State Parks With campgrounds on Lake Michigan

Petoskey State Park

• Located on the northern edge of the state along Lake Michigan, Petoskey is a small city comprised of six square miles. According to the city's website, it has been mentioned in the book "The 100 Best Small Towns in America." Though Petoskey is home to numerous hotels, bed and breakfasts and resorts, many visitors to the area choose to stay at Petoskey State Park campground, instead. As noted by the DNR, the campground has been operational since 1970. The state park covers 303 acres and offers plenty of beach space. Home to two modern tent campgrounds, Petoskey State Park has 98 campsites at Tannery Creek and 70 sites at the Petoskey Dunes. annery Creek campgrounds also have cabin service.

  2475 M-119 Hwy.
  Petoskey, MI 49712
  231-347-2311
  http://www.dnr.state.mi.us

Ludington State Park

• Ludington is considered part of Northern Michigan, though the city is in the middle of the Lower Peninsula's western shoreline. Ludington State Park is home to several beaches and more than 5,300 acres of land along Lake Michigan. There are four interrelated campgrounds at Ludington State Park that make up more than 350 individual campsites: Ludington-Beechwood, Ludington-Cedars, Ludington Jack Pine Hike-In and the Ludington Pines. Cabins and tent sites are both available. The Jack Pine Hike-in Sites in its entirety and some of the Cedars are designated as completely rustic, meaning showers are not available, and campers must use rustic toilet systems.

  Michigan's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) notes that campgrounds at Ludington State Park are busiest between May and October---a time span encompassing Michigan's warmest months of the year. Campers can fish, picnic, hike and boat along Lake Michigan. Those who don't wish to experience strenuous camping activities can take in the beauty of the springtime flower blossoming or the autumn leaves changing color. For winter lovers, the campgrounds are open year-round to accommodate skiing and hunting. Fees change per campsite and season. According to TouringMichigan, Ludington State Park Campgrounds are collectively voted the No. 1 Michigan campgrounds.

  Ludington State Park
  8800 W. M-116
  Ludington, MI 49431
  231-843-2423
  http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/

Fisherman's Island State Park

• Just south of the popular sightseeing city of Charlevoix, Fisherman's Island State Park covers more than 2,600 acres of land, including five miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Formerly an island, Fisherman's Island is now considered a peninsula due to decreased lake levels that have connected the piece of land to the Lower Peninsula via a strip of shoreline. Although the state park campground has been in existence since 1973, many locals still refer to it as Bell's Bay Park,
  The campground features 75 rustic campsites amongst the lakeshore's dunes, according to the park's website. Hunting is allowed at the campground during allotted times of the year, and day camping areas---including grills, picnic areas, and shores designated for swimming---are also available at Fisherman's Island State Park.

  Fisherman's Island State Park
  16480 Bells Bay Rd
  Charlevoix, MI
  23-547-6641
  http://www.fishermansisland.com/