State park · Traverse City · Michigan
Traverse City State Park is a Michigan DNR campground sitting directly on East Grand Traverse Bay along US-31, about a mile from downtown Traverse City. It is the budget play for the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Leelanau wine country, and it suits RVers who want a bayfront public campground with electric service and full urban supply access, breweries, restaurants and repair shops, as a base for the 25-mile day trip to the dunes.
| Hookups | Electric 20/30/50 amp |
|---|---|
| Max RV length | Exact site |
| Cost | $45–$50 |
| Fees | $8 online reservation fee and Recreation Passport are separate. |
| Reservations | Michigan DNR reservation |
Source-backed: Michigan DNR 2026 rates (checked 2026-07-26). Rates and site details change — verify with the operator before you book. Compare it with every other park we track in the price index.
Traverse City State Park is a Michigan DNR campground sitting directly on East Grand Traverse Bay along US-31, about a mile from downtown Traverse City. It is the budget play for the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Leelanau wine country, and it suits RVers who want a bayfront public campground with electric service and full urban supply access, breweries, restaurants and repair shops, as a base for the 25-mile day trip to the dunes.
The practical picture: 343 sites, many with electric hookups, including a significant number of 50-amp sites, which is rare in a state park. The DNR lists 20/30/50-amp electric; there is no water or sewer at the site, but there is a modern shower house and dump station. The 2026 DNR table lists $45 to $50 a night for the relevant inventory, with the $8 online reservation fee and Michigan Recreation Passport separate. Reservations open six months ahead on the DNR system at midnight Eastern, and summer weekends sell out within hours. Rig fit is exact-site, so read the driveway record. The trade-off is that this is not a wilderness experience: sites are relatively close together and it is a big, busy park, but the beach and town access more than compensate.
Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.
Covered in
Sleeping Bear Dunes Camping: RV Parks and Campgrounds Near Michigan's Crown JewelThe complete camping guide to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore — in-park campgrounds, nearby RV parks with hookups, and Traverse City cherry country as your basecamp.
Our verdict
Book Traverse City State Park if you want an affordable bayfront electric site with a real town at your door and can grab a date the moment the window opens. Skip it if you need full hookups or a quiet, spread-out campground.
No. Sites have 20/30/50-amp electric only, with no water or sewer at the pad. A modern shower house and dump station are on site.
Michigan DNR's 2026 table lists $45 to $50 for the relevant inventory, plus an $8 online reservation fee and a Michigan Recreation Passport for vehicle entry.
There is no single park-wide maximum. Michigan publishes driveway and equipment details by site, so enter your complete length and check the exact site record.
Yes for summer. Reservations open on the Michigan DNR system six months before arrival at midnight Eastern, and summer weekends sell out within hours.
About 25 miles, an easy day trip, with Traverse City as your home base for restaurants, wineries and supplies.
Our Sleeping Bear guide recommends it as a base for RVs over 35 feet that cannot camp inside the national lakeshore, but fit is site-specific, so confirm the driveway length on the reservation listing.
Compare alternatives before you book — or browse the whole Michigan hub.