CG Recommendation, St. Ignace, MI

$31/annual non resident vs. $9/day add-on is the way to go

We stayed at the Straits last summer. Loved the location as we could ride our bikes into town and down to the docks to go to Mackinac Island. There are restaurants in town right on the water. The campground sites were decent size and you could see the bridge right from the campground on a trail (or a campsite if you were in the lower campground in the right place).

We liked the quietness of the campground. We met lots of people there too - many friendly folks.

Paying for a state park pass was worth it for us as we spent additional time at the state park in Traverse City. In addition, we visited a couple other state parks where we spent some time at the beach and biking.

KOA's aren't real popular with many here on the Forum but we used the KOA in St. Ignace (we like to have FHU and WiFi if possible). IIRC they provided a shuttle to take us & our bikes down to the docks to get the ferry to Mackinac Island. Nothing fancy and served our needs. Would stay there again.

jim isham wrote:

Cdash wrote:
As a FYI if you are considering Wilderness, I just got this in an email from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

DNR announces new camping options at Wilderness State Park
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources hopes campers are excited about the the summer opening of a new campground at Wilderness State Park in Emmet County. The campground will open to the public Thursday, June 23, and reservations (which can be make up to six months in advance) will be accepted starting Thursday, Feb. 4, at 8 a.m.
The new campground will boast spectacular views of Lake Michigan. It offers two options for camping, including a full hook-up campground and a tent-only rustic campground.
Full hook-up campground


The full hook-up campground, which includes 18 sites, is located on the wooded dunes looking out over Lake Michigan's Big Stone Bay. All camping units must be self-contained because there is no restroom or shower available. All the sites include water, sewer and electrical hookup. The cost for lakefront sites is $45 per night and other sites are $40 per night.
The majority of visitors will be able to watch the sun set over Lake Michigan right from their own campsite. One of the sites is completely barrier-free, so that all visitors can share in the sights, sounds and feel of a Lake Michigan lakefront site.

That looks like the part of the campground shown on their website as A-Z and AA-BB.

Anyone try these sites or have any luck this morning? I was online at 8 and I saw them become available, but too much competition. By the time I added them to my cart they were unavailable. They were gone in under a minute for the 3 weekends I had available this summer. Michigan state parks are fierce for summer weekends. I seriously had an easier time getting a site on the ocean at Assateague State Park than I did getting into Ludington.

Keep in mind also about what kind of environment you want during your stay.

Mackinaw City has become a zoo over the years in our opinion. Lots of trinket shops, etc.

St. Ignace is the opposite - a more subdued little town.

Both have ferries to Mackinac Island.....yes, there are two spellings in this area. :)

Cdash wrote:
As a FYI if you are considering Wilderness, I just got this in an email from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

DNR announces new camping options at Wilderness State Park
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources hopes campers are excited about the the summer opening of a new campground at Wilderness State Park in Emmet County. The campground will open to the public Thursday, June 23, and reservations (which can be make up to six months in advance) will be accepted starting Thursday, Feb. 4, at 8 a.m.
The new campground will boast spectacular views of Lake Michigan. It offers two options for camping, including a full hook-up campground and a tent-only rustic campground.
Full hook-up campground


The full hook-up campground, which includes 18 sites, is located on the wooded dunes looking out over Lake Michigan's Big Stone Bay. All camping units must be self-contained because there is no restroom or shower available. All the sites include water, sewer and electrical hookup. The cost for lakefront sites is $45 per night and other sites are $40 per night.
The majority of visitors will be able to watch the sun set over Lake Michigan right from their own campsite. One of the sites is completely barrier-free, so that all visitors can share in the sights, sounds and feel of a Lake Michigan lakefront site.

That looks like the part of the campground shown on their website as A-Z and AA-BB.

Excellent! Many thnx.

As a FYI if you are considering Wilderness, I just got this in an email from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:

DNR announces new camping options at Wilderness State Park
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources hopes campers are excited about the the summer opening of a new campground at Wilderness State Park in Emmet County. The campground will open to the public Thursday, June 23, and reservations (which can be make up to six months in advance) will be accepted starting Thursday, Feb. 4, at 8 a.m.
The new campground will boast spectacular views of Lake Michigan. It offers two options for camping, including a full hook-up campground and a tent-only rustic campground.
Full hook-up campground
The full hook-up campground, which includes 18 sites, is located on the wooded dunes looking out over Lake Michigan's Big Stone Bay. All camping units must be self-contained because there is no restroom or shower available. All the sites include water, sewer and electrical hookup. The cost for lakefront sites is $45 per night and other sites are $40 per night.
The majority of visitors will be able to watch the sun set over Lake Michigan right from their own campsite. One of the sites is completely barrier-free, so that all visitors can share in the sights, sounds and feel of a Lake Michigan lakefront site.

Is the "mighty Mac" a TOLL bridge?
(I guess Big Mac was taken?!)

We prefer Mackinac Mill Campground if we are doing Mackinac City and Mackinac Island. There is a lot to do in Mackinac City. Fort Michilimackinac, the Icebreaker Mackinaw, Jack Pine Lumberjack Show is all in or around Mackinaw City. Going across to Mackinac Island and going across the Mackinac Bridge to St.Ignace are fun and interesting things to do. I love walking around both towns.
mackinaw Island is a full day excursion in itself.