Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Petoskey State Park adventure.
Bask on golden-sand beaches and hunt for rare fossils at Petoskey State Park.
On the inside shore of Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay, Petoskey State Park welcomes campers with over 300 acres of beaches perfect for swimming and paddling. The waters are tame due to the lack of a boat launch (but you can head to nearby Harbor Springs if you’re looking for a liftoff). Two excellent campgrounds draw overnight tent and RV camping trips, while a concession stand with kayak and canoe rentals operates during the summer season. Just outside the park, art and culture boom in Harbor Springs. This is the only place on earth where the rare Petoskey stone fossil is found.
The Petoskey State Park campgrounds are typically open from May through October, as Memorial Day to Labor Day marks the park’s summer season. During this time, visitors can take advantage of rentals for kayaks, standup paddleboards, and bikes from the concession stand. Even outside of summer, Petoskey is worth a visit—fall is a popular time as many of the area’s deciduous tree leaves alight in hues of red, orange, and yellow. The park’s day-use parking lot is typically open from the end of April to the beginning of November, depending on the snow pack.