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    Ludington State Park

    4.7 (61 reviews)
    Closed • 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Ludington State Park
    Amanda L.

    Ludington is one of those places where I simply cannot believe I haven't written a review for yet! This is one of my all-time favorite state parks and one of the best places to camp, but everyone already knows that because this is definitely one of the most popular destinations to camp at - so you'll be hard pressed to find availability if you're not on top of it and booking 6 months out!! But immaculate campgrounds aside, Ludington has even more to offer as well! They have beaches (including a dog-friendly beach), miles of shoreline, a gorgeous lighthouse, dunes, and miles upon miles of wonderful hiking trails! I think I hiked 20+ miles in one weekend, all within the confines of Ludington (and a few of those miles at the neighboring Nordhouse Dunes, which is a bit difficult to get to drive-wise) and saw so much scenery change and beauty! It was absolutely stunning! If you've never been to Ludington, then the must-hike trail is the one to and from the lighthouse! It can be a loop too if you begin inland a bit more, which stems off of one of the campgrounds. You can also do a massive loop and span the entire state park too, depending on how ambitious you're feeling! But if you're looking for something a bit more "off the beaten path," while still being a clearly marked path, I would highly recommend the Island and Ridge trail loop. The entire loop is about 5 miles and you get to see so many different landscapes and terrain, it's definitely a favorite of mine! Absolutely LOVE Ludington - a model Michigan state park! It feels isolated, while also feeling so populated and you could truly spend your entire time at this state park without feeling the need to visit anywhere else. It's a bit of a drive from the city of Ludington to get to the entrance of this state park, which sort of adds to that secluded feeling, but there will be a ton of activity once you get to the state park since everyone loves coming here. I've been coming here since I was a little girl camping with my family and other family friends every summer and I continue that tradition on in my adulthood with my own friends!

    Dam
    Leah S.

    What a great place to camp! So much to see and many trails to walk or bike. Cool Dam to view too. Great camping sites. Popular place because it's so awesome

    Jessica F.

    It doesn't get much better than this. Crystal clear water, pine needles scattered in the sandy trails and great views of Hamlin Lake and lake MI. Lost Lake and Island trail is one of my favorites and there is so much to enjoy from the birdsongs to ferns and irises. A little elevation but nothing too rigorous. Can't wait to come back and kayak!

    Lillie G.

    A little slice of heaven on earth! I've grown up coming here. There is nothing quite like it. The lake is beautiful and the trails are just fantastic. I enjoy walking them w my dog too.

    Pines loop site 89
    Kerry F.

    *this review is for the campground* It's easy to see why this is one of the hardest campgrounds to get into. This park is one of the nicest, most beautiful and activity filled in Michigan. We arrived for a Friday-Sunday stay and after a easy check in (the registration booth is a distance away from the campground to avoid traffic back ups at the main entrance) we pulled into site 89 located in the Pines loop located next to the dunes. There are 3 different loops here the Pines (lake MI beach), the Cedar (middle/forest) and the Beechwood (Hamlin Lake/ boardwalk) they are all different and have different feelings to them. Our site was sandy and open, with a private-ish path leading right up the dune to overlook Lake MI. The sites here are typical State park sites, not huge but we never felt cramped because, with so much to do in the park, most people are gone from their sites during the day (us included) Staying here makes people happy. This was easily the most friendly camping experience we've had all summer. The rangers were helpful and approachable. The bathrooms in the Pines loop were older than some of the other loops but were in good condition and were clean the duration of the weekend. We have reservations to return twice more this year and we can hardly wait.

    Hamlin Lake Dam
    Lauren W.

    The park is beautiful! My boyfriend and I went camping in the park in mid-November. At that time, the park stores were closed for the season and there weren't many visitors as it's cold during this time of year. But we loved having the park to ourselves, especially since it's supposed to be very crowded in the summer. When we visited, the leaves were changing colors and it was absolutely beautiful! The locals mentioned the leaves typically change colors in mid- to late-October. The park has several short hiking trails that are very well marked. I'd highly recommend the Lost Lake/Island Trail and the Lighthouse Trail. The park also has a lot of beach front, which would be fun to relax at in the summer. We stayed for two night and were able to explore most of the park and were even able to spend an afternoon in town (Ludington). I'd highly recommend visiting Ludington State Park for a day trip or overnight stay!

    Easy access to Lake MI from Ludington State Park
    Joe T.

    Friendly, huge state park - in the serene and "Pure Michigan" town of Ludington. My girlfriend and I have visited this park 2 summers in a row, and while we haven't camped here per se, we have parked here and taken the approx. 1.1 mile trail and/or Lake Michigan beach shore walk to the beautiful Big Sable Point Lighthouse. We have ventured into the campground to use the restroom and get a head start on the trail walk before and the site looked very cozy, being wooded and nicely in the shade - and just mere steps away from the trail to the lighthouse, as well as the Lake Michigan shoreline. The campgrounds have great space and great restroom facilities. It feels peaceful, but when we were there it was definitely packed with campers so privacy may be a concern, since when it's busy, chances are you will have neighbors just yards away from your site. With everyone being so friendly and approachable, this would be a plus for social creatures anyway. The campground has 3 main distinct areas and plenty of rentals (e.g. kayaks, canoes, bikes, etc.). The access to Lake Michigan from these campgrounds offer peaceful, shallow waters - excellent for swimming in the summertime, and the trail is great as well. There are some historic checkpoints along the way. Big Sable Point Lighthouse is a great sight to see. It is not an active lighthouse, and now is a local tourist attraction. Donate a couple bucks or buy something from the gift shop with the friendly folks that run the lighthouse - and you can take the winding stairs up to the tall and historic lighthouse. The view and breeze you feel at the very top is, well, it's Pure Michigan! Overall, Ludington State Park is an awesome mix of friendly, beach, sand, trail, nature, water, and historic. It makes for an ideal, peaceful, and mature camping getaway - especially with the charming, quaint downtown Ludington nearby. Partiers and younger campers may prefer camping a 1/2 hour south of here by Silver Lake.

    looking south towards Ludington
    Mark D.

    Beautiful uncrowded beach stretches for miles. With only small sand dunes separating the road from the beach, it is very easy to pull over, park and walk the 50 yards to the beach anywhere here. There is a popular campground here which is always quite crowded. A lazy shallow river runs from the lake to Lake Michigan through the campground, and in the summer is perfect for floating down in a tube. Great store in the campground has all you will need for that and more. The park is about 4 miles from downtown Ludington.

    rain giving way to sun

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    3 years ago

    Amazing. I have traveled all over the country and I can honestly say that the facilities are so nice. I am so impressed

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    3 years ago

    Large park with beach access. Restrooms were open and clean. Beach was nice with close parking.

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    8 years ago

    Our. Family really enjoyed coming to the Park. Beautiful lighthouse and gorgeous each made for a pleasant experience.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Ludington State Park

    Can anyone provide info about the "lazy river" below Hamlin Dam? Length, access info, etc

    Not sure on length but there are several access points from the dam to the lake. I'd say roughly 3/4 mile-mile? It can take anywhere from 30mins-2 he's depending on how lazy you want to be ;)

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Ludington State Park

    “Crystal clear water, pine needles scattered in the sandy trails and great views of Hamlin Lake and lake MI.”

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Stearns Park Beach

    Stearns Park Beach

    4.9(11 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    Stearns Beach Park is such a nice, clean, accessible beach, and there's so much to do around it…read morethat it makes for a really easy beach day. There's a paved path that takes you down pretty close to the water, with plenty of places to sit along the way, which makes the beach really accessible for just about everyone. You can also walk out onto the lighthouse, which is a fun little addition to the beach. We didn't spend quite as much time here on this trip because we were exploring some of the other areas around Ludington, but we've enjoyed coming here. I wouldn't say this is the most beautiful or dramatic beach we've been to. It's a big, open stretch of beach without a ton of natural scenery. But it definitely makes up for that with the views and everything around it. You have the harbor right next to you, and the SS Badger regularly passes by, which is really cool to watch. The water itself is beautiful, and there's something fun about being able to sit on the beach and watch the boats coming and going. Another huge plus is the location. You can easily walk into the cute little beach town for food, drinks, and shops, and there's a skate park and mini golf nearby too. You really don't have to move your car once you get here. Overall, it's a clean, convenient, family-friendly beach with great accessibility and plenty to do nearby. It may not have the dramatic scenery of some of Michigan's other beaches, but the location and atmosphere make it absolutely worth visiting when you're in Ludington!

    Is parking to the beach suggest you get there early. Two pavilions with food and restrooms. They…read morehave handicap accessible mats all the way down from parking lot to the water. There is a pier to walk and a good 1/2 mile of sandy beach to walk. Have not seen any sharks and there is zero salt in the water. Win win for today!

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    Stearns Park Beach
    Stearns Park Beach
    Stearns Park Beach

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    North Breakwater Light - South Pier tower.

    North Breakwater Light

    5.0(4 reviews)
    5.7 mi

    This was my first time in Ludington. I have heard so much about it, and I was excited to finally…read moremake it here. My friend said this is his favorite westside town. I was impressed my the marina and the great beach. The beach was super busy and we found our way to the lighthouse. It's a bit of a walk so be prepared to bring comfortable shoes. We enjoyed watching the ships come into port. If you happen to be out this way, I highly suggest making a trip out to the lighthouse. Not only is it a beautiful backdrop, it's also a great place to take pictures.

    A very tough…read morelighthouse The very first lighthouse in the area was established in 1871 but didn't last very long and was washed away in a huge storm a few years later. Since Ludington was becoming an extremely important harbor a new and stronger light was obviously needed. Debates about whether to put the new lighthouse on the south or north pier raged for years, and the exact kind of lighthouse was also a very contentious subject. So of course nothing got done. Finally around 1924 the present lighthouse was constructed at the end of the half mile north concrete pier. Since the area is know for very intense and powerful storms, the engineers wanted to make sure the lighthouse was strong enough to withstand anything that the howling gales of Lake Michigan could throw at it. So they went all out when they designed and built this light. The lighthouse is constructed with a steel frame in addition to steel plating added to the outside. And to increase the structural integrity of the lighthouse a strange looking prow, similar to that on a large ship, was added at the bottom to deflect the larger waves. Pretty cool looking and when viewed from a distance, almost makes the lighthouse seem like it's sailing across the horizon. The fourth order Fresnel Lens was removed and is passed around to various local maritime museums. The lighthouse can be reached by walking out to the end of the half mile pier but going out they in storms and blizzards is probably not a good idea. During the summer the lighthouse is open and for five bucks the public can climb the 53 stairs to the top. Certainly not the tallest, biggest, oldest or most important lighthouse in Michigan but with the steel plates added over the steel frame and the addition of the cool prow, this is definitely one of the very toughest and strongest lighthouses anywhere.

    Photos
    North Breakwater Light
    North Breakwater Light - Unfortunately the lighthouse is only open in the summer.

    Unfortunately the lighthouse is only open in the summer.

    North Breakwater Light - Don't want to be on that pier in heavy weather.

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    Don't want to be on that pier in heavy weather.

    The Ludington Beach House - View from the pier, just a few steps from our room.

    The Ludington Beach House

    4.2(26 reviews)
    5.8 mi

    This was our second year staying at Ludington Beach House, and that really says something because…read morewe actually found this place completely on a whim last year. We loved it so much that when we decided we had to come back to Ludington, we worked the cost into our budget specifically so we could stay here again. Ludington stole our hearts, and this place has become part of the experience for us. The location is absolutely spectacular. You're directly across the street from the beach and lighthouse access, and you can walk into town in about 10-20 minutes for ice cream, snacks, shopping, restaurants, and all the cute little things that make Ludington such a fun beach town. You're also right near the harbor. We hardly needed our car once we arrived. I really love the amenities here because they aren't trying to be over-the-top. Everything is simple, comfortable, and thoughtfully done. There's a pool that goes all the way to 9 feet deep, with a rope separating the deep and shallow areas. I love spending time out there, and there are plenty of tables and lounge chairs. They even provide pool towels, which is such a nice touch. Our room was small, but it was very thoughtfully laid out. We had a comfortable queen-size bed, a little table with two chairs, Wi-Fi, a microwave, and a mini fridge WITH an actual freezer. I know that sounds like such a small thing, but having a real little freezer is incredibly convenient when you're traveling! I also really appreciate the little details. There are cute retro coasters, a little guide with information about the property and Ludington, coffee with flavored creamers, and really nice bathroom products. The body wash smelled SO good. The linens deserve some credit too. There's nothing fancy about them, but the sheets are white, clean, crisp cotton, and the towels are nice and thick. They even provide a makeup towel, which I always appreciate. There's also a spot where you can grab an extra towel or blanket yourself whenever you need one. I LOVE this. Nobody wants to have to call the front desk because they need an extra washcloth or towel. It's just one more little thing that makes staying here easy. And because you're staying directly by the beach, I love that they have a broom available too. There is ALWAYS going to be sand when you stay at a beach, so having a way to sweep it up is just practical and thoughtful. Even though there are quite a few units, I've found it to be surprisingly quiet. The staff has also always been incredibly kind and accommodating. You get one parking space per unit, which has never been an issue for us. I'm not sure what the arrangement would be if you needed additional parking, but for the two of us it has been perfect. The only minor complaint I could possibly make is that the room does feel a little humid at times. However, the air conditioner worked absolutely fabulously, so we were never uncomfortable or too hot. This isn't a luxury resort, and the rooms aren't huge or fancy. That's not what makes this place special. It's the location, the cleanliness, the thoughtful little touches, the pool, the friendly staff, and the fact that it makes being in Ludington so easy. It feels simple, comfortable, and genuinely cared for. We loved it enough to come back for a second year, and I have a feeling we'll be back again.

    We stayed two nights, loved it and would return absolutely. Family operated by very nice people we…read moremet. Modest and clean. Nice bedding, wonderful soap, coffee in the room. Right across the street from the public beach, pier -- yet quiet at night. We walked down to see fishermen catch salmon while the sun set. Played cornhole before dinner. Open windows allowed for a crisp cross breeze in our room. A pretty vinyl floor made for easy cleaning of sand tracked in from the beach. Not fancy. Just a step back in time that enhanced our whole trip. On a side note, we were able to use an AirBnB gift card at the hotel.

    Photos
    The Ludington Beach House
    The Ludington Beach House - Walk from our room across the street to the pier at sunset on a Wednesday night.

    Walk from our room across the street to the pier at sunset on a Wednesday night.

    The Ludington Beach House

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    Ludington State Park - campgrounds - Updated September 2026

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