Travel Guides
Travel Guides
Discovering Michigan’s State Parks and National Lakeshores By RV
From Great Lakes shorelines and towering dunes to forested trails and cascading waterfalls, Michigan's parks are rich with natural diversity and year-round adventure.
Overview
With over 100 state parks and recreation areas, Michigan is an outdoor lover’s dream—and a perfect destination for RV travelers. From Great Lakes shorelines and towering dunes to forested trails and cascading waterfalls, Michigan's parks are rich with natural diversity and year-round adventure.
Whether you're looking for a family beach vacation, a remote hiking getaway, or a scenic paddling trip, Michigan’s parks deliver. And when it comes to camping, nearby privately owned RV parks offer convenient access to these destinations, often with extra amenities like full hookups, pools, playgrounds, and organized activities, perfect for folks that embrace glamping more than camping.
Here are some of Michigan’s most unforgettable parks and lakeshores, along with nearby campgrounds that make RVing in the Great Lakes State a breeze.
1
Duck Lake State Park
Located along the Lake Michigan shoreline near Muskegon, Duck Lake State Park is a favorite for day-use visitors. A small, shallow channel connects Duck Lake to Lake Michigan, making it a perfect spot for paddling, swimming, and fishing. The park features a sandy beach, boat launch, picnic area, and a scenic mix of towering dunes, mature forest, and meadows.
The park’s seven miles of natural surface trails are popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers. It's also a great birding destination, offering important stopover habitat for migratory songbirds like the cerulean and hooded warblers.
Nearby Campground:
Fisherman’s Landing & Campground (Muskegon, MI): Located on Muskegon Lake, this campground features boat access, fishing, and a laid-back atmosphere close to the area’s top parks.
2
Hoffmaster State Park
Nestled along three miles of pristine Lake Michigan shoreline, Hoffmaster State Park offers sweeping views from its sandy bluffs and excellent opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing. The park’s 10 miles of trails include the Dune Climb Stairway, which leads to panoramic views of the lake and surrounding dunes.
The Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center provides educational exhibits and naturalist-led programs, making it a popular destination for families and school groups.
Nearby Campground:
Duck Creek RV Resort (Muskegon, MI): Just minutes from Duck Lake and Lake Michigan, this full-service RV resort offers spacious sites, a pool, sports courts, and playgrounds. It’s a great choice for families exploring Michigan’s west coast.
3
Muskegon State Park
Stretching along both Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake, this park features three miles of sandy shoreline and forested sand dunes perfect for hiking, biking, and beach days. The Lake Michigan Trail and Dune Ridge Trail offer great views and varied terrain, while the winter sports complex (including a luge track) makes it a year-round destination.
Snug Harbor and Muskegon Lake also offer opportunities for fishing and kayaking, and the park’s two campgrounds provide direct access to the natural beauty of the region.
Nearby Campground:
Fisherman’s Landing & Campground (Muskegon, MI): Offers waterfront camping and easy access to Muskegon State Park and the surrounding area.
4
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks is one of the most spectacular locations in the Midwest. Towering sandstone cliffs, hidden beaches, forest trails, waterfalls, and dramatic rock formations make this a bucket-list destination. Located along the Lake Superior shoreline in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the park is a haven for hikers, paddlers, and photographers.
Visitors can kayak along the base of the cliffs, hike inland trails, or take a scenic boat cruise. While the lakeshore offers rustic National Park Service campgrounds, nearby private campgrounds provide more amenities for RVers.
Nearby Campground:
Big Cedar Campground & Canoe Livery (Germfask, MI): Just over an hour from Pictured Rocks, this peaceful, family-friendly campground is located along the Manistique River and offers canoe and kayak rentals. It’s a great home base for exploring the central Upper Peninsula.
5
Silver Lake State Park
Silver Lake State Park is a magnet for adventure seekers. The park includes 3,000 acres along Lake Michigan and is home to the only sand dunes in the Midwest where you can drive off-road vehicles (ORVs). The 500-acre ORV scramble area draws thrill-seekers from across the region.
The day-use area along inland Silver Lake is perfect for swimming, kayaking, and relaxing. The park is a favorite summer vacation spot for RV families looking to mix beach time with adrenaline.
Nearby Campground:
Dune Town Camp Resort (Silver Lake, MI): This full-service campground caters to dune riders and beachgoers with amenities like RV hookups, a pool, camp store, and easy access to the ORV entrance and beach.
6
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Named the “Most Beautiful Place in America” by Good Morning America, Sleeping Bear Dunes lives up to the hype. Located along the Leelanau Peninsula, this national lakeshore features towering sand dunes (some rising over 400 feet above Lake Michigan), pristine beaches, inland lakes, forests, and the scenic Pierce Stocking Drive.
Popular activities include hiking the Dune Climb, kayaking Crystal River, exploring historic Glen Haven Village, and catching sunset views from Empire Bluff.
Nearby Campground:
Indigo Bluffs RV Park & Resort (Empire, MI): This upscale RV resort offers full hookups, scenic sites, and top-notch amenities just minutes from the park entrance. It’s a favorite among RVers visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes.
7
Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Located in Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula, Tahquamenon Falls State Park is home to the impressive Upper Falls, one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. The Lower Falls, a series of smaller cascades, can be explored by rowboat or via a scenic trail.
The park includes over 40 miles of hiking trails through cedar swamps and hardwood forests, making it a peaceful destination for those seeking solitude and natural beauty.
Nearby Campground:
Big Cedar Campground & Canoe Livery (Germfask, MI): About an hour from the park, this campground is a convenient base for exploring both Tahquamenon Falls and Pictured Rocks.
Plan Your Michigan RV Adventure
From the dramatic cliffs of Pictured Rocks to the towering dunes of Silver Lake, Michigan’s parks offer some of the most diverse and awe-inspiring landscapes in the Midwest. With an abundance of gateway RV campgrounds—many offering full hookups and family-friendly amenities—it’s easy to craft the perfect Michigan road trip for your style of camping.
