Mackinac Island

I'm like jfcoopjr about compromise. I'll take privacy, quiet and scenery over hook-ups any day. If that's okay Wilderness is the place. It's about 10 minutes from the docks. BTW they have electric.

As I mentioned earlier ... it all depends on where you're coming from and where you want to go. If you like the KOAs or the massive private commercialized campgrounds, with enormous playgrounds and built-in pools, by all means, Mill Creek is a great choice.

We don't have children, so we prefer the smaller/quieter, often more picturesque facilities. We might go canoeing or take a dip in a stream or lake. Our humble little TT is self-contained, and we don't like the huge boxy CGs with stacked sites upon sites, and we don't necessarily need the FHU. That's why we prefer Wilderness (Northern Lower Peninsula) or Tahquamenon Falls (Upper Peninsula).

Heck, if you really want color and don't need electric, there are some beautiful State Forest CGs, too. We carry a quiet little Honda eu2000i companion that will charge the batteries and run everything but the a/c ... but who's running the a/c in October, right? Electric is nice, but not necessary.

Late September ... early October ... if you're looking for spectacular colors, you'll find it IN the hardwood forests. I just prefer to wake up in them, instead of having to make a day trip to enjoy them.

As they say, "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder".

I'm not as big a fan of Mill Creek as are some other folks. It's been quite a few years since we were there, so maybe some of the FHU sites where we camped are better than they were, but we felt they were tightly packed together. The CG is HUGE, and has a lot of heavily wooded sites (which we prefer, but at the time none was available in FHU capacity.)

Have seen both Straits & Wilderness SPs and they are lovely, but will not have FHUs. They can also be popular, and have a lot of sites reservable many months ahead.

We liked the St. Ignace KOA, across the bridge on the U.P. Smaller, shaded, and pretty friendly. Not sure how they are for big rigs, though (we had a PUP at the time. :) )

X5 Mill Creek!

X 4 for Mill Creek

X3 Mill Creek

x2 - Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground

I agree, Mill Creek is nice private campground just outside Mackinaw City - clean/nice. However, it really depends on where you're coming from and where you're heading.

Having lived in Gaylord (Northern Lower) for 10 years, my suggestion would be any of the Michigan State Parks from Otsego Lake (Gaylord) north. They've upgraded most of the state facilities since tourism is the major industry north US-10. Gaylord is only 1 hour south of the bridge. A little closer, Petoskey is beautiful (kind of touristy/dining/shopping) ... but my personal favorite Northern Lower on Lake Michigan is Wilderness State Park. There are two campgrounds. Wilderness Lakeshore Campground and Wilderness Pines Campground. For the sheer beauty, you can't beat it.

First week of October will be nice colors, probably peaking in the UP, for sure. There are plenty north of the bridge too, like the Straits State Park (great Lake Michigan view, but a little close to the main highway) and plenty of beautiful and secluded state forest campgrounds (rustic). My personal favorite just north of the "Mighty Mack" is Tahquamenon Falls State Park (any of them are beautiful ... Upper/Lower/Rivermouth each with it's own uniqueness)

Hope that's a start for considering ...

Stayed there last fall only place to stay is

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping http://www.campmackinaw.com/home.htm Mackinaw City Michigan
You should opt for a bridge view sight in the front row. They close for the season in mid October

If you're OK with KOA's we stayed at the one near town. Nice folk.