Best Cabin Camping near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan

Recent Cabin Reviews near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

262 Reviews of 30 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Campgrounds

• 

  Judy B.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 21, 2016

  Traverse City State Park Campground

  Big Campground, Bigger Location

  This campground is huge! 300+ sites, pet friendly, sites for all shapes and sizes. Open year round, with heated cabins. It's a great location, just across from Traverse Bay with just across the road. With that being said, one downside is that road, a VERY busy main drag through Traverse City. Very loud. There is s bridge walk over said busy road to beach access. The campground was very busy and bustling with families. Only 30 minutes from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

• 

  Nancy W.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 27, 2017

  Wild Cherry RV Resort

  Nice Park, Lots to Do Nearby

  We visited Wild Cherry RV Resort on the recommendation of some friends and found the park to be nicely maintained, sites were well-spaced, and we LOVED the area. Our site was a pull-in that faced a large pond on a corner that overlooked a four-acre lake. We never had a neighbor on the site next to us during our stay and since we were on a large corner there was nobody on that side either so we never felt crowded. The park was very quiet and since our site was in the back of the park there was not much traffic.

  The park is called a “resort” which is a little misleading because there are very few amenities. There is no swimming pool, no tennis courts, no shuffleboard, no fitness center, no playground, in fact there were not even bathrooms/showers (except for porta john and tent shower in the rustic camping section).  There was a small club house and a driving range but that was pretty much it. You do get a free newspaper delivered to your site daily. It turned out that we didn’t care about the lack of amenities since we were so busy exploring and we don’t often use all the amenities that private parks offer anyway.  The park is a mix of seasonal and transient people. Most of the seasonal people went to work during the day which made the park even quieter. And while they do have a lot of seasonal campers none of the sites were junked up. Sites are gravel with paved patios with the average lot being 45x70 (according to their brochure). There are nice grassy areas between sites that is very well-maintained. All sites have picnic tables but not all have fire pits (if you have your own you are allowed to use it). 

  The roads are very wide and there are not too many trees so maneuvering big-rigs is not a problem. The water, sewer, and electric were all placed appropriately in the site so no extended hoses were needed. There was no cable but sites are very open allowing for good satellite reception and we were able to get over a dozen antenna channels. Sites are either pull-in (which we had) or back-in. There are no pull-thrus. Set back in a wooded area are a scattering of rustic tent sites, rental cabins and yurts with potable water, grills, fire pits, and picnic tables. These sites are so tucked in a wooded area that I never noticed them until the last day I was in the park.

  There is a lot of activities within a short drive of this park and we wished we would have stayed longer. The park is in a perfect location to explore the towns of Leland (and Fishtown), Lake Leelanau, Northport, and Sutton’s Bay. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the town of Glen Arbor are a 20 minute drive and Traverse City is about 45 minutes. All these towns are quaint coastal towns with shopping, galleries, good restaurants. The park is on the Leelanau Peninsula which is one of Michigan’s most well-known and revered wine region and there are three wineries within a couple of miles (one is just across the street from the entrance). That being said, there are nearly some 20 wineries within 15 – 20 minutes of the park. There are a few state parks and county preserves nearby that have hiking, scenic views of Lake Michigan and picturesque lighthouses.

  All-in-all we really liked this park and would definitely come back. We took advantage of their “Big-Rig Special” which gave a 25% discount if you booked 4 nights. Otherwise, the price per night was $69 which we found to be expensive for what you get. The biggest dings we give this park are for the high nightly price and the lack of amenities that should come in a “resort” with that high a price. This area is one of our favorites in Michigan and we easily could have spent a couple of weeks here enjoying the area.

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 18, 2017

  Leelanau State Park Campground

  Ranger Review: United by Blue 25L Rift Backpack (Roanline) at Leelanau State Park

  Campground Review: Leelanau State Park is a gorgeous campground on the very tip of the Leelanau Peninsula which is surrounded on 3 sides by the crystal clear waters and sandy beaches of Lake Michigan. Though only 15 minutes outside of the village of Northport, it feels very remote. The wooded campsites are relatively spacious, some with a great amount of privacy, others very open and right on the water. All have firepits and picnic tables, but we were not able to find water spigots near the sites on the lower level, those closest to the lake. They can accommodate everything from small tents to large campers and even have a couple of small camping cabins for rent. There are pit toilets scattered throughout the campground (which are rather stinky compared to other campgrounds we’ve stayed in, but this seems to be how all Michigan State Park pit toilets smell), and no showers. Showers are available for $2 at Traverse City State Park, which is about an hour south of this campground. TC is the major city on the peninsula and the one you must drive through to leave the peninsula. In addition to opportunities to swim, kayak, sail, paddle board, etc., this park has gorgeous hiking trails located a few miles south on the peninsula, a playground for the kids, a fully restored 19th century lighthouse, and a cool museum dedicated to the use of Lake Michigan during WWII. As the fog rolled off the water and in and out of the campground during our visit, we realized the importance of this historic lighthouse for the area surrounding the peninsula.

  Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27J0AgpsbEU

  Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I was able to test the new Roanline market place at roanline.com. They carry a number of different brands and I selected the United by Blue 25L Rift Backpack to test out while camping at the Leelanau State Park campground in Michigan. We used this pack while hiking on the beautiful trails within this state park. This pack fits in as well on the trail as it will in the boardroom, or commuter train. It has a sleek profile and clean, tight lines which give it all the class of a briefcase while offering the versatility of a backpack. I expect it to last many years of regular use.

  What I like most about this pack:

  1. Quality construction with a compact, efficient use of space.

  2. The specialty pockets hold everything for which they are intended: laptop, smartphone, water bottle / travel mug, etc, while still allowing space for plenty of extra layers, lunch/snacks, etc. It has more volume than it looks like from the outside.

  3. It is super comfortable and stays in place even on the bike.

  4. The single carrying handle is well-placed, strong, and very comfortable – nice one!

  Some things I wish this pack had:

  1. A hydration hose “slit. This seems like an oversight, because the main pouch easily holds a large water bladder.

  2. A waist-belt, making it more comfortable with the pack weighed down.

  3. An integrated rain fly. I am afraid to get this pack dirty – it looks too nice!

  Product Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNbzM_-q2EU&t=2s

  Product Link: https://journal.roanline.com/2017/01/06/3-pieces-of-gear-to-help-you-weather-winter-in-the-east/

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 18, 2017

  Traverse City State Park Campground

  Ranger Review: Saris Freedom SuperClamp 2-Bike Rack at Traverse City State Park Campground

  Campground Review: This very popular campground is a few miles from downtown Traverse City, on the edge of Grand Traverse East Bay, Lake Michigan and fills up very quickly during the summer months. It is open year-round though and the fall is gorgeous in Michigan. As a city-based campground, it has many amenities and makes for a great alternative to paying much higher prices for the hotels, motels, and B&B’s in the area. This is a nicely wooded campground, and though the sites are spacious, they are rather close to each other, so not much privacy. But, given that this campground provides direct access to the TART Bike Trail (which can use to get to Traverse City, the Leelanau Wine Trail, or many other points north) and there is a safe, over-the-road walking bridge that takes you to the beach on the bay, we didn’t spend much time IN the campground itself. The various sites accommodate everything from small tents to large RV’s and all come with electricity. There are even two small camping cabins available for rent. The immaculately clean bathrooms and showers are free to campers. Firewood and ice are available onsite by the office. The only major drawbacks are that you can hear the road (which is pretty busy most days) and there are railroad tracks next to the campground (though we never heard a train and were told that it was infrequent).

  Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loWrZLOItQc

  Product Review: As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I get gear to review from time to time. On this excursion, we took the Saris Freedom SuperClamp 2-Bike Rack for a test spin while camping and wine tasting via the Leelanau Bike Path, which is accessible from Traverse City State Park in Traverse City, MI. We were in the market for another bike rack and had researched various racks just before this one arrived. We think this is a pretty good option for the price point.

  What I like about this rack:

  1. It secures to the vehicle trailer hitch via a threaded bolt rather than a pin; this holds the rack securely and minimizes swaying of the bikes as we go down the road. A locking attachment to this bolt discourages theft of the entire rack.

  1. The bikes are held securely by clamping to the wheels and don’t contact the frame. Our previous bike rack was a hanging rack which did some damage to the paint job on our frames --NOT an issue with this rack.
  2. The rack is very easy to use, simple to set up, and holds the bikes securely.
  3. It comes with a lifetime warranty. When our first rack arrived, one of the plastic wheel cups was cracked, but one quick call to the company and we had a whole new rack within a few days. Nice!

  Room for improvement:

  1. The integrated locking cables stow away within the frame of the rack, which is cool; but they aren’t long enough to thread through the high-clearance frame of my husband’s mountain bike – so we can only lock down his back wheel not the frame. The cable will accommodate most traditional bike frames, but they aren’t thick enough to really secure the bikes for anything longer than a run into the grocery store anyway, so we’re adding another lock when necessary.
  2. The straps which secure the wheels are a little awkward to use, both securing and releasing. You have to use two hands to do this, and reaching the straps for the bike closest to the vehicle is a bit tricky.
  3. When the bikes are off the rack and it is folded into its storage configuration, we have no problem opening the tailgate of our truck; but, with both bikes on the rack, getting into the back of the truck is difficult. If you have a hatchback, make sure the bikes are the last thing you load up!

  Product Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpgajt1V1Yc

  Product Link: https://www.saris.com/product/superclamp-2

• 

  Amanda L.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 8, 2018

  Traverse City KOA

  Just outside the city

  Tents, RVs, and Cabins! Camper’s choice! This place is the perfect spot to camp to get away yet stay close to Home (if you live nearby!). Its great for a traveler as well. There is plenty to do, there is a playground, WiFi, a pool, mini golf, bike rentals, and more!

• 

  Amanda L.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 29, 2018

  Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort

  Busy, fun-filled place

  If you are looking for a camping getaway, this may not be the place for you. It is always bustling with action, but can be lots of fun! I would definitely say this is geared more towards children and families than an escape into nature. There is a camp store, turbo bikes, a variety of family activities, a pool, playground, bike park, equipment and rentals, laundry facility, cabins, cottages, and yurts for rent. This is also a pet friendly campground, so there are many dogs. Probably one of my favorite parts was dodgeball... and the multiple bike trails that connect to the VASA trail system.

• E

  Elizabeth M.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 11, 2023

  Rustic Retreat

  Amazing location, amazing host!

  Came up here for my anniversary getaway with my fiancé, booked for two nights and the second day had an emergency come up and had to leave! I let Jamie know and without asking or expecting, she refunded me and wished me luck with our situation. The cabin was cute and cozy, I slept like a baby, definitely going to come here again. Thank you so much Jamie!

• A

  Amy R.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 18, 2019

  Orchard Beach State Park Campground

  Stayed in cabin in this heavy RV park

  We were here over July 4 in mini cabin. We had been back country camping before that so were happy to have a cabin for a couple nights. Mini cabin is at tip of park with nice view of lake Michigan sunsets. Cabin had mini fridge, coffee pot, ceiling fan, and I think a heater for winter. 2 sets of sturdy bunk beds. Camp sites were packed with RVs and tents. I don't think I've ever seen a more crowded camp ground. Many campers brought their own bikes, kayaks, boats so there must be lake access nearby but definitely not from this park. Beach inaccessible due to high lake waters. Outhouse was clean and well maintained. Showers a short walk away.

• 

  Tammy G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 8, 2018

  Orchard Beach State Park Campground

  up on bluff

  older campground high above beach, couple camper cabins. beautiful views of lake michigan. can get to beach by stairs or short drive to beach without climbing stairs

• 

  Neil S.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 22, 2023

  Rustic Retreat

  Remote, beautiful, authentic!

  This cabin is a joy to stay in. Brennin, Jamie, and their dog Rue are gracious hosts. As OG locals to traverse City, brennin and Jamie are plugged into the goings on in the area, as well as a plethora of sweet spots to check out that aren't totally overcrowded with fudgies. The cabin is big, can easily fit a family, has electricity, and basically everything you need to have a good time. Easy to get to, you can drive right up to the cabin and load in. But also, you're straight up in the middle of the woods. One of my favorite places to stay for sure!

• A

  Anne G.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 21, 2018

  Northern Exposure Campground & RV Park

  Easy first camping experience or when you want to low impact camp experienc

  Great site for first time campers or when you want to just get away quickly without having to take lots of equipment and supplies. Nice little camp store and pizza restaurant on site. Great playground, evening activities. Nice mix of electric hook up, R.V. and tent sites. Boat rentals, etc. Great place for a group of families to come camp together. Staff at the campground are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.

• 

  Jamie S.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 15, 2023

  Rustic Retreat

  Relaxing and beautiful

  We stayed in this cabin for an entire summer and it was dreamy, so happy to share with others now.

• 

  Cora M.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 25, 2018

  Washington Island Campground

  clean and simple

  great for casual camping, they also offer cabins. the island has many places to explore and a new lavender farm to check out.

• A

  Andrea D.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 21, 2023

  Rustic Retreat

  Beautiful secluded cabin

  Stayed out here for an art retreat and loved it. Gorgeous property with a huge canopy of maple trees, lovely campfire spot and a cute cabin. Slept like a log.

• K

  Kathy C.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 19, 2019

  Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort

  Nice

  Mostly seasonal campers. Has a small lake with fishing. There is an indoor pool & game room. There are activities all the time. Bingo every weekend. Some open sites & some in the trees. I think they are adding a few cabins.

• 

  Cathy B.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 30, 2019

  Indigo Bluffs RV Park

  Family oriented

  This campground has two sides, the campground which accommodates tents, campers and RVs. Also they have small cabins. They offer full hookups as well as 30 & 50 amp service.  Nice shower and bathroom facilities, coin laundry, pool, and camp store. The other side is the “luxury RV Resort” with concrete pads, grass, ponds and lots of greenery. Very upscale.

• 

  Joie V.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 14, 2020

  Betsie River Campsite

  Great location

  This is not my normal kind of camping but I will pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this place. Sites are close together. All sites have electric. They have lots of little cute cabins through the park as well. They have a small simple playground that my kids loved! Super close to Lake Michigan and the river. We had fun exploring the area. Bathrooms were clean and had hot water. I loved that we could buy a good breakfast right on site at the little cafe they have. The campground had an old fashioned feel if that makes sense. Very quiet and does not seem to attract the party crowd. I thought rates were very reasonable. We took a day trip to Empire and the Point Bestie Lighthouse.

• 

  Kathie M.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 19, 2020

  Leelanau State Park Campground

  Heaven on earth

  My hands down all time favorite campground! Although rustic (I personally LOVE) this campground is literally ON Lake Michigan. Sites on the shore or you can choose a site in the trees. You can fall asleep and wake up to the sound of Lake Michigan. Campground is small but that’s what keeps its charm. Beautiful summertime and fall is especially beautiful. Grand Traverse lighthouse right next door. Be sure to explore walking trails that dump you out on a beach so beautiful- you do have to drive or bicycle to these trails that are a bit south of the campground. Leelanau peninsula so quaint with small villages of Northport, Leland, Sutton’s Bay. No flush toilets. No dump station. I’ve tent, trailer, van camped and also rented cabins several times. I have camped here in summer, fall and winter. I love this campground so much I can’t decide which season I love best.

• 

  Dan N.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 31, 2016

  Leelanau State Park Campground

  Cabins by lighthouse

  Great park out on a peninsula with sunset views. Hiking on the sand and boardwalks, lighthouse tours, perfect weekend spot---though not particularly close to much. Pretty “rustic” cabins and tent sites near lighthouses and the water---great listening to the shore in our sleeping bags. Most of the sites are pretty private, wooded/shrubby, and large. There’s a gift shop but it doesn’t feel overly touristy. Recommended.

• 

  Chris M.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 1, 2021

  Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort

  First time, will be back!

  We had a chilly Memorial Day weekend but were very impressed with the campground. Great mix of activities for the kids. Big park but felt small, no problems with traffic and golf carts like we have experienced at other “resort” style campgrounds. All sites are full hookup and there are just enough cabins, cottages, and yurts for our non-camping family to tag along! Staff was very friendly.

• 

  Debra O.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 17, 2020

  Betsie River Campsite

  Simply the best - great location, family friendly

  This campground feels like campgrounds should! It is a small, family-run place. The sites are a little small and close together, and with fewer trees than I prefer. But everything else about it makes it on my list to return annually! Location is close to so many great towns and attractions: Glen Arbor/Sleeping Bear Dunes, many Lake Michigan beaches, kayaking/canoeing/tubing river trips, great fishing if that's your thing. The camp store and little outdoor cafe are great and serve a delicious breakfast. Bathrooms were clean and had great ventilation (important when camping during a pandemic like this summer). They have several cute cabins and vintage campers sprinkled among the campsites that are available for rent, and a nice bike path runs right in front of the campground. The campground is very family-friendly.

• D

  Danielle S.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 31, 2021

  Northern Exposure Campground & RV Park

  Gem.

  I hate camping, but this campground I’ll go to. Water and electric hook up at all the sites, cabins available, their own little lake and boat launch, there’s Kid’s EVERYWHERE! 🥰 Its absolutely perfect for the entire camping spectrum. Nice clean bathrooms, a nice little store and restaurant right there and another little store right on the main road. First fish caught by my son at this campsite and we WILL BE BACK!

• 

  Nancy W.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 8, 2017

  Traverse City State Park Campground

  Great Proximity to Downtown, Beach, and Breweries.

  The location of this campground is great and it's best feature in my opinion! This park is just two miles to downtown Traverse City (one of Michigan’s most popular resort towns), a quarter mile from a pretty beach and the beautiful blue waters of Lake Michigan, and it sits along the TART Trail which is a 10.5-mile bicycle trail running through the city.

  While the park is small at just 47 acres, it holds pretty many campsites – approximately 350 (and two cabins). Campsites are set among tall pine trees so there is a bit of shade but that also means that they are sandy with little grass. Roads are paved and narrow if you are trying to maneuver with a large (40+ RV) and you may have difficulty backing into your site with the numerous trees lining the road. All sites are back-in with electric. Sites and patios are sandy with varying degrees of levelness. There is a dump station and water spigots are scattered throughout the campground. Picnic tables and fire pits are at each site. Sites are $31/night ($49/night for the cabins) and reserveable online.

  This park is right on US-31/M-72 which means there is easy access in and out but it can be noisy if your campsite is close to the road. Expect the campground to be very busy on weekends and in the summer and tightly packed.

  Amenities include: picnic area, beach, fishing, hiking/bicycling trail, three bathhouses, playground area, camp store, pet walk (no off-leash dog park).

  Outside of the park there is a lot to do in Traverse City. Early July is the ever-popular Cherry Festival which lasts for a week. But you better book your campsite early if you want to enjoy all the festivities (which happen to be close to the park). The summer farmers market is great and held every Wednesday and Saturday. Early in the season, asparagus is plentiful and locally-grown asparagus is the best you will ever have being super sweet, tender, and inexpensive. For beer drinkers, consider paddling the beer trail that takes you from Boardman Lake to Lake Michigan and past numerous breweries where you pull over for a pint. If it's ice cream you want, you have come to the right place. There are multiple creameries with Moomer's being our favorite and for some reason eating it right at the farm stand was the best.

• 

  Allison H.

  Guide

  

  Feb. 26, 2021

  Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort

  Good for kids

  This is a very busy and large campground that is typically full in the summertime. It’s great for elementary and middle grade kids, with a ton of activities available. They have a pool, small lake/beach, jumping pillow, bike trails, dodgeball, etc. it’s right next to a dirt bike/atv trail. They have tc and tent fires along with yurts and all kinds of cabins. There is a nice mix of about 1/3 seasonal, rest short term. Definitely not a natural/rustic experience, but fun for active families. Also, it’s a good base fir exploring the traverse city area.

• 

  Allison H.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 1, 2021

  Leelanau State Park Campground

  beautiful, small rustic campground.

  This is a smaller wooded campground at the very northern tip of Leelanau Peninsula.  It is rustic, with no electricity or modern bathrooms (pit toilet). Most of the sites are wooded and some are a little smaller. Perfect for tent camping and smaller popups.  Since it's at the end of the land mass, the waves are stronger and always in the back ground.  It's a wonderful way to fall asleep!  There is a lighthouse you can tour and a small maritime museum on the property.  The beach is a fair size but all rocks (no sand).  There are a couple small cabins with bunks, electricity and grills.

• 

  Allison H.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 1, 2021

  Betsie River Campsite

  awesome, no frills, quiet

  This tiny little family owned campground is one of our favorites.  The sites are smaller, but comfortable with lots of shade trees and a handful of cabins.  There are no activities, pools, etc!  But there is a DELICIOUS little café serving up inexpensive, filling breakfasts each morning. It's right on the local paved bike trail that goes into the town of Frankfort or out in the other direction.  Easy for kids and adults alike.  Frankfort is a few minutes away, which is a cute lakeside town with restaurants, shops, and parks.  There is a large and clean beach there, a favorite among locals.  Nearby there are other natural areas that are wonderful to explore.  If you bring your kayak, there are many places to put into the river.  This is a very popular area/campground for fisherman.

• T

  Travis L.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 18, 2018

  Leelanau State Park Campground

  leelanau

  This state camp is at the very tip of the leelanau peninsula. It had great views of lake Michigan and you could see fox island off in the distance. A lighthouse is apart of the park and is an excellent addition. Unfortunately there was not much of a beach area and the camp had minimum hiking trails. Great spot to stay for a family looking for a weekend getaway.