Best RV Parks & Resorts near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

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.

Nice RV park with full hook up. Tight, close spacing for some of the sites. For the price I thought it would have more space. Indigo has a nice atmosphere plenty of trees and a nice pool. Plenty of kids for my son to play with. Playground was very disappointing! I would come back but I would be more than happy to try other RV Parks.

My goal is always to find campgrounds that are in state park or national forest settings, but with all the conveniences of a private campground. It’s a bonus if there are lots of things to do in the area. Indigo Bluffs delivers on all fronts. We had a lovely, shaded, level, spacious site which most of them seemed to be.

The campground was large - it’s actually two parts - an RV resort for large fifth wheels and Class As and another campground for everyone else. I really liked the regular campground as it had a lot more shade than the RV resort area.

Indigo Bluffs is close to Empire which has a beach and Joe’s Friendly Tavern. Joe’s has excellent hamburgers and plenty of beer variety. It is also close to a trailhead for the Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Bike Trail. The Sleeping Bear Dunes trail is wonderful, a bit hilly, but oh so scenic! It is also close to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and the infamous Dune Climb. We took a short drive to Sutton’s Bay and rode on the Leelanau Bike Trail to Traverse City. If you do this, be sure to stop at Farm Club on the way back. Excellent brewery and farm-to-table restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating and a farm market.

We will definitely return to Indigo Bluffs!

This is a beautiful wooded campground. Spaces are large, clean, and spaced well apart. RV sites are paved and also have enormous level tent pads. There is a fire ring with a grate for cooking. There is ample woods from which you can gather kindling. Firewood must be certified and can be purchased in area. The bathrooms and shower were so clean and roomy. Plus there were outlets in bath, shower, and the camp sink area. There are electric and non electric sites available as well as group sites and walk in sites. You can make reservations six months out but be ready to click reserve at 8:00 am. sharp for the site you want. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore sits on Lake Michigan. The lake is beautiful and accessible in many places The dunes are a challenge to climb. Definitely do that. There are historical places of interest to visit, ferry rides to islands, rivers to tube, kayak or canoe. And there are Michigan cherries to pick if you are there in July! I’d give this campground a A+ rating.

Cute little quiet rv park located in a cute little town. There's a party store and small grocery store within walking distance. There's a playground and a little public beach at the end of the property that seemed relatively quiet while we were here, There's also a boat launch and parking for your trailer if your camping right there at the park. Nice clean private restrooms with awesome showers that are good and hot!! About half the sites seem to be waterfront and are kind of close to one another but that didn't effect us much, the neighbors we had were nice, there are several up higher and I believe are the full hookup sites The host were very nice and accommodating! Definitely will be coming back here!

Reservation process was smooth, as was check in. Site had both 30 and 50 amp hookups. Oddly, no standard 110v 15amp plug though. There is water at each site, but the lowest water pressure I have ever seen. Grounds well maintained, though the main building looks half finished and remained that way for many years. The bathrooms unfortunately do not match the upscale vibe of the campground. They were dirty, tons of sand tracked in, poorly maintained. The men’s urinal was a long term plywood out of order sign. Black mold on ceiling tiles in many places. Showers require a quarter to start them ??This campground looks like it started out with so much promise and now the owners are just coasting without putting much effort into the place. We have been here days and have yet to catch a time the office and store was open. Swimming hole looks nice for kids but due to poor planning of its location, it’s primary function is to provide a source of non stop sand in her bathrooms

we first passed by this campground on a canoe trip along the manistee river, and flagged it to return to stay another time. we finally went last fall with our pup and had a really nice, peaceful weekend trip. our site was spacious and wooded, gorgeous colors in the fall. there aren't very many sites and they are spaced out well. only two other sites occupied all weekend.

it was cold and rainy so we passed on hiking. we decided instead to drive around and explore the traverse city area and some of the dog friendly parts of sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore. had a great time and would definitely recommend it

we were hoping to come back this spring and backpack the fife lake loop, with one night camping here. seems like a great spot for that kind of trip. coronavirus got in the way, but we might try again in the fall.

Location location location! If you're looking for a campground that's just across the street from the beach located on Traverse a City Bay, this is it! While campsites are somewhat cramped, showers and stalls are fairly clean and well kept, as are the sites in general. Very convenient to stores, restaurants and night life downtown. I've never been to a campground that felt like you were in the woods near the beach, was quiet, yet nearly in the middle of a bustling town! Sites for tent camping, partial and full hook up. Walking distance to restaurants and stores.

Ashley here from The Dyrt! It was great to add this property that was purchased in 2007. This RV Park has been operational for over 10 years! Let’s help them out and leave some reviews!

D. H. Day Campground is a family favorite and looked forward to any opportunity to go! Located in Empire, Michigan and part of the National Park Service and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Located directly on Lake Michigan's shoreline and in close proximity to everything outdoors and cool...its the place to go! Sleeping Bear Dunes is a must see and experience...every aspect of the dunes! Climb the Dunes and make your way to the beach...on the Dunes Trail...its gotta be the longest mile you'll push through sand...but well worth the dip in Lake Michigan at its end.

From atop the initial climb, turn back and behold the turquoise waters of the sandy bottomed Glen Lake...you'd swear you were in the tropics.

On the north end of the Dunes, where the roadway deadends into the Lake, is the Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum (now that's a mouthful). The museum is interesting and full of history of the predecessors of the Coast Guard. Learn of the ships that had gone down in these tempestuous waters. Watch reenactments of bringing the cannon out that shot the rescue line across the sinking vessel. Great stuff!

The local towns are quaint and Glen Arbor is the draw. The lure of ice cream is always a plus...and the local pizza shop (Riverfront PIzza and Deli), where you can sit on the porch, perched on the hairpin of Crystal River. D.H. Day Campground too, is set on the shores of Lake Michigan...offering miles of beach to comb...and cool, clear water to relax in.

Grand views of the North and South Manitou Island from the beach of D.H. Day invite you to take the ferry or paddle your way to isolated, primitive camping on North Manitou Island's Village Campground. Facilities are more than adequate, the 88 sites offer a measure of privacy, and its always been quiet. If you have kiddos, the rangers offer several programs to keep their interest.

Bring your bikes, your boats and boards...and use them all. Several nice hiking trails exist inland as well...and are loaded with blackberries and huckleberries. Roads are traveled lightly enough where cycling is enjoyable.

Sunsets are spectacular! Plan a visit...you will thank me!

**Always check warnings and alerts on their website...they were closed for a spell after a horrendous storm whipped through and felled a lot of trees in the campground.

We have stayed here several times. Wooded sites and a decent amount of space. The staff is friendly and they are very helpful in finding a good site based on what you are looking for. The campground is convenient to Sleep Bear Dunes, Traverse City and all the nearby activities. I would give it 5 stars but it is a bit pricey. We always stay at the RV Park and not the Resort. The Resort is for big rigs only.

We sought out a campground near some good hiking. My feet need to be tired to review the Oofos 00mg fibre shoes. Tippy Dam Campground is less than 20 minutes from the Manistee River Trailhead, which is a beautiful hiking trail.

Campground review:

The campground owner was out when we arrived but a helpful lady told us to grab a campsite and he would find us. With only one other camper, and a handful of long term campers, finding a site was easy. Most of the sites have electric but we went to the back to get a spot without electric. We drove straight in and set up camp. Pretty soon the owner came by and talked for a bit while confirming our site. The campground fills up in the late summer fishing season. This weekend is the start of his busy time. For now, we will enjoy the quiet.

The sites are large with some even having grass for tents. The vault toilets could use some updating. Walking around camp uncovered a dumpster for garbage near the front. A fish cleaning station has extra plastic tubs ready to use. It wasn’t until we were leaving that we found a water source. A map of the campground would help locate resources and even campsites. Another family drove through looking for their site but left in confusion - numbers on the sites are hard to find or just not there. One site flows into the next in the area without electric. With just one other camper, we didn’t need to worry about the site size.

Through the gate at the back of the campground is the Tippy River Dam. We walked down the long stairway to the water and watched a heron doing its own hunt for dinner as a few people tried their luck fishing. A neighboring farm has some horses and adventurous chickens. The roosters fluttered over the fence and spent time searching out food in the campground. My dog was occupied by the movements of the beautiful horses. Evening brought the sound of guns - I’m guessing that a target range is nearby. A short drive over to the Manistee River Trail on the following morning and we got in a full day of hiking. This was a decent stay in the off-season and seems popular with fishermen in season.

Product review:

As a Dyrt Ranger, sometimes I get products to review. I was fortunate to be sent some Oofos 00mg fibre shoes to try out. Oofos just released these men’s shoes in August. This expands their line of sandals. These are recovery footwear - claiming to reduce the load by 37%. I don’t know how to measure that but my feet are in heaven wearing them.

We hiked 9 miles on the nearby Manistee River trail and our feet were ready for some love. Dakota, my dog, tried out the Oofos but I quickly commandeered them. The heels are thick so it took a bit of getting used to. If almost felt like my toes were hanging off into the shoe. However, I adjusted quickly as my body weight brought my heels into line as they sank into the oofoam material. Wearing them around camp as we ate lunch gave my feet a breather. The thick strap held the shoes securely on to my feet. The breeze blew through the top fibre material of the shoe and felt wonderful. Walking around camp worked out perfectly. A moderate pace down the row of campsites was enough to feel the cushion. These aren’t shoes I would run around in but they are clouds to nestle in. I appreciate the way the fibre top helps hold the shoe on my feet but remain breathable. This made recovery time more comfortable. Normally I have issues with a narrow heal but the Oofos felt comfortable from the start and all the way through the rest of the day. Switching back to my hiking shoes for an evening walk with Dakota was an easy transition. I recovered quickly. My foot soles were ready for the hiking shoes and we took off into the woods for a walk. Oofos live up to their claims in helping me recover.

I’m LOVING the Oofos 00mg fibre shoes!

Grab yourself a pair of sandals or shoes at www.oofos.com

This review is based on our stay back in July of 2020 during the 4th of July Holiday weekend. Lots of shade. Campsites were pretty level. Bathhouse facilities were very very clean and well kept. The campground is beautiful and rather large. Lots of sites for every type of camper even lakefront sites. The only drawback with State Park Campgrounds is that there are no full hookup lots/no sewer hookups.

We were searching for a super last minute campground near Traverse City for Memorial Weekend and everything within a quick drive seemed booked. I called up Timber Ridge to check if anything came available and they offered an RV site that we could use for our tents. It was a miracle!

The campgrounds were easy to navigate and even with all the activities available it never seemed too busy or too crowded or too loud. our campsite (although surrounded by RVs was perfect size and spot for 4 of us camping with 2 tents and an SUV loaded down with kayaks.

The RV spot had electric and water so we were able to take advantage of that to keep portable devices charged and clean dishes we’d brought along. and the campsite comes with a fire ring (with attached grill) and picnic table.

Would definitely come back here next time we’re in the area!