Opinions on great Michigan Campgrounds For Young Children

[busterbrown73]

I just purchased a brand new Bullet travel trailer for the family. I thought THAT was the hard part. I'm realizing now that what's even more challenging is planning the many trips we have in store for our young family. For this first season, we'd like to limit travel to the lower peninsula of Michigan as we live in the Detroit area. Northern Ohio has potential though.

So here's the big question for active Michigan members? What campgrounds, state or private, are youth friendly in terms of organized activities, sight seeing, nature walks, beach/pool accessibility, and full of exciting adventures for over-active 6 and under children? We've booked several short trips already, including Ludington SP, Monroe KOA, Port Huron KOA, and South Higgins Lake SP.

Again, campgrounds that cater to 1st graders, kindergartners, and preschoolers are top priority. Clean and safe for obvious reasons. We'd like full hooks ups if possible but could easily do electric only as long as we had a close water source.

Any opinions of where large YOUNG families are venturing out to would be greatly appreciated.

[Fire91]

Add my vote for Barton Lake, Fremont Jellystone.

[wing_zealot]

dodge guy wrote:

busterbrown73 wrote:

wing_zealot wrote:
The first thing you need to do is stop believing you need full hookups. Once you do that you can choose any state park in Michigan and you and your kids will have a great time and not spend your life savings doing it. All the 100 plus state parks have more than adequate showers, bathrooms, etc. But you will only find about 2 that have full hook ups. Generally electric only, which is all you really need. I've been camping at state parks in Michigan for over 20 years.

I agree completely. I'd rather be in a state park than a private park. But since this is my first trailer ever and it'll be its first season of use, I'd wanted to start with a few full hookup CG's to get the process down on setup and takedown of the utilities and connections. At the same time, the private parks are closer to home and KOA had some "buy 1 night/get a second night free" deals for early and late season bookings.

We missed the window on booking many of state park trips as the "in-demand" summer weekends are practically sold out everywhere. I will be prepared this coming Dec through March as 2017's window opens up.

Sounds like the OP has 3? kids! There is no way I would have ever tried no hookups with 3 kids, even 2 for that matter!

Lots of nice places. We really liked Mackinaw Mill Creek campground up by Mackinac Island. beautiful views of the bridge and the island. you can take a leisurely bike ride around the island at the kids speed. we went during 4th of july one year and all the fireworks out over the lake was great. the campground itself is huge and has everything you need, and the kids will love it!

I have 3 kids also, and generally we take a few extra with us also. But hey, what you gotta have when you go camping and what I gotta have can be different. I got no problem with you doing your own thing.

Several times we've spent a week in the smokies and didn't even have electricity or a generator. But that's just how we roll, everyone is different.

[fasteddie]

I live in nw OH , I agree with many of these, we like Frankenmuth in the early and late season the Jellystone there is great but they have some of the tightest sites I have ever seen, the Jellystone in Fremont In was one of our favorites when our kids were young but it gets crazy busy there with kids everywhere and they keep raising the price, we now prefer Pokagon state park in Angola, it has a nice beach and paved trails and a nice lodge/inn on site. The cedar point campground is wonderful , the only way to do cedar point , you get into the park an hour earlier than the general public and get discounted tickets and you can walk back to the camper and just take break from standing in line all day and enjoy lunch or dinner at your camper, it is very pricey though. A couple more to consider that I have not heard yet are Sauder village in Archbold Oh, great campground recently expanded, it has nice full hook up sites, a new splash pad and acess to the indoor pool at the lodge, it is also connected to the historic village that is definitely worthy of a visit. Also Maumee bay state park in Oregon Oh, lots to do there and is really close to Toledo , I would reccomend the Toledo zoo . harbortown in Monroe has nice sites and lots for kids to do, lots of choices within a reasonable drive of your area.

[Rustycamperpant]

We go to Michigan a couple of times a year. We stayed at a KOA last year that the kids loved. It is a new KOA and only had two full hook up sites when we were there (there are many water/electric sites) and the owners are wonderful. The campground is set back in a quiet wooded area, it is Ludington East / Pere Marquette KOA in Branch MI. 49402.

This is a good sized campground that was not crowded at all and is a short drive to the Lake Michigan beach and we spend time there also.

We didn't think the kids would have much to do there, but they absolutely loved playing with all the animals on site in pens (goats) and the owner's dog. Try it, you'll like it. We liked the late night hike to the old cemetary through the woods. You may think you are getting lost in the woods on the way there, but it is worth it. IMO

[dodge_guy]

busterbrown73 wrote:

wing_zealot wrote:
The first thing you need to do is stop believing you need full hookups. Once you do that you can choose any state park in Michigan and you and your kids will have a great time and not spend your life savings doing it. All the 100 plus state parks have more than adequate showers, bathrooms, etc. But you will only find about 2 that have full hook ups. Generally electric only, which is all you really need. I've been camping at state parks in Michigan for over 20 years.

I agree completely. I'd rather be in a state park than a private park. But since this is my first trailer ever and it'll be its first season of use, I'd wanted to start with a few full hookup CG's to get the process down on setup and takedown of the utilities and connections. At the same time, the private parks are closer to home and KOA had some "buy 1 night/get a second night free" deals for early and late season bookings.

We missed the window on booking many of state park trips as the "in-demand" summer weekends are practically sold out everywhere. I will be prepared this coming Dec through March as 2017's window opens up.

Sounds like the OP has 3? kids! There is no way I would have ever tried no hookups with 3 kids, even 2 for that matter!

Lots of nice places. We really liked Mackinaw Mill Creek campground up by Mackinac Island. beautiful views of the bridge and the island. you can take a leisurely bike ride around the island at the kids speed. we went during 4th of july one year and all the fireworks out over the lake was great. the campground itself is huge and has everything you need, and the kids will love it!

[michigansandzil]

busterbrown73 wrote:

1. KOA of Port Huron (two trips)
2. KOA of Monroe (Halloween)
3. Haas Lake Park / New Hudson (our first shake down cruise 2 weeks ago)
4. Duggans Family CG Port Austin
5. Grand Haven SP, Ludington SP, and YB Jellystone Silver Lake (July trip)
6. Tawas SP
7. Yogi Bear Barton Lake, IN
8. Pictured Rocks (Munising Tourist Park CG) and Tahquamenon Falls SP
9. Groveland Oaks for Halloween(Oakland County Parks)
10. Platte River / Sleepy Bear Dunes
11. Cedar point Lighhouse CG (Sandusky); 1 day at the water park
12. A tentative trip to Disney's Fort Wilderness first week of December.

That sounds like a great summer! I'm totally impressed that you got into both Grand Haven and Ludington! That's really difficult to do. Have a great time.

[2gypsies1]

You were lucky to get Platte River c.g. in Sleeping Bear Dunes. That is one that's in very much demand. We volunteered there.

Have a fun year!

[wing_zealot]

busterbrown73 wrote:

wing_zealot wrote:
The first thing you need to do is stop believing you need full hookups. Once you do that you can choose any state park in Michigan and you and your kids will have a great time and not spend your life savings doing it. All the 100 plus state parks have more than adequate showers, bathrooms, etc. But you will only find about 2 that have full hook ups. Generally electric only, which is all you really need. I've been camping at state parks in Michigan for over 20 years.

I agree completely. I'd rather be in a state park than a private park. But since this is my first trailer ever and it'll be its first season of use, I'd wanted to start with a few full hookup CG's to get the process down on setup and takedown of the utilities and connections. At the same time, the private parks are closer to home and KOA had some "buy 1 night/get a second night free" deals for early and late season bookings.

We missed the window on booking many of state park trips as the "in-demand" summer weekends are practically sold out everywhere. I will be prepared this coming Dec through March as 2017's window opens up.

Check Bishop Lake State Park in Brighton. Every weekend from now until the Halloween weekends camping (Sep) has openings. Nice and close to home so you don't even have to spend hours on the road.

[is_it_friday_ye]

Tawas Point State Park.

[is_it_friday_ye]

busterbrown73 wrote:

is it friday yet? wrote:
One of our favorite parks is South Higgins State Park. Big campground with a huge lake that is shallow for a long ways. It's easy to sit on the shore and watch the kids in the water. They have a decent camp store that the kids would like to go get ice cream, etc...

Van Buren State Park is fun also. Big sand dunes that the kids can climb.

I was able to get 2 nights booked at South Higgins SP about 1 month ago. But based on the comments I received regarding swimmer's itch, I decide against it as my children are all under the age of 6. I cancelled those days and instead was able to squeeze a 4 day holiday at Mackinaw's Mill Creek CG on the Fourth of July. We have a lakefront fireworks view so it should be a nice mid summer trip.

We have a combined week planned at Grand Haven SP, Silver Lake YB Jellystone, and Ludington SP. The kids will be "sand-duned" out when we return home. I'll keep the Van Buren park in mind for next year. Thanks

Those signs for swimmers itch have been up for a long time, like several years. We haven't had a problem with it but always dry off well when getting out of the water.

[busterbrown73]

is it friday yet? wrote:
One of our favorite parks is South Higgins State Park. Big campground with a huge lake that is shallow for a long ways. It's easy to sit on the shore and watch the kids in the water. They have a decent camp store that the kids would like to go get ice cream, etc...

Van Buren State Park is fun also. Big sand dunes that the kids can climb.

I was able to get 2 nights booked at South Higgins SP about 1 month ago. But based on the comments I received regarding swimmer's itch, I decide against it as my children are all under the age of 6. I cancelled those days and instead was able to squeeze a 4 day holiday at Mackinaw's Mill Creek CG on the Fourth of July. We have a lakefront fireworks view so it should be a nice mid summer trip.

We have a combined week planned at Grand Haven SP, Silver Lake YB Jellystone, and Ludington SP. The kids will be "sand-duned" out when we return home. I'll keep the Van Buren park in mind for next year. Thanks

[busterbrown73]

wing_zealot wrote:
The first thing you need to do is stop believing you need full hookups. Once you do that you can choose any state park in Michigan and you and your kids will have a great time and not spend your life savings doing it. All the 100 plus state parks have more than adequate showers, bathrooms, etc. But you will only find about 2 that have full hook ups. Generally electric only, which is all you really need. I've been camping at state parks in Michigan for over 20 years.

I agree completely. I'd rather be in a state park than a private park. But since this is my first trailer ever and it'll be its first season of use, I'd wanted to start with a few full hookup CG's to get the process down on setup and takedown of the utilities and connections. At the same time, the private parks are closer to home and KOA had some "buy 1 night/get a second night free" deals for early and late season bookings.

We missed the window on booking many of state park trips as the "in-demand" summer weekends are practically sold out everywhere. I will be prepared this coming Dec through March as 2017's window opens up.

[is_it_friday_ye]

One of our favorite parks is South Higgins State Park. Big campground with a huge lake that is shallow for a long ways. It's easy to sit on the shore and watch the kids in the water. They have a decent camp store that the kids would like to go get ice cream, etc...

Van Buren State Park is fun also. Big sand dunes that the kids can climb.

[wing_zealot]

The first thing you need to do is stop believing you need full hookups. Once you do that you can choose any state park in Michigan and you and your kids will have a great time and not spend your life savings doing it. All the 100 plus state parks have more than adequate showers, bathrooms, etc. But you will only find about 2 that have full hook ups. Generally electric only, which is all you really need. I've been camping at state parks in Michigan for over 20 years.