Best Camping near Ludington, MI

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Ludington. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Ludington. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.

Best Camping Sites Near Ludington, MI (194)

Showing results 1-10 of 194 campgrounds

Pet-friendly camping near Ludington

Recent Reviews in Ludington

765 Reviews of 194 Ludington Campgrounds


  • Tom W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Condon Lakes West
    Oct. 20, 2024

    Condon Lakes West

    Isolated and attractive to certain people

    Access road is an unmarked two track that is not suitable for all vehicles. Campground is free and only six sites. Free and no registration attracts lowlifes who appear to have been there a significant amount of time or the whole season. If you have a leaky trailer that needs a tarp over the top, love having your pitbulls run wild, and firing up your generator, this may be the perfect spot for you. Not sure how the folks dragged the trailers into camp. Turned around and went elsewhere. Could have been a nice spot but...

  • Tom W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Walkup Lake Campground
    Oct. 20, 2024

    Walkup Lake Campground

    Quaint and convenient

    Conveniently located but proximity to the road makes it noisy. Locals drag racing on the nearby road subsided around midnight. Campsites were clean and spacious. I stayed at one of the two sites down the road by the boat launch. I stopped here after my first campground stop was full. This site will definitely get the job done but don't make this a featured stop.

  • Jeffrey P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness
    Oct. 11, 2024

    Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness

    Busy but Beautiful

    After a decent ruck in, you have some immediate camped spots and can travel further for even more. Summer time is busy so get there early for a spot. Have been multiple times with bigger groups and have always found a spot for tents and hammocks. Enjoy hikes down the best for a distance view of the dunes and enjoy fires with lake views at night.

  • Julia A.
    Camper-submitted photo from Muskegon County Pioneer County Park
    Oct. 10, 2024

    Muskegon County Pioneer County Park

    Lost lake trail

    We had one of the sites closest to the beach access which was very nice for us, but since we were there Labor Day weekend(my mistake lol) we had a lot of traffic come through our campsite. We tend to enjoy more peaceful stays with less crowding. The beach had plenty of room for everyone to spread out and was not crowded at all which made up for it. Highly recommend watching the sunset from the beach. We also loved the lost lake trail. The group camping area is shut down.

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Michigan Recreation Area
    Sep. 28, 2024

    Lake Michigan Recreation Area

    Fantastic

    Great location away from everything. Spacious sites that are spread out. We stayed in the Oak Loop. Only 5 minute easy walk to beach. Quiet. Enough cell reception to send a text but that's it. Pit toilets only in Oak and Violet loops. Flush toilets in hemlock and orchid loop. No showers, but showers available at convenience store down the street during the summer.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness
    Sep. 24, 2024

    Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness

    I loved this place!

    A small gem of a place. Park and pay to be in the National Forest...or disperse camping on Green Rd. We parked and hiked the mile and a half in to the Dunes. Take all your gear that you need if you don't want to trek back. Can not ride bike in or have anything with wheels on the trail. At the end of the Beautiful hike you come to the Dunes. Go to the right and you will see some spots to put a tent up(do not camp on Dunes or beach). To the right is easy walk and find. If you head to the left you will have to walk over some Dunes for a bit but this is where we went and found a perfect spot right where the forest and Dunes meet. Very short walk to the beach and it's AMAZING! We had it all to ourselves for hours. It's like looking at the ocean. Beautiful views, sunsets, night sky's. The water was warm and you could walk out a ways before it got deep. Great for swimming. It was perfect. One of my favorite spots away from the busy crowds. So worth the hike. Make sure you get wood and might have to hike it in. There is little to NO wood out there laying around. If you are willing to put the work in to hike out there then I promise it's worth it.

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Tippy Dam State Recreation Area
    Sep. 12, 2024

    Tippy Dam State Recreation Area

    Great nature - noisy neighbors

    Our site was great, easily fit a 17 foot trailer and a tent. Trails down to the water were appreciated by our kids. Neighbors are pretty close all around but that didn't matter until our last night. Several new campers rolled in at 10pm and proceeded to throw an absolute rager of a party until 4am - on Labor Day weekend. So overall a great campground but I wish there had been enforcement of quiet time or some kind of consequence for such horrible camping manners.

  • Benjamin A.
    Camper-submitted photo from Gleasons Landing
    Sep. 12, 2024

    Gleasons Landing

    Beautiful riverside campground

    Most sites have direct river access.  All sites are walk-in, but not far from the parking area.  There are two pit toilets for six sites and both were clean.  They sites are large, but fairly open, not much between the sites.

  • Benjamin A.
    Camper-submitted photo from Elk Canoe Campground
    Sep. 12, 2024

    Elk Canoe Campground

    Basic canoe camping

    Elk is a great place to spend the night after a day of paddling or fishing.  There are four sites with decent space between them.  The pit toilet was decently clean and well away from the sites, so no smell.  The only downside is that access is tricky.  The landing is a steep bank with large rocks on the river bank.

  • Jim P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Val Du Lakes Resort
    Aug. 25, 2024

    Val Du Lakes Resort

    What a great place.

    I can't say enough about this place.  They where  so nice, polite and friendly.  We had some R.V. Issues and they where there to help.  The camp site was very nice.  There bathroom and shower were so clean. We will stay there again.

  • H. S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Bear Track Campground
    Aug. 22, 2024

    Bear Track Campground

    Rustic seclusion.

    No running water.
    No electricity.

    No flush toilets.

    No internet.
    No phone signal.

    Pure heaven.

    Rustic campsites. 50-100 yards from the river. Great water from the pump. Nice clean vault toilet. Very quiet at night. Peaceful and beautiful. We've gone ever year for the last 5 years. Going again next year.

    Highly recommend a satellite-based GPS unit like Garmin or TomTom in your car. I was serious when I said no phone signal so Google Maps ain't gonna' get you there.

  • Wendy F.
    Camper-submitted photo from Muskegon County Pioneer County Park
    Aug. 22, 2024

    Muskegon County Pioneer County Park

    Beautiful park

    We loved this park and the atmosphere. So much room for all size campers, bathrooms and showers were clean and spacious. Beach access super close and plenty of roaming for our dog. Fire rings were the nicest we've seen and the park was kept clean and today, the rangers were on top of everything.

  • V
    Camper-submitted photo from Muskegon River Campground
    Aug. 20, 2024

    Muskegon River Campground

    Quiet and Personable

    Very small campground with a quiet time at 10:00 am. The host and staff were beyond helpful and friendly. Only complaint - bathrooms were a good hike away from the tent/RV spots

  • J B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Tippy Dam State Recreation Area
    Aug. 17, 2024

    Tippy Dam State Recreation Area

    Great time

    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

  • Raphael C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Pioneer Park Campground
    Aug. 1, 2024

    Pioneer Park Campground

    Disappointed

    I wanted to give this place a 5 star rating but unfortunately I’ve had a bad experience at this one. my first time camping with a group of friends at this campground we reserved 3 spots all close together to accommodate such a huge group having camped there for a little over 24hours was told by the park ranger to move my tent over to my side of the plot since my tent was crossing my groups plot boarder by a little bit in the middle of rain with 2 kids(under 5)in the tent to keep dry from the rain. park ranger couldn’t be lenient enough to wait for the rain to subside.knowing the park ranger usually make frequent rounds around the park they could have told me sooner if it was problem but they waited until it started to rain to tell me to move.

  • Rovi
    Camper-submitted photo from Pioneer Park Campground
    Aug. 1, 2024

    Pioneer Park Campground

    Campers beware

    I had a deeply disappointing experience at this campground. Despite driving six hours to get there and booking three sites, which were more than enough space for sharing, my friend and his family were forced to move their tent because it was slightly over the boundary—just a foot inside our site. This happened in the middle of the rain, with kids inside the tent, and despite our explanations, a ranger and three staff members insisted they move. Meanwhile, a nearby camper was allowed to stay despite having two tents and one camper on one site, which is against the rules. This discrepancy made us feel racially targeted and left a sour taste in our mouths. To top it off, the bathroom facilities were dirty, which only added to the negative experience. The lack of empathy and fairness was truly disheartening.

  • John M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Pioneer Park Campground
    Aug. 1, 2024

    Pioneer Park Campground

    Get a new park ranger

    Terrible staff and communication.! Worse part is a power hungry ranger telling us to move our tent 2 inches away from our PAID campsite. What was worse is he told us when it was pouring outside while his kids was inside. Will not come to this campsite because of the ranger! Edit: we later found out that there was another campsite down the road that had 2 tents and 1 camper on 1 plot and they said nothing

  • Cathy M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Pioneer Park Campground
    Aug. 1, 2024

    Pioneer Park Campground

    NOT BIG FAMILY FRIENDLY

    We stayed for 2 nights drove 4 hours just to go here with our friends and family. We respectfully rented 3 sites for a group or 11 so we have enough spaces for our tents and be together. On the 2nd day it was pouring rain the ranger told us we are too close to each others campsite. Although we are together and paid we still had to move our tents just an inch away from each other in the rain he couldn’t even wait for us to wait for the rain to stop but no we had to move the whole set up in the rain. Worse experience at a campsite. I understand rules and policy but we were harming no one. DONT COME HERE IF YOU HAVE A BIG GROUP. Definitely not family friendly. It completely ruins the experience for people when big groups come.



Guide to Ludington

Camping near Ludington, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes, fun activities, and a chance to unwind in nature. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a quiet getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Explore the Dunes: The nearby Silver Lake State Park is famous for its stunning sand dunes. One visitor noted, "The dunes were amazing! A short walk from the camping loops, the dunes open to the amazing shore of Lake Michigan."
  • Hit the Beach: At Hoffmaster State Park Campground, you can enjoy a beautiful Lake Michigan beach. A reviewer mentioned, "Family campground with beautiful Lake MI beach."
  • Fishing and Hiking: Many campgrounds, like Lake Michigan Campground at Muskegon State Park, offer great fishing spots and hiking trails. One camper shared, "Great dunes covered in dune grass, beautiful water next to the pier where we can go fishing."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Platte River Campground said, "Immaculate modern campground. Clean and spacious facilities, helpful staff."
  • Privacy: Many sites offer a sense of seclusion. A reviewer at Cedar Campground — Ludington State Park mentioned, "The sites were large and spread out with a bear pole, picnic table, and fire ring."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Campgrounds like Orchard Beach State Park Campground are great for families. One camper noted, "Great view of Lake Michigan. No beach access, but the campground is quiet, clean, and right on the water with fabulous sunsets."

What you should know:

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can get noisy, especially during busy weekends. A camper at Newaygo State Park Campground mentioned, "Two nights of brain damaging laughter and frivolity by campsite 21 ruined the whole experience."
  • Limited Beach Access: Some campgrounds, like Orchard Beach State Park, no longer have direct beach access due to erosion. A visitor pointed out, "You must travel 4 miles away to Douglas park to use a beach."
  • Site Size and Spacing: Many sites can feel cramped, especially during peak season. A reviewer at Silver Lake State Park Campground said, "Incredibly tight spots making it difficult to back campers into."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Check for Amenities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and family-friendly activities. One camper at Hoffmaster State Park Campground mentioned, "Excellent playground if you have little ones."
  • Plan for Distance: Some campgrounds have bathrooms that are a bit of a walk. A visitor at Orchard Beach State Park noted, "The bathroom is a pretty distant walk so prepare for that."
  • Bring Bug Spray: The wooded areas can have bugs, so it's good to be prepared. A camper at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness advised, "It's wooded so have bug spray."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site dimensions. A reviewer at Cedar Campground — Ludington State Park mentioned, "Check your rig size against the site you are planning on reserving."
  • Be Ready for Tight Spaces: Some campgrounds have narrow roads and tight spots. A visitor at Silver Lake State Park Campground said, "The road through the campground is quite narrow so you'll need to take your time."
  • Bring Extra Supplies: Many campgrounds are remote, so stock up before you arrive. A camper at Lake Michigan Recreation Area advised, "Bring enough supplies for your stay unless you don’t mind a 1/2 hour drive to get resupplied."

Camping near Ludington, Michigan, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RV enthusiast seeking adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What camping is available near Ludington, MI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Ludington, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 194 campgrounds and RV parks near Ludington, MI and 9 free dispersed camping spots.

  • Which is the most popular campground near Ludington, MI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ludington, MI is Cedar Campground — Ludington State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 40 reviews.

  • Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ludington, MI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Ludington, MI.

  • What parks are near Ludington, MI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Ludington, MI that allow camping, notably Huron-Manistee National Forests and Sleeping Bear Dunes.