D.H. Day Campground Review: Sites, RV Fit & Reservations (2026)

D.H. Day Campground is the inexpensive, rustic choice inside the northern half of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It costs $10 per night, has roughly 80 wooded sites, and puts campers within walking or biking distance of Lake Michigan, Glen Haven, the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail and the Dune Climb. The trade is simple: no hookups, no flush toilets and no showers at the campground.

Verified July 26, 2026: Reservations are required from May 15 through October 15 and open six months ahead. RV fit is site-specific, not a universal 30-foot limit. Generator use is limited to sites 1–31 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.; sites 32–81 are generator-free. Check the official NPS campground page and your exact Recreation.gov site listing.

The honest verdict: D.H. Day is best for tents, camper vans, pop-ups and small trailers whose owners value location and quiet more than campground comfort. Larger RVs, generator-dependent campers and anyone who wants a shower without a 34-mile round trip should compare it with Platte River Campground.

D.H. Day Campground at a Glance#

Detail	Current information
Nightly fee	$10 for an individual site
Park entrance	Separate Sleeping Bear Dunes pass required
Inventory	Roughly 80 sites; NPS and Recreation.gov inventory labels differ
Hookups	None
RV length	Exact site controls
Toilets	Vault toilets
Showers	None on-site; free showers at Platte River for registered campers
Dump station	Seasonal, at the entrance
Potable water	Shared spigots
Reservations	Required May 15–Oct. 15; six-month window
Generator policy	Sites 1–31, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; prohibited in sites 32–81
Check-out	Noon

The camping fee does not include admission to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Michigan’s Recreation Passport also does not replace the federal park pass.

Will Your RV Fit?#

There is no useful one-number answer. Older descriptions often give D.H. Day a hard 30-foot maximum, but the booking system publishes a separate equipment limit and driveway length for each site.

For example, official site 72 lists:

• Maximum RV length: 25 feet
• Maximum trailer length: 20 feet
• Maximum camper-van length: 25 feet
• Gravel back-in driveway: 34 feet

That does not mean every site shares those numbers. It demonstrates why campers must filter the reservation system by their actual equipment and then read the selected site record.

Measure the complete camping unit before booking. For a motorhome, use bumper-to-bumper length. For a trailer, confirm how Recreation.gov defines the listed equipment length and make sure the tow vehicle can be parked legally without blocking the loop road or vegetation. Site pads are in an older, wooded campground where trees and established tent areas limit improvisation.

Small rigs have the advantage here. Camper vans, Class Bs, teardrops, pop-ups and compact travel trailers can access more of the inventory without turning arrival into a maneuvering exercise. If your rig pushes beyond the options displayed by Recreation.gov, Platte River offers more electric inventory and NPS lists a campground-wide maximum of 40 feet, still subject to the individual site.

What the Campground Is Actually Like#

D.H. Day is intentionally rustic. The internal setting is wooded, the roads and camping surfaces are simple, and the facilities are closer to a traditional national-park campground than an RV park.

Each site provides the basic camping setup rather than resort infrastructure. Expect a picnic table and fire ring, shared water points, vault toilets and no service pedestal. There is no individual water connection, no electric hookup and no sewer connection.

The campground’s strongest feature is its position in the park’s northern district. According to Recreation.gov, Lake Michigan, the Heritage Trail and the Glen Haven area are within easy reach, while the Dune Climb is about two miles away. That makes it possible to leave a tow vehicle parked for part of the stay and explore by foot or bicycle.

The setting also means active bear habitat. Food, coolers, trash, cooking equipment and scented items need to be secured whenever they are not in immediate use. A clean campsite is not just etiquette here; it protects both visitors and wildlife.

Generator Sites Versus Quiet Sites#

D.H. Day has an unusually clear split:

• Sites 1–31 permit generators from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sites 32–81 are generator-free

For solar-equipped vans and trailers, the generator-free area is the more appealing booking target. For campers who need a generator to maintain batteries or medical equipment, only the first section is appropriate—and the short 9-to-6 window requires planning.

Do not assume the generator loop also means an easier RV fit. Generator permission and equipment length are separate site attributes. Check both before paying.

Bathrooms, Water, Dumping and Showers#

The campground has vault toilets rather than flush facilities. Potable water comes from shared spigots, so bring a container and a practical way to transfer water to your rig if needed.

NPS lists a seasonal sanitation station at the campground entrance. Seasonal service can change in the shoulder months, so confirm the live campground page before arriving with full tanks.

There are no showers at D.H. Day. Registered campers can use the free hot showers at Platte River Campground, about 17 miles south. That is useful on a longer stay but not especially convenient: the shower trip is roughly 34 miles round trip.

If daily showers, flush toilets or on-site electric service determine whether the trip works, Platte River is the better Sleeping Bear base.

Reservations and Best Booking Strategy#

Reservations are required from May 15 through October 15 and become available on a six-month rolling window. The official park planning page warns campers to expect the campgrounds to fill and to have a backup.

A practical booking sequence:

1. Enter the real length and equipment type in Recreation.gov.
2. Decide whether you need a generator-permitted site.
3. Open the individual site record and verify the parking surface, driveway length and equipment maximum.
4. Check the site map for proximity to toilets, water and loop traffic.
5. Add the separate park entrance pass to the trip budget.

Outside the core reservation period, shoulder-season self-registration may be available. D.H. Day normally operates from April 27 through the fourth Sunday in November, weather permitting, but open dates do not guarantee full seasonal services.

Location and Things to Do#

D.H. Day is about 1.5 miles west of Glen Arbor and 7.5 miles north of Empire. The address is 8000 W. Harbor Hwy, Glen Arbor, MI 49636.

The location is the reason to accept the campground’s limitations:

• Lake Michigan: a short walk from the campground area
• Glen Haven: historic lakeshore district near camp
• Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail: direct access for walking and biking
• Dune Climb: about two miles away
• Glen Arbor: restaurants and basic supplies about two miles away
• Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive: a short drive south, subject to current park conditions

Download maps before arrival. Even when a phone displays a signal, wooded national-park campgrounds are not a sensible place to depend on mobile data.

What Works#

The location is exceptional for the price. Ten dollars buys a campsite inside a major national lakeshore near its defining dunes, beach and trail corridor.

Quiet campers get a real no-generator zone. The separation is much clearer than a campground with generator hours applied everywhere.

Small RVs gain access to the best part of the park. Vans and compact trailers can combine a true campground atmosphere with easy access to the northern Sleeping Bear highlights.

The season extends beyond summer. Weather permitting, the campground stays open into late November, though services and reservation procedures change.

What Does Not Work#

Amenities are minimal. No hookups, no flush toilets and no showers means a self-contained rig or a tolerance for rustic camping is essential.

RV fit requires work. A site that appears available may not accept your equipment length.

The shower solution is a drive. Platte River’s showers are free for registered campers, but 17 miles each way is not an on-site amenity.

Popular dates demand advance planning. A low price and strong location create competition during the reservation season.

D.H. Day or Platte River?#

Choose D.H. Day if you have a smaller rig, prefer rustic camping, want the Glen Haven/Dune Climb side of the park, and can operate without hookups.

Choose Platte River if you want electric-site options, free hot showers, flush toilets, more large-rig inventory and a year-round campground.

For the wider park comparison, route planning and private alternatives, use our Sleeping Bear Dunes camping guide and Michigan RV park hub.

Frequently Asked Questions#

How much is D.H. Day Campground in 2026?#

The current standard individual campsite fee is $10 per night. A Sleeping Bear Dunes entrance pass is additional.

Does D.H. Day Campground take reservations?#

Yes. Reservations are required May 15 through October 15 and open up to six months ahead.

Does D.H. Day have RV hookups?#

No. There are no electric, water or sewer hookups at individual sites.

What is the RV length limit?#

The limit is site-specific. Read the exact Recreation.gov record for the site you intend to reserve.

Are there showers?#

There are no showers at D.H. Day. Registered campers may use the free showers at Platte River Campground, approximately 17 miles south.

Can you use a generator?#

Only at sites 1–31, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sites 32–81 are generator-free.