Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Camping Guide, Michigan

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is an absolutely gorgeous park on the Michigan peninsula.

The park has several overlooks, several of which are located on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, that offer spectacular views of Lake Michigan and its pristine sand dunes.

Text reading "Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Camping Guide by ParkRangerJohn.com" with a photo of a campsite at Platte River Campground in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes Camping

Sleeping Bear Dunes is right on the shore of Lake Michigan and is the perfect getaway to spend time on the water and enjoy beautiful campgrounds.

There are two mainland campgrounds and several island campgrounds and backcountry camping. You have your choice of multiple types of sites, including electric hookups and RV sites.

Make sure to check out my website for more great information on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

SLEEPING BEAR DUNES ENTRANCE FEES

Remember that Sleeping Bear Dunes has an entrance fee separate from camping fees.

Park Entrance Pass - $25.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $20.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Per-Person Entrance Pass—$15.00. Visitors 16 years of age or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

Annual Park Entrance Pass - $45.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

2024 America The Beautiful National Park Pass

Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.

Platte River Campground

The Platte River Campground is super nice! We were very impressed with the number of bathrooms with showers and how much space there is within the campground. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring/fire pit. 96 sites have electric hoolups and have 5 group sites. There is food lockers available seasonally as well as internet connectivity.

A firewood vending machine offers $5 a bundle of firewood on-site. Make sure to bring $1 and $5 bills because that is the only thing the machine takes.

Location: Platte River Campground is located in the southern district of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the lower peninsula of Michigan.

Open: year-round

Number of sites: 179 sites

Campsite #108 Platte River Campground Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Reservations?: yes, reservations can be made on Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777

Campground amenities:

Each loop has restrooms with flush toilets and sinks. Hot showers are also available.

Are RVs allowed? Yes, there are back-in and pull-through sites available. There are also tent sites and walk-in/hike-in sites.

Dump Station? Yes, there is potable water and a sanitation dump station at the entrance of the campground

Generator Hours: Generator use is prohibited at Platte River Campground.

Platte River Campground Map

Platte River Campground Reservations - For the 2019 season, all campsites will be available by reservation! Reserve a campsite up to six months in advance for arrival dates of May 1 through October 15 by calling 1-877-444-6777, or you can make your reservation online.

Platte River Campground Rules to be aware of

Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m.– 6:00 a.m.

Camping is limited to 14 TOTAL days between Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.

You can only burn firewood that is approved by the park service. Firewood may be purchased between the entrances of Loops 2 & 3.

A list of Lakeshore-approved vendors is available at http://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/firewood.htm

Pets must be on a six-foot leash at all times.

An entrance pass for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is required for each vehicle.

Check out more photos and info on the Platte River Campground!

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D.H. Day Campground

The D.H. Day Campground is a rustic campground. The roads are gravel/dirt. Campsites appeared to be closer to each other than in the Platte River Campground. There are vault toilets within the campground. Water is available.

This is an active bear area, so ensure you are prepared to store your food. There are no bear boxes at the campsites. There is year-round cell phone coverage and seasonal internet connectivity. There are no electrical hookups, but there are 19 walk-to/boat-to campsites. Campsites have a picnic table and a fire ring//fire pit for use when there is no burn ban in effect.

Quiet hours at the campground are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Location: One mile north of the Dune Climb

From Traverse City, Michigan, take M-72 west to Empire. Proceed 2.1 miles north of Empire on M-22. Go 4.1 miles north on M-109 to West Harwood Road. Take a left on West Harwood Road and continue all the way to the end of the road to D.H. Day Group Campground.

Number of sites: 88 sites

Campsite at D.H.Day Campground at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Senior Pass and Access Pass holders receive a 50% discount on camping fees.

Reservations? Yes, All campsites at D. H. Day Campground are available via reservation from May 1 through October 15. and first come afterwards

Campground amenities:

RVs allowed?: No

Generator Hours: Generator-use is restricted to sites #1 thru 31 (the first loop) and then only from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Cell Service - Yes

Dump Station - Yes

D.H. Day Campground in at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

2019 camping season, all campsites at D. H. Day Campground will only be available via reservation from May 1 through October 15. Call www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777.

Campground address: 8000 W. Harbor Hwy, Glen Arbor, MI 49636

The phone number is 231-326-4700, ext. 5035

Group Camps at Sleeping Bear Dunes

There are five group campgrounds at Sleeping Bear Dunes. Group campsites may be reserved up to 1 year in advance for May 1 to October 15. For reservations, visit www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777.

D. H. Day Group Campground

This campground accommodates tents only for groups of 7-25 people.

There are 4 sites, and all are reservable.

Reservations are required between May 1 and October 15.

Platte River Group Campground
These sites are hike-ins and accommodate tents only for groups of 7-25 people.

There are a total of 5 sites, and all are reservable.

Reservations are required from May 1 through October 15.

South Manitou Island - Bay Group Campground
These sites accommodate groups of 9-20 people and up to 10 tents.

There are 3 sites, and all are reservable.

Reservations are required from the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend through mid-September.

South Manitou Island - Weather Station Group Campground
These sites accommodate groups of 9-20 people and up to 10 tents.

There are 3 sites, and all are reservable.

Reservations are required from the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend through mid-September.

North Manitou Island - Group Camping
There is an unlimited number of sites, but groups are limited in size to 5-10 people.

No reservations are necessary.

Manitou Islands Ferry and Islands at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Camping on South Manitou Island

Location: South Manitou Group Campground is a tent-only backcountry facility on South Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

South Manitou Island is accessible only by private boat or passenger ferry.

Campers must bring their own toilet paper.

Bay Campground

The Bay Campground is the closest campground to the dock

Open: year-round

Number of sites: 25, maximum of 4 people or 2 tents per site

Reservations?: No, Bay, Weather Station, and Popple campgrounds have individual campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis on the island

Campground amenities:

RVs allowed?: No

Generator Hours:

Bring water filtration equipment since there is no source of purified drinking water.

The transportation of firewood to North and South Manitou Islands is strictly prohibited.

Popple Campground

Open: year-round

Number of sites: 7, -4 persons

Reservations?: No, Bay, Weather Station, and Popple campgrounds have individual campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis on the island

Campground amenities:

RVs allowed?: No

Weather Station Campground

Open: year-round

Number of sites: 20, maximum of 4 people or 2 tents per site

Reservations?: No, Bay, Weather Station, and Popple campgrounds have individual campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis on the island

Campground amenities: fire pits for open fires

RVs allowed?: NO

North Manitou Island Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

North Manitou Island Camping

Backcountry Camping Regulations are in effect on North Manitou Island.

A backcountry permit and fee payment must be completed before camping.

Village Campground contains eight designated campsites, two fire rings, and one outhouse.

Village Campground Campsites for 1-4 persons: 8 Total Sites, 0 Reservable.

Backcountry Camping for 1-4 persons: Unlimited Sites.

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Lodging Near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

There are no lodging options in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Camping is also very popular, and campgrounds fill up fast, so finding a lodge outside the park may be a great option. Here is a map of nearby lodging options to plan your trip to this incredible park!