Trip to Mackinaw Island/Mackinaw City

[Jerseytrailer]

I know it’s early but as we all know we need to start planing for next years adventures. My wife and I are planning a trip next year to visit Mackinaw Island, having never traveled out to the Midwest with our trailer. Since we live in New Jersey we are looking for suggestions from others for places to camp on our way out and a place to camp while in that area as well as what is the best time of the year for visiting this area. I would think it will take us about 2-3 days to get out there since I like to be off road after about 5 hours of driving. Any suggestions or ideas would greatly be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[sherman12]

Hey Jersey, Michigan has some great state parks. The West Coast of Michigan along Lake Michigan is wonderful with places like Saugatuck, Holland, Muskegon, Grand Haven, Petosky, and others worth visiting. There are state parks following up the coast, usually with 30A electric only. Going this way will take you almost right into Traverse City. You want to plan a few days here at Traverse City State Park which is huge, 300 + sites. There is a walking bridge over the highway to a beautiful sandy beach on Lake Michigan. Downtown Traverse City is only 3 miles away. This area is also near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore. Well worth the visit for a day. From TC you would also want to plan a day trip up the Leeland Penisula taking you to waterfront towns, fresh catch seafood, wineries, and other delights.

Going up the East Coast, probably easier coming from NJ plan a stop at Sterling SP, in the town of Monroe. This CG is located on the shores of Lake Erie with views of the lake. They have FHU sites and 30A. I stayed there this past September to head to the Ford Museum. Even though it is about a 30-minute drive to Dearborn and the Museum it's a quick ride on I75. If you go to the museum plan on at least two days to see it all. From here motor up I75 to Frankenmuth Michigan. This authentic Bavarian Village is worth a day or two visit. Before our stay at Sterling SP, we were in Frankenmuth for Octoborfest (a blast). Great private campground with 90% pull-thru FHU sites is less than 3 miles from town, Pine Ridge Campground, about $56 nightly. We've stayed here a couple of times. From Frankenmuth head back up I75 to Bay City, MI. Great small city with Bay City SP one of the better SPs we have stayed at. From here you can head over to Traverse City, there probably are more state parks along the lake shore if you check it out.

In Mackinaw City, try to get a site at Wilderness SP, right on the shore of Lake Michigan. A Great CG! only 6 miles from downtown Mackinaw City and the ferries to Mackinaw Island. If you travel with your own bikes, for an extra fee you can take them with you to Mackinaw Island.

Hope this helps, Michigan is one of our favorite states to RV in, a lot of great state parks and places to go and see.

 

[TomfromtheSoo]

Hey Jersey, Michigan has some great state parks. The West Coast of Michigan along Lake Michigan is wonderful with places like Saugatuck, Holland, Muskegon, Grand Haven, Petosky, and others worth visiting. There are state parks following up the coast, usually with 30A electric only. Going this way will take you almost right into Traverse City. You want to plan a few days here at Traverse City State Park which is huge, 300 + sites. There is a walking bridge over the highway to a beautiful sandy beach on Lake Michigan. Downtown Traverse City is only 3 miles away. This area is also near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore. Well worth the visit for a day. From TC you would also want to plan a day trip up the Leeland Penisula taking you to waterfront towns, fresh catch seafood, wineries, and other delights.

Going up the East Coast, probably easier coming from NJ plan a stop at Sterling SP, in the town of Monroe. This CG is located on the shores of Lake Erie with views of the lake. They have FHU sites and 30A. I stayed there this past September to head to the Ford Museum. Even though it is about a 30-minute drive to Dearborn and the Museum it's a quick ride on I75. If you go to the museum plan on at least two days to see it all. From here motor up I75 to Frankenmuth Michigan. This authentic Bavarian Village is worth a day or two visit. Before our stay at Sterling SP, we were in Frankenmuth for Octoborfest (a blast). Great private campground with 90% pull-thru FHU sites is less than 3 miles from town, Pine Ridge Campground, about $56 nightly. We've stayed here a couple of times. From Frankenmuth head back up I75 to Bay City, MI. Great small city with Bay City SP one of the better SPs we have stayed at. From here you can head over to Traverse City, there probably are more state parks along the lake shore if you check it out.

In Mackinaw City, try to get a site at Wilderness SP, right on the shore of Lake Michigan. A Great CG! only 6 miles from downtown Mackinaw City and the ferries to Mackinaw Island. If you travel with your own bikes, for an extra fee you can take them with you to Mackinaw Island.

Hope this helps, Michigan is one of our favorite states to RV in, a lot of great state parks and places to go and see.

Everything that Sherman said is spot on correct. But just FYI Michigan is working their way through State Park improvements. Some parks have been closed for remodeling/improvements in the last couple years and Traverse City is scheduled to close after July 7 next year. The parks we’ve visited after upgrades have had new bath houses, updated utilities and just an overall better experience.

https://www.9and10news.com/2024/11/01/traverse-city-state-park-campground-will-temporarily-close/

 

[sherman12]

Tom, that sounds great with the upgrades. A couple of Michigan parks we stayed at in the past—Yankee Springs come to mind—could really use the upgraded utilities. When we stayed at Bay City SP in September, one of the first things we noticed was new electrical pedestals and locations in each site.

 

[Rhumblefish]

X3 - Sherman12 nails it, and Tom's advice is well heeded.

MI is one of our very favorite states to visit, the camping and weather is sublime. Reservations are going to be key, MI is a popular destination in high season and camping spots are coveted (and often FULL, especially parks/resorts near the water). The western shore (Lake Michigan) is more geared to tourism than the eastern shore (Huron, and a small piece of Erie), but there's still plenty. So long as you're over by Mackinac City, you're within striking distance of the east shore. Leelanau peninsula is particularly lovely, and plenty of towns with charm and pie. Mind the flies (and where you step, thank you horses) on the island.

You'll likely go up 75 from the Detroit side up to the tip of the mitt. If you've got time, getting up to the UP over the Mac Bridge can be a nice day trip, and you can add the Locks at the Soo, and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish point up on Superior, and add another lake to your belt.

We're state park people, so we try to book out well in advance. Depending on the places you want to stay (private, state, county, boondocking, etc), you will be subject to their individual reservation policies, and if they hold room for first-come/first-serve campers (many do not). You'll also need a MI park passport sticker for state parks (avail ahead of time, or at camp in MI). I highly recommend considering being able to support some amount of flexibility - be it with being able to move from park to park based on availability, or overnighting (either in a free spot/Cracker Barrel parking lot, or with a Boondockers Welcome/Harvest Host membership - also make sure you/your rig can overnight/boondock: be it battery, generator (be courteous), water on board, etc). If you choose a Harvest Host membership, you may find it advantageous to add Golf/premium membership simply because of the additional sites you can access. (Of course, you can also do this as soon as you need it from the website, so no real need to purchase ahead of time/untill you need it).

tl;dr: MI is a GREAT place, very popular. LOTS to do and see (practically overwhelming). A complete travel plan AND reservations are strongly encouraged.

Hope this helps. Just my .02. I could be - and often am - wrong.

 

[sherman12]

X2 on visiting the Ship Wreck Museum!