Camping cabins near Saline, Michigan sit within Michigan's Irish Hills region, an area characterized by undulating terrain and dozens of small kettle lakes formed by glacial activity. Seasonal variations impact availability with winter temperatures dropping to an average of 20°F (-7°C) in January, while summer averages 73°F (23°C) in July. Many cabin sites require advance registration during peak times, with holiday weekends filling up to six months ahead.
What to do
Kayaking at Wamplers Lake: W.J. Hayes State Park Campground offers water recreation options with rentable kayaks and pedal boats. A camper noted, "Nice quiet campground, nice large lake and some small lakes," highlighting multiple paddling options within the recreation area.
Visit Jump Island: A water attraction at Bishop Lake Campground costs $15 for a 45-minute jumping session. One visitor mentioned, "We had a blast at Jump Island!" while another suggested, "Follow on Facebook for coupons. You can also just swim at the lake- nice area with shade trees beach and nice lake water."
Disc golf course: Waterloo Recreation Area maintains a well-groomed course near camping areas. A reviewer reported, "Nice mix of camping & Disc golf. The course is mowed down and easy to navigate. Picnic tables, fire ring, primitive tent sites available!"
Mini-golf and zip lines: Indian Creek Camp & Conference Center features family-friendly activities including mini-golf. A visitor mentioned, "This campground had all the fun stuff my kids enjoy. The jumping pillow was popular as they spent most of their time there. We enjoyed visiting the llamas...Yes, they have llamas! And we even got to use the zip line which was a lot of fun."
What campers like
Hiking trails: Bruin Lake Campground in Pinckney Recreation Area connects to a 35-mile trail system with multiple options. A reviewer shared, "There are multiple camping opportunities with a variety of camping styles. Yurt rental, to hike-in rustic sites, there's good camping for anyone. A 35 mile hiking trail runs through the entire area with small day trails branching off to points of interest."
Halloween events: Monroe-Toledo North KOA hosts popular Halloween-themed weekends with activities and decorations. A camper explained, "We've been here a few times. Very close to our house just a nice little getaway. We enjoyed the Halloween weekends. We decorate big and enjoyed other decorations as well!"
Lake beaches: Waterloo Portage Lake Modern features a sandy swimming area with amenities. A visitor described, "The beach walkway is handicap accessible. The fishing pier is new, has two benches and tables for your stuff. It is a bit of a walk to get to but is handicap accessible."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes provide fishing access across various cabin locations. One camper at Sterling State Park Campground shared, "There is a boat launch which is extremely popular and the bass and walleye fishing can't be beat. No boat, no problem. The park has several fishing piers as well as a kayak launch into a small inlet."
What you should know
Site spacing varies: Some campgrounds have crowded sites while others offer more privacy. A visitor to Sterling State Park Campground noted, "Sites are nice and large paved slabs, most trees are immature offering little shade. Beach is kept fairly clean and raked often."
Bathroom conditions: Facility quality differs between locations. A camper at W.J. Hayes State Park reported, "The bathrooms are clean and the showers were warm," while another mentioned that at Monroe-Toledo North KOA, "The shower head was missing and water was just spraying out of the wall."
May flies in June: Insect activity can impact stays at lakeside cabins. A camper at Sterling State Park warned, "First two nights were perfect but then the may flies hatched (in mid june) and covered everything."
Extra costs: Some activities require additional fees beyond cabin rental. A visitor to Indian Creek Camp noted, "You have to pay extra for everything including putt putt. You have to buy your golf balls."
Tips for camping with families
Beach facilities: Look for cabin locations with swimming options. A camper at Bishop Lake Campground described, "The campground has a couple of loops. Most sites around the outside are decently wooded. There's a nice dog run that we took advantage of. There's a couple of lakes where you can fish and kayak. The day use area has a nice big grass picnic area."
Activities schedule: Check for ranger-led programs during your stay. A visitor to Waterloo Portage Lake noted, "The park workers walk around and tell you about the activities they have that day. There are 'host' activities for kids and adults also, the schedules are posted in the showers."
Kid-friendly amenities: Look for playgrounds and recreational equipment. A reviewer at KC Campground wrote, "Nice quite camping. Something to do with kids daily," while another at Waterloo Portage Lake mentioned, "We have been coming here for years. We like to stay in the north campground because most of the sites are black topped. Lake is down the hill from the campground. It has a nice beach! Our grandkids love the play area!"
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: Check exact measurements for your unit size. A camper at Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern reported, "Nice flat campsites near the beach area. It has a very nice play area for the children and clean bathrooms. The boat launch was near our camp site which was nice not having to leave the campground."
Hookup variations: Confirm specific utility connections when booking cabins or RV sites. A visitor at Hayes State Park advised, "If your longer than 40ft be aware most sites will not work for you here, they do have some but the wood line, privacy and nature is great."
Dump stations: Several parks offer dump facilities even when full hookups aren't available. A reviewer at W.J. Hayes State Park shared, "There is a nice little mile nature trail through one of those loops. We went camping at MIS for NASCAR and this state park is about a 10 minute drive from the track and the campgrounds at the track. We camped at the track but used the Lake here. I also noticed campers from the race using the dump station here at this park!"
