Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is an absolutely gorgeous park on the Michigan peninsula.
The park has several overlooks, several of which are located on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, that offer spectacular views of Lake Michigan and its pristine sand dunes.
Sleeping Bear Dunes Camping
Sleeping Bear Dunes is right on the shore of Lake Michigan and is the perfect getaway to spend time on the water and enjoy beautiful campgrounds.
There are two mainland campgrounds and several island campgrounds and backcountry camping. You have your choice of multiple types of sites, including electric hookups and RV sites.
Make sure to check out my website for more great information on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
SLEEPING BEAR DUNES ENTRANCE FEES
Remember that Sleeping Bear Dunes has an entrance fee separate from camping fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $25.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $20.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass—$15.00. Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $45.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
Planning a National Park vacation? America the Beautiful/National Park Pass covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.
The park pass covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy on REI.com and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Sleeping Bear Dunes Campgrounds
Platte River Campground
The Platte River Campground is super nice! We were very impressed with the number of bathrooms with showers and how much space there is within the campground. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring/fire pit. 96 sites have electric hoolups and have 5 group sites. There is food lockers available seasonally as well as internet connectivity.
A firewood vending machine offers $5 a bundle of firewood on-site. Make sure to bring $1 and $5 bills because that is the only thing the machine takes.
Location: Platte River Campground is located in the southern district of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the lower peninsula of Michigan.
- Latitude:
- 44.7127778
- 44° 42' 46.0001" N
- Longitude:
- -86.1177778
- 86° 7' 4.0001" W
Open: year-round
Number of sites: 179 sites
Reservations?: yes, reservations can be made on Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777
Campground amenities:
Each loop has restrooms with flush toilets and sinks. Hot showers are also available.
Are RVs allowed? Yes, there are back-in and pull-through sites available. There are also tent sites and walk-in/hike-in sites.
Dump Station? Yes, there is potable water and a sanitation dump station at the entrance of the campground
Generator Hours: Generator use is prohibited at Platte River Campground.
Platte River Campground Map
Platte River Campground Reservations - For the 2019 season, all campsites will be available by reservation! Reserve a campsite up to six months in advance for arrival dates of May 1 through October 15 by calling 1-877-444-6777, or you can make your reservation online.
Platte River Campground Rules to be aware of
Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m.– 6:00 a.m.
Camping is limited to 14 TOTAL days between Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.
You can only burn firewood that is approved by the park service. Firewood may be purchased between the entrances of Loops 2 & 3.
A list of Lakeshore-approved vendors is available at http://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/firewood.htm
Pets must be on a six-foot leash at all times.
An entrance pass for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is required for each vehicle.
Check out more photos and info on the Platte River Campground!
D.H. Day Campground
The D.H. Day Campground is a rustic campground. The roads are gravel/dirt. Campsites appeared to be closer to each other than in the Platte River Campground. There are vault toilets within the campground. Water is available.
This is an active bear area, so ensure you are prepared to store your food. There are no bear boxes at the campsites. There is year-round cell phone coverage and seasonal internet connectivity. There are no electrical hookups, but there are 19 walk-to/boat-to campsites. Campsites have a picnic table and a fire ring//fire pit for use when there is no burn ban in effect.
Quiet hours at the campground are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Location: One mile north of the Dune Climb
From Traverse City, Michigan, take M-72 west to Empire. Proceed 2.1 miles north of Empire on M-22. Go 4.1 miles north on M-109 to West Harwood Road. Take a left on West Harwood Road and continue all the way to the end of the road to D.H. Day Group Campground.
- Latitude:44.89615
- Longitude:-86.02006
Open: From the first Friday in April through the last Sunday in November
Number of sites: 88 sites
Senior Pass and Access Pass holders receive a 50% discount on camping fees.
Reservations? Yes, All campsites at D. H. Day Campground are available via reservation from May 1 through October 15. and first come afterwards
Campground amenities:
RVs allowed?: No
Generator Hours: Generator-use is restricted to sites #1 thru 31 (the first loop) and then only from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Cell Service - Yes
Dump Station - Yes
2019 camping season, all campsites at D. H. Day Campground will only be available via reservation from May 1 through October 15. Call www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777.
Campground address: 8000 W. Harbor Hwy, Glen Arbor, MI 49636
The phone number is 231-326-4700, ext. 5035
Group Camps at Sleeping Bear Dunes
There are five group campgrounds at Sleeping Bear Dunes. Group campsites may be reserved up to 1 year in advance for May 1 to October 15. For reservations, visit www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777.
D. H. Day Group Campground
This campground accommodates tents only for groups of 7-25 people.
There are 4 sites, and all are reservable.
Reservations are required between May 1 and October 15.
Platte River Group Campground
These sites are hike-ins and accommodate tents only for groups of 7-25 people.
There are a total of 5 sites, and all are reservable.
Reservations are required from May 1 through October 15.
South Manitou Island - Bay Group Campground
These sites accommodate groups of 9-20 people and up to 10 tents.
There are 3 sites, and all are reservable.
Reservations are required from the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend through mid-September.
South Manitou Island - Weather Station Group Campground
These sites accommodate groups of 9-20 people and up to 10 tents.
There are 3 sites, and all are reservable.
Reservations are required from the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend through mid-September.
North Manitou Island - Group Camping
There is an unlimited number of sites, but groups are limited in size to 5-10 people.
No reservations are necessary.
Camping on South Manitou Island
Location: South Manitou Group Campground is a tent-only backcountry facility on South Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
South Manitou Island is accessible only by private boat or passenger ferry.
Campers must bring their own toilet paper.
Bay Campground
The Bay Campground is the closest campground to the dock
Open: year-round
Number of sites: 25, maximum of 4 people or 2 tents per site
Reservations?: No, Bay, Weather Station, and Popple campgrounds have individual campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis on the island
Campground amenities:
RVs allowed?: No
Generator Hours:
Bring water filtration equipment since there is no source of purified drinking water.
The transportation of firewood to North and South Manitou Islands is strictly prohibited.
Popple Campground
Open: year-round
Number of sites: 7, -4 persons
Reservations?: No, Bay, Weather Station, and Popple campgrounds have individual campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis on the island
Campground amenities:
RVs allowed?: No
Weather Station Campground
Open: year-round
Number of sites: 20, maximum of 4 people or 2 tents per site
Reservations?: No, Bay, Weather Station, and Popple campgrounds have individual campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis on the island
Campground amenities: fire pits for open fires
RVs allowed?: NO
North Manitou Island Camping
Backcountry Camping Regulations are in effect on North Manitou Island.
A backcountry permit and fee payment must be completed before camping.
Village Campground contains eight designated campsites, two fire rings, and one outhouse.
Village Campground Campsites for 1-4 persons: 8 Total Sites, 0 Reservable.
Backcountry Camping for 1-4 persons: Unlimited Sites.
For a fun adventure, check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built-in beds, kitchen areas with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, New York, and Orlando
Lodging Near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
There are no lodging options in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Camping is also very popular, and campgrounds fill up fast, so finding a lodge outside the park may be a great option. Here is a map of nearby lodging options to plan your trip to this incredible park!
NATIONAL PARKS NEAR SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NL
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - 260 miles
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore - 264 miles
River Raisin National Battlefield - 300 miles
Pullman National Monument - 327 miles
Keweenaw National Historical Park - 422 miles
Cuyahoga Valley National Park - 430 Miles
Check out all of the great Michigan National Parks, as well as neighboring Ohio National Parks, Indiana National Parks, Illinois National Parks, and Wisconsin National Parks.
Leave a Reply