Campgrounds

You can choose from a wide range of camping experiences at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The Platte River Campground offers sites with electric hook-ups for RVs and trailers as well as walk-in sites for those who want to carry their tent off the beaten path. Showers and modern restrooms are available here. The Platte River and Lake Michigan are close by, too. Reservations are available by phone or over the internet.

The D.H. Day Campground offers more rustic camping for RVs, trailers, and tents. You will find dirt roads, vault toilets, and ready access to the Lake Michigan beach. There are no electric hook-ups or showers. The campground is located in the northern part of the park mid-way between Glen Haven and Glen Arbor. Registration is on a first-come basis.

Group Campgrounds are located in several areas throughout the Lakeshore to provide camping for groups of at least 7 people on the mainland and at least 9 people on South Manitou Island. The upper limit on groups depends on the specific site.

Backcountry Camping offers several options in the Lakeshore. Some of the best backcountry camping in Michigan is located on North and South Manitou Islands. You can get to the islands by ferry operated by Manitou Island Transit out of Leland. Mainland backcountry camping is available at the White Pine campground on the Platte Plains trail system near the Platte River campground, or at the Valley View campground north of Glen Arbor near the Homestead Resort. White Pine is in walking distance to Lake Michigan, so water is available. If you camp at Valley View, you will have to carry your water.

Don't take firewood to the islands! The State of Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine strictly prohibits transporting firewood to North and South Manitou Islands. Island campers may collect dead and down wood found on the island for personal use during their visit; however, unused wood must remain on the island.

If the campgrounds in the Lakeshore are full, you still have camping options in the local area. Our web site has a listing of many other campgrounds near the Lakeshore.

 

Emerald Ash Borer Larva

Help protect the ash trees in the Park. The emerald ash borer infestation is killing millions of ash trees in the Michigan. This invasive insect rides along on firewood to campgrounds. Learn what you can do to stop it from coming to Sleeping Bear Dunes.