Whether campers are looking to wake up to a sunrise over Lake Michigan or a stay at a rustic campsite where everyone feels like family, Leelanau County offers no shortage of places to sleep under the stars.
Tucked in the northern edge of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near the historic village of Glen Haven, D.H. Day Campground carries the distinction of being the oldest campground in the state.
“People don’t want us to change anything,” Walt Owoc, lead staffer at the campground said, adding that it’s that classic rustic style coupled with the prime location that attracts campers.
The campground has 87 sites spread through the forest, with the Lake Michigan shoreline within close walking distance. Since it is a rustic style camp the sites share water spigots and vault toilets, but there are no showers on site. It’s also within walking or biking distance of Glen Arbor, a wide variety of hiking trails and the Dune Climb, making it a convenient base camp for exploring the lakeshore.
The campground runs near capacity for most of the summer.
“Once you get past July 4th, we’re pretty busy all the way through Labor Day,” Owoc said.
Reservations are required May 1 through October 15, though the campground stays open, weather permitting, from late April through late November.
Five miles from the Village of Empire, the Empire Township Campground has built its reputation on loyalty — more than 65% of its guests are regulars, many of whom have been returning for over 20 years and now bring their grandchildren along.
“It’s like a giant family here, a little neighborhood,” campground manager Yolanda Bertaud said. “Guests tend to book the same sites on the same dates year after year and neighbors have gotten to know each other well.
“I would say in general, there are actually happy campers,” she said. “They love their neigh- bors, it’s quiet, there’s no problems, no drama.”
The campground has operated for more than 52 years and offers 60 sites, each with a picnic table and fire ring. Only nine of the sites have electricity. Despite being classified as a rustic campground, they do offer coin operated showers and flush toilets facilities around the grounds. Reservations are handled mainly by email rather than an automated booking system, allowing staff to work directly with campers to find available sites.
“You’re not getting a computer,” Bertaud said. “People feel like they’re all VIPs, which they are.”
Booking for the following summer opens each year after Labor Day.
At the northern tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, Leelanau State Park offers a rustic camping experience built around water views in every direction.
“There’s nothing better than waking up to a sunrise here,” Stephanie Rosinski, Traverse City and Leelanau State Park unit supervisor said. “You get to see the sunset here because we’re at the tip of the peninsula. Looking out and being able to see the islands, to see Charlevoix, and just have that beautiful view being right on the water.”
The campground tends to draw in tent campers and smaller trailers rather than big rigs since most sites can’t accommodate RVs, and the few that can still lack electrical hookups. For those who want to experience the park without bringing all of their own gear, the park also offers mini cabins to stay in. Beyond the campground, visitors can spend the day hiking the Cathead Bay trail system, touring the Grand Traverse Lighthouse and museum, or letting the kids play it out on the park’s playground.
But it’s not the amenities that have people coming back year after year, it’s the atmosphere.
“People love the quiet, the peacefulness, the beauty of the park,” Rosinski said. “We get a lot of repeaters that have their favorite spots. They’re like, ‘Quit telling people what a wonderful park you have. They keep making it harder and harder to get a spot here’.”
