Tawas Point State Park sits on a sandy spit extending into Lake Huron at an elevation of 581 feet. The park encompasses 183 acres with 2 miles of shoreline featuring both bay and lake access. Summer temperatures average 75-80°F during July and August, dropping to 65-70°F during September with cooler nights around 50°F.
What to do
Hiking near lighthouse: Take the nature trail at Tawas Point State Park Campground that leads to the historic lighthouse. "The nature trail leads out to the lighthouse by the end of the point, as well as kayaks for rent at the boat launch," reports Emma W.
Beach volleyball: Port Crescent State Park offers recreational facilities beyond just swimming. "The park has a playground, basketball hoop, and horseshoe pit," notes Lee D., who visited in 2023 before the 2024 renovations.
Canoeing the AuSable River: Old Orchard Park Campground provides excellent river access. "Kayaking, boating, pontooning, fishing-all beautiful. There is just North of the park an off shoot road that goes to Champagne Hill where people have large homemade slip and slide mats to slide down the steep sand dunes into the water," explains Linda H.
Island exploration: Devoe Lake Rustic Campround offers unique paddling opportunities. "Devoe Lake has a few islands that we explored. We spent all week in solitude until the weekend," shares Dave V., adding that "the water is super clean and crystal clear...and usually sand or rock bottom."
What campers like
Dog-friendly beaches: Tawas Point State Park includes dedicated pet areas. "The dog beach, a bit of a walk down the trail towards the lighthouse, surely exceeded our expectations," says Sasha K., adding that "the shallows go out quite far, and is pleasantly sandy. The water is warmer than on the Huron side of the point."
Motor-free lakes: Grousehaven Campground restricts watercraft types. "The lake is absolutely gorgeous and is paddle only, no motors of any kind. The water was warmish and crystal clear," reports Dennis B., who visited with his young daughter.
Spacious campsites: Port Crescent State Park has various site options. "Site Quality varies greatly... Sites 93, 95, 95A, 98, 99A, 101, 103, 105, and 107 back up to the old river channel and the water was very stagnant and green," cautions Lee D., recommending beachfront sites instead.
Wildlife viewing: Northern Bear Paw RV Park offers scenic river access. "Pine trees left intact. It sits on the Au Gres River trail to the river with seating, picnic table and fire pit," notes Nellie, who found the grounds "immaculate" and the setting "peaceful."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Port Crescent State Park has significant variations in site quality. "Sites are small, so we usually book two. The grounds offer bathrooms and showers, as well as electric and water for RVs. No rustic options available, so all sites are $35 per night," advises Kate K.
Reservation challenges: Jewell Lake Campground operates differently than many parks. "Beware, there are no park rangers on duty 24/7 at the campground or a camp store, however Barton city is only a few minutes away where they have a quaint general store," notes Halie C.
Weather preparedness: Port Crescent State Park can experience severe weather. "When storms come in, make sure you have everything put away and your tent staked down reeeeeal good, cause I've definitely seen 60mph+ winds and tents end up in the trees," warns Dave E. based on years of family camping there.
Shower facilities: Old Orchard Park Campground requires tokens for showers. "Showers run on tokens/quarters and do not have a temperature control," explains Tracey R., who otherwise enjoyed her waterfront site.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Port Crescent State Park offers activities for all ages. "The park has a playground and a paved pathway through the grounds to Rollerblade/bike on. Most sites come with a fire pit," shares Mark H.
Child-safe swimming areas: Grousehaven Campground features protected waters. "The water was warmish and crystal clear, my 2.5 y/o daughter loved playing at the beach and the shallow swimming area," reports Dennis B., who made this his new family go-to destination.
Playground access: Tawas Point State Park Campground includes recreational facilities. "Our family loves this campground- it has a nice playground, and beach volleyball court near the entrance. There's a nice sandy beach that faces Tawas Bay in the campground," says Marie H., noting there's even a separate dog-friendly beach.
Beach options: Port Crescent State Park has various swimming areas. "The public beach on Lake Huron has rougher water and more rocks," advises Marie H., recommending families use the bay-side beaches instead.
Tips from RVers
Utility placement: Old Orchard Park Campground has some inconvenient hookup locations. "Water and electric are poorly located. Need extra hose/cords," warns Tracey R., who otherwise enjoyed her waterfront site.
Campsite width: Port Crescent State Park has tight access roads. "The access roads on the loop are narrow, so you may need to take some care of if you have a large vehicle," advises Edward C., who nonetheless rated the park highly.
Premium glamping close to Oscoda, Michigan: Oscoda KOA offers luxury accommodation options beyond traditional camping. "This was a pretty basic/nice KOA. We went second week of July and it was pretty empty, which was nice for us. There is a few things for kids/teens to play on," shares Kristy G., noting that tent camping is affordable while cabins are pricier.
Site drainage: Port Crescent State Park can be challenging after rain. "Be advised that the sites closer to the beach are very sandy. Larger campers may get stuck, especially after a rainstorm," warns Edward C. after visiting the newly renovated park.
