Looking for Michigan advice

[Big_Shoe]

I'm starting to plan a trip from New Jersey over to Cleveland, Ohio. After Cleveland I want to swing around and head up into Mackinac Island. After that I want to head west and drop back down through Michigan on the west side of Lake Superior. I would appreciate any suggestions on good campgrounds (with hookups) or advice on where to stay away from. Thanks in advance.

[Pirate1]

AAFD wrote:
Try Oakgrove CG in Holland MI, very nice! Also stay away from US23 this summer as they are going to be working on it, basically Michigan in the summer has lots of road work!! Agree with Frankenmuth its a must stop, Mackinaw Mill is a nice place to stay.

KC

Which Stretch of 23?

[AAFD]

Try Oakgrove CG in Holland MI, very nice! Also stay away from US23 this summer as they are going to be working on it, basically Michigan in the summer has lots of road work!! Agree with Frankenmuth its a must stop, Mackinaw Mill is a nice place to stay.

KC

[Mikeborny]

We did sleeping bear dunes and mackinaw island this past summer. Stayed at indigo bluffs rv resort when visiting sleeping bear. About 7 mile drive, but a fabulous higher end resort. We stayed at the KOA in mackinaw city which is a bike ride to get to ferries. Great location, but nothing but a dirty/dusty campground. We were cleaning the RV every time someone came inside.

[tomman58]

We live in Mi and have camped for years. When we started getting long TT's we gave up most state pars because of the smaller sites make sure you check and as stated out of staters pay more. If you want check out the casinos and many have full hook ups and even cable TV. I would suggest that you go to the UP and then down through Wis. Stay away far away from Chicago. Do use 23 north there are many local campgrounds that can be fun check RVreviews for them. The Michigan welcome spots are very well versed and I think you can check out Pure Michigan on the net for free info. Much to do and see hope you have the time.

[Yockeybk]

Suggest you stop off on the way up at Frankenmuth near Saginaw. Lots of German food, worlds biggest Christmas store (Bronners).Its not far off I-75 and is Bavarian Village. You won't regret it. We stayed at the Jellystone Campground...not our usual pick when we travel but it was pet friendly, turned out to be fantastic! Clean, super nice folks and spotless restrooms.

[Big_Shoe]

Thanks everyone for the information.
It gives me something to figure into my planning.

Last summer we somehow got caught up in the Sturgis Bike Rally.
We camped with a lot of nice bikers, but they do take over the area.

[the_silverback]

My bad. I met US31!! M22 is just a side trip start just north of Manistee and coming back at traverse city. them on to the island by lake Michigan.

[bsinmich]

the silverback wrote:
I would go up the west side of the state to the bridge and then thru the UP to Wisconsin. this would avoid Chicago. I would look very hard a private parks along the west side of MI. I am a resident and often find them cheaper (and nicer) by the time all the fees for state parks are added in. I would go up US131, with a side trip around M22 to Mackinaw island, then to sault saint Marie and across the UP on US2, with a side trip to Munising and the pictured rocks.

To see Lake Michigan don't use 131 but 31. US31 goes close to Lake Michigan and is never very far from the lake. I live 200 ft. from US31. It gets confusing with 31 and 131 so close here. M22 doesn't take you to Mackinac Island. You need a ferry for that. M22 goes from the Little River casino and goes past sand dunes, lighthouses, and was voted "most beautiful" a couple years ago.

[the_silverback]

I would go up the west side of the state to the bridge and then thru the UP to Wisconsin. this would avoid Chicago. I would look very hard a private parks along the west side of MI. I am a resident and often find them cheaper (and nicer) by the time all the fees for state parks are added in. I would go up US131, with a side trip around M22 to Mackinaw island, then to sault saint Marie and across the UP on US2, with a side trip to Munising and the pictured rocks.

[2gypsies1]

Plan to reserve now for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's Platte River campground. It's a beauty!! The whole Leelanau Peninsula is a treasure. . . many neat small towns and beauty out of this world. This is the area from Traverse City and westward to the lake.

[dewey02]

I am still unsure of where the OP wants to go.
The west side of Michigan (the state) is the east side of Lake Michigan (the lake).
The west side of Lake Michigan is the east side of Wisconsin (and a bit of Illinois).

So where exactly does the OP want to camp?
We did the trip up the eastern shore of Lake Michigan (west side of the state of Michigan) last June. Nearly all the state parks are great and very scenic. Yes, you will need to buy an out of state permit, but if you are going to camp at more than a couple of state parks, I suggest you buy a season permit. Also, we stayed at the Straits State Park campground when we went to Mackinac Island. Great campground with a view of the big bridge from the campground. Also very near to the ferries that take you to the Island.

Note that the campgrounds along the shore of Lake Michigan get busy, so arrive early, or make reservations. Weekends are especially busy.

[damntough]

Kurt, you should plan a visit to the Henry Ford.

Paul

[rexlion]

The nicest sandy beach stretches of big-lake shoreline tend to be on the western shores of Michigan. This is the Lake Michigan shore from Benton Harbor to Petoskey. There are also some nice views and sandy beach from St. Ignace to Engadine. If this is something you like, you may want to drive the extra miles and pick up US-31 northbound. If not, well, all of Michigan is beautiful.

I'm not sure how far north and west you want to go in the Upper Peninsula (the UP), but we enjoyed staying at the Ontonagon municipal CG. It's right on Lake Superior, the beach is nice, and the place was clean and pleasant when we were there. Porcupine Mountains are nearby, and Lake of the Clouds is picturesque. Also, north of Houghton is McLain SP, which is also on the lake and very pleasant (and the campsites are sought after!); the shoreline drive on M-26 to the tip of the Keeweenaw Peninsula is rocky rather than sandy, but beautiful.

[outofplace]

When we go to Michigan we stay at the soo locks camp ground right in the St Marys river just below the Soo Locks that raise and lower the freighters to lake Superior.Its an hour North of Mackinac Island