Traverse City Campgrounds

Try Interlochen State Park. It's not far from Traverse City and is a huge park.

http://www.holidayparktc.com/sitemap/

We stayed there. Nice place, a couple miles to Traverse City, and about 30min to Sleeping Bear.

We could not get into Sleeping Bear either. We now have reservations at Indigo Bluffs RV Resort in Empire, Michigan. Have a great trip.

We stayed at the Petoskey KOA and it was fine. Not too far to the Dunes.

We are staying at Wispering Pines campground in Mancelonia right now. About an hour east of TC, but a nice quiet campground with lots of full hookup sites available. They are only about 1/4 full right now. Nice pool, laundry facilities, tennis court.

We always stay at Timber Ridge.

You probably tried to get into Platte River C.G. at Sleeping Bear Dunes - just about impossible at the last minute. (We volunteered there) The park also has another campground - D.H. Day that doesn't accept reservations but you'd need to get there early morning.

Here are some parks just south of Sleeping Bear that you might try - gorgeous areas:

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/michigan/frankfort

While there, take the day ferry over to South Manitou Island from Leland and tour the lighthouse. (We gave the tours) :)

We're very partial to this whole area and it's a popular one for getting a campsite.

Interlocken State Park is nice if you can score a site. Take in one of the music concerts while there.

We stayed at Traverse City State Park. About 40 minutes from the dunes. Surprisingly, tt was a nice park in the woods, right in the middle of town. I'd stay there again.