Shakey Lakes Park Campground welcomes dogs throughout its spacious campsites, offering pet-friendly tent camping, RV spots, and glamping options near Stephenson, Michigan. Pet owners find accommodations at nearby River Park, J.W. Wells State Park, and Fox County Park, all maintaining pet-allowed policies with standard leash requirements. Most campgrounds in the region feature clean facilities with toilets and trash receptacles accessible to guests with animals. Sites typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and drinking water access, creating comfortable spaces for campers and their four-legged companions. The campground experience remains family-oriented with several locations featuring playgrounds and beaches where dogs can accompany their owners on-leash. Reviewers consistently note the tranquil atmosphere and well-maintained grounds make for relaxing stays with pets.
Several pet-friendly trails connect to these campgrounds, providing scenic walking routes for dogs and owners along Lake Michigan shorelines and through wooded areas. Shakey Lakes Park receives excellent ratings from campers with dogs, earning a perfect 5-star rating across multiple reviews highlighting its beach access and spacious sites. River Park's riverside location offers unique opportunities for pets and owners to explore natural water features, though campers should watch for occasional broken glass at certain sites. Rustic camping options allow for more secluded experiences with animals, while developed campgrounds provide amenities like showers and electric hookups. Most locations maintain good spacing between sites, allowing comfortable distance between camping parties with pets. Seasonal considerations include bay flies during certain periods, though they don't bite pets or people, merely creating a temporary nuisance.
"Great views of Lake Michigan! Beautiful sandy beach just a short walk away! Really nice playground for the kids. Overall, one of our favorite places to connected camp!"
"This was our first experience at this park in the southern section of the western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Many of the sites are just feet from Lake Michigan. "
"It's hard to beat waking up next to serene Lake Michigan waves but it was definitely worth it."
"Drive in, select your site, put payment in envelope simple process to reserve a site at a nice campground! Brilliant sunrises over the lake. "
$10 / night
"We brought the dogs with; and we were able to kayak and fish along the river within view of our campsite."
"Campsite 2 is amazing and has a path down to the river, which is so beautiful. Was very spacious and could fit a camper with a tent easily."
$20 / night
"It's a beautiful campground, with great hiking trails and fantastic views of the clear waters of Lake Michigan."
"Large campground on shore of either Lake Michigan or Bay of Green Bay in Door County, this is a very popular area with many activities. Must have State Park Pass plus camping fees. "
"We visit our family up at shakey lakes campground every summer! They have a permanent site along with several other family members. It is RV and tent friendly."
$15 - $25 / night
"No water or showers but great location with electric. Back up to Lake Michigan and wake up with the sunrise."
"On Lake Michigan not much else to say!"
"It's 8 miles down an old logging trail but it's worth the drive. There is no electricity but they have a fresh water spigot."
"It felt like spring break out at the beach and boat ramp (no pets allowed on beach). North Nicolet has no power sites, all are no hookups."
"Beautiful wooded area with ready access to the water. Fantastic shower facilities. You do feel a bit packed in with your fellow campers at the adjacent sites. Not a heck of a lot of privacy."
$40 - $150 / night
"It is pet friendly. It is located near the water and has many trails to hike! Love this place, especially in October with the leaves changing and the festivals around town!!!!!"
"The staff is friendly and welcoming, they are pet friendly, and their sites are spacious and private - unlike so many other campgrounds we visit."
$20 / night
"The trails take you by water, through woods, and over the right amount of hills for a first-timer getting used to hauling gear around."
"The site is nice, close to the lake and quiet. Beautiful morning view down by the water! There isn't a lot of open space for tents, but it was just us and our dog so we had plenty of room."
GuideTranquil Timbers advertises pet friendly but they ARE NOT pet friendly. If your dog makes any kind of noise whatsoever, they are NOT welcome. Motorcycles and noisy kids however, park approved!
TravelerCompletly wooded camping through out the campground. Kid and pet friendly including a very fun playground. It is located within a 2 to 5 minute drive from Baileys Harbor on Lake Michigan. Plenty to do in the area including swimming in Lake Michigan, kangaroo lake along with beautiful hiking, shopping, kayaking, the list goes on!
TravelerYou could drive by and miss this little gem. Beautifully kept up county park with clean shower house. Pet friendly, they even have a hitching post for your pet while visiting the bathrooms. On site hosts.
All sites are within a short walking distance of the beach and some are right on the beach. Site L1 had a good mix of beach and woods. Near the beach is a small playground for the kids.
TravelerWe enjoyed our stay very much. Pretty campground, extremely friendly and helpful staff, nice neighbors all around. The shower area could use some updating, but was fairly clean. It is a dog friendly place and for the most part they were well behaved pets. We planned on staying four nights and are staying six instead. Taking advantage of the last nice days of the season. I would highly recommend trying this park.
GuidePark is located in the Peshtigo River state forest. Pet friendly!! Your pets are aloud on trails and with you at your campsite. They must be on a 6 ft leash. The park is beautiful. What surprised me the most was the pit toliets that looked like tiny houses. Pictures are attached. There is a small lake which is great for kayak and swimming. This park also has a boat launch onto the Cauldron Falls Reservoir. I've attached photos of the map. Almost all the campsites are private and hidden away in their own little spots. There are a few hiking trails which i enjoyed spending time on. If you go down the street a bit you will find Old Veterans state park which has a secluded quiet lake and beach. I spent an afternoon at the beach and never saw a soul. There is not a camp store. The only thing you can buy at the park is firewood.
RangerGreat place to set up a tent, or in our case, a pop-up camper for the night. It's hard to beat waking up next to serene Lake Michigan waves but it was definitely worth it. The park boasts a few nice amenities and has plenty of space for both the kids and the dogs to play in and explore. One minor downside is the proximity to the highway. Makes for a nice trip if you live nearby!
ScoutMy family and I have been coming here for years!!!!! The campground is big and beautiful! Every campsite has a picnic table and fire pit; the Yurts and cabins have chairs. The Yurts, cabins, and bathrooms are clean! The staff is friendly! It is pet friendly. It is located near the water and has many trails to hike! Love this place, especially in October with the leaves changing and the festivals around town!!!!!
RangerWe were in Site# 14. We had electric/water with a paved 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 but the wheels of our motor home were off of the ground.
Check-in is at the hotel. The RV park is not visible from the hotel (it’s back in the woods). There is a phone at the shower house that can be used to request a free shuttle to the casino.
Our site was not shaded with limited trees. This was a smaller lot with our neighbors fairly close.
The lot comes with a picnic table and fire ring.
There was not any WiFi (we used our Starlink). They do not offer Cable TV.
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.
They do have an indoor Swimming pool at the hotel with a sauna and steam shower.
There is not a Playground. There are not any additional play areas like Bocce ball, shuffleboard, basketball sport court, horseshoe, or volleyball courts.
They have a general store in the parking lot of the casino where you can also get gas.
There are restaurants on site in the hotel as well as a spa. The closest big town with stores is Escanaba (about 20 minutes away).
This is solely an RV park. They do not have any cabins to rent or any tent areas.
They have one shower house. The shower house has individual showers (toilets & sinks are on opposite side of shower house).
The laundry facility is located at the BP gas station (located in the parking lot of the casino/hotel). It is a cash only facility, but they have a change machine. It is approximately $2 to wash and $2 to dry a load.
They do not have a fenced in dog park. There are areas to walk dogs.
Bugs did not seem to be an issue.
Some fun things to do outside of the campground are to visit the Sandy Point Lighthouse or Ludington Park in Escanaba.
The casino is smoke-free. It states that the tables are open from 10am to 2am. Not all tables are available though (for instance, roulette wasn’t always available and if they did open up the one roulette table, it wasn’t until 6 or 7pm). The slot machine options are abundant.
LegendConvenient to Sister Bay in Door County, Wisconsin. Off of WI Hwy 57. Large open field. 27 pull-through RV sites are equipped to handle the biggest RV’s by providing 34′ x 75′ sites. 33 back-in RV sites. 10 walk in tent sites. Pets welcome - $5/day pet fee. New restrooms & showers. No cell service, but very good free WiFi service. Clean campsites, well maintained. No privacy between sites. Gravel driveways. Picnic table. Fire ring. Convenience store & gas station on site - Dovetail Trading Company & Citgo gas station. Registration in store. Accepts reservations. Campground was still open on Oct 23, 2021, even though it's season ended on Oct 18. This is a good campground for RVs. I camped here when I couldn't find another campground that had available sites. I thought it was overpriced for camping in my camper van with no hookups needed, but it was okay in a pinch.
Campgrounds near Stephenson, Michigan offer rustic to developed camping options across Menominee County. The area sits at approximately 600 feet elevation with a continental climate featuring warm summers and cold winters. Fall camping provides colorful foliage while spring brings wildflowers along with seasonal bay flies, especially at lakefront sites near Green Bay and Lake Michigan.
Kayaking and fishing: Access the Cedar River from River Park, which features riverfront sites with small rapids at the river split. "The river is a great place for catching bass. There is a kayak launch and the river is a great place for catching bass," notes Lauren B. from Cedar River North State Forest Campground.
Beach activities: Lake Michigan shorelines provide swimming and water access at various campgrounds. At Kleinke Park Campground, "The beach and view over the lake made this campground worth stopping in. It was early June when I was there and could wade in the water a bit," reports Emily M.
Hiking nearby trails: Newport State Park offers extensive hiking options with diverse terrain. "We hiked over 26 miles of trails at this park and everyone was beautiful. However we were slightly disappointed that there weren't more views of the lakes, as most of the trails were set in just far enough off the coast to obstruct all views," shares Steven U.
Stargazing opportunities: The area offers excellent night sky viewing, particularly at more remote sites. At Newport State Park Campground, "Our campsite faced the lake and we had clear night skies which was truly breathtaking," reports Den R., highlighting the park's Dark Sky Preserve designation.
Private, spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer significant space between sites. At River Park, "Each campsite seems to be separated pretty far apart. I couldn't see anyone else from my site (#2)," notes Cole M., highlighting the privacy available at certain locations.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathroom facilities receive frequent praise. At Wagon Trail Campground, "The showers were impeccable. There is even a dish washing station," reports Kay K., adding details about amenities not found at more rustic sites.
Waterfront views: Sites directly on water bodies offer scenic advantages. "We had a nice shaded site along the woods great for tent camping. The bathrooms are kept up nicely," shares Christine W. about J.W. Wells State Park, which features sites with views across Green Bay.
Wildlife observation: Many sites offer opportunities to observe local fauna. "You can hear birds and squirrels chattering, coyotes call to each other in the early in the morning across the river, and lots of little critters scurrying about," explains Lauren B. about Cedar River North State Forest Campground.
Seasonal bay flies: Some lakefront locations experience periodic insect activity. "One 'negative' that cannot be controlled: bay flies. Happened to be there when the bay flies were thick! The flies do not seem to bite, just a nuisance," explains Sara S. from her stay at Kleinke Park Campground.
Limited cell service: Coverage varies significantly by location. "Cell service with Att is horrible too but we are camping," notes Cole M. about River Park, indicating spotty coverage in more remote areas.
Varying shower facilities: Shower availability and quality differs between campgrounds. At J.W. Wells State Park Campground, campers find "facilities are clean and the camp hosts are so sweet (they have matching vests and serve coffee every morning)," according to Chelsea B.
Access road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging approach roads. "The road in was a little muddy but not bad enough to get stuck," reports Eric S. about River Park, while other reviewers note rough terrain at more remote locations.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. At Shakey Lakes Park Campground, "There's an ice cream/food stand on the beach, and a playground. People either will walk or ride their bikes around the sites," notes Tayah H.
Beach safety: Monitor water conditions, especially with children. "The beach is fantastic. There is water available," shares a reviewer at Fox County Park Campground, though they caution that sites can be "overcrowded" during peak periods.
Dog friendly campgrounds near Stephenson: Most campgrounds accommodate pets with standard rules. "My duck flew off at my first stay and everyone from the Park Ranger to the locals helped me find her and catch her!" shares Jaime N. about the pet-friendly atmosphere at Kleinke Park Campground.
Check for broken glass: Some sites require extra vigilance. "There was a good amount of broken glass and some trash at site 2, so be careful if you have little ones or dogs," warns Gwynn S. about River Park, suggesting a site check upon arrival.
Site selection for larger vehicles: Some campgrounds have accessibility challenges. "I would not recommend this campground for anyone with a larger camper. I have a 38' long, 12'+ tall bumper pull and was scraping the roof on trees and struggled to get backed into the site," advises Cole M. about River Park.
Electric hookups: Electrical access varies by campground and site. At Peninsula State Park's North Nicolet Bay Campground, "Not many of the sites have electric. We're okay with that," notes Ashley J., suggesting checking site amenities before booking.
Weather considerations: Prepare for rapid weather changes. "Sites are low, so water flows to the site on rainy days," warns Pete W. about J.W. Wells State Park Campground, highlighting the importance of site elevation when selecting camping spots.
Waste disposal: Note dump station locations for extended stays. "Easily accessible waste dump and water. We enjoyed our stay and would come back again," shares Julie F. about the facilities at Kleinke Park Campground, which offers convenient RV services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Stephenson, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Stephenson, MI is J.W. Wells State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 27 reviews.
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