The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Ludington. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Ludington. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$25 / night
"Ludington State Park - Jack Pine camp had everything. A very pleasant drive into the state park - with many places to access the beach."
"An easy walk from the designated parking spots by the maintenance area, but I chose to bike. The road was sandy in spots but manageable. Sites contain a fire ring and picnic table."
"Jerks left their trash hung up from a tree at one site but other than that it was pretty clean."
"The tent sites are right off the river with docks to fish from and launch your boat from."
$10 / night
"The campsites are a perfect size, there is an easy-hike walking trail, and the view of the stars at night is truly out of this world (pun kind of intended)."
"We do have some neighbors but they are far enough away. Each camp is pretty surrounded by trees. Each camp have a fire pit and a picnic table which is very convenient."
"There are four sites with decent space between them. The pit toilet was decently clean and well away from the sites, so no smell. The only downside is that access is tricky. "
$15 / night
"We chose a site on the Big Lake. There are also a few sites on the Litte Lake.
The sites include a picnic table and fire ring. We had plenty of room between sites."
"the big lake unit has large sites with lake views and 2 vault toilets. the little lake unit has small sites, 1 vault toilet, some lake views, some views of nearby houses (more mosquitos at the time too"
Legend2-3 mile hike-in backcountry camping on the dunes of Lake Michigan. This is a gorgeous area that has unfortunately gotten a little overpopulated. The over night area used to be a quiet and peaceful place to unplug and unwind, but now it feels more like a party beach. Very crowded and loud. Also, too many inexperienced campers come out carrying too much stuff and leave there garbage and unwanted items all over the dunes rather than practicing “leave no trace”
ScoutThe Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness is dispersed camping, and nearby is Lake Michigan Campground with tent and dry rv camping. We stayed there and almost had the whole place to ourselves.
Be warned- there is no cell service or wifi, so plan ahead and let people know you won’t be reachable. And then enjoy being disconnected :)
The campsites were big and beneath mature trees for max shade and privacy. There’s a small bath house with flushing toilets. No hook ups or electricity of any sort. Camp hosts sold ice and firewood and there was potable water.
The dunes are a quick walk and well worth it. There is a trail from the campground right down to the beach. We hiked all day and lounged on the beach. Dogs are welcome on-leash.
RangerCAMPGROUND REVIEW
Ludington State Park has several spots to camp. The Cedars Campground was one of three open this time of year. There is a great tent only section of this campground and if you can't get into the hike in sites at the Jack Pine Campground, Cedars is your next best option.
Sites back up to the woods with large berms which is nice especially if you like to jump right in and explore and for privacy. There are about 12 tent sites at this lcoation. It also has a nice general store close by as well as a nice Bathroom area with large clean restrooms and showers.
It is also a centrally located spot with nice hikes to Lake Michiganto the west and an large network of trails around several lakes and an light house to the east and north. The campground also sits next to the river that connects Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan. A great spot to fish or enjoy an evening hike.
It won't be the most private spot you will ever camp but it is a great spot with lots of options.
PRODUCT REVIEW
As a Ranger for The Dyrt I get products to test and review. At Ludington State Park I tested Mountain House Meals.
The Mountain House Meals are a great and easy way to have a great dinner while camping or backpacking. Easy to make it is a meal that all you have to do is add boiling water to the freeze dried packet of food. I tried the lasagna with meat sauce and Chicken Fajita Bowl and they were both very tasty.
The one thing I would keep in mind is that you need to make sure you notice how many servings are listed on the outside of the bag. When it says 2 servngs feel free to share with a fellow camper. Even after a long day of hiking it was a little too much for one sitting.
It was easy to make!
They taste great!
Lots of different option for meals!
I will be revieiwng other flavors, as I go.
GuideWe camped here over Labor Day weekend 2020. Our site was big, there were multiple play areas for kids to play on. Bathhouse was clean and offered two showers plus there was an additional shower house. They offer kayaks and canoe rentals and have a boat dock right on the lake. Quiet hours start at 10pm and strict quiet house are at 11. I have to say that this was the quietest we have stayed.
About 20 minutes from Ludington State Park/ Lake Michigan. We would camp here again.
RangerGo to the beach for the day, but don't camp here. The sites were on top of each other and there was no privacy. There was only one bathroom for the entire campground meaning that only 3 stalls were offered for all of the women. Because there is only one bathroom and it isn't in the middle of the campground, it is a long walk for most of the campers. The showers were nice, but the bathroom could use an upgrade.
All of the sites were sandy with no shade. Traveling on bike meant having few comfort items. We really could have used a tree or some other shade after a long day of touring, but there was no shade at the site or anywhere nearby. Most folks had awnings on their campers. I could see how having a camper or RV (or even a car) would make the experience more enjoyable, but still I would not choose to return here.
It is not a tent friendly site because the tent gets blown off the sand. Sandy sites make it difficult to stake down a tent. We went on a particularly windy day and the gear we had was not enough to hold down the tent. I ended up going to bed at 7:30pm just to keep the tent from blowing away.
There was wifi, but it hardly worked at the site. The beach was decent, but nothing any more impressive than anywhere else on the lake. If you have the opportunity to stay somewhere other than here, go there instead. I was shocked that so many people would pay so much for such a pathetic campground. If you are paying to stay at a Michigan State Park, find yourself a better one!
I intended on taking pictures, but was so unimpressed I completely forgot.
TravelerLudington State Park - Jack Pine camp had everything. A very pleasant drive into the state park - with many places to access the beach.
Check-in and parking for camping was easy and the price was reasonable. Easy hike to Jack Pine and it was easy to find my campsite.
Campsite has well designated corner marker boundaries with plenty of room to pitch a tent and several hammock options. Each site has a solid fire pit and picnic table. Plenty of tree cover for shade. Toilets are close and clean.
The hike to the lighthouse was easy and the lighthouse was picturesque. Great access to the beach and again toilets were close and clean.
GuideAn easy walk from the designated parking spots by the maintenance area, but I chose to bike. The road was sandy in spots but manageable. Sites contain a fire ring and picnic table. Two clean vault toilets. Signs said the well was closed; not sure if that was seasonal or permanent. Site F was good for hammocking. Walked to the lighthouse for sunset and was not disappointed. There’s a trail from the campground up over a dune to Lake Michigan.
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.
RangerI stayed here for two nights recently. The campground is not too large with 18 or 19 sites if I remember correctly. Most of the sites are pretty private and a few are along the river that runs along the campground. The water is very peaceful to listen to while falling asleep.
There are ample vault toilets and enough parking for one or two vehicles on most sites. The sites are not that large, so large RVs will not fit.
Plenty of space for a tent or two per site. Each site has a fire ring and a picnic table. Finding firewood in the campground is near impossible, so plan to bring some or buy some before you arrive.
Ludington, Michigan, offers a fantastic selection of tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ludington, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ludington, MI is Jackpine Hike-In Campground — Ludington State Park with a 4.9-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Ludington, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Ludington, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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