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Lake of Dreams Campground accepts pets at its spacious, clean campsites situated 20 minutes from downtown St. Charles. Sites include fire rings, picnic tables, and hookups for RVs, with tent camping also permitted. The campground features water activities with inflatable toys in the lake that children particularly enjoy, though additional fees apply for these attractions. Frankenmuth Jellystone Park, located within minutes of downtown Frankenmuth's shopping district, welcomes pets but has tightly packed sites with limited privacy. The grounds have no built-in fire rings at all sites, requiring campers to either bring portable fire pits or borrow one from the camp store. Campground staff at both locations are consistently described as friendly and helpful, with Lake of Dreams even delivering firewood directly to campsites upon request.
Pet owners should note that most pet-friendly campgrounds in the area enforce strict leash requirements for dogs. Pine Ridge RV Campground provides shaded sites under tall pines and hardwoods, though some visitors reported management closely monitoring pet behavior. Just-In-Time Campground features a private beach area where families can bring dogs while enjoying the lake views. The nearby Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground includes designated pet areas, though visitors reported intense insects during summer months requiring ample bug spray. Most properties provide basic amenities like water hookups, trash disposal, and sanitary dump stations, but pet-specific facilities such as dog washing stations or dedicated pet play areas are limited. Wildlife encounters are possible at wooded sites, so keeping pets secured and supervised is essential when camping in this region.
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Quietly tucked into Clinton co Michigan. Sleepy is easily accessible. Its close to Lansing. There are shopping centers nearby. Country party store is closer!! Very large lake....Ovid is her name!"
"Because we didn't get any shade from the nearby trees we had to run the ac which is unusual for us in Michigan. We were in the midst of a heat-wave though and it was much appreciated."
from $25 - $101 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful view of the lake and functional facilities make this a pleasant stay for a small family."
"I think the lake is fully private so no license required to fish. and it's stocked. They have some nice little cabins and pontoon boats you can rent."
"It's a typical Michigan state campground, not much different. Nice bathrooms and big lots."
"The near by nature preserve is a great place to take a hike or bike ride. There are a couple restaurants right outside the park entrance."
"We weren’t able to sit outside because of the direct sun until after 8:30pm.
This was a smaller lot with our neighbors fairly close."
"There’s private land on either side and a dirt bike track that the neighbor owns on the north end, so if you’ve got a light afternoon napper, stay away from that end."
"We were visiting family nearby and this was a convenient location. We found there to be a lot for kids to do."
"If you drive a larger rig and have any concern about backing in, the owner is always willing to back your trailer in with the tractor. We have a 40’ fifth wheel and they have helped us every time."
"We were told to pick a place relatively close by for our first RV trip. We are so glad we picked Walnut Hills Family Campground in MI."
"We were backed up to the pond with ducks always coming around. Very peaceful and beautiful."
from $31 / night
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TravelerGreat opportunities for winter sports. Pools, lakes, mini golf. Designed for young families. Pet friendly but has restrictions on the type of dog.
ScoutThis is a quiet, friendly and family campground. The staff is very willing to help any way they can. The sites are level and spacious.
A great place for the kids! With a beach, playground and paved roads is nice but the frosting in this cake is the petting zoo. Animals from bunnies, peacocks & cats to horses, goats and of course Milton the burro, get it? Milton Burro, LOL
The store has stuff for the kids at very reasonable prices and the ice cream shop across the street is a nice walk after dinner. There's a light there for safe crossing, too.
Try this place, you'll add this to your good memories.
No credit or debit cards. Cash and checks only.
RangerA fun little campground with a nice bunch of petting zoo type animals! The beach is clean and the lake is warm! Very nice layout with walking trail around the lake. The only complaint was not nearly enough trash cans around (like, none easy to find) and the bathrooms were nasty for our 2 day visit. Price per night for full hook up was $40 :-)
RangerSmall but sweet campground. If given the choice get a site in the pine loops. It's more of a walk from the lake but the other loops have no shade and seem more crowded together. We had site #24 and it was fairly ideal and very roomy. There is the Pier- Marquette Rail trail about 1.5 miles from the campground, great for biking, running etc. Electric hook up was fine. Bathrooms are cleaned 3 x a day. Showers were warm and clean. This is Amish country and the campground has horse hitching posts near the fishing lakes. We saw a horse and buggy hitched up there. But I imagine anyone could ride their horse there then hitch up while they fish or wade in the water. Beach is across the road from the park and no pets/dogs allowed in that side of the park. Other campers there were courteous and respectful of quite hours. I would stay there again if I had another event bring me to this area.
GuideLevel sites with full hookup. Catch and release fishing pond. Nice little swimming area. Nice playground. Cute little petting zoo. Stayed for a week at $320.
RangerOur site was averaged out to $82.71 a night with the weekly rate discount.
We were in Site# 306 (a deluxe plus RV site - be aware that some of these are back-ins and not clearly labeled on the site map - we had to change sites to a pull-thru). We had Full hook- up with a gravel pull-through.
We travel towing a 14 foot trailer and were able to fit both in our pull through site along with my jeep.
The site was easy to level.
Our site was not shaded with zero trees. We weren’t able to sit outside because of the direct sun until after 8:30pm.
This was a smaller lot with our neighbors fairly close.
The deluxe plus lot comes without a concrete patio but with a picnic table and fire ring. They do sell firewood and will deliver to your site.
There is free WiFi. They do not offer Cable TV but there are quite a few channel options.
There is not a community outdoor kitchen or community fire pit.
They do not provide garbage service at your site so you must walk to garbage dumpster.
You are allowed to ride personal golf carts. They also allow you to rent pedal bikes. They do not provide golf cart rentals.
They do have a heated indoor and heated outdoor Swimming pool and one hot tub.
There is a Playground. They also offer Gaga ball, basketball sport court, and volleyball courts. There is a Game room for kids. They have a Putt putt course and Jumping pad.
They have a great general store.
There is a separate Activity Center for kids.
There are tons of scheduled activities for kids like wagon rides, arts & crafts, scavenger hunts, obstacle courses, etc. Activities are scheduled all day from 9am to 8pm.
There is a snack bar on site from 4pm-9:30pm where you can get hot dogs, brats, pretzels, nachos, ice cream, etc.
The streets are mostly paved and good for riding bikes.
This is an RV park with cabins to rent also. Tent camping is also allowed.
They have two shower houses. The shower house has the typical stalls. There is a great area to hang clothes and store your toiletries in the shower stall. These are kept very clean.
There is a laundry facility. It is a cash only facility, but they have a change machine in the arcade room. There are approximately 4washers and 4 dryers. It is approximately $2.75 to wash and $0.75 to dry a load.
They do not have a fenced in dog park. There are areas to walk dogs though.
Flies were an issue and bug spray was needed.
There were no trails to hike off of the campground.
Some fun things to do outside of the campground are Frankenmuth FunShips (chocolate & wine tasting), the Golden Ticket Trolley, the Bavarian Belle (popcorn & sodas) River Place Shops, wineries, and Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland store. This RV park is less than a mile to downtown/River Place Shops where there is tons of shopping.
GuideHolly Rec is huge and there is so much you can do. Camping is pretty secluded. Lots and lots of hiking available , pets allowed which is awesome, disc golfing , lakes for great kayaking and there is a wonderful beach! Something for everyone! you can get away here , and take a much needed break from real life.
ScoutWe came here two years ago. My husband suggested the place because his family used to come here when he was a kid. There were many activities for everyone to do, especially for the kids. I don’t believe the cabins are pet friendly though. It’s probably the only reason we haven’t been back. We’ll definitely go back when we have a camper.
LegendThey were very organized at this campground. Every weekend they have a theme. We stayed when they had the country western weekend. They had all kinds of stuff going on for kids. Pony rides, wagon rides, petting zoo, games and activities. They also had a country music concert in the park one evening. The pool was very nice, but we found at times it was extremely busy. It would of been nice if they had a swimming area on the lake but they didn’t. This is a Christian campground so they are very strict on alcohol consumption. On your site only, but not allowed anywhere else in the park. Overall we had an enjoyable stay.
The St. Charles area offers a mix of wooded camping options within central Michigan's flat terrain, typically experiencing warm summers with temperatures averaging in the high 70s to low 80s°F. Most campgrounds near St. Charles maintain gravel or grass sites, with varying degrees of shade coverage depending on the location. Water activities dominate the recreational options during peak camping season from May through September.
Fishing opportunities: Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground offers good fishing for largemouth bass and bluegills. According to Michael P., "Fishing is good here for some largemouth bass, and huge bluegills."
Beach activities: Bay City State Park Campground features a beach area with numerous water activities. Sarah S. notes that "Take a 2 min walk from the camp office across to the day park and you'll find the Spray by the Bay splash pad, a huge timber playground, beautiful sandy beach along Lake Huron, sandy swim area, geocaching, pavilions."
Hiking trails: Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground provides extensive trail networks for day hikes. Jacob B. mentions it has the "Best hiking trails within 1 hour drive of the state capital" and includes "fun backpacking trails, fishing, boating, disc golf, horse and bike trails, geocaching available."
Paddling options: Just-In-Time Campground offers lake access with rental equipment. David F. explains, "They have some nice little cabins and pontoon boats you can rent," and notes the lake is "stocked" and may be "fully private so no license required to fish."
Spacious sites: Walnut Hills Family Campground provides well-maintained sites with good spacing. Patrick B. describes it as a "Mature park, friendly staff, things to do for all ages!" while Kelly L. adds, "We loved that the area was grassy and not all dirt. The campground had big sites, nice bathrooms, and a great pond to swim in."
Clean facilities: Bay City State Park Campground maintains clean shower facilities. Jennifer H. reports, "The restrooms and showers were very clean, smelled of bleach," and Sarah S. confirms they are "closed an hour a day for thorough cleaning and restocked and wiped down in the late evening."
Evening activities: Many campgrounds offer scheduled activities for children. At Bay City State Park, Sarah S. explains, "They have campground hosts that facilitate free activities organized by the park. We did a kids craft and enjoyed hot cocoa or coffee Saturday morning and then returned after dinner for Back-to-School bingo and popcorn."
Nature observation: Several campgrounds offer wildlife viewing opportunities. Jennifer H. from Bay City State Park Campground shares, "The nature trail around the lagoon is a birder's dream. We saw white egrets, blue heron, sand pipers and their babies."
Electrical access concerns: At Sleepy Hollow State Park Campground, you'll need extension cords. Nathan V. advises, "Be sure to bring at least 100 feet of extension cord if you want electricity, because the power ports are not as accessible from some areas."
Site conditions vary: Campgrounds R Us has size and setup limitations. Paula W. mentions, "We were surprised at how small the roadway was. It was very narrow and a bit difficult to maneuver. The sites were plenty wide but not terribly deep."
Water quality issues: Some campgrounds have water quality concerns. Paula W. notes at Campgrounds R Us, "We drew water from the spigot and it was very discolored and one jug we put it in had red flakes in it. Make sure you use your water filter."
Weather impacts: Low-lying campgrounds may flood during heavy rain. At Walnut Hills, Tammy P. recounts, "Poured down rain while setting up to the point we couldn't step outta our camper without being up past our knees in water!"
Water attractions: River Ridge Campground offers multiple water options for children. Katie J. explains there are "Sites right on the river, kayak rentals, pool and hot tub, and a separate swimming hole with sandy beach and inflatable toys!"
Playground equipment: Most family-oriented campgrounds provide playground equipment. Stephanie C. shares that Sleepy Hollow State Park has "a beach and playground, but it is quite the walk from the campground. Plan to drive or bike ride if you have trouble walking long distances."
Seasonal activities: Halloween events are popular at area campgrounds. Stephanie C. notes Sleepy Hollow State Park "Every year they put together an awesome Halloween trick or treat weekend, but be sure to book the day of six months before because otherwise you will not get a site."
Budget considerations: Additional fees for amenities can add up. At Campgrounds R Us, Paula W. mentions, "We did not like the $5 per person just for family to visit your campground. They were in regular clothes and were not partaking of any of the campground amenities."
Site selection importance: When booking at Frankenmuth Jellystone Park, request specific site features. Tom M. advises, "Not all sites have fire rings, so ask when reserving if you need to bring your own portable fire pit."
Water hookup availability: Not all campgrounds offer water hookups at each site. William L. from Lake of Dreams Campground notes, "Roads are in great condition, dry, no potholes. Restrooms are clean. Campsites are big."
Maneuvering challenges: Pine Ridge RV Campground can assist with larger rigs. Mary F. from Campgrounds R Us suggests, "If you drive a larger rig and have any concern about backing in, the owner is always willing to back your trailer in with the tractor. We have a 40' fifth wheel and they have helped us every time."
Pet-friendly considerations: Most campgrounds welcome pets but have restrictions. Mitchell C. notes Pine Ridge RV Campground has "Lots of tall pines and hardwoods providing good cover" but recommends staying away from certain areas if noise is a concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near St. Charles, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near St. Charles, MI is Lake of Dreams Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near St. Charles, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 78 dog-friendly camping locations near St. Charles, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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