Traverse City camping options extend beyond the shorelines of Grand Traverse Bay to forested areas inland. Spruce and maple trees provide natural shade at many campgrounds while offering protection from Lake Michigan winds. Summer highs typically reach 80°F with nighttime temperatures dropping to 55-60°F, creating ideal sleeping conditions. Fall camping season extends through October with colorful foliage and fewer crowds.
What to do
Kayaking access points: Bass Lake at Honcho Rest Campground provides calm waters for paddling with easy shore access. "Bass Lake which is great for fishing, boating, or kayaking," shares Sarah P., who regularly visits the campground with family.
ATV trail connections: Manton Trails RV Park offers direct off-road vehicle access from campsites. "Great campground. Booked two nights and had to request a third it was so perfect. We went up because it advertised orv access right from campsite. It's really handy to not have to trailer over to the trailheads," notes Jen L.
Golf course proximity: Honcho Rest sits across from a golf course while remaining close to water activities. "The campground is across the street from a large golf course and just down the road from historic downtown Elk Rapids which has many good eats, shops, etc," according to one camper.
Wine tasting tours: Leelanau Peninsula wine region contains over 20 wineries within easy driving distance of several campgrounds. "The Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery has a great walking/mountain biking trail in addition to a nice selection of very accessible wines," notes a visitor to Wild Cherry RV Resort.
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: Campgrounds prioritize clean restrooms and shower houses. "The bathrooms are absolutely immaculate and each family bathroom includes a toilet, sink, and shower," writes a reviewer about Lake Leelanau RV Park. Another camper adds, "Often times when I stay with my grandparents, I will use the campground bathrooms over the camper bathroom because they are SO clean."
Shaded sites: Tree coverage provides relief from summer heat. "The trees keep your site blanketed in shade all day long," reports Michelle S. about Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort.
Live entertainment: Some campgrounds feature scheduled entertainment for guests. "Our first time there was 4th of July weekend, they have a large building for events....over the weekend they had a concert! Live band and food truck....free to all campers and their friends!" shares Sarah S. about Manton Trails.
Pond fishing: On-site fishing ponds provide recreation without leaving the campground. "Honcho Rest Campground is a little gem on Bass Lake in Elk Rapids, MI," notes Steve F., while Tammey B. mentions bug control measures: "Sprayed for bugs so the bugs were not much of a nuisance."
What you should know
Senior demographics: Some campgrounds cater primarily to older campers. "'Slow, Grandparents at Play' are what the signs around the campground boast, which tells you a bit about their target audience at this lovely little RV only lakeside campground," notes a reviewer about Honcho Rest Campground.
Seasonal resident concentrations: Many parks have large numbers of seasonal campers. "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," observes Nancy W.
Hookup distance issues: Some sites require extension cords or hoses. "The hookups are rather far away so we needed extensions. Our site required us to pull through in such a way that the hookups were on the opposite side of our coach," reports a camper at Kalkaska RV Park.
Limited bathroom facilities: Not all "resort" campgrounds provide restroom facilities. "While most RV campgrounds have centralized bathrooms with flush toilets, sinks, and showers, this one is lacking those amenities," notes a camper about Wild Cherry RV Resort.
Tips for camping with families
Recreational variety: Campgrounds with multiple activity options prevent boredom. "In the woods finally a campground that's not a parking lot and the dodge ball court or ampatheater was awesome we never heard I am bored or what can we do ever they loved it and so did we!!" shares Mike G. about Timber Ridge.
Swimming options: Heated pools extend swimming season into cooler months. "There is a very nice laundry room with multiple washers and dryers. In addition, there are tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, shuffle board, and horseshoe behind the office," notes a visitor to Lake Leelanau.
Playground facilities: Campgrounds vary in child-specific amenities. "There are also 2 different styles of cabins available for rent, clean bathrooms with showers, and a laundromat on site," notes one visitor about the facilities at Honcho Rest, which also includes "a small playground with a climbing wall."
Scheduled activities: Kalkaska RV Park & Campground and similar parks provide organized events. "Very family friendly with lots of children. Campground is clean and well maintained," notes Hope C.
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Site conditions vary widely between campgrounds. "Site is gravel and dirt. It is a pull through site that required us to do quite a bit of leveling," reports an RVer with a 40-foot motorcoach at Kalkaska RV Park, while another notes, "The camp sites are a nice firm gravel and pretty level. We didn't even have to use leveling blocks."
Pad construction: RV-focused campgrounds typically have improved parking surfaces. "Our site was a blacktop pull-through. We were able to fit both our truck and 14-foot trailer along with my jeep. The site was easy to level," notes Julia H. about Vista Green RV Resort.
Site availability challenges: Full hookup sites book quickly, especially for longer stays. "They only have 15 full hookup sites and none were available for our time frame," reports a camper about Kalkaska RV Park, which offers an alternative: "They have a pump out service twice a week for $10 each time."
Site spacing differences: Some RV parks provide more spacious sites than others. "Our site, #20, had an improved gravel parking area for camper with a finished concrete pad with a picnic table," notes Robert T. about Wild Cherry RV Resort, while another camper mentions, "Sites are either pull-in (which we had) or back-in. There are no pull-thrus."
