Platte River Campground
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City, Michigan 49640 USA
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Independent
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Pet Friendly
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Wheelchair
Accessible -
Public
Restrooms -
Outdoor
Seating
“Campground in Benzie County, Michigan”
Overview Platte River Campground is located in the southern district of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the lower peninsula of Michigan. This year-round facility is one of the most popular campgrounds in the park. It is within walking distance of the Platte River and a short walk or drive away from the Lake Michigan shore. Hikers can access many of the area's day use and backpacking trails just north of the campground. Summer temperatures range from the upper 70s to 90s during the day and 50s to 70s at night. Winters are cold, with daytime highs in the 20s to 30s and lows in the 10s and 20s; snow is usually on the ground from late November through March.Recreation Campers can hike, canoe, kayak and fish on the river or the lake. There are canoe rentals at nearby Platte River Point, where the river meets the lake (the point also has beach access for those wishing to drive there). The Platte Plains trail system boasts more than 25 miles of trails, some of which can be accessed a short walk away from the campground. Trails to the primitive White Pine backcountry campground are also close by.Facilities This facility is well-maintained, well-organized and offers a wide variety of sites, including back-in and pull-through sites with electric hookups for RVs, non-electric sites, walk-to sites, group sites (hike-in, tent-only) and a nearby backcountry campground. Each site has a campfire ring and picnic table. Each loop has restrooms with flush toilets and sinks. Hot showers are also available. The group sites allow no more than 25 people per site; pets and RVs are not permitted in them.Natural Features The campground lies in a wooded area within walking distance of the Platte River and less than two miles away from the beaches of Lake Michigan. Although the lakeshore is long and narrow, it has northern hardwood and conifer forests, abandoned farm meadows, wetlands, lakes, streams, bogs and splendid examples of a glacially formed landscape. The most prominent features in the park, and those for which it is named, are the perched sand dunes above Lake Michigan. The overlooks at Sleeping Bear, Empire and Pyramid Point bluffs are about 400 feet above the lake. With 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and numerous inland lakes and streams, the park is wonderfully water-oriented.
Reviews of Platte River Campground
22 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G/5G
Confirmed by 15 users | Last reported on August 18, 2024AT&T 4G/5G
Confirmed by 6 users | Last reported on August 25, 2022Reviews
I want to go back! The site was large, pave and level. The bathrooms were clean, But mostly this whole area is stunning! There is so much to do. We biked the Bestie Valley Trail, floated the Platte River, drove the scenic road, took our Jeep on dirt roads and explored the nearby lakes. A must see is Peterson Beach! We rode our bikes there from our campsite and it took my breath away. It was amazing and I need to go back!
Nightly Rate: $30.00
Days Stayed: 5
Site Number: 110
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
After spending the past few weeks in tightly packed state parks, we were thrilled to stay in our spacious site at Platte River Campground for 5 nights. There is a lot of room between most sites and the trees provide privacy. The campground is huge and was full during most of our stay, though it never felt crowded.
There is a nice mile long trail you can access from the campground loops that leads to the beach. We only went on it once because it's also a breeding ground for mosquitos.
The are individual shower rooms with hot water (yay!) and decent water pressure. I saw a tick on the wall during one of my showers, at least it was my only encounter with a tick during our stay.
Be sure to keep all 4 wheels on the pavement, we had 1 tire partially on the gravel and the camp host came by to ask us to move.
We drove through D.H. Day Campground and this is the better option out of the 2 campgrounds in the National Lakeshore for bigger rigs.
Verizon - DOWNLOAD: 3.60Mb/s, UPLOAD: 0.24Mb/s
AT&T - DOWNLOAD: 11.26Mb/s, UPLOAD: 1.76Mb/s
Nightly Rate: $27.00
Days Stayed: 5
Site Number: 101
RV Type: Travel Trailer
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
We were very happy staying here. It was easy to find and all the roads are nicely paved. The spot has plenty of space from our neighbors and the pad is almost perfectly level. The fire ring and picnic table are just above the pad and were clean and well maintained.
There is a really nice, short hike at the end of the campground loop that takes you to the water and a small sandy beach. The rest of the dunes are within driving distance along with a few small towns for any supplies.
Nightly Rate: $31.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 324
Sites are spacious. However, we didn't see much privacy even with the trees. Loved having electric. Even when busy, the park felt peaceful. The said our site had a maximum of 30 feet. Our fifth wheel is 31 ft and truck is 20 ft which we parked sideways. Plenty of room.
Nightly Rate: $26.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 219
RV Length: 31 ft
RV Type: Fifth Wheel
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
This campground is now 100% reservation only, which we hadn’t realized. They were fully booked when we arrived Sunday afternoon in August, but fortunately they’d had a cancellation and so we were able to get a site for the 2 nights we wanted. We lucked out getting site 106, it’s a bit of a nightmare to back into with the camper but it’s at back of park and so there’s no one behind you. You only have one real neighbor at 105. Most of the sites looked quite cramped with not much privacy. Facilities were modern and clean. Be prepared to be read the loonng list of campground rules at check in. They have bear, raccoons and other critters so everything has to be stored in camper or car overnight. The mosquitos are terrible. They drove us inside after early dinner and we couldn’t have breakfast outside. Campground is a jumping off point to Sleeping Bear Dunes but be warned, it’s a drive to get there. You’ll spend half a day driving to points of interest. DH Day campground is better located but doesn’t have electric.
Nightly Rate: -
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 106
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
Our stay was in early July. It was crowded but plenty of space between sites. We had a sharp turn to back into our site but the pad was paved, and fairly level. Electric only and we initially had a error on our surge protector...so I called the Ranger Station and left a message asking for someone to come check it out (it was after 5pm) so I then went to the camp host - who basically said he couldn't help - and others were having the same issues "so just take off your surge protector" !! It was so hot we continued on with the power (surge protector plugged in) and had no issues and after a few hours the error message resolved. The Rangers never returned my call or came by the site....that was disappointing.
After this we didn't have any issues and loved the place. Nice hiking trails to the lake and great area to explore. We were close to the bathhouse - individual rooms and appeared very clean. There was a water spigot at the bathhouse to get drinking water. Would definitely return.
Nightly Rate: -
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 133
RV Length: 33 ft
RV Type: Fifth Wheel
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
Awesome CG, clean, beautiful and very nice staff. Our site was #140, in loop one ( 1of4loops) . Level and spacious with what seemed to be a fairly new bath house that was super clean. Wooded through out , I didn’t see any site that I wouldn’t stay at. 15 minutes to the Sleeping bear dune ( so you have to drive that. CG has a 24 hour FIREWOOD VENDING MACHINE. Coolest thing I’ve ever seen
Nightly Rate: -
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 140
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
This is a wonderful park. It’s very popular so we usually only come in late Fall. The weather has cooperated— sunny and not too cold. There are lots of great hiking trails. The campground is great— must reserve online.
Nightly Rate: $25.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 129, Loop 1
RV Length: 25 ft
RV Type: Travel Trailer
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
Fabulous experience due to spacing of sites between others, spacious area for picnic table, additional tents or other equipment. Site 309 is right next to the Shower House, but that was not a problem. No-one cutting through site due to spacing of sites. Sandy soils created excellent drainage after 12 hours of rain. Pad was level and long enough although we have a very short trailer. Add to the excellent campground and facilities, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is SUPERB!
Nightly Rate: $32.00
Days Stayed: 4
Site Number: 309
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
This may be the best place we have camped. The only thing could make it better are full hookups. However, fully understand why it is electric only.
No issues. Fill your fresh water tank at the dump station. The bath houses are clean and convenient. Men’s and Women's restrooms with 2 unisex individual showers and a camp sink room. If you don’t use the bath house and use your RV shower, you may have to dump your grey water on a several day stay. That would mean heading to the dump station. No grey water dumps located anywhere in the campground.
The sites are far and away the best we have seen. Very large living area. Plenty of room to have a tent or 2 if needed. The pads are all paved and deep. Lots of space between sites. Electrical hook up was spot on.
Nightly Rate: $31.00
Days Stayed: 4
Site Number: 129
RV Length: 22 ft
RV Type: Travel Trailer
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
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Platte River Campground
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Problem with this listing? Let us know.
Has RV parking changed? Let us know.
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Back In RV Sites Count
- 12
- Check In
- 2:30 PM
- Check Out
- 12:00 PM
- Last Nightly Rate
- 30.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 33 ft
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 18.0
- Max Length
- 40 ft
- Max Stay
- 14
- Pull Through RV Sites Count
- 20
- Sites Count
- 178
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Paved Sites
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Fifty Amp
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Full Hookup
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Rec Facilities
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Pull Through
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Tent Sites
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Dump Station
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Big Rigs
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Open Seasonally
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Age Restricted
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Back In RV Sites
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Boondock
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Cabin Sites
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Dispersed Sites
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Equestrian Facilities
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Equestrian Sites
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Firewood
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Fulltime Residents
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Group Tent Sites
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Laundry
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Mobile Homes
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Permit Required
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Potable Water
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Propane
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Public Water
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Pull Through RV Sites
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Reservations
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RV Sites
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Sewer Hookup
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Showers
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Sites
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Standard Tent Sites
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Trailer Permitted
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Vehicle Wash Permitted
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Water Hookup
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Outdoor Seating
Campground, Parking, Dining, Restrooms
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