Ludington's campgrounds sit where Michigan's western shore meets Lake Michigan, creating a unique mix of sandy beaches and wooded inland areas. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F during the day, while spring and fall camping brings cooler 45-65°F temperatures. The region's landscape features a mix of forested dunes and inland lakes that create distinct microclimates affecting your camping experience.
What to do
Lighthouse hiking: 1.8-mile sand trail from Pines Campground leads to Big Sable Lighthouse. "We enjoyed the walk to the lighthouse. We thought it would be nice for someone that has difficultly walking that far and through sand if they had a shuttle like service for handicap or disabled people," notes Erica K. from Pines Campground.
Explore downtown Ludington: 2 miles from Cartier Park Campground via paved trail. "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," shares Brian L.
Bass Lake kayaking: Rentals available at the campground. "We enjoyed renting kayaks from the campground and paddling along bass lake," says Hailey C. from Whispering Surf Campground, which offers "a private beach on Bass Lake—great fishing, sandy bottom, kayak and canoe rentals—plus 2 Lake Michigan beaches within walking distance."
Winter camping adventures: Heated options for cold-weather visits. "Winter camped in Pines Mini Cabin. Bunk beds with one a double- sleeps 5 total. Heat, electricity, mini fridge, microwave, table and 4 chairs. Well built and very clean. Outside fire pit and BBQ grill for summer. Awesome trails for hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing," reports Kathie M.
What campers like
Dual-lake access: Shoreline variety at Lake Michigan Recreation Area. "Loved this campground. Very short walk to the beach and very nice bathrooms. Also very close to Nordhouse Dunes (but the beach accessed by the trail in this campground is very beautiful with dunes)," shares Rachael S.
Private waterfront sites: Premium locations at Beechwood Campground. "Beachwood is by far our favorite camping area in the state park. We visit once a year and it never disappoints," notes Lane H., appreciating the setting "really close to Lake Michigan and docking available on Hamlin lake."
Yurt camping Ludington, Michigan: Elevated outdoor experience with comfort. "Poncho's Pond features a fitness center with weight machines, free weights, cycles, treadmills, elliptical, medicine balls, and lots of bands," explains Nancy W., highlighting unusual amenities for a yurt glamping destination.
Spacious, well-kept grounds: Room to relax at each site. "This park is a very nice RV park. All 257 sites are full hook-up (with cable), level, and have paved patios and for a $2 up charge you can get a paved site. Our site was super long (over 100') and had a nice view of the large pond," details a visitor about Poncho's Pond RV Park.
What you should know
Site selection varies widely: Choose carefully based on privacy needs. "Ludington State Park is incredible, so I guess it makes sense that it would be packed with campers. We got one of the few sites left, in Pines, for our first visit last week and arrived to find campers squeezed in like sardines," reports Rosemary P.
Beach access logistics: Walking distances vary between campgrounds. "Campsites are NOT right on the lake, and no lake views but require a walk or quick drive to beach. Once there though- WOW beautiful and sunsets gorgeous," explains Kathie M. about Lake Michigan Campground.
Modern cabins and luxury yurts: Comfort camping options available throughout the area. "Pines Mini Cabin. Bunk beds with one a double- sleeps 5 total. Heat, electricity, mini fridge, microwave, table and 4 chairs," describes one visitor, detailing the modern amenities for Ludington yurt camping enthusiasts seeking comfort.
Cell service gaps: Plan accordingly for connectivity needs. "Biggest downfall was lack of cell service. Verizon and AT&T were slim to none in the campground. Had to drive into town for work," warns Jim & Sarah S. at Ludington State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity matters: Request sites accordingly. "Owner went above and beyond to put us in a site that would work for our RV and kids. We stayed close to the playscape, which ended up being awesome for our kids," says Melissa M. from Cartier Park Campground.
AJ's Fun Center: Budget for activities when staying at Hill & Hollow. "There is an AJ's fun center there that has mini-golf, go carts and games. The campground has a pool," explains Clint. Families benefit from "plenty of activities for adults & children" including "basketball courts, a volleyball court, shuffle board, mini golf, a pool, a train ride for kids."
Safety measures: Solo groups take note. "As 3 women sleeping in a tent in the woods, we felt very very safe. The staff does drive by checks on everyone throughout the day and this not only helped us develop a relationship with the staff but also made us feel very safe," reports Hailey C. about her experience at Whispering Surf Campground.
Weekly ranger programs: Educational opportunities for kids. "LMRA has been a yearly visit for our family for over 15 years. They have weekly ranger programs for kids as well. The beach is clean and the swimming is amazing!" shares Lisa B.
Tips from RVers
Site size limitations: Measure your rig before booking. "The sites are well spaced but the campground overall is not well wooded, especially the sites in the middle of the loop," warns Daniel S. about Cedars campground, while another camper advises certain spots may need "leveling but was not bad."
Hook-up availability: Full connections limited in state parks. "A beautiful Park with lots of biodiversity. The sites offer 30 and 50 amp electric, but no water or sewer. Lots of water stations throughout the campground," explains Jim & Sarah S. from Beechwood Campground.
Premium RV spots: Worth the upgrade at some campgrounds. "Our site was a patch between a huge RV and a little pop up camper with all the bells and whistles, on a corner near a restroom," describes one camper, while at Kibby Creek Campground, they note "Campsites are well maintained. Campsites don't have much privacy, but we were surrounded by family so it worked out fine for us."
Strict visitor policies: Check before inviting guests to your site. "They are extremely strict on their visitor policy. We had some friends show up that were camping near by. They wanted to check out our campsite to see if it was someplace they'd like to camp down the road. The office wouldn't let them in unless they paid $5 per person," warns Clint about one location.
