We stayed two nights at Paradise Cove Campground in July of 2021. My husband and I were looking to…read moreget away for a weekend last minute and after calling around to a handful of places for camping which were all full (last weekend of the Cherry Festival), I reached out to Jerry of Paradise Cove and he was happy to host us. He and his wife, Barb, were so incredibly hospitable and kind - they checked the sites before we booked to make sure they weren't too wet (we had just come off a week with a lot of rain) and that they would accommodate our camper. He met us at the drive when we arrived to make sure we got parked okay (sites are on the smaller side, about 20 feet wide with large trees in between). And he even brought up a fire ring and firewood to our site when we asked about a place to have a fire! As they also own the Paradise Cove restaurant and marina just down the street from the campground, I'm sure they are busy folks and that makes this level of customer service that much more special! Currently the campground is under development, so only a portion of their current 16 sites are ready for use (some don't have electric service and they don't currently take tent or pop-up campers as there are no bathroom facilities). The view of Lake Leelanau from sites 1-10 is beautiful, the road the sites share with the residential neighborhood was quiet and peaceful, and it was a perfect jumping off point for the adventures we wanted to have in the Traverse City, Old Mission Peninsula, Leelanau Peninsula, and Sleeping Bear Dunes area. We look forward to seeing how the campground grows and to a return visit!

We stayed twice last year and it's nice to see how they improved. New owners are really nice…read more Amazing views!

Very nice place, very spread out with established landscaping. Well cared for family business. Sits…read moreon Lake Leelanau and there is a small beach and boating access for the visitors. There are no full time residents but people maintain individual properties and return yearly. There is a sense of community with a good mix of people. There is a nice athletic area. The only criticism I have is that there is no dog park and there are many dogs which is a bit inept. This is a great place to visit.

The RV park has a gorgeous spot right on the lake with great amenities like ice cream socials in…read morethe evening, pipe organ concerts, and boats/kayaks you can rent for a day on the water. The people are incredibly friendly and it's only about 25 mins to sleeping bear dunes and 35 mins from downtown traverse city.

We were unfamiliar with this campground, but we made reservations months in advance for two nights…read moreof tent camping in June, 2023 in Loop 4 (site 418). And, we're so glad that we did. It's a wonderful campground that is well-maintained by the National Park Service. The sites are huge, with a lot of space between you and your neighbors. The pads for pitching your tent are equally large, flat, and sandy -- and each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. The clean bathrooms and showers are down the road, as are heavy duty containers for trash and recycling. The Rangers at the office were very friendly, and helpful. They also warned us to be bear-aware, as bears had been spotted near the campground. (We didn't see any). Unfortunately, there weren't any nature programs during our 2-night stay but we were there mid-week. We were staying at this campground primarily to visit the main sites of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Most of the main attractions (Empire Bluffs hike, Dune Climb, Scenic Drive) are about ten or more miles away. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find a path adjacent to the campground that went down to Lake Michigan (about one mile each way). It mostly flat with walking in sand the closer you get to the lake. You could also drive down to a park at the end of the road. It's a wonderful place to watch the sunset. There are also nearby options for bicycling and kayaking. The campground is a bargain at $26 per night for tent camping. (You also need to pay the entrance fee for the national park). There was a nice mix of other campers ... solos with a dog or two; retirees; and young families. All were quiet and abided to the rules for quiet hours and no generators in loop 4. We also lucked out with respect to the lack of bugs. We had been fighting mosquitos and midges in other wooded areas in northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, but hardly had any insect issues at this campground. Two things worth mentioning. (1) Given the warnings about being bear aware, the NPS should consider installing bear boxes at each site for the storage of food and other scented items. (2) Firewood can be purchased at a "vending machine" for $7. While the machine for traditional firewood was working, the one for a composite substitute that we wanted to try had a broken credit card reader (and we didn't have the right denominations to pay cash). Overall, a great trip!

Stayed here with my husband & our friends over the summer & had a great time! The bathrooms &…read morecampsites were clean. The sites themselves are a bit small. With 4 people, 2 tents, & a canopy, we were pretty cramped, but able to make it work! There was a trail leading to a beautiful beach area & Lake Michigan. The place for kayak/canoe rental is a super short drive & is also a general store & ice cream shop! We had such a great time & can't wait to go back! Sites book up REALLY fast, so if you are thinking of booking definitely do it well in advance!

Stayed at this campground Thursday- Tuesday this month (October). We drove here from Chicago and…read moregot a late start. We called the front office to let them know we wouldn't be checking in till 7pm. We took care of payment over the phone a d they left a map on their front bulletin board for us to follow to our spot. We were on site 61. The first thing I noticed is how stunning the Surrounding scenery is! The trees are beautiful in a October. The sites themselves are spread out. You don't feel like you're on top of each other. Every morning it felt so much earlier than it was...This place is super quiet! Maybe it would be different in the summer but fall is definitely peaceful. Everyone was super friendly. We were out most of the day and didn't hang at the campground much which leads me into my next point... there isn't much to do here (not a bad thing!). I'm so happy this trip was just for my husband and I because my kids would be bored to death. There is no pool (was too cold to use it even if there was) and no park. I am totally ok with these things but it would be great to know if we did bring the littles. However, this campground is near everything! All in all, we paid around $300 (five or take) for our trip here. Definitely worth it and we can't wait to come back!

I recently stayed at this campground and unfortunately had a very disappointing experience -- not…read moreonly with the conditions of the site, but with the rude and condescending response I received when I reached out about a legitimate health concern. During our trip up north, this was the only place where my asthma was triggered. We spent four days in other areas affected by the Canadian wildfires without any issues whatsoever. The morning after arriving here, my asthma became severely aggravated, and we were forced to leave early. The stagnant pond next to our campsite was covered in scum, clearly releasing mold and spores into the air. This was the only environmental change during our trip, and the only place where my breathing became compromised -- making it obvious that the pond conditions, not wildfire smoke, caused the reaction. When I emailed to cancel the remainder of our reservation and requested a refund, I would have fully understood if the campground simply reiterated their no‑refund policy. However, the response I received was unnecessarily dismissive and patronizing. I was told, in a condescending tone, that "algae is not associated with asthma," followed by an incorrect assumption that wildfire smoke was the cause -- despite the fact that we had been in wildfire‑affected areas for days with zero symptoms. A polite explanation of policy would have been acceptable. The attitude was not. The man taking reservations was rude from the first phone conversation and I was reluctant to make a reservation, but was unable to find a campsite in the area that had a GUARANTEED SITE, not first come first serve. Customer service matters, especially when guests are dealing with health issues. Instead of listening, acknowledging the concern, or even responding neutrally, the staff chose to be dismissive and incorrect about the situation. That alone ensures we will not be returning. This is the EMAIL- so no speculation on my interpretation of the response from the resort. Please cancel our reservation for today, Saturday July 18th. The pond scum severely bothered my asthma, and we were forced to leave early this morning. Please add payment charge back to my credit card. Thanks Wendi ----------------/------------------//----------- Good morning, Thank you for reaching out. Per our policy, we are unable to issue refunds for guests who choose to end their reservation early. Additionally, algae is not associated with asthma or other respiratory conditions. I sincerely apologize that the smoke from the Canadian wildfires affected your visit and caused you to shorten your stay. We appreciate your understanding and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back under better conditions in the future. Kind regards, Alycia On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 7:17AM Wendi

Quite overpriced for camping without adequate wifi. They technically have wifi, but good luck…read moreconnecting to it from your spot. $75 a night for a plot of dirt for our tent if a bit bonkers. Friendly staff, quiet camp, but the showers (that are rarely used since it's a campground designed for RV's) were full of bugs.

The pictures on the website are deceiving. A lot of sites are tight. We couldn't use our fire pit…read more There isn't much of a beach. When we went into the office to find restaurants or pizza places to deliver, we never cook on arrival day, there were 3 teen girls working that had no clue what was around and looked at us as if we had 3 eyes lol. The permanent residents behind us paid no attention to quiet time and were obnoxiously loud and partying way late, playing corn hole and the whole campsite was lit up. We are not old or prudes and we love to drink and have a good time and can be loud but we do try to keep it under control after quiet time. Luckily our fan was loud enough to drown out the noise. I would have rather have the windows open when possible. We did find a couple of really nice beaches close by. Wifi wasn't great and no internet service if you need that. There were 5 camper/couples and we all agreed, sorry, this campground was not for us.

This rustic state park is one of our favorites. The scenery is gorgeous, with miles of sandy and…read morerocky beachfront, walking trails, 5-mile road for biking and spacious wooded lots and a prized few water front lots. There is firewood and ice at the check-in station which is very convenient. T h e grounds are well maintained and the vault toilet stalls are mostly clean (though can become odiferous when the park is full). It is usually the case that visitors to the rustic parks are more respectful of the quiet. We are bird watchers and always love spying the eagles and variety of other birds in the area. Close to the town of Charlevoix, there are plenty of options for sight seeing, eating and finding supplies. Beautiful area of our state.

If you love collecting Michigan rocks, come to this lovely state park. You can take the short trail…read moredown to the water, where you will find rocks om the sand. The park is secluded, and we only saw about 5 others there during the duration of our stay. It appears that because this location is not so heabily populated, you can find some Charlevoix and Petoskey rocks in the water as wel as on the rock bed. You just have to know what to look for. I suggest finding a walking stick for the water. It helps guide you, and it helps you move some rocks. The next time I come here I definitely want to bring a sifter because I saw so many cute tiny ones with the rock pile. My twchnique was to pull the ones near the water down, and I found quite a bit this way. James used the stick to look in the water, where you will find medium to large rocks. Overall the secluded atmosphere is soothing and relaxing.

Easy to find, good communication. Good amount of bathrooms and trash cans spread out. Campsite was…read moreclean. Personally prefer above ground campfires for ease of physicality and cooking

For any outdoor enthusiasts exploring around Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore...I highly…read morerecommend staying here at Empire Township Campground!! Yes...I discovered it through the trusty ole app on my phone called CAMPENDIUM! In fact, I've used Campendium to locate plenty of campsites, RV Trailer Parks and rest stops along my plenty of travels these last few years. Definitely...if you're an adventurer...download Campendium. And what's great about it is that you can find campsites at the last minute/spur of the moment. That's how I came upon this Empire Township Campground. After driving all day to Sleeping Bear Dunes...I knew I needed a place to camp out because there weren't many accommodations offered in the area. Campendium mentioned to just show up here and it's first come, first served. I visited back in late May of this year 2021. The camp host was very friendly. She mentioned had I visited over the weekend, the campsites would have been full. So fortunately, I showed up on a Tuesday evening and there were plenty of spaces available. There were 60 campsites for me to choose from. The host handed me a map and told me to pick a site that was unoccupied and then return to the entrance where she'd secure my reservation. I picked Site #6 located right near the shower house. It was $25 per night for primitive camping. Having already planned out my Sleeping Bear Dunes itinerary ahead of time...I booked for 2 nights here for $50. So...I'd spend the first night here, hang out all day at Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore the following day, return back here for my 2nd evening, and then finish up my explorations of the area the last day and eventually move onto my next destination. For being here for 2 nights...I surprisingly planned out everything perfectly! Here are some details about this Empire Township Campground... It's located 5 miles outside the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitor Center and the quiet little town of Empire, Michigan. My cell phone reception worked perfectly so I was able to watch a movie inside my tent one night before going to sleep. They have 3 showers. But...bring quarters with you as they charge .50 cents for every 3 minutes of hot water use. I used $1.50 and took my time cleaning off for 9 minutes. Outside the shower house there were a few electrical outlets which allowed me to plug in my phone and generator to grab some power. They actually offered AMP Power at some sites. In fact, I probably should have paid extra (which I'm sure wouldn't have cost much) for the accessible AMP Power. Oh well, my bad. My campsite #6 featured plenty of space and room. I felt like I was in the heart of nature and far enough away from other campers to have some privacy. The whole setting here was really pleasant. The camp host does sell ice to keep drinks cold as well as firewood to ignite flames for chilly evenings. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Also, charcoal grills are allowed as well. One night I barbecued some hot dogs during a scenic sunset. There's also dump stations for RV's. For locating this Empire Township Campground...simply plug the name into Google Maps and you'll have no issues finding it. They have real toilets for when using the bathroom, not vault toilets or porta potties. That's always a nice aspect. I can't think of anything else to say other than my 2 night experience here was quite memorable for all the good reasons. For anyone interested in getting ready to explore the UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan and heading north, I highly suggest making Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore a priority to visit and choosing this Empire Township Campground as a your place for enjoying nights in the great outdoors.