The park is located close to the busy road M-31 so there is a bit of road noise. The sites are very close together so there is not much privacy. The park is open to day-use and has a heavily used bike path running right through it so there are lots of people coming and going.
Lee D.LegendMagnus Park Campground
Convenient to Petoskey
General: Nestled in between Lake Michigan, a waste-water treatment plant and a hospital is Magnus Park, a public city park and campground. 77 sites, 36 with full hookups, and the remainder with electric hookups. There is also one cabin.
Site Quality/Facilities: The campground is laid out in typical RV park fashion with zero privacy between sites. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Although some of the sites have somewhat of a gravel or dirt driveway, mostly it seems like areas where the grass has just worn away. IMO, if you are not able to get Sites 3-16 or Sites A-C which face Lake Michigan, then the best sites would be the ones that back up to the trees. When we reserved many months ago, we were lucky to get one of two available sites, and ours did back up to the trees. Be aware that sites 61-68 back up directly to the hospital. Other than it being imposing and detracting from the feeling of camping, the only thing I found objectionable was more frequent loud sirens of ambulances arriving. On the other end of the campground, there are nine lettered sites (A-I) that are larger but are on a grassy area with no driveways or defined separation. These sites (as well as 18,19, 20, 22) are close to the wastewater treatment plant. When I walked by, I did not notice any offending odor, but other reviewers have said they did. I did, however, hear a humming noise emanating from the plant. By luck of the draw, the site NEXT to ours (51) flooded significantly with heavy rains overnight. Ours did not puddle up too badly.
Bathhouse: Was generally clean considering it is part of a public-use city park. Rarely did I see anyone in there as most of the campers were in RVs and on our second day, it rained so no one was at the beach. The showers were warm with somewhat wimpy but adequate water pressure. They were on the small side, however, and are only available to campers with a code to access (although there was one shower in the restroom that could be used by all).
Activities/Amenities: There is a centrally located playground. Easy access to the bike trail, however, it was closed just south of the campground due to erosion (north is not a problem and a short walk into the town of Petoskey). WiFi is available and you are given the access code upon check-in, although I did not use it so cannot comment on how reliable it was.
Our first thought upon arrival was “yikes, why in the world did we decide to stay here?!” but the proximity to the town of Petoskey (less than a mile walk), and views of Lake Michigan outweigh some of the negatives.
- Nancy W.Legend
Young State Park Campground
Young State Park.
Here’s what we really liked about this park … it sits on beautiful Lake Charlevoix, is just a few miles away from the super cute town of Boyne City, some campsites with access to water right out of their back door, and the park has lots of beach to enjoy. Young State Park has a typical rustic campground feel. The park covers 560 acres which encompasses a campground, hiking trails, a large beach area with concessions, boat launch (located in the Terrace Campground loop), picnic area, playground, baseball diamond, basketball courts, and fishing pier.
Reservations can be made on-line via the Michigan DNR site. The advantage of making reservations online is that you get a really good description of the site which includes length, width, hook-ups, amount of shade, length of site, distance to restrooms, and best of all - pictures. We visited Young State Park in the summer but in talking to locals this place is wonderful in the winter and great for cross-country skiing with trails that wind through wooded areas. The price ranges from $20 to $33 per night depending on the season and electric hook-ups.
There are three camping loops – Terrace, Spruce, and Oak. 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 a common area in the center. The Terrace and Oak loops have less sites and seem a little quieter. The other plus of these loops is the easy access to water (some of which have great water views). All campsites are a mix of 20/30/50 amp or 20/30 amp with water spigots scattered throughout the loop. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit (firewood is for sale in the campground on the honor system with the nice thing being that you have access any time of day to purchase it).
The pros about this park are the easy access to Lake Charlevoix and being just a few miles from Boyne City (which has a great weekly farmers market, delicious food and beer at 7 Monks Tap Room, and a weekly Friday “Stroll the Streets” with live music). The park has a large beach area with a camp store/concession stand that has food and items for rent. It is really convenient that you can rent beach chairs/umbrellas/watercraft instead of having to bring them. Behind the concession stand is a fishing pier that was really popular with the kids.
The cons are that the roads in the campground are pretty narrow and when someone was backing into their site it caused a traffic jam. Sites are close together and the park has a very crowded feel. The bath/showers are not large enough for the amount of campers in the park and despite being cleaned daily they got lots of use and were always busy and by the end of the day, they were pretty dirty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-NzcOOzCSk
- Amanda L.
RangerYogi Bear's Jellystone Park & Resort at Grayling
Themed Weekends!
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. Great campground filled with wonderful staff, a cute camp store, hiking and biking trails, wild berries, mini golf, a pool, and plenty of activities! Afforable, easy to find, and I’ll definitely be back.
One of my favorite parts is the outdoor cartoon theater. You sit on logs, blankets or camp chairs if you're in the back and watch cartoons on the big screen. It reminds me of the drive-in movie theaters. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll even run into Yogi Bear himself!
Tent, RV, Camper, Cabins and Cottage sites/rentals are available with bathrooms, showers, and a dump station.
- AApril P.
ScoutHoeft State Park Campground
Clean ,breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful
Make reservations early! This is a beautiful state park with the best of pure Michigan woods and Lake Huron sandy dunes and beaches . Very family and pet friendly but also quiet and peaceful for couples who just wanna get away . Only drawback is low signal cell service but hey getting off the grid is what’s its all about. Unplug and recharge yourself. Electric hook up availability 20/30 amp . Hiking and biking paths , a cute play ground , sandy beach with volleyball area all walking distance from campsites! Friendly staff , we love this park !
Rodger M.
GuideDevoe Lake Rustic Campround — Rifle River Recreation Area
Spacious, Quiet, Relaxing
We were greeted at the gate by an extremely helpful and knowledgeable gentleman. He provided good directions, and helped us with our Rec Pass.
The site was easy to find, spacious, and had adequate distancing from other campers. It included a fire pit and picnic table too.
The lake was serene in the early mornings and evenings. Listen for the woeful call of the loons. What a treat!
Word of caution, the raccoons start partying as soon as you bed down. Make sure your food and trash is adequately covered/contained.
Campground has vault toilets. We never used them but good to know they have them.
Joe S.GuideHartwick Pines State Park Campground
Very nice grounds and amenities
Paved roads good for bike riding. Nice and level site. Well maintained grounds, with a fire pit and picnic table. State park, so no WiFi. AT&T is 1 bar. Restroom and showers are updated and clean.
Guide to Johannesburg
Cabin accommodations near Johannesburg, Michigan provide access to the forested landscapes of northern Michigan at elevations averaging 1,300 feet. Located in the heart of Otsego County, this area sees significant seasonal temperature variations, with summer highs averaging 75-80°F and winter temperatures often below freezing. Camping cabins near Johannesburg typically operate year-round, though with reduced services during winter months when snow accumulations can reach 80-120 inches annually.
What to do
Hiking old-growth forests: Hartwick Pines State Park Campground offers access to preserved stands of virgin white pine. "The park features old growth forest on the hiking trails, multiple ranger programs each week, hosts that give you coffee or hot chocolate in the morning, a beautiful visitor center and main trails, plus side trails that are less traveled so you rarely see anyone else," notes a visitor to Hartwick Pines State Park Campground.
Swimming at sandy beaches: Campers staying in cabins can access multiple swimming areas. "The beach is very clean! Close to the ORV trails for those that enjoy off-roading. There is a bike trail that starts just up the road from the campground that goes into Gaylord, MI," writes a reviewer about Gaylord South/Bradford Lake KOA.
Bike riding on paved trails: Multiple campgrounds offer cycling opportunities on dedicated paths. "Nice paved path through the campground, great for kids riding bikes around camp. They also have a playground with a cool old fashion slide," states a camper about Otsego Lake State Park.
Educational logging history: Historical exhibits showcase the region's logging heritage. "The old logging museum is interesting to walk around & check out," notes a visitor to Hartwick Pines State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes provide fishing access. "Otsego Lake provides a needed escape from the city while still being close enough to a happening town that one can camp and get into town for a nice dinner. The lake and campsite are clean," mentions a reviewer.
What campers like
Large, private sites: Many campers appreciate the spacious accommodation options. "Without a doubt this is one of our favorite campgrounds. It's a bit older, so the campsites are quite large compared to modern campgrounds. There are huge trees throughout, easily navigable roads," writes a reviewer about Otsego Lake State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms are frequently mentioned. "Bathrooms were in ok condition but not great. Most of the sites were dirt sites," notes a camper about Otsego Lake County Park.
Quiet atmosphere: Many sites offer peaceful settings. "Very quiet campground and sites are well spaced," reports a visitor to Gaylord KOA.
Kid-friendly amenities: Multiple cabin locations cater to families with children. "They had kids activities over the 4th of July weekend, and our kid loved it. The KOA is about a 5 min drive to Otsego Lake and the state park, where there's a nice beach and easy lake access," states a camper.
Year-round availability: Some cabins remain open during winter months. "Open all year, nice park, big rig friendly, has full hookups. We enjoy hiking here," mentions a camper about Hartwick Pines.
What you should know
Site leveling issues: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. "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," reports a camper at Otsego Lake State Park.
Varying road noise: Proximity to highways affects some locations. "The only drawback to this park is that it abuts a very busy road and can have a fair amount of road noise if you're on that side," notes a reviewer.
Sandy terrain challenges: Wet weather can create difficulties at some sites. "The downside is the sites are all sand. This is a problem when it rains. No matter how hard you try to clean your shoes, you end up tracking in wet, dirty sand," shares a camper.
Bathroom facilities vary: Quality and proximity differ between locations. "Weak power... Also they don't have many toilets, 2 for sitting in the men's room. I also stepped on a fish hook while in the shower, fortunately it only stuck in my calluses," cautions a visitor to Gaylord South/Bradford Lake KOA.
Rule enforcement differences: Management styles vary between campgrounds. "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," reports a visitor to Gaylord KOA.
Tips for camping with families
Bike-friendly options: Look for locations with safe cycling paths. "The campground is along a paved bike path. It's not far from the closest town, which has a couple restaurants, shops, etc.," notes a visitor to Otsego Lake State Park.
Swimming access: Beaches provide recreational opportunities. "This is a state park so the main attraction is the location. It's on Otsego Lake and has a really nice beach and swimming area. They also have a fishing pier and boat launch," shares a camper.
Playground equipment: Some locations feature updated play areas. "Basketball court, volleyball net, fishing pier, and bike trails. Bathrooms were kept neat and tidy. Showers were clean and water was hot," writes a reviewer about Otsego Lake State Park.
Activity schedules: Check for programmed events. "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. Full coin laundry was helpful too! They had kids activities over the 4th of July weekend," reports a visitor to Gaylord KOA.
Seasonal options: Plan according to weather and crowds. "During the summer months it is very busy (especially on weekends) and difficult to get a site unless you reserve well in advance," advises a camper.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited but available. "Open all year, nice park, big rig friendly, has full hookups," notes a camper about Hartwick Pines State Park.
Site size considerations: Check dimensions when booking. "The sites have been enlarged with plenty of space per site. Most of the sites overlook the lake," reports a visitor about Otsego Lake State Park.
Power capacity issues: Some locations experience electrical challenges. "We got in on a Thursday and left on a Saturday. The power was fine Thursday and early Friday, but as more campers arrived the voltage dropped to the point where my surge protector started cutting it off," warns a camper at Gaylord South/Bradford Lake KOA.
Seasonal road conditions: Weather affects access. "This KOA was well kept and clean. Great bathrooms and showers, pool, playground. The only thing keeping from 5 stars in my opinion is the lack of grass, but I also love all the trees so it's a toss up," shares a visitor to Gaylord KOA.
Signal strength variations: Connectivity fluctuates between campgrounds. "AT&T coverage fair, with 2 Bars of service that fluctuated between 5G and LTE, with speeds up to 4.3 MB/s. The CG is pretty heavily wooded, so access to satellite TV and/or Starlink is highly dependent on location," notes an RVer at Beaver Creek Resort.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Johannesburg, MI is Otsego Lake State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 25 reviews.
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