Best Camping in and near Petoskey State Park

92% (12 reviews)

Bask on golden-sand beaches and hunt for rare fossils at Petoskey State Park.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Petoskey State Park

Public campgrounds in the park

Stay at a public campground in Petoskey State Park

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Petoskey-Tannery Creek Campground

100 sites · RVs, Tents In Petoskey State Park

86%

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Petoskey-Dunes Campground

80 sites · RVs, Tents In Petoskey State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Petoskey State Park

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Just Show Up Camping

10 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Saint Ignace, MI

The Grand Retreat, featuring Just Show Up Camping and Captain’s Quarters, is located right on US2 for easy access to several great locations, including Mackinac Island, Mackinac City, Tahquemenon Falls, Pictured Rocks, Grand Marais, and the Soo Locks. Our campsites are all “man-made” and put you into ancient glacial created forest floors with old-growth white pines. We have a bath

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(386)

Million $ Sunset Camp

8 sites · RVs, Tents8 acres · Harbor Springs, MI

Pitch your tent and listen to the waves of Sturgeon Bay on Lake Michigan. Fantastic Sunsets. Located half way between Harbor Springs and Mackinaw City. Walking distance to famous Legs Inn in Cross Village, MI. The property currently includes 8 campsites with a board walk on the east portion of the Lake side portion of the property to access the Lake MI Beach.

99%

(74)

Hidden Meadow

6 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Alanson, MI

Get ready for a peaceful camping experience in this one-of-a-kind setting! For all styles of camping units as well as rustic tent camping. We live in farming country, with only a few houses on our road. We know most of our neighbors as friends or relatives. Our camping area only has four sites so it’s cozy and private. We have about 5 acres land for use around the campsite and lots of wooded trails nearby. We are about 2 miles from Burt Lake, and about 10 miles from other waterways, rivers and streams, and Lake Michigan. we are also 4 miles from biking and ORV trails.

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Private Rustic Prairie

1 site · RV, Tent40 acres · Cheboygan, MI

Rustic campsite on the edge of a quiet hayfield. Far from houses, perfect for kite flying, stargazing, or just getting away from it all. • 3 miles from Rippling Rapids golf course • 3 miles from The Dirty Duck bar • 5 miles from Number 22 ORV trailhead • 8 miles from Black Mountain ORV scramble area • 9 miles from Black Lake State Park boat launch and beach. • 32 miles from the Huron Sunrise Trail Unwind after a day of enjoying the lake and trails on this peaceful plot of land. More information at: https://someplacein.space/hipcamp/

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LTBB Rental Cabins

2 sites · Lodging3 acres · Carp Lake, MI

Tribal Property to share with others. Wonderful spot right on the Straights of Mackinaw within the Wilderness State Park private enclave. Come stick your toes in the water. Two of three cabins available for rent. Views of the Mackinaw Bridge.

95%

(77)

Blissfest Festival Farm

74 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents200 acres · Cross Village, MI

Welcome to the picturesque countryside of rural Northern Michigan and the Blissfest Festival Farm. Campers have access to 200+ acres including an 18-hole disc golf course and many trails, including North Country National Scenic Trail which passes through the property. Active agricultural projects include an orchard, vineyard and shitake garden. Immerse yourself in the beauty of our hardwood forests, witness stunning fall colors and marvel at the abundant wildlife that calls this area home. Choose from 25 drive-up or 10 walk-in sites with access to potable water, regularly serviced portajons and solar showers. Within five miles, you'll find great restaurants and craft brews, sandy Lake Michigan beaches and the famous Tunnel of Trees. Sunsets paint the western horizon in beautiful displays of magenta and gold; our dark and starry skies are a sight to behold.

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Mackinaw Camp Inn

1 site · RV, Tent10 acres · Mackinaw City, MI

Mackinaw City Campinn is located just 2 miles from historic Mackinaw City, a destination filled with nature, history, beaches, and fun. This is a 5 acre private camp, surrounded by woods, for self contained RV campers with a 30 or 50 amp hook up. This is a densely wooded area with some wetlands behind you.

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(70)

Grateful Acres

2 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Harbor Springs, MI

Hello and Welcome to Grateful Acres!! *Update* Wifi has been installed at Greatful Acres and is included with each booking. I have two sites available that will accommodate both travel trailers, as well as tents. Both have 30amp RV and 120v outlets, as well as lights for late arrival setup. In the welcome Hut, you will find dry firewood for purchase, as well as a refrigerator and freezer for use by our guests. Each site has its own labeled shelf to keep your perishables fresh. Also available are organic farm fresh eggs, cold soda, and bottled water, as well as bags of ice in the freezer. At Grateful Acres we aim to make your stay with us, as enjoyable as possible. The two sites sit on 3 beautiful, quiet acres in Northern Michigan. Site #1 is flat, open, and spacious, while site #2 is a bit more enclosed and private tucked into the trees. Both sites come furnished with a picnic table, a fire ring with attached grill for cooking and 2 adirondack chairs. The Star gazing at night is absolutley Amazing!! The property is centrally located between Petoskey, Harbor Springs and Alanson. Nearby are many lakes, rivers, state forests, mountain biking trails, golf courses and ski resorts. Come on up. Stay at Grateful Acres and enjoy all that Beautiful Northern Michigan has to offer.

Starlight Campground and RV Park

120 sites · RVs, Tents60 acres · Mancelona, MI

Starlight Campground is a family friendly campground in northern Michigan nestled amidst mature pine trees, with cozy campsites, full facilities, a beautiful hiking trail, both vintage and contemporary trailer rentals, impeccably clean facilities, incredible sunsets, and star-filled night skies. It is those dark skies that have inspired our name, carried over into our Starry Nights Weekend during the annual Perseids meteor shower in August, just one of a season full of themed weekends filled with carefully planned activities. Here at Starlight Campground we strive to provide our guests with a level of hospitality and service that will exceed their expectations. We are home of the “Welcome Wood”, where you will find three pieces of firewood already in your campfire ring as our way of saying “Thank you” for being our guest. We will even deliver wood, ice, and store items directly to your site. Think of it as room service in the great outdoors!

100%

(8)

Sunset Campsite

1 site · RV, Tent10 acres · Cheboygan, MI

We are OPEN for 2025. We are so grateful and fortunate that we DID NOT receive any property damage from the recent ice storms which caused massive power outages, extensive property damage, and state of emergency for most of lower northern Michigan. Proud to receive the 2024 Hipcamp Star Host Award! A SINGLE PRIVATE rustic campsite on beautiful 10 acre lightly wooded field. Surrounded by apple trees. Site including entry is all grass. Roughly 80'x60' Fire ring, picnic table, outhouse, and trash receptacle provided. Campsite faces west providing beautiful sunsets. Roughly a mile of hiking trails on property. Access to hundreds of miles of ORV, hiking, and skiing trails nearby. Multiple restaurants, bars, and golf courses within 2-5 miles. AMAZING Northern Lights and dark sky viewing area with gazing platform provided in center of campsite property. Firewood for sale $4-$5/bundle available within 1-2 miles. Access and boat launches to Twin Lakes, Black River, Black Lake, Long Lake, and Cheboygan River within 1-5 miles. Convenience stores within 2-5 miles. Black Mountain ORV and hiking areas within 2-5 miles. 20 minute drive from downtown Cheboygan. Come enjoy some time away from the normal campground hustle and noise at this lovely and affordable private single campsite!

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Secluded Hidden Gem in Leelanau CO

1 site · Lodging10 acres · Northport, MI

When we bought our land 7 years ago, it was on old apple orchard turned vineyard. In the time since, we have put our all into it to build a home and create a forever homestead to raise our family. To us, it’s the greatest place on Earth. We absolutely love where we live and think you will too!Learn more about this land:Newly built tiny house 2 miles south of Northport. Nestled in the woods overlooking a pond and surrounded by an organic vineyard/farm. Short walk to organic winery, 5 minute drive to quaint town of Northport, 15 minutes to Leland and Fishtown, and 20 minutes to Sutton’s Bay. The tiny house sleeps 2 on a queen sized bed in loft and another 2 on a futon on main floor. All linens are included. The kitchen is equipped with refrigerator/freezer, 2 burner hot plate, electric skillet, and coffee maker. There is water in the tiny house, but there is not a toilet or shower inside. A portable restroom is located right outside.

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400 acres of private forest-Tent-RV

4 sites · RVs, Tents406 acres · Mancelona, MI

Over 400 acres of private land of upland forest, lake frontage, and cedar swamp with many secluded campsites separated apart for tents and RV's to choose from. Outdoor enthusiasts of all types will enjoy their stay at this secluded and large acreage forest Up North! At nightfall, you will enjoy a starry night sky free from city lights. This is perfect for folks who want to camp but do not wish to be crammed in next to other campers. We offer over 400 acres and 4 sites at a time for campers but we have many more areas that you can camp at to choose from. You will have a lot of room to breathe the fresh forest air. You’ll have excellent opportunities for wildlife photos. This is a wilderness area and you will have cell phone reception mainly on the higher ground areas of the property. We have campsite maps soon online. Please contact us for hunting opportunities for deer season. If you need a break from the quiet and relaxation, you can drive over to Kalkaska (12 miles), Mancelona (8 miles), or Traverse City (30 miles) for dinner and shopping. We have been working on many large and small projects all over our property. We have recently majorly upgraded our road and trail system. Please drive on it gently, respectful of the work we have put into it and of other campers with pets and children. Another project is the rustic boardwalk down to Manistee Lake. This walkway is accessible via Cunningham Rd (the far western border of the property). Bring along some boots that can get a bit dirty, if it rains then it will be muddy, and bring your bug spray. The boardwalk building materials are constructed entirely of onsite native cedar hand-sawn timber – built by your host, Bryce. This leads you to the Manistee Lake frontage. Coming soon: a dock for boating and enjoying the water. We now have 4 outhouses dispersed throughout the property for your convenience. Please understand we are not able to maintain these outhouses and campers must be respectful and clean up after themselves. Bring toilet paper in case there is none in the outhouses. Please respect our Leave-No-Trace policy and remove all trash from your campsite and area. Your leashed pets are allowed but you must be respectful of other campers with pets as well. Do not let your pets run loose and to other campsites. All children and pets must be attended at all times for safety reasons. Ticks are on the rise, and the springtime can be very buggy, and mosquito-y with the surrounding swampy areas. There are bear, coyote, fox, and an assortment of other creatures big and small. This is a wilderness area and so please be aware of wild animals. Never leave children or pets unattended! The northernmost opening has honey bees maintained by an electric fence. Please keep pets and children away from this area. You are welcome to look at it but do not touch the fence or bother the bees, they are busy making honey for all of Michigan. There is direct access to 100s of miles of snowmobiling trails spanning from Leetsville to Kalkaska (MCCCT Access). You’ll have access out the eastern gate but please remember to shut the gate going in and out. Otherwise outside ATV traffic will come in off of state land. All motorized vehicles must stay on the trail system, do not spin tires or tear up the bare ground. The trail system has recently been updated at owner's expense and maintained for your convenience but it is easily rutted. Please be respectful of our trails. You must drive under 10 mph on the property due to safety and insurance regulations. There are areas along the trails that have deep holes close by the trails. Watch your step or driving around these areas. Safe, sober and responsible behavior and driving is imperative on the trails. No alcohol or drug use. Do not put nails or metal in the trees. Do not use firearms without express written permission from the owners and when other campers are around. Hunting season is set for hunting rental on this site. No additional campsites will be offered during this time. Please contact us (owners) for available hunting dates and rates. This property can accommodate up to 8 hunters. After 1 1/2 years of completely remodeling our cabin, we now can offer you a lovely stay in a snug, warm 2 bedroom 700 sq foot cabin, comfortably sleeps 6, 1 queen bed in one bedroom, 1 queen and 1 full sized bed in the other bedroom. The cabin is a 2-night minimum stay. It comes with all the amenities, wifi, hot shower, linens, bedding, towels wood stove, electric heat, a completely stocked full kitchen and much, much more. This is our personal family cabin so please treat it gently. Please contact us for scheduling the cabin. Traveling with more than 6? Reach out to us about the additional accommodations available on-site, including 120V RV hookups (addt'l fee). The cabin has internet and internet cell phone connection at the cabin. We are in the wilderness, so the internet is functional but not excellent. There is only cell phone reception on the higher elevations of the property. Please contact me with your specific questions and needs. We have nearby amenities- LAKES- Manistee Lake (southern most boundary of the property), Twin Lakes (3.1 miles), Pickerel Lake (4.1 miles), Starvation Lake (5.5 miles) BEACHES: Pencil Lake Beach (23.3 miles), Grand Traverse Bay (31.9 miles), Peninsula Beach (35.9 miles), Clinch Park Beach (36.1 miles), Torch Lake (36.1 miles), Lake Michigan (41.4 miles) BLUE RIBBON TROUT STREAMS: Manistee River (11.7 miles), AuSable River (16.7 miles) SKI DAYS: Mt Mancelona (9.1 miles), Shanty Creek Resort (16.6 miles), Hanson Hills (22.9 miles), Boyne Mountain Resort (30.0 miles), Mt. Holiday Ski and Recreational Area (31.3 miles) WINE + BREW: Short's Brewing Company (19.7 miles), Rolling Oak Brewing Co (23.2 miles), Paddle Hard Brewing (23.5 miles), Torch Lake Cellars (23.7 miles), WaterFire Vineyards (30.6 miles), Snowbelt Brewing (32.6 miles) CASINOS: Turtle Creek Casino (24.6 miles), Odawa Casino (44.0 miles), Leelanau Sands Casino (55.7 miles) SEASONAL: National Trout Festival - Kalkaska (Apr), National Cherry Festival- Traverse City (May), Bow Hunting Season (Oct 1—Dec 1), Hunting Season (Nov 15—Dec 1) AIRPORT: Cherry Capital Airport (34.2 miles)

The best camping near Petoskey State Park guide

Overview

About

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.

Notable campgrounds

Best for waterfront action: Tannery Creek Campground.
Best for dune dwelling: Dunes Campground.
Best for glamping: The two mini cabins at Tannery Creek Campground.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Tent and RV campsites at Petoskey State Park can be reserved six months in advance, but the two mini cabins in the Tannery Creek Campground can be reserved 12 months in advance.
Reservations must be made online or by calling (800) 447-2757.
We recommend booking as early as possible for the park’s busy summer season.

When to go

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.

Know before you go

Rockhounders flock to the shores of Lake Petoskey in hopes of locating a rare Petoskey stone, a rock covered in hexagonal, tessellated coral fossils that can only be found in this area. Keep your eyes peeled along the shore and you may find one too!
The park contains a few short trails to stroll through dunes and woods (Portage and Old Baldy), but it also links up to two long-distance paved trails that cyclists and joggers love—the 26-mile Little Traverse Wheelway and the 32-mile North Western State Trail.

92%

12 ratings · 2 reviews

Recommends

· September 2023

The Dunes campground is the most spacious. Electric only. The north end is closest to the path to the beach. We stayed at sites 36 and 32 which were very nice.

J

Jonathan W.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2017

Petoskey Stones Rock