Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Lake Ann, MI

Lake Ann State Forest Campground provides rustic campsites for pets and their owners on a ridge overlooking Lake Ann. Dogs must be leashed at all times, and campsites include picnic tables and fire rings with access to outhouses and water hand pumps. Platte River Campground in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore accepts pets at their spacious, wooded sites with 30 and 50 amp electrical service. D.H. Day Campground, also part of Sleeping Bear Dunes, offers pet-friendly camping with easy beach access, though campers should be aware of poison ivy surrounding every site when walking dogs. Traverse City State Park Campground allows pets with a designated pet walk area, featuring over 300 sites with electric hookups and convenient beach access via a pedestrian bridge over the highway.

Campers can walk dogs along the Lake Ann Pathway across from the campground, which offers hiking through forested hills and along the Platte River. Esch Beach, about 10 minutes by car from Platte River Campground, is dog-friendly and provides water access for pets. The TART Trail near Traverse City State Park offers a 10.5-mile bicycle path suitable for dog walking. Sleeping Bear Dunes features multiple pet-friendly beaches and hiking trails. Most campgrounds strictly enforce leash requirements and picking up waste to maintain cleanliness. Some campgrounds, like Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort, limit guests to two dogs per site. Pet owners should bring extra water and bug spray, as gnats and mosquitoes can be an issue at certain times of year in these wooded Michigan campgrounds.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Lake Ann, Michigan (138)

    1. Platte River Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    61 Reviews
    Beulah, MI
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 326-4700

    $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."

    2. Green Lake Rustic South — Interlochen State Park

    34 Reviews
    Interlochen, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 276-9511

    $20 / night

    "Every year I camp on the Green Lake side of Interlochen State Park, and this year was the first year I allowed a guest - my fiance."

    "Not super close to Michigan cities, but can drive back and forth to Traverse City."

    3. D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    53 Reviews
    Glen Arbor, MI
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 326-4700

    $10 / 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."

    4. Traverse City State Park Campground

    51 Reviews
    Traverse City, MI
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 922-5270

    "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."

    5. Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp

    9 Reviews
    Interlochen, MI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 922-5280

    "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."

    6. Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort

    22 Reviews
    Traverse City, MI
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 947-2770

    $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."

    7. Turtle Lake Campground

    8 Reviews
    Honor, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 275-7353

    "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!"

    8. Leelanau Pines Campground

    10 Reviews
    Cedar, MI
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 228-5742

    $103 - $130 / night

    "Plenty of beautiful views of the lake! You’re tucked away from the main road but also close enough to enjoy nearby Sutton’s Bay ( which is worth a visit)"

    "This is a great location based around Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes areas."

    9. Holiday Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Grawn, MI
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 943-4410

    "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)."

    10. Green Lake Rustic North — Interlochen State Park

    8 Reviews
    Interlochen, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 276-9511

    $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!"

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Showing results 1-10 of 138 campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Lake Ann, MI

826 Reviews of 138 Lake Ann Campgrounds


  • Dalton B.
    Sep. 30, 2018

    Lake Ann State Forest Campground

    Rustic Camp Overlooking Lake Ann

    This rustic campground is setteled on a ridge overlooking Lake Ann. Camp offers outhouses and water hand pumps. Previous times I've been here we could beach our boat right on the shoreline down from camp. Across the the road from the campground is the Lake Ann Pathway which offers hiking through forested hills, along the Platte river, and along the shore of a small scenic lake. Located only a couple miles from the village of Lake Ann, you're only about 20 minutes from traverse city, and 30 minutes from the world famous sleeping bear dunes.

  • Kate K.
    Jul. 28, 2019

    Lake Ann State Forest Campground

    Quiet little place

    Self registration for $15 per night. Small campground located on Lake Ann. I think only 1 or 2 sites have water access or views, the rest of the campground is mostly wooded. Picnic tables and fire rings at each site, and pit toilets located in the middle of the circle grounds. The boat launch for the lake is only a few short minutes up the road.

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 8, 2017

    Traverse City State Park Campground

    Great Proximity to Downtown, Beach, and Breweries.

    The 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.

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2017

    Wooden Shoe Campground

    Great place to relax and enjoy the water.

    Wooden 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

  • Jill B.
    Apr. 21, 2019

    Traverse Bay RV Resort

    Very high-end class A Resort

    We 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.

  • N
    Jun. 23, 2022

    D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    D.H. Day Campground

    Overall 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.

  • Macy M.
    Jul. 5, 2020

    Rvino - Camp Cadillac, LLC

    Great private campground

    Great 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.

  • Kristina M.
    Jul. 14, 2021

    Log Lake Campground

    Would never visit again

    First 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.

  • R
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Orchard Beach State Park Campground

    no beach access

    Pretty standard Michigan State Park campground. Nice staff. Park maintenance is currently building a wood fence to keep folks away from steep bluff edge. Views of Lake Michigan fairly limited. If these were improved, this would be a much more popular park. I was very disappointed that their stairs to beach had been eroded near its base so you could no longer access beach but had to drive to one of two local beaches. I stayed one night and unfortunately had to camp next to a group who had a very barky, anxious large dog. Some folks need to leave their poorly trained dogs at home.


Guide to Lake Ann

Camping near Lake Ann, Michigan centers around the Platte River watershed with elevation ranges from 600-800 feet above sea level. The area experiences typical northern Michigan seasonal variations, with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during peak camping months. Winter snowfall averages 120 inches annually, limiting some campground operations between November and April.

What to do

Kayaking the Platte River: Access excellent paddling opportunities near Platte River Campground. "Go when they release the salmon from the hatchery - you feel all the salmon brush against your kayak as they swim upstream!" notes Joyce B., who enjoyed the North branch's winding, fast-moving water.

Fishing on Lake Dubonnet: The lake at Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp offers excellent fishing opportunities. "There is a boat launch right near by, but most of the sites have their own path right down to the water," reports Kate K., who enjoys early morning paddles there. Self-registration costs $15 per night.

Beach access at Silver Lake: Silver Lake provides swimming opportunities near Holiday Park Campground. "Holiday Park has lake access on silver lake, very nice. Rented a pontoon boat from an outside company and spent the day on the beautiful lake," shares Patrick, who appreciated the clean facilities.

What campers like

Privacy and seclusion: Campers frequently mention the spacious sites at D.H. Day Campground. "Quiet park, quiet beaches, beautiful views. Going into Glen Arbor is fun and checking out all the different parts of Sleeping Bear is a treat," notes Taylor D., who has visited for over a decade despite the rustic facilities.

Clean bathrooms: Many campgrounds in the region maintain excellent facilities. At Platte River Campground, Scott D. noticed "bathroom facilities were excellent and clean. Firewood is available to purchase in the campground." Similarly, at Holiday Park, Tara T. found "bathroom exceptionally CLEAN."

Wildlife viewing: The region offers opportunities to observe local wildlife. At Lake Dubonnet, Caryssa R. mentions "a nearby island you can kayak to and let the dogs roam free." The water features of these campgrounds attract various bird species and aquatic animals.

What you should know

Site selection considerations: Different campgrounds offer varying privacy levels. At Interlochen Green Lake Rustic Campground, Kristi S. cautions, "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."

Weather preparedness: The region experiences variable weather. At D.H. Day Campground, Doug P. recalls, "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, ate dinner late from a local watering hole."

Seasonal considerations: Campgrounds have varying seasonal operations. Holiday Park Campground operates from April 25 to October 25, while D.H. Day Campground runs from the first Friday in April to the last Sunday in November. Some campgrounds like Platte River offer year-round access.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: For families with children seeking pet friendly camping near Lake Ann, Michigan, [Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort](https://thedyrt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Lake Ann, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lake Ann, MI is Platte River Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with a 4.8-star rating from 61 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Lake Ann, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 138 dog-friendly camping locations near Lake Ann, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.