Need a break from concrete and heat? Here's where you can get away within an hour of home

Mike Ellis, Lansing State Journal
·5 min read

LANSING — A recent parks survey among Ingham County residents shows people want to camp — but close to home.

County officials listened, and the first county campsite could open by spring of 2025, said Tim Morgan, the director of the county's parks department.

Officials are planning cabins at a county park as a step into campsites, using a state grant to pay for the improvements.

But in the meantime, here are 10 places to camp within a reasonable drive of Lansing.

Most campgrounds are within a 30-minute to 60-minute drive from downtown Lansing, so people can squeeze in an adventure without the long commute.

Here's a look at where you can hang your hammock nearby:

Sleepy Hollow State Park, 7835 E. Price Road, Victor Township, Clinton County

The more than 2,600-acre state park has beaches for people and dogs, trails for walking and horseback riding, and a wide variety of camping activities, including along the shore of Lake Ovid.

Reservations are still available for the summer, although plan on checking ahead and reserving a campsite. The state park has sites for tents and RVs. The park offers 181 modern campsites, along with one modern cabin and one rustic cabin.

Required for state parks, Michigan residents can purchase a $12 Recreation Passport through the Secretary of State when renewing license tabs. There's an additional $5 fee for buying at the parks. Non-residents can pay $9 for a day pass or $34 for the year. Camping is generally an additional cost based on the site, the date and number of people.

Visit www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails for reservations and more state park information.

Campers and others who have a state parks passport, enjoy Lake Ovid Beach at Sleepy Hollow State Park on Sunday, July 9, 2023.
Campers and others who have a state parks passport, enjoy Lake Ovid Beach at Sleepy Hollow State Park on Sunday, July 9, 2023.

Lansing Cottonwood Campgrounds, 5339 N. Aurelius Road, Lansing, Ingham County

The campground has been hosting people since Memorial Day 1972. It was a KOA campground for many years. It has more than 100 sites and can accommodate the largest RVs or rustic tent sites with plenty of in-between spaces. There are 10 rustic and 25 primitive sites.

There are two small lakes on the site, three and seven acres, featuring beaches as well as rentals of kayaks and paddle boats.

Erle Davidson, of Ontario, Canada, sits in the shade of his fifth wheel and reads in the mid-afternoon sun Friday, July 23, 2016 at the Cottonwood Campground.
Erle Davidson, of Ontario, Canada, sits in the shade of his fifth wheel and reads in the mid-afternoon sun Friday, July 23, 2016 at the Cottonwood Campground.

Ionia State Recreation Area Campground, 2880 W. David Highway, Ionia, Ionia County

The 4,500-acre recreation area's campground is open year-round and can accommodate RVs. There are 166 sites with various amenities. It has 4 miles of frontage on the Grand River and a lake. Wildlife enthusiasts can see some of the 199 types of birds identified by the National Audubon Society.

Reservations can be made at https://midnrreservations.com/.

Walnut Hills Family Campground and RV Park, 7685 Lehring Road, Burns Township, Shiawassee County

The campground has RV sites, camping cabins, and tent sites. It also has inflatable water park features, kayaking, canoeing, tubing, a beach along the Shiawassee River, an arcade, sports fields and fishing.

The site can accommodate RVs and has cabin rentals.

Campsites at Fort Custer Recreation Area in Augusta on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
Campsites at Fort Custer Recreation Area in Augusta on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

Fort Custer Recreation Area, 5163 Fort Custer Drive, Augusta, Calhoun County

The campground between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo offers modern and equestrian campsites, three lakes, the Kalamazoo River, a swimming beach and trails.

The modern campsite is expected to close in mid-September for renovations and reopen in July 2024.

Yankee Springs Recreation Area, 2104 S. Briggs Road, Middleville, Barry County

The state park boasts more than 5,000 acres and nine lakes, as well as 307 campsites and cabins. A variety of activities are available from horse trails and metal detecting to hiking and biking trails. Planned improvements to the Gun Lake campsite, which would have closed it for the year, have been delayed so the site is taking reservations this year.

Frankenmuth Jellystone Park Camp Resort, 1339 Weiss St., Frankenmuth, Saginaw County

The camp and resort caters to RVs with some tent sites available, along with regular activities. There are 340 sites at the resort. The campground also includes a pool, spa and minigolf course.

Eaton County Fairgrounds, 1025 S. Cochran Ave., Charlotte, Eaton County

The fairgrounds can handle RVs and camping, with RV hookups and showers available.

Potter Park Zoo, 1301 Pennsylvania Drive, Lansing, Ingham County

The zoo offers group camping events this summer on July 14 and Aug. 12. To register, visit here. The zoo also can accommodate large groups of 18 or more with advance reservations.

A bit longer drive

The Au Sable Light Station on the southern shore of Lake Superior in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore between Grand Marais and Munising, as seen from the North Country Trail on May 14, 2022.
The Au Sable Light Station on the southern shore of Lake Superior in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore between Grand Marais and Munising, as seen from the North Country Trail on May 14, 2022.

Michigan is home to several national parks. Most of them are more than an hour and a half drive from the Lansing area, including one of the state's most popular sites, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and the least-visited national park in the continental U.S.: Isle Royale National Park, which encompasses a Lake Superior island.

There are three national parks within a two-hour drive from Lansing, but the MotorCities National Heritage Area in Detroit and River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Monroe don't offer camping.

The North Country National Scenic Trail is a good option for seasoned hikers. The trail spans eight states, with Michigan having the longest portion: 1,500 miles. The trail crosses much of the state, including a west-east path across the Upper Peninsula connecting to Wisconsin, the 5 miles of Mackinac Bridge and 600 miles of trail along the western side of the state and then to Ohio.

A trailhead is in Newaygo, about an hour and 45 minutes from downtown Lansing. Camping is available along the trail. Check northcountrytrail.org for detailed guidance and up-to-date trail conditions.

Still to come

The entrance to Burchfield Park on Tuesday, March 2, 2022, in Holt.
The entrance to Burchfield Park on Tuesday, March 2, 2022, in Holt.

Ingham County cabins, Burchfield Park, 881 Grovenburg Road, Holt, Ingham County — coming soon

Of people who responded to the county parks survey, 50% said they wanted to see camping at Burchfield Park.

You're not going to be able to book these this summer or next. They're not built, or even designed, but a cabin campsite is in the works for Burchfield Park/McNamara Landing. The county does not currently offer camping at the 540-acre park.

The county has $1 million in grants for the cabins, half from a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant and half from a county match.

The cabins are expected to be open by spring 2025, with more design information anticipated this fall, Morgan said.

It's the first step toward getting county parks camping, he said.

Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Campgrounds a short drive from Lansing offer quick getaway options