4 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Turtle Lake Campground near Thompsonville is one of the top-rated glamping campgrounds in northern Michigan, set around a scenic lake perfect for fishing and kayaking. The campground features waterfront sites with comfortable canvas tents and fully-furnished yurts that include real beds, electricity, and private decks overlooking the water. Located just a short drive from Traverse City, this family-friendly destination maintains clean facilities including modern bathrooms with individual shower stalls and provides ample shade from mature trees. Camp Squid Off The Grid adds to the region's luxury camping options with unique yurt accommodations designed for year-round comfort. A recent visitor noted, "Kendra and her team have created a unique glamping experience in northern Michigan. They have thoughtfully designed spaces that are comfortable and fun."
Northern Michigan's natural beauty enhances the glamping experience with sites strategically positioned to maximize lake views and woodland settings. Guests can enjoy water recreation including fishing for bass (though be prepared for turtles!), kayaking, and swimming at designated beach areas. The location provides convenient access to outdoor adventures at nearby Crystal Lake and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, while still offering on-site amenities like playgrounds and hiking trails through wooded terrain. Seasonal availability varies by site, with Turtle Lake operating from May through mid-October and some locations like Camp Squid developing winter-ready accommodations. According to one camper, "We stayed in 2 yurts and were comfortable in the summer. Kendra is planning to add further dwellings over the next year to make winter stays more possible." Reservations are recommended for these popular glamping campsites near Thompsonville, particularly during peak summer months.
"If you are looking for rugged, wilderness / secluded camping its probably not your place but for everyone else it's a hidden gem. Nice spots both on the river show and across the road. "
"The campsite next to us was empty except for a pontoon boat and a float that were parked there."
from $30 - $45 / night
"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."
"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."
from $33 - $85 / night
"Family friendly, there is fishing and canoeing, fire pits and swimming in the lake. They have a camp for horses too."
"Turtle Lake is a perfect mix of campers! Very family friendly, but spaced out well enough for privacy. They have a nice beach area and areas to fish. All sites provide a good amount of shade."
"Typical rustic camper, so camping close to others is not my typical cup of tea, but I messed up my rustic campsite reservation by week and managed to get the last open spot for the weekend in the main"
"Just spent 5 nights at site 185 that borders along the north trail. Had an issue with noise one night but a ranger took care of it. Buildings were clean and staff was very nice."
from $27 - $90 / night
"This KOA is just south of Traverse City and very centrally located to all that makes this area so awesome! Wineries, Sleep Bear Dunes, golf courses, and of course downtown Traverse City."
"Nice pool and friendly staff! Lots of kids though as they have a massive kids playground."
from $60 - $120 / night
"Pretty standard Michigan State Park campground. Nice staff. Park maintenance is currently building a wood fence to keep folks away from steep bluff edge. Views of Lake Michigan fairly limited."
"Ideal location to explore Manistee county, just north of city. The trolley bus offers rides to town and back. New bath house, updated facilities and most sites include electric."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $36 - $120 / night
"Kendra and her team have created a unique glamping experience in northern Michigan. They have thoughtfully designed spaces that are comfortable and fun."
"Stayed here for a few night whilst visiting friends at Crystal Lake. The Camp Squid team were at hand to solve and issues."
from $135 - $499 / night
"Campground has lake access on silver lake, very nice. Rented a pontoon boat from an outside company and spent the day on the beautiful lake. Staff is friendly and helpful."
"Was able to check in early...because campers had checked out early and they had time to check the site...very clean...close to all the great sites around Traverse City...the only thing was where our site"
"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."
"Staff was all Great. Had a well stocked camp store."
from $60 - $260 / night
"Campsites are very clean and big, with nice trails to explore. Just a heads up, the sites with "lake access" don't actually have lake access - it's a steep drop to the water. Tumble at your own risk."
"Beautiful quiet campground without electricity. Off the beaten path. Lovely waterfront site."
from $20 - $100 / night
TravelerThis is a beautiful park for a getaway ( hiking, fishing and the beach. )Cell service here is VERY limited ( if at all) and little to no OTA television
TravelerIt’s an easy camp to get your car tucked in but the road is used. Unsure if it was other campers or people using the end of the road as a landing. We didn’t get bothered and slept well also.
GuideCute RV park, mostly people set up to stay the summer. Called ahead, was offered a “lake view” site for an extra $10. Arrived, site was at the very front, between two roads, like sleeping in a fishbowl. We were across a road and grassy patch and canoe storage from the lake. We could in fact see it, but lake view was really a stretch. Our site was at least two city blocks from a very small bath house. We camped on a site with no trees, no privacy and a hike to the shower room. Not recommended for tent camping.
ScoutI had previously read reviews about the bathrooms being less than desirable. If you’re not downwind, it isn’t so bad. They are definitely not maintained as well as other state campgrounds we’ve been to in the past.
You are central to ORV trails, so at times you can hear those passing through, otherwise a few neighbors driving through here and there and quiet the rest of the time.
The dock is out of order, but there are other ways of reaching the river.
We came for fly fishing, and were told the fish are all stopped at a damn right now. That would have been nice to know before planning a fly fishing trip for that specific river. 😫
Still rating it a four, it would have been amazing if we could have fished.
ScoutNice Park with a nice river and Lake Michigan nearby. Lovely sand dunes too. Family oriented with lots of kids having fun riding bikes etc. tents and rv’s welcome. The town of Ludington is a quintessential lake town with all the places to eat and shop you’d expect. Highly recommended.
GuideIdeal location to explore Manistee county, just north of city. The trolley bus offers rides to town and back. New bath house, updated facilities and most sites include electric. Nice hiking trails across the road, the outer loop is a 2mile walk. Just north of here are the largest sequoia trees east of the Mississippi River. Park offers Hammocks for daytime use over looking the Lk Michigan bluffline. Pet friendly.
GuideInterlochen SP is one of my favs. Very low key, quiet camping. The bath houses are clean and well kept, rangers are helpful and you're so close to Traverse City for day trips or seasonal outdoor concerts across the road at World Class Interlochen Center for the Arts. Great CG for fishing, swimming & boating on Duck Lake. I would have given them a 5 if there were someplace to fish from shore. enjoy
ScoutI have been a returning guest at Timber Ridge RV& Recreation Resort for two years, and until now, I genuinely believed this campground would become my family’s yearly vacation spot. We enjoyed the amenities, the convenience of the on‑site store, and the community atmosphere. My husband and I even brought additional guests with us and encouraged others to stay here. The Halloween activities were especially memorable for my grandkids, and for a long time, Timber Ridge felt like a second home. Unfortunately, my recent experience with their strict cancellation policy has changed my view of the park entirely. Timber Ridge enforces a non‑refundable policy for any reservation canceled within 30 days of arrival, regardless of circumstances. This policy is applied exactly as written, with no flexibility. Even when cancellations are caused by unavoidable life events— such as work obligations or family emergencies— Timber Ridge does not offer partial refunds, reduced fees, credits, or reasonable compromises. In 2022, management exercised discretion and issued me a partial refund with a$25 processing fee, even though that cancellation was also inside the 30‑day window. That experience made me believe Timber Ridge valued loyalty and understood that life can be unpredictable. However, they have now stated that this past accommodation does not set any precedent, and they no longer consider similar situations eligible for exceptions. Their current stance reflects a strictly business‑first approach, with no meaningful consideration for returning guests or individual circumstances. I also attempted to negotiate a fair compromise that would benefit both myself and the business— including partial credit, a reduced refund, or a courtesy reschedule. My attempt at negotiation was ignored entirely, and their reply treated the suggestion as though it were inappropriate. Their emails included snide, dismissive remarks that reframed my words, minimized my reservation history, and implied I had mischaracterized my experience. This tone made it clear that customer‑focused problem‑solving is no longer part of their approach. The FAQ mentions the possibility of a one‑time courtesy reschedule, but Timber Ridge clarified that this is optional and not guaranteed. In my case, no reschedule, credit, or refund was offered. While I understand the need for clear policies, the rigid enforcement of this one— without empathy, discretion, or any willingness to work with guests— significantly impacts the guest experience. Policies that prioritize revenue protection over customer satisfaction can discourage repeat visitors and undermine the sense of community that many families value in a long‑term camping destination. Based on this experience, I will be seeking other accommodations in the future. I hope Timber Ridge considers how strictly applying this policy affects guests who previously viewed the resort as a second home.
TravelerThe park has 53 campsites I was satisfied with site size and separation from other sites. Camped on a Ridge View site. Site had picnic table and firepit.
I normally don't use electric hook-up, but all sites had them. There are scenic paths down to Elk Lake. The bathhouse has showers and restrooms. All were clean and showers had ample hot water. Some people have complained about only one bathhouse. Normally camping in rustic or dispersed areas I had no problem with that. I thought $45. was expensive for a township park but I guess it was in line with other parks' sites having electric hook-ups. As I said I normally do rustic or in dispersed camping. There are no water hook ups but there is a water fill station next to bathhouse. and 2 others near office. The campground has a dump station. It also has a boat launch with a large parking area in the lower park area. The campground was well kept.
The Township Park is only 10 miles, or 15 minutes west of Elk River where the Paddle Antrim group have a recently completed a beautiful Kayak/Paddle board launch site which is part of the "Chain of Lakes Waterway," at Rotary Park. It has wonderful water access with a handicap or "Easi-launch". There are also restrooms and a boat-wash and a posted map.
I was there for a celebration of that completion.
The only other campground close is expensive, (I believe the cheapest site was $75 per night), and packed tightly.
Northern Michigan offers a mix of forested campgrounds and lakeside sites around Thompsonville, located in Benzie County at an elevation of about 860 feet. The area features sandy soils typical of glacial deposits with summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F during peak camping season. Glamping accommodations near Thompsonville provide access to both Lake Michigan beaches and inland lakes within a 30-minute drive.
Fishing at Northern Exposure Campground: This campground sits on the Manistee River with sites right on the water. "Camp staff very friendly and park is well maintained. Nice hiking trails nearby and a 20 minute drive to a whole lot of entertainment!" notes Kris D. in a recent review of Northern Exposure Campground.
Biking from Betsie River Campsite: The paved trail that runs past this campground connects to Frankfort. "There is a nice trail to ride your bikes to Frankfort but we chose to drive this time through. If we were to stay again we would definitely take a nice ride to town," shares Marc W. who stayed at Betsie River Campsite.
Kayaking at Tippy Dam: The recreation area provides direct water access. "The campsites are spacious and feature trails that lead directly to the Tippy Dam Backwater. There's also convenient access for launching a boat on either the Manistee River or the backwaters side of the dam," explains J.B. who camped at Tippy Dam State Recreation Area.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds in the region maintain high standards. At Northern Exposure Campground, one camper noted, "This campground has the cleanest restroom/shower facilities of any campground I have been too. Also the staff is very friendly and helpful."
Lake access: Water recreation options abound at most sites. "The beach here is ideal for children, staying very shallow out to the bouy markers for the swimming area," writes Edward C. about Duck Lake Campground at Interlochen State Park.
Family activities: Scheduled events keep children engaged. "Great place to take a camper with family. The campground offers clean facilities, general store, rentals for the lake, and camp events like movie night," shares Dalton B. about his stay at Northern Exposure.
Site layout considerations: Many campgrounds in the region have closely spaced sites. At Orchard Beach State Park, one camper mentioned, "The sites are as compact and close together as possible. I usually enjoy the aroma of a campfire, but in the evening if all the sites are full, a smogtacular smoke cloud hovers over this campground."
Seasonal limitations: Most campgrounds operate from May through October. Northern Exposure Campground runs from May 1 to November 30, while Betsie River Campsite operates April 1 through October 31.
Reservation needs: Book early for summer weekends. "We were searching for a super last minute campground near Traverse City for Memorial Weekend and everything within a quick drive seemed booked," shared one camper about their experience finding a spot at Timber Ridge.
Playground options: Several campgrounds offer play equipment. "Nice spots both on the river show and across the road. Easy water access for very little children and non-motorized boats/Kayaks, etc. Nicely equipped playground and evening activities at the Camp Store/Office on special weekends," writes Anne G. about Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort.
Swimming beaches: Look for gradual water entry points. At Duck Lake Campground, the beach "is ideal for children, staying very shallow out to the bouy markers for the swimming area."
Kid-friendly glamping: For families wanting comfort, examine various options. "This place was wonderful. The staff was all very nice, the grounds were clean, and our lot was huge. We asked to be away from the lake because of our young kids but the lake lots looked beautiful," noted Beth G. about Northern Exposure Campground.
Pull-through site availability: Many campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. "My husband loved this place because most of the sites are pull-through ones. The trees keep your site blanketed in shade all day long," shares Michelle S. about Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort.
Hookup considerations: Full hookups vary by campground. At Holiday Park Campground, a reviewer noted, "Lot 188 area very tight with campfires and neighbors septic connection near your vehicles. The hookups and fire pit layouts don't make sense."
Leveling challenges: Some sites require adjustment. "Sites look level but it's deceiving," reported one camper about Betsie River Campsite, suggesting RVers bring adequate leveling equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Thompsonville, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Thompsonville, MI is Northern Exposure Campground & RV Park with a 4.8-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Thompsonville, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 42 glamping camping locations near Thompsonville, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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