Best Camping Season Ever!…read more I'll admit, when I first looked into Shady Oaks Campground and RV Park, I came across some harsh reviews. But I later discovered that these were left by individuals who had been asked to leave due to policy enforcement. So, I decided to visit with an open mind--and I'm so glad I did! From the moment I arrived, Chuck and Richard welcomed me with warmth and genuine hospitality. They go above and beyond to create a friendly and accommodating environment for all their guests. It's clear that they take pride in maintaining a well-run park that prioritizes a great experience for responsible campers. The campground is ideally located near the charming town of Tawas City, where you'll find delightful shops, cozy restaurants, and a laid-back atmosphere that's perfect for strolling around and soaking up the local flavor. Lake Huron's stunning beaches are just a short drive away, offering breathtaking views and a perfect place to relax or take a refreshing dip. For fellow anglers, this place is a dream! I brought my boat and spent an unforgettable season catching more Walleye and Salmon than I could handle. The waters here are teeming with fish, making every outing an exciting adventure. Shady Oaks even has designated parking for boats and ATVs, so you can bring all your gear without worry! Shady Oaks offers a peaceful setting with well-kept amenities, making it the perfect place to enjoy everything northern Michigan has to offer. I had such a fantastic stay that I can't wait to return for the 2025 season! If you're looking for a welcoming and well-maintained campground, this is the spot. Don't let the old negativity fool you--Shady Oaks is a fantastic place run by fantastic people like Chuck and Richard! Video of the campground. https://youtu.be/IFmNtuQAsjk?si=sag_iOnh9vwdx0DU

Terrible owners. Left after many many years. Website is very…read moremisleading about river front campsites. Look at the actual google map. There's houses and another road between the campground and the river. Don't waste your time or MONEY at this place.

By sheer luck, we were able to snag a spot for Father's Day weekend. It wasn't just any spot, it…read morewas one of the few non-permanent spots with an unobstructed view of Tawas Bay/Lake Huron. We were able to hear the waves crashing and we basically had a private beach. You couldn't book online, but the person who helped us set up the reservation was very courteous. When we arrived with our camper, the manager actually rode his bike in front of us to guide us to our spot and helped my husband as he was backing up the camper so that the door would open right on the cement pad. It does come with an above ground half barrel firepit. We didn't use their facilities since we had full hookup (I'm pretty sure all the spots have full hookup). The playground, albeit small, was within view of our campsite so we were ok with letting the kids go play on it while we set up camp. And it looks like they have a boat onsite that you can charter out for fishing, but with just the 4 of us and 2 of us until the age of 7, it wouldn't have been a value add to the quality of our trip, especially since I was pretty familiar with the Tawas area and we were less than 10 minutes from downtown. If you're looking for a party campground, this isn't it. There are a lot of seasonal and permanent residents onsite, so weekend sites are hard to come by. My family enjoyed the experience so much, we plan on calling them early next year to try to get the same spot way in advance so we can go swimming from our own private beach again! Highly recommended.

We stayed here this past summer, 2013 and it was very quiet and serene. You would never know it was…read moretucked in the woods just off the main road. You were close to town, (Tawas), and the farmers market and all shopping. You had your own private beach and boat hook up. They even hosted a Chartered Dinner Cruise on the weekends. The sunrise was breathtaking and worth getting up early to see.

This place is falling apart. The manager dose not care about this place or there job. The web site…read moreis a total lie. The is no wi-fi no bath house. Management is hard to get a hold of. This place is a dump. The city should shut this place down.

This is a great little RV Park (about 100 spaces) right near Lake Huron. The sites are clean and…read morelevel. Everyone is extremely friendly. And if you like fishing or boating, you've got access to the Tawas River right in the park. We had a really nice, very quiet and relaxing stay. Got to do some fishing. Paddled around exploring in our canoe. Visited the Tawas Point Lighthouse. And we even spent some time relaxing on the beach. This is a really nice park in a great spot. We will definitely go back here.

They have a 5 MPH speed limit in this park. I have a stick shift and was in 1st gear going no more…read morethan 7 MPH and I was chased down by a staff member who said I was "flying" who then proceeded to tell me I'm banned from parking at the trailer we PAID for and I have to park up front and walk in now for the rest of our stay. Maybe they have had issues or something with people "speeding" before but I'm sorry I feel this is a bit extreme to be chased down like this.

We camped at Outdoor Adventure Lakes of the North resort campground in west branch, Mi. in June…read more Clean, but floors in shower room are quite slippery. They should fix that, even though sign are posted that they are slippery. The pool was great, warm, clean. Activities could be improved upon however. People do not read the paper or even remember to pick one up and nobody reads the whitewash board with printed activities listed on it. We lost our power twice throughout the whole campground for a few hours each time but all in all it gave everyone an opportunity to get out and about and gab with their neighbors. Playground equipment is need of minor repair but the kids liked it anyways. This park is for the older generation by far compared to their other parks. Clean, neat, quiet. We enjoyed our stay very much. They are working on this park to improve it like making pretty wooden benches to sit on, a volley ball court, and other things. It is a work in progress. I give this park four stars at this time.

Though it showed some wear and tear (a few scuffs on the walls, edges of wallpaper peeling away,…read moresome holes in carpet), my room was generally clean and comfortable. Refrigerator and microwave were placed on top of the desk, so if you were planning to bring some work (as I often do but fortunately didn't have to on this trip) you won't find much space to do it. Bed was a little soft, but I still slept well. So, nothing great, but a less expensive and quieter alternative to the places in West Branch near I-75. I would have no problem going back.

This place is a hidden gem very friendly staff, clean room…read moreand biker friendly They have a wonderful pond out front where they have seating and a fire pit and along with a gazebo in the middle of the pond Rooms that open right up to the outside where you can sit and enjoy the evening Inexpensive and close to restaurants and party stores Definitely will come back huge thank you to the lady at the office was amazingly helpful and made the stay that much better with her suggestions about where to go in the area If you're on your motorcycle and need to stop for any reason, stop here

My family and friends rented units at the Riptide for a week in August 2025. The Riptide is NOT…read morefamily friendly. On Thursday, friends of the owner began arriving. They smoked marijuana everywhere, parking lot, beach, fire pit, water, and when asked to please refrain from smoking around our children and us, we were told NO. They had a speaker the size of a grill and played their music (male genitals on the ground songs) we struggled to hear each other talk. Again, when asked to be considerate and turn their music down, we were told NO. Since they are 'friends with the owner', the manager was unable to help and was told by the manager to talk to them and work it out. When I did talk with them around the fire pit and expressed how we felt, I was verbally abused and had to threaten to call the police when I was physically threatened. We left early.

this was an unexpected place to spend time with extended family. very clean and relaxing stay. the…read morelittle things that were taken care of that wasn't expected. we had a mini family reunion. we went out for dinner and when we returned there was a nice campfire going. thank you riptide. we will you next year. Tom berden

My parents clued me in to the history of this place, and to its new ownership. We all went with my…read moreson, and had both a great meal and a nice chat with the owner. The staff were very attentive (and seemed to know most of the customers as they came through the door), the food came out in a very reasonable time, and was high quality. The restaurant was clean and tidy. I'll be back, probably the next time I'm in the area!

Happy grand reopening after your remodel!!…read more The food was good, but with a full restaurant it came out very slowly, suggesting there isn't enough kitchen staff and/or the capacity of kitchen equipment is too small. There was only one waitress for the entire back area that was full for a band performance. I felt bad for her, but she kept at it and by the end of the evening all had gone well.

Michigan has spaced these rest areas out quite well and this one was about a half hour further…read morealong from the last. Close enough that if you skip one because you think you can make it to the next, you can! This rest area has a wide sweeping turn at the entrance that does a great job of slowing down cars as they come off the highway. That's always a plus for me. Separate space for cars and trucks, which I'm sure the truckers appreciate. Lots of trees but no shade at 3:30pm. The rest area has clean bathrooms, vending machines, picnic tables, charcoal grills and a pet walking area. As compared to others, it seems a bit larger and cleaner. [Review 17945 overall - 347 in Michigan - 1466 of 2022.]