Do you enjoy camping but don't want to rough it? Glamping is a great option. Glamping is not only a fun alternative to traditional tent camping, but also allows you to pack more or less gear as you see fit. Search nearby glamping or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
$25 - $65 / night
Lake Michigan Campground is perched on the shores of Lake Michigan, 15 miles south of Manistee. The area creates an incredible setting with a scenic overlook of the lake and a sandy swimming beach. This family campground provides an array of hiking and biking trails, plus swimming, fishing and kayaking.
A hardwood forest gives way to a beautiful sandy beach at the shores of the lake with a playground for younger campers. Trout fishing in Lake Michigan is another big draw. Bird watchers delight in seeing unique species like the piping plover and prairie warbler. The Arrowhead Trail, a short loop trail created by Boy Scouts, forms a loop between the campground and the beach. A trailhead for the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is also within the recreation area.
The recreation area sits on the eastern banks of Lake Michigan along Porter Creek, due north of Hamlin Lake. As the second largest of the five Great Lakes, Lake Michigan provides stunning views and limitless options for water recreation. It covers a whopping 22,400 square miles and ranks as the fifth largest lake in the world. The Huron-Manistee National Forests encompass nearly a million acres of public protected land. Nearly 6,000 acres is wetlands that extend over the northern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
The nearby Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area has abundant trails for hiking and backpacking.
$40 - $115 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
$25 - $65 / night
$40 - $160 / night
Poncho’s Pond is situated on 37 grassy acres. Our sites include city water, sewer, 30 & 50 amp electric service and television service at no extra charge. Tent sites have water & electric only. All sites have a picnic table and a fire pit. For those without a camper of their own, we offer rental Haciendas that sleep up to 8 people.
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
Dunes Harbor Family Camp is a premier Family Campground located on the shores of Lake Holiday, right down the road from the Silver Lake Sand Dunes.
This faith-based environment gives your family a chance to get away from the busyness of life. Dunes Harbor has Full Hook-Up, Water/Electric campsites, RVs to rent, and Cabins. There are also group sites where your whole family, groups of friends, church groups, school groups, and community organizations can camp together at.
The staff, facilities, and activities are exceptional. Dunes Harbor features a Camp Store, Ice Cream Shop, Splash Pad pool and Waterslide, Children’s Playground, Volleyball, Basketball, Laundry facilities, two Pavilions, large athletic field, Wagon Rides, Horseback Riding, hiking trails, Themed Weekends and much more!
Each campsite comes with a firepit and picnic table. All Full Hook-Up sites also feature a cement pad. The water/electric Group Sites feature 8 sites per group site, a convenient bathhouse close by, grills for cookouts, and a central firepit area for everyone to gather around.
Fire Pits Picnic Tables Shower Restrooms Playground
Full hookup available Electric | Water | Sewer
Scout
Kendra and her team have created a unique glamping experience in northern Michigan. They have thoughtfully designed spaces that are comfortable and fun. There is so much to explore in the local area and Kendra and her team are extremely informative on what is happening in the area. Our kids loved exploring the woods and we had a blast at Crystal Lake. So happy with our stay at Camp Squid and looking forward to seeing its development.
Ranger
My 1st experience with Tentrr convinced me that this is the way to have my own private oasis! Upon arrival at Pine Meadows, we followed the short red bark path through the trees to our cabin tent, which was next to a lovely meadow and near a small pond. Heidi, the property owner briefly stopped by to welcome us and assure us that she was available by text for any needs we might have- yet, Heidi said the property was ours for the duration, and we wouldn’t see her unless necessary. Wow! This was such a cool experience! We felt like we had our own personal pond, meadow, and cabin tent! The cabin tent comfortably sleeps three in regular mattresses. I believe there is a cot available. Nearby is a large tent that will sleep four more people. A picnic table and Adirondack chairs are next to the firepit. Heidi has many yard games available, such as cornhole and badminton, making this a great location for families. There is a spot among the pine trees with a large fairy display and little hide-aways for kids. Honesty, I can’t wait to bring my grandchildren to this! The nearby town, Interlochen, is minutes away and has a grocery store, a few restaurants, and a nationally famous music camp. Within driving distance is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which National Geographic rated as one of the best 21 beaches in the world. My hubby and I camp a lot, and in addition to the positives mentioned above, we truly LOVED NOT HAVING AN OVERLOADED CAR! We didn’t need to pack a tent, bedding(we paid the extra$10 for their bedding- totally worth it!); nor did we need a tent and chairs! We actually had room in the car this trip! Yes, Tentrr costs more than a regular campsite; however, you get the privacy and convenience of Glamping! Totally, worth it!
Traveler
Nice campground, very close to Ludington and Lake Michigan Beaches. Well maintained and friendly staff too.
Scout
I’ve been visiting Ludington State Park since I was a young kid. It’s always been one of my family’s favorite places to visit and camp. A couple years ago I had the pleasure of bringing my daughters to visit this special place. They absolutely loved it and it was even better than I remembered as a kid. We were lucky to score a spot in the Pines Campground up against the dunes. We could walk right from our campsite up the sandy hills to see Lake Michigan in the distance. We went paddle boarding and biking, hiking and swimming. There is just so much to do there. My only complaint is that the camp sites are pretty packed in and there is not much privacy at all. But Ludington has so much to offer, we can let that part go. Definitely a must see in Michigan!
Scout
Ludington State Park is a state gem. From spacious camping spaces and super clean amenities to water activities and trails galore this place jas it all. For every age there are daily park activities the entire family can enjoy. Learn about Lake Michigan or how to identify poison ivy out on the trails. Ludington State Park is also a great place to enjoy the famous Lake Michigan Sand Dunes. Skylime trail showcases the very best of the park shoreline all the way back to town. Oh did I mention the lighthouse. Hike or bike there you can climb to the top and see for miles. Staying at the campground? There are three very different ones to choose from. Each with shower/bathroom facilities cleaned twice daily with lost of hot water. Don't have a camper you can tent camp at any spot or hike in to go rustic. Don't have any gear? They offer small cabins in each camp area for those who can't rough it too much. Oops we need toothpaste...don't worry the park store is in walking distance from all campsites for all your camping needs. From Bugspray and hotdogs to firewood and raingear they have you covered. Oh last but not least amazing sunsets every clear night. From water the land Ludington has it all. It's right in out home state and we love it.
Traveler
A beautiful park. Well maintained facilities and perfect landscaping. Great pool and other amenities. Conveniently located close to downtown Ludington Michigan. The staff was fantastic and one particular staff member was nice enough to locate a very dear stuffed animal that was dropped by my one-year-old during a wagon walk.
GuideLudington offers sand dunes and several miles of beaches along Lake Michigan with many trails and forested areas. Most camp lots are large and sandy with electric and water hookups. There are also mini cabins for rent if you are not into tent camping. Very well maintained park considering how popular it is.
TravelerEvery we come up to Ludington State Park for our annual camping trip with my parents and Sister. It is a great place to be as a family. The sights are right on top of one another as is typical in Michigan State Parks but when you get a few sites it works out really well(it is my reasoning of 4 stars). Nice camp store, lots of hiking and swimming!
ScoutYou’ll want to book early in the season, otherwise you won’t be lucky enough to get a campsite. There are many trails for hiking and biking, two separate beaches (one on Lake Michigan and one on hamlin lake), a perfect spot to float down the river, and nice walk to the lighthouse, and not a far drive from beautiful downtwon Ludington. Lud state park is one I’ll always come back to!
GuideAlthough the Ludington State Park is a very popular and busy state park, as it is right on the beach, this is an amazing state park to visit. The beauty of the trees and dunes as you hike around are astounding and grow you to have a great adventure throughout your visits here. I overall recommend this state park, especially if you live in Michigan or nearby states!! Two thumbs up!
GuideThis is one of my favorite campgrounds! Full service with bathrooms, showers and camp store. You have easy access to Lake Hamlin and Lake Michigan for great swimming. Float down the creek to Lake Michigan or go hiking to the light house. There is so much to do here and it has easy access to Ludington for groceries or restaurants. It is a large campground and not a lot of privacy. We prefer the loop closest to Lake Hamlin. The walk in sites are also great for a backpacking light experience but they are truly walk-in by about 1 mile.
GuideWe tent camped and were able to park our car right at the site. There were few forested areas available, and it was also difficult to find a flatter piece of land. Felt pretty close to nearby neighbors, and the space was pretty open without any dividing trees to even set up hammocks. There is a nice trail walk through a residential area that empties you into downtown Ludington. However, I've camped in better places (Buttersville Campground) in Ludington, and since this place is pretty removed from the beach, I would say to seek out a better campground.
ScoutHad a wonderful time with my family! Lots of activites, ludington is a great town with lots of resturants. Beautiful scenary with great fishing.
Guide
Spent 5 nights camping at this hidden gem. It was one of the best campgrounds I've stayed at in a long time. It was clean and spacious, with great access to Lake Michigan. The dunes were great for relaxing and offered speculator sunset and star gazing views. A few trailheads led right into the camp- one trail led right into Nordhouse Dunes, which was a beautiful area.
Although there were no showers, you can easily go for a swim in Lake Michigan or we found a small store a few miles away with a$5 shower room. There is a bathroom though.
While there was no cell service at the campground itself, it was located only a 15-25 min drive from downtown Ludington(south) and Manistee(north).
Already planning another trip back with some friends for the fall.
RangerThis camping spot is a little out of the way, especially being so close to Ludington and the popular Ludington State Park. Here are 3 loops you can camp in and you get a decent amount space, but things can get pretty loud with lots of families camping in this location. It also borders Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area that has amazing hiking options. The Xero Z-Trail shoes I used to do 7 miles of hiking during our stay were amazing for this location. With lots of sandy beach hiking along with forest trails the Z-trails were more comfortable than I thought they would be for that distance. I think I may have blister issues too, but these Xero shoes couldn't have been more perfect!
GuideLudington is peaceful & beautiful. My boyfriend and I stayed at the pines campground at site 36. Only complaint I have is that the camp sites basically sit on top of eachother. Zero privacy. Pros: lots of hiking trials, swimming, kayaking, biking.
ScoutPeople were very friendly from the get-go willing to help you if you needed any help. the lots are very clean and the level and the bathrooms are very clean great place to camp with the family with Ludington and Pentwater nearby for activity’s
Ranger
Campsite is located 2 miles from downtown Pentwater, adorable small town on the water. Mears state park is 2 miles from the campground as well, Lake Michigan beaches. The playground on the beach is perfect for younger kids. There is a pavilion that serves hot food and ice cream ( hot food ends at 5pm/ ice cream till sunset.) Our kids loved walking in town and heading to the beach.
With that said, there is plenty to do at the campground . Outdoor pool, AJs (putt- putt golf, arcade, playground, go-karts) extra fee for AJs but reasonable priced, basketball court, volleyball court, small baseball diamond, tennis table, general store, shower house by pool ( very clean), private bonfire pits ( most campsites).
Seasonal’s were very friendly and helpful with local things to do. RV camp, Tent camp, or tent cabin.
Dump station available, firewood for sale, ice for sale, general store has several camping items, 15 minutes away is meijer in ludington. 2 minutes away gas station 2 minutes to Lake Michigan beaches 2 minutes to Pentwater downtown shopping
ScoutStayed here for a few night whilst visiting friends at Crystal Lake. The Camp Squid team were at hand to solve and issues. Kendra, thd owner was super friendly and we loved the free coffee area in a morning. We stayed in 2 yurts and were comfortable in the summer. Kendra is planning to add further dwellings over the next year to make winter stays more possible. If we are ever in that area again, we for sure would stay here.
Ranger
Great park. Very nice well kept family owned park. Nice store with great treats for the kids. Two nice playgrounds and pools! Wonderful location right in between ludington and pentwater. Updated bathrooms. Nice little mini golf course. Seem to keep improving it. Will be booking many more trips there.
GuideLudington offers both modern campsites and backcountry hike-in sites. We opt for the hike-in sites because they're very spacious and private, with easy access to Lake Michigan. There are 10 backcountry sites, which share two pit toilets and a water pump. Each site has a fire pit and a picnic table, and the park offers firewood delivery daily so you don't have to hike with it. If you need showers or flush toilets they are a 1 mile hike away in the main campground. The hike to the sites is very easy as it's also the sand path to the Big Sable Lighthouse. Crossing the path and going over a small sand dune will land you right on the beach. These sites are very popular because they're so great, so I would highly recommend reserving 6 months in advance for any summer weekends.
TravelerI have been to several state parks and most are very similar but Ludington State Park isn’t like any that I have been to. There is so much to do without even leaving the park. & there is a dog beach right next to the day beach area which is a huge plus!
TravelerWe always stay here every year for the Ludington triathlon. It's a family friendly park and typical doesn't have a lot of riff raff. This year we got stuck right by the road. It was terrible. Loud traffic, very close and down hill. It was a bit dangerous for kids running around. Other than that we love this place!
LegendWe stay during their Halloween weekend. They had all kinds of activities going on including haunted hayrides, trick-or-treating, and site decorating contest. They offer golf cart rentals so you can cruise around the campground. It’s very close to downtown Ludington so there is a lot of restaurants just a short drive away. Very nice campground.
TravelerCedars campground at Ludington State Park is nice campground with an amazing beach and river area. The sites are well spaced but the campground overall is not well wooded, especially the sites in the middle of the loop. Trails are great for walking/bike riding and the beach makes this campground worth it. Campfire rings are very well made which is a plus.
GuideLoved 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). Access to hiking trails, which I can’t speak to because we had 2 littles with us,but looking at the map and just being in the area, I’m sure the trails were awesome. Was there from the weekend into the beginning of the week and the crowd cleared out, which was really nice. Far enough from the nearest towns (Manistee, Ludington) that it feels like you’re in the wilderness, but also close enough if it rains and you just wanna go get coffee in town like I did 😉. Very beautiful area! Unfortunately didn’t take any pictures of the campsite itself but it was nice. They had some that were quite spacious. Water was very high this year so not much of a beach, but posting up on the dunes themselves was fun. Water was super cold - but, it’s Michigan :)
TravelerPark had vacancy when I called late Friday afternoon for Saturday. So if you want to stay in the Ludington area but can't get into the State Park, this is good. Just about 2 miles from the State Park beaches and less than 2 miles into downtown. 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. Office staff was very friendly and professional. We camped in the "rustic" section, meaning no electric or running water on site. Bathroom was relatively clean and near our site. Crowd was not too rowdy and pretty chill. Lots of kids ;-) and dogs ;-(. Best features are location (at nothing, but near everything). Worst features mentioned by others - there is no fence between the campground and the busy road, road noise, the cemetery does not bother us. Ludington State Park has MANY excellent opportunities hiking, biking, watercraft, beach bumming. Highly recommend the State Park....but it is very hard to get into in the summer. Stay here instead and you'll be half way between the State Park and Downtown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Ludington, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Ludington, MI is Cedar Campground — Ludington State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 40 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Ludington, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 47 glamping camping locations near Ludington, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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