<back to Campgrounds
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
More Reservable Campsites at Platte River in 2010
Beginning in 2010, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will offer more campsite reservations at Platte River Campground through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS).
The very popular Platte River Campground typically fills up every night from late June to Labor Day. Until now, just over 25% of campsites have been reservable, and these filled up several months in advance. As a result, many campers seeking to make reservations were unable to do so. The National Park Service is increasing the reservable sites to about 66% in order to serve the growing number of campers who wish to plan their trips in advance. In addition, campsite reservations will be extended until October 1 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 will 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 October 1.
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 October 1.
Campers wishing to reserve a site may call 1-877-444-6777 or Clicking Here to make a reservation on-line.
Click here to 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 231-326-5134.
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.
Click here to view a complete listing of NRRS Reservation Policies
Camping Fees
D. H. Day Campground (Open 4/2/2010 - 11/28/2010)
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 5/28/2010 to 10/1/2010.
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 5/28/2010 to 10/1/2010.
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 5/28/2010 to 10/1/2010.
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 5/28/2010 to 10/1/2010.
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 5/07/2010 to 10/1/2010.
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 5/28/2010 to 9/25/2010.
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 5/28/2010 to 9/25/2010.
Popple Campground for 1-4 persons: 7 Total Sites, 0 Reservable. $5.00/night.
North Manitou Island (Via Passenger Ferry or Private Boat)
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.
