• Looking out at the lake

    Sleeping Bear Dunes

    National Lakeshore Michigan

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  • Some restrooms and trash cans not available until Memorial Day

    Changes to visitor service due to Sequestration. Other than those at the visitor center and campgrounds, restrooms and trash cans will not be available until Memorial Day Weekend and will close after Labor Day. This includes the Manitou Islands. More »

  • Maritime Museum closed

    The Maritime Museum and Boathouse are closed until further notice.

Camping Fees & Reservations

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Camping fees are in addition to the standard Park Entrance Fee including camping on North and South Manitou Island.

Senior Pass and Access Pass holders receive a 50% discount on camping fees. This discount applies to camping and reservation fees. Not applicable for the electrical hook-up fee or group campsite fees.

Family campsites may be reserved for Platte River Campground. Group campsites may be reserved for Platte River Campground, D.H. Day Group Campground, and Bay & Weather Station Campgrounds on South Manitou Island.


Camping Reservations

Due to the popularity of Platte River Campgroud, in 2010 the National Park Service increased the number of reservable campsites to about 66% in order to serve the growing number of campers who wish to plan their trips in advance. In addition, campsite reservations were extended through September 30 of each year.

For those campers who wish to be more flexible in their arrival dates and length of stay, approximately 34% of campsites at Platte River remain available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each day, any reservable sites which are not taken will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservation fee. In addition, all campsites at D. H. Day Campground, near Glen Arbor, will remain available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Through the NRRS, reservations for regular campsites (which accommodate up to six people) may be made by phone or internet up to six months in advance of the camping date desired. Regular campsites may be reserved from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through September 30.

Group campsites (which accommodate up to 25 people) may be reserved up to one year in advance of the camping date desired. Group campsites may be reserved from the first Friday in May through September 30.

Campers wishing to reserve a site may call 1-877-444-6777 or reserve online.

Download a copy of the campground map showing the reservable campsites (pdf file, 40 kb).


Camping reservations for a limited number of campsites can be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS). The NRRS was created with the goal of simplifying trip planning for the general public by consolidating all federal recreation information and reservations under one provider.

Reservations are available via a rolling window and advance on a daily basis at 10:00 a.m. EST:

  • Reservations for individual campsites may be made up to six months in advance.
  • Reservations for group campsites may be made up to one year in advance.

Making Reservations On-Line:

Reservations can be made on-line at:

Making Reservations Over The Phone:

Reservations can also be made by calling the Reservation Center at 1-877-444-6777. The center is open daily:

  • March 1 - October 31, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. EST
  • November 1 - February 28, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. EST

If you have questions, please call the park at 231-326-5135, ext. 328.

If you do not have a reservation, you still have a good chance of getting a camping site. Our campgrounds usually fill up daily from mid-June through the end of August, but there is a constant turn-over. For best results, arrive early in the morning to get a site.

View a complete listing of NRRS Reservation Policies


Camping Fees

D. H. Day Campground (Open 4/5/2013 - 11/24/2013)

Campsites for 1-6 persons: 88 Total Sites, 0 Reservable.

Fee/night $12.00.


D. H. Day Group Campground (Open All Year)

Group Campsites (tents only) for 7-25 persons: 4 Total Sites, 4 Reservable.

Fee/night = $30.00 with no reservation or $33.00 when reserved.

Reservations required 5/24/2013 to 9/30/2013.


Platte River Campground (Open All Year)

Campsites with electrical hook-up for 1-6 persons: 96 Total Sites, 68 Reservable.

Fee/night = $21.00 with no reservation or $24.00 when reserved.

Campsites are reservable 5/24/2013 to 9/30/2013.


Campsites with no electrical hook-up for 1-6 persons: 53 Total Sites, 32 Reservable.

Fee/night = $16.00 with no reservation or $19.00 when reserved.

Campsites are reservable 5/24/2013 to 9/30/2013.


Walk-in Sites for 1-6 persons: 25 Total Sites, 17 Reservable

Fee/night = $12.00 with no reservation or $15.00 when reserved.

Campsites are reservable 5/24/2013 to 9/30/2013.


Platte River Group Campsites (hike-in, tents only) for 7-25 persons: 5 Total Sites, 5 Reservable.

Fee/night = $40.00 with no reservation or $43.00 when reserved.

Reservations Required 5/3/2013 to 9/30/2013.

Shower Tokens: Two 3-minute Tokens for $1.00.


Backcountry Sites (Open All Year)

White Pine Campground: 6 Sites Total, 0 Reservable. $5.00/night

Valley View Campground: 5 Sites Total, 0 Reservable. $5.00/night


South Manitou Island (Via Passenger Ferry or Private Boat)

Bay Campground for 1-4 persons: 25 Total Sites, 0 Reservable. $5.00/night

Bay Group Sites for 7-20 persons: 3 Total Sites, 3 Reservable. Fee/night = $20.00 with no reservation and $23.00 when reserved.

Reservations Required for Group Sites 5/24/2013 to 9/29/2013.


Weather Station Campground for 1-4 persons: 20 Total Sites, 0 Reservable $5.00/night

Weather Station Group Campground for 7-20 persons: 3 Total Sites, 3 Reservable. Fee/night = $20.00 with no reservations and $23.00 when reserved.

Reservations Required for Group Sites 5/24/2013 to 9/29/2013.


Popple Campground for 1-4 persons: 7 Total Sites, 0 Reservable. $5.00/night.


North Manitou Island (Via Passenger Ferry or Private Boat)/p>

Village Campground Campsites for 1-4 persons: 8 Total Sites, 0 Reservable. $5.00/night.

Backcountry Camping for 1-4 persons: Unlimited Sites. $5.00/night.

Group Camping for 10 persons maximum: Unlimited Sites. $10.00/night.

Did You Know?

Ferry to Islands

Sleeping Bear Dunes includes two large islands in Lake Michigan - North and South Manitou Islands.  Take a day trip to South Manitou Island and explore the island village and lighthouse or take a motor tour of the farming district. If you go to North Manitou Island, plan to camp overnight! More...