We had never visited Michigan before, until this summer. We had been in 46 state, but not in Michigan or Minesota. So, this summer, we took the plunge. We spent around a month in Michigan. We have loved state parks, throughout these entire wonderful US of A. Therefore, we were very excited about visiting Michigan and made reservations at several parks. We stayed in around a dozen State Parks. I have to report that we were very disappointed. The parks seem to be designed to cram as many folks as possible into as small a space as possible. In many, it looked like a parking lot. Now, these are things that are hard to capture in the park reviews, thus this post. We look back at our time in National Park Service or Forest Service Campgrounds, not so much with the State Parks. Sorry, but that was our experience.
Only experienced one state campground in Michigan, Warren Dunes State Park, and have to agree. Nice park (lake and dunes are spectacular) but campground (sites 94 to 171) were crammed with all different types of campers all mixed together with no privacy and they looked miserable. Looked very similar to a tent city at a rock concert. If you stay at this park sites 67 thru 74 offer privacy but you will have to put up with road noise and the partying beach goers.
Absolutely correct! We live in Michigan and are ashamed to visit our state parks. Every time we take a chance to try one the disappointment sets in. The only one we really enjoy and is operated well is Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling. The rules are enforced and it's clean and neat. As for the other parks it does appear that the more campsites they can get to fit the better, and to heck with any rules and anything goes. REALLY BAD!!! The state needs to get it together or get out of the campground business.
We've only stayed in one MI state campground, and it must be the exception that proves the rule. Straits State Park in St. Ignace is very nice, with well-spaced sites (and new comfort stations!) A good part of that is probably the terrain. OTOH, we drove by Traverse City State Park and it was pretty awful - cramped sites, no privacy. We just kept driving. I do like the MI state reservation system, though.
