Cabins near Kawkawlin, Michigan are typically situated within 30 miles of Saginaw Bay, an area with relatively flat terrain averaging 600 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures range from 65-85°F with occasional thunderstorms, while winter months can see temperatures drop below 20°F with lake-effect snow common in this region. Cabin availability varies significantly by season, with most accommodations requiring earlier reservations during summer months.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Bay City State Park Campground offers extensive paved trails accessible from the campground. "There is a long paved bike path we had a dear pass within 6 feet of us and enjoyed hiking out to the watch towers," notes Jennifer H., who visited the Bay City State Park Campground.
Water activities: River View Campground provides tubing and kayak rentals along the Rifle River. "We always go tubing and kayaking. Bathrooms and showers are decent for a campground. Also love that there are a lot of trees to provide shade during the hot days," mentions Jennifer S. from her experience at River View Campground & Canoe Livery.
Wildlife viewing: The nature trails at Bay City State Park provide bird watching opportunities. "The nature trail around the lagoon is a birder's dream. We saw white egrets blue heron, sand pipers and their babies," reports Jennifer H. during her visit to Bay City State Park Campground.
What campers like
Beach access: Sleeper State Park provides beach areas along Saginaw Bay with dedicated sections for different users. "The stretch of sandy Huron beach in the park is still fantastic, despite high lake levels. LOVE the campground coffee cart," says Melissa G. about her stay at Sleeper State Park Campground.
Family activities: Many campgrounds offer organized events throughout the season. "They have campground hosts that facilitate free activities organized by the park. We did a kids craft and enjoyed hot cocoa or coffee Saturday morning and then returned after dinner for Back-to-School bingo and popcorn," shares Sarah S. from Bay City State Park.
Year-round options: Some cabin facilities remain open beyond the typical camping season. "The lake right next door is beautiful, will definitely be coming back during summer! Loved the secluded location of the camp and the quiet atmosphere, despite lots of people," notes Brooke L. from Sleeper State Park Campground.
What you should know
Bathroom facilities: Bathrooms and shower facilities vary between campgrounds. "Bathrooms and showers were very clean, smelled of bleach," mentions Jennifer H. from Bay City State Park, while Scott S. from Wesleyan Woods Camp notes, "Nice place with a ton of activities. My only complaint would be that bathrooms and showers could be cleaner."
Site placement considerations: When booking cabins, consider location relative to roads and other campers. "Sleeper State Park Campground sits right off of M25, so I recommend getting a site towards the back. We unfortunately were only able to get sites at the front and the road noise was obnoxious," advises Nona A.
Seasonal conditions: Water quality and insect populations fluctuate throughout the season. "There were quite a few May Flies. According to the park office they're pretty much there all summer. They weren't bad at the campground except at night around the bathrooms," reports Sarah S. from Bay City State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Look for kid-friendly amenities: Bay City State Park offers multiple facilities designed for children. "This is one of the best campgrounds for kids... There is a small playground in the campground... Take a 2 min walk from the camp office across to the day park and you'll find the Spray by the Bay splash pad, a huge timber playground, beautiful sandy beach," explains Sarah S.
Consider off-peak visits: Campgrounds can be less crowded during weekdays or shoulder seasons. "Went later September on a Saturday and it was perfect. Good mix of tents and rv's. Everyone was respectful and the whole campground was pretty quiet despite being essentially full," shares tyler H. about Sleeper State Park.
Check activity schedules: Many campgrounds post monthly activity calendars. "They have a little library which is stock full of books, primarily for kids but they have adult books too... The kids really loved the 'Water Wars', with 11 kiddie pools filled with water balloons to throw at each other," reports Doug from Berwagana Campground.
Tips from RVers
Electrical hookup access: Some campsites have awkwardly placed electrical hookups. "Make sure to come with an extension cord - one member of our party had their power halfway into their neighbor's site through a bunch of bushes," warns Deb M. from Bay City State Park Campground.
Consider site surface: Look for paved pads when available, especially in areas with potential drainage issues. "Our site had a paved pad and patio. You definitely want to try and get one of these sites. The other sites were OK, but dirt pad and many of them had marsh behind or surrounding them," advises Clint from Pinconning County Park.
Light pollution awareness: RV exterior lights can impact tent campers, so be mindful of neighbors. "We had to ask our neighbors politely to turn their outside LED light strips off the second night. They were great about it but, didn't seem to realize it would bother tent campers next to them," shares Melissa H. from Bay City State Park.
