171 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Maple City, Michigan is centered around the iconic Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with a mix of rustic and modern camping facilities throughout the Leelanau Peninsula. The area features several established campgrounds including D.H. Day Campground and Platte River Campground, both within the national lakeshore boundaries. These campgrounds provide access to Lake Michigan's shoreline, with many sites situated within walking distance of beaches and dunes. Visitors can choose between tent camping, RV sites with hookups, and cabin accommodations at various locations. As one camper noted, "D.H. Day campground is the perfect rustic camping spot in Northern Michigan. All campsites are within easy walking distance to a beautiful Lake Michigan beach."
Most campgrounds in the Maple City area operate seasonally, with peak availability from May through October. D.H. Day Campground is open from the first Friday in April until the last Sunday in November, while Platte River Campground operates year-round. Summer reservations fill quickly, particularly for waterfront sites, so advance booking is essential. Insect repellent is necessary during summer months, as multiple reviewers mention mosquitoes and ticks as common concerns. Poison ivy is prevalent around D.H. Day Campground, particularly along trails and site perimeters. National Park entrance fees apply in addition to camping fees within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
The camping experience varies significantly between locations. Rustic sites at D.H. Day offer vault toilets and drinking water but no showers, while Platte River provides more amenities including shower facilities. Private campgrounds like Indigo Bluffs RV Park and Leelanau Pines Campground offer additional conveniences such as Wi-Fi and full hookups. Campers seeking supplies should note that some campgrounds are relatively isolated from stores and services. The nearby towns of Glen Arbor, Empire, and Traverse City provide shopping opportunities, with Glen Arbor just five minutes from D.H. Day. The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail connects many camping areas, making bicycle exploration a popular activity for visitors staying within the national lakeshore.
"Pretty close to your neighbors, but our site still had some good tree cover. Easy walk to Lake Michigan through the campground. Vaulted toilets, community water and trash."
"DH Day campground is the perfect rustic camping spot in Northern Michigan. All campsites are within easy walking distance to a beautiful Lake Michigan beach."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Lots of campsites 30 to 50 feet away from the roadway offering appropriate privacy. Woods and bushes separating campsites. Shower houses in excellent condition and clean. Pads for tents in place."
from $22 - $50 / night
Check Availability"It has a fire pit, nearby bathrooms, WiFi, and was in short driving distance to the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Traverse City."
"This is one of my favorite campgrounds and it’s located in our favorite vacation destination!"
"Located on busy US-31, but with pedestrian bridge over 4 lanes to beach. TART (Traverse Area Recreation Trail) access from campground. Easy biking to Traverse City or Acme."
"Bathrooms were clean, sites were average size for Michigan state parks. Close to the bike trail, though a little noisy from the nearby airport and roads."
from $45 - $100 / night
Check Availability"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."
from $20 - $120 / night
Check Availability"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)"
"The campground was very shady and situated right on the lake. We stayed in Site #50 and could carry our kayaks across a small grassy field to put in at the edge of the lake."
from $103 - $130 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Off the beaten path but has great rustic campsites with firepits and there are restrooms and fresh water close by in each circle we will be back"
"Located just a short drive away from many attractions."
"The campground is close to Sleeping Bear Dunes (15 mins) and Traverse City (30 mins). We enjoyed traveling to the city for Cherry Festival and returning to a quiet campground."
"We stayed here in our little offroad teardrop camper which looked like David & Goliath when contrasted against the massive 5th wheels surrounding us."
"There is a pool, jump pad, miles and miles of mountain biking trails and hiking trails, a man made lake which has some inflatable water toys."
from $60 - $260 / night
Check Availability"It is beautiful, peaceful campground on Lake Leelanau which is located on the Leelanau peninsula in between West Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan in close proximity to the little town of Lake Leelanau, Suttons"
"It's right on Lake Leelanau, and they even rent boat slips. There is a tiny beach, fun for an afternoon dip with the kids."
from $36 - $109 / night
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ScoutIt is a pretty nice camp ground. The spaces are small and neighbors are really close. But we are close to water spirt rentals. Nice beach on beautiful Lake Charlevoix. Playground is big and fun for kiddos. The shower rooms are dated and old, but seem clean. We will be back for sure. The pros outweigh the cons
ScoutThe host is very friendly very easy to deal with a wonderful setting very private. We love it.
GuideCute RV park, mostly people set up to stay the summer. Called ahead, was offered a “lake view” site for an extra $10. Arrived, site was at the very front, between two roads, like sleeping in a fishbowl. We were across a road and grassy patch and canoe storage from the lake. We could in fact see it, but lake view was really a stretch. Our site was at least two city blocks from a very small bath house. We camped on a site with no trees, no privacy and a hike to the shower room. Not recommended for tent camping.
ScoutI had previously read reviews about the bathrooms being less than desirable. If you’re not downwind, it isn’t so bad. They are definitely not maintained as well as other state campgrounds we’ve been to in the past.
You are central to ORV trails, so at times you can hear those passing through, otherwise a few neighbors driving through here and there and quiet the rest of the time.
The dock is out of order, but there are other ways of reaching the river.
We came for fly fishing, and were told the fish are all stopped at a damn right now. That would have been nice to know before planning a fly fishing trip for that specific river. 😫
Still rating it a four, it would have been amazing if we could have fished.
GuideIdeal location to explore Manistee county, just north of city. The trolley bus offers rides to town and back. New bath house, updated facilities and most sites include electric. Nice hiking trails across the road, the outer loop is a 2mile walk. Just north of here are the largest sequoia trees east of the Mississippi River. Park offers Hammocks for daytime use over looking the Lk Michigan bluffline. Pet friendly.
GuideInterlochen SP is one of my favs. Very low key, quiet camping. The bath houses are clean and well kept, rangers are helpful and you're so close to Traverse City for day trips or seasonal outdoor concerts across the road at World Class Interlochen Center for the Arts. Great CG for fishing, swimming & boating on Duck Lake. I would have given them a 5 if there were someplace to fish from shore. enjoy
TravelerNice campground, with beach access.
LegendI do not understand the high ratings this campground has received. Many sites are right on top of one another with zero privacy. It's loud-I even heard numerous gun shots from one of the trails. I camped with a dog and they aren't allowed at all on beach so I literally didn't step foot on the beach as I was solo camping. There are "lakeside sites"but you can't see the lake due to leaf cover in summer. I doubt I'll be back. There is a nice playground for kids. Hiking trails are fairly nice-although take your map as trails aren't marked very well. Women's outhouse frequently out of TP.
TravelerThough labeled on the Dyrt map as Platte River "State" Campground this is a federal campground in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore and run by National Park Service. It is a beautiful campground with 4 loops and a walk-up camp area. There are handicap and group camp area.
Abundant large trees offer shady campsites. Sites are large with plenty of separation from you neighbors. A nice feature in addition to your paved RV space, that I've never seen at another campground- each site has a leveled dirt area for tent set-up. Each site offers a firepit and large metal picnic table.
Camp fees are reasonable, even more so if you have a Senior pass, (unfortunately I lost mine), but I still had a site with electric hookup for $31. Generator use is not allowed, but if you feel the need for electricity, a site with electric hookup is only $5.00 more.
Reservations available from May 1 through October 31st. I lucked out due to a cancellation.
There are 6 shower/restroom facilities in the main campground and even 1 serving the walk-In camp area. They are in good shaped and I saw them being cleaned every morning. Another offering in those facilities is a small room with a " camp sink" for washing dishes. Throughout the campground there are plenty of creature-proof trash receptacles, clean water sites and an RV dumpsite.
I have T-Mobile with the new satellite back up and had good service, but I noticed my hotspot worked better in loop 1 than in loop 2 where I camped the first night.
There is a Railroad Grade hiking trail that runs on the north end of the campground.
The Platte River is close and "River Rentals" where they have Canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, tubes and an assortment of other inflatables to rent, is less than a half mile away. They also offer a shuttle service for those with their own boats which I took advantage of. They have a store with ample souvenir offerings
This campground was a great find for me, and you can bet I will return. The campground is open year around.
Camping spots near Maple City, Michigan occupy parts of the Leelanau Peninsula where forested hills create natural buffers between sites. The area sits approximately 800 feet above sea level with summer temperatures averaging 70-80°F during peak camping season. Most campgrounds in this region close between mid-October and April due to northern Michigan's harsh winter conditions.
Kayaking on Lake Leelanau: Venture beyond Lake Michigan to Leelanau Pines Campground where direct lake access creates paddling opportunities. "We kayaked the lake Leelanau then went up into Victoria Creek it was so cool. There was a duck blind in there and shore birds," notes one camper. The lake offers varied paddling experiences from calm waters near shore to more open sections.
Late season hiking: October camping provides less crowded trails and unique experiences at Sleeping Bear Dunes. "Went there in late October of 2022 and man was it a cold night to stay in a tent. But once we got situated, we went to the beach to skywatch and it was beautiful and worth every second," reports a visitor to D.H. Day Campground.
Visit local wineries: Multiple vineyards operate within a 20-minute drive of most camping locations. "We went to several wineries Boathouse Vineyards was nice you could do the wine tasting then sit out back facing the river & have a glass of wine. They had entertainment playing, and brought Pizza in," shares one Leelanau Pines visitor.
Private wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the natural spacing between sites. At Rustic Retreat, visitors note the natural setting: "Gorgeous property with a huge canopy of maple trees, lovely campfire spot and a cute cabin." This single-cabin retreat offers complete privacy not found at larger campgrounds.
Clean facilities: Regular maintenance of bathrooms receives frequent positive mentions. At Platte River Campground, "Bathroom facilities were excellent and clean. Firewood is available to purchase in the campground," according to a recent visitor. Most established campgrounds offer restroom facilities within a short walking distance of sites.
Access to water recreation: Multiple campgrounds provide direct water access. "Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp has the basic rustic camping necessities. Outhouses near each circle, spickit with really good water, hiking trails, boat launch and even a nearby island you can kayak to and let the dogs roam free!" shares a visitor to Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp.
Tick and insect awareness: Beyond mosquitoes, ticks present a concern in wooded areas. "Going into Glen Arbor is fun and checking out all the different parts of Sleeping Bear is a treat. The only thing I don't like are the pit toilets, but it's the tradeoff for no electricity or running water," shares a D.H. Day camper, highlighting the rustic nature of many local campgrounds.
Reservation timing for popular campgrounds: Peak season sites fill far in advance. "Most sites are very large, shaded, private and have level areas for tents or campers. There is a (long) walking trail to the beach, and many areas to hike, fish or tube down a river nearby," notes a Platte River Campground visitor.
Self-registration at rustic sites: State forest campgrounds typically operate on a first-come basis with self-payment systems. "Self registration for $15 per night," reports a Lake Dubonnet camper, highlighting the affordable nature of these more primitive camping options.
Activity-focused campgrounds: For families seeking organized recreation, Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort offers extensive options. "This is a very large campground that is usually full during the summer. There is no shortage of activities here: a small pond/beach, pool, jumping pillow, dodgeball, bike trails, ATV trails, crafts, parades, etc. It's great for the active family, particularly those with elementary & middle school age kids."
Beach access considerations: Not all beaches are easily accessible. "There is a trail that leads from Loop 1 is 1.2 miles to Lake Michigan. If you like to walk, be sure to walk out there. The end is complete sand so be prepared to work hard!" advises a Platte River camper. Families with young children may prefer sites with shorter beach access routes.
Educational programs: Some campgrounds offer ranger-led activities. "The amphitheater with kid focused programs was a great bonus," notes a D.H. Day Campground visitor, referring to the park's interpretive presentations which typically run from June through August.
Site size variations: Many campgrounds offer a range of site sizes. At Empire Township Campground, "We stayed at site 20 which was large, and super spacious. There was our own private trail to the vaulted toilets which were always clean, stocked with T.P."
Seasonal site options: Extended-stay campers have dedicated options. "There are some seasonal campers already here. The sites are very close to each other, but the view is so beautiful," reports a Leelanau Pines visitor, referring to dedicated seasonal sites available at some private campgrounds.
Hookup availability: Water and electrical connections vary significantly. "Spots are tight unless you get into the back rows set back sites. The staff is great. The bathrooms are clean and the pool is decent. Lots of trees," notes a visitor to Timber Ridge, highlighting both the amenities and space considerations RV campers should evaluate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Maple City, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Maple City, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 171 campgrounds and RV parks near Maple City, MI and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Maple City, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Maple City, MI is D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with a 4.6-star rating from 53 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Maple City, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Maple City, MI.
What parks are near Maple City, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Maple City, MI that allow camping, notably Sleeping Bear Dunes and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
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