Our most recent adventure took us camping in northern Michigan. We were able to get a reservation at Platte River Campground. Let me tell you, that was no easy feat. National parks run on a rolling 6 month reservation system. You can book up to ten days starting on the 6 month mark from your first day. I had to try about 12 times in order to score a reservation. I reserved 6 days even though I couldn’t go until Friday because when I tried to book with a start day of Friday, everything was already booked. I booked from Tuesday through Sunday on a Non-Electric site. We wanted to get an electric site, however, those were even harder to get. Regardless, We got a spot and we were VERY happy!
Platte River Campground
Platte River Campground sites are very spacious and wooded. The bathrooms and showers are very nice and most of the time they are pretty clean. It is also very quiet. This campground is a National Parks campground. There is a ranger station at the entrance of the campground which is where you check in. There is no camp store in this campground. Also, there isn’t a gate nor guard station to check in/out when you come and go. Rates are reasonable for both electric and non-electric sites. Check out the campground website here.
You must get a National Parks pass for your vehicle. This will also get you into the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb area, parking at the lakeshore down the road, as well as any other Sleeping Bear Park areas. The cheapest pass is a 7 day pass for $25. You can also get an annual pass for $80. Seniors can get a Lifetime pass for $80 or an annual pass for $20. If you are Military Active duty or retired, you can get an annual pass for free. Check out the Park Pass information here.
Hiking and Lake Michigan Beach
There are nice trails around the campground, one leading directly to Lake Michigan. It is quite a hike though, this is not close to the beach at all. (1.8 miles from the closest loop). However, you can ride your bike down a trail to a dirt road that leads to a day use beach area. It is only about a 6 minute bike ride away. The other option to go to the beach is to drive down to the end of Lake Michigan road (M708) where the Platte river empties into Lake Michigan. Platte River Point is a nice beach area as well. Check out a map here.
Canoeing, Kayaking, Tubing
Just up the road is a fantastic livery called Riverside Canoe Trips. This livery is a short bike ride away from the campground and has everything from gas to souvenirs to camping essentials to grilled burgers and beyond. We rented canoes and kayaks for a quick fun river trip. There are so many options to choose from and have experienced staff to explain everything and get you the right option to fit you and your family. If you need any camping supplies, this is the place to get it. If you want a souvenir, they have a ton of choices and styles. The staff are super friendly and helpful. From the first interaction on the phone to the last stack of wood for our fire and gas on the way out, every single interaction was pleasant. You can check out their website here.
Sleeping Bear Dune Climb
There isn’t much to say about this, other than it is pretty amazing and fun! Pictures say it all. We only climbed to the top of the first big dune. You can hike all the way to Lake Michigan, but that is a long tiring hike and the only way to get back to your car is to hike all the way back. A ton of people make the journey and spend the day at the lake, but we were not that adventurous. Check out more information here.
We had a great fun and relaxing time at Sleeping Bear dunes and Platte River area. I highly recommend staying here and visiting this area. We have been camping at several places throughout the state of Michigan over the past few years and this campground is probably the best so far. Everyone in my family agrees. So pack up your camping gear and head to the dunes!
Where are your favorite camping spots? Leave a comment below, I would love to check out some new places. Cheers and thanks for reading!
The Mouse Traveler 