D.H. Day Campground

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

D.H. Day Campground is located in the northern district of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the lower peninsula of Michigan.

This rustic campground is one of the most popular in Northern Michigan and is open (weather permitting) from April 27 through the last Sunday in November. Reservations are required May 1 through October 15. Campsites are within walking distance of the Lake Michigan shoreline and a short drive to many popular features in the park. Summer temperatures range from the upper 70s to 90 degrees F (25° to 32° C) during the day, and from the 50s to 70 degrees F (10° to 25° C) at night.

With 81 beautifully wooded campsites, shared water spigots, and vault toilets, D.H. Day provides a more rustic camping experience.

Free hot showers are available at Platte River Camground, located 17 miles (27 km) south along highway M-22.

Each campsite has a parking area, large picnic table, fire ring and tent pad. Firewood is also sold in the campgound via a self-serve vending trailer.

Notifications and Alerts

Drinking water and RV dump station is unavailable from October 17- November 24, 2024

Bring extra drinking water.

Plan to travel with full holding tanks after you leave the campground.

D.H. Day Campground is CLOSED FOR WINTER November 25, 2024 - April 27, 2025.
RV/TRAILER RENTALS:

You can transport a rented camping unit in and out of the park; however, if a rental is being delivered and set up for you at the campground, you must rent from an individual/company with a commercial use authorization (CUA) permitting them to conduct business activities within the National Lakeshore.

Need to Know

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore charges an entrance fee for each vehicle (apart from camping fees).

You may pay the entrance fee upon arrival at a staffed location. The park also honors Federal interagency passes (e.g., annual, senior, access, 4th grade, Golden Age pass etc.). For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page.

NOTE: Effective March 1, 2023, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore accepts card payment only at staffed locations (no cash or checks).

Current Vehicle Fees (reviewed October 2023):

$25 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore entrance fee (1-7 days).

$45 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Annual pass (if camping more than 7 days).

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore does not honor the Michigan Recreation Passport which only covers entrance fees for Michigan State Parks.
CAMPGROUND REGULATIONS:

BE A GOOD CAMPER. PLEASE OBEY THE FOLLOWING REGULATIONS.

- Campers must check in at the campground office upon arrival. Change sites only with approval of the park ranger at the campground office.

- Campers must notify the campground if they will not arrive within 24 hours of the check in time. Phone : 231-326-4700, ext. 5045. If they do not, their reservation will be cancelled and they will be charged the first night's camping fee plus an additional $20 no-show fee.

- Check-out time is 12:00 noon.

- Camping is permitted ONLY in designated areas on parking pads & established tent pads. All vehicles and trailers must remain on roadway surfaces and off vegetation.

- No more than six (6) people will be permitted on a site.

- LIMIT TWO (2) VEHICLES permitted on a site: only one may be a truck camper, camper trailer, boat trailer, or motor-home.

- Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. Noise levels must be controlled at all times to avoid disturbing other campers.

- Generator use is allowed only in campsites 1-31. Generators may be used from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm.

- Camping is limited to 14 TOTAL DAYS per designated campground between Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. Camping equipment may not remain on a site for more than 14 days, even if used by a different person or group.

- ACTIVE BEAR AREA: Store food, drinks, ice chests/coolers, toiletries, trash/recyclables, and all scented items in a sealed vehicle, RV, or food storage locker day and night. Never feed wildlife.

- To prevent and slow the spread of forest pests and diseases, You may only burn firewood from NPS approved vendors. A list of approved vendors is available .

- Confine all fires to the fire ring and burn ONLY dead, down and detached wood or charcoal. Fires must be completely extinguished with water before leaving a campsite. Do not leave fires unattended.

- It is unlawful to cut, destroy, damage or remove ANY standing tree, shrub or plant, or possess any green vegetation within the park, including flowers. Do not injure trees with nails or by hanging hot lanterns on or against the trunk.

- Bicycles are to be used on roads or the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail only and are prohibited in walk-in and group campsites. Roller blades, skates, skateboards, scooters, and similar devices are prohibited in the campground.

- Wheeled devices are prohibited on foot trails, including wheelbarrows, wagons, carts & trailers. Do not create short-cuts.

- Pets must be on a six-foot (6 ft./1.8 m) leash at all times. Do not leave pets unattended and tied to an object. Pet owners are responsible for the cleanup of all excrement.

- Containers must be kept under drains and emptied only at the dump station.

- The washing of dishes, hands, hair, or brushing teeth, etc. at outdoor water faucets is prohibited. Washing vehicles at the dump station is prohibited.

- Do NOT burn trash/garbage in fire rings. ALL trash/garbage must be disposed of in provided dumpsters.

Failures to follow these regulations may result in removal from the campground.
Poison Ivy. Poison Ivy is abundant at the campground and throughout the lakeshore. Tent pads and campsite driveways are kept clear of poison ivy. However there may be poison ivy lining the boundary of the campsite.

Ticks. Ticks are common throughout the Lakeshore & are often found in tall grass and shrubs. To learn how to avoid and remove ticks, visit the Avoiding Ticks page on the Centers for Disease Control DC website.
Beach Safety. The park has pebble beaches rather than pure sand. Water shoes are recommended. There are no lifeguards on duty at any of the park beaches--swim at your own risk.

Beach fires are only allowed between the water and the first dune. No fires are permitted in dune grass. Never leave fires unattended and extinguish them with water only. NEVER BURY A BEACH FIRE WITH SAND.

Natural Features

D.H. Day Campground lies in the middle of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore near the historic village of Glen Haven. The spacious wooded campsites are no more than a 5-minute walk to the Lake Michigan beach. Features include northern hardwood and conifer forests, old farm meadows, wetlands, lakes, streams, bogs, and splendid examples of glacially formed landscapes. The beautiful, perched sand dunes, for which the parked is named, are just a few minutes' drive from the campground.

Nearby Attractions

Village of Glen Arbor (1.5 miles East).
The Alligator Hill Trail is less than a mile away.
To the West visitors will find the Historic Village of Glen Haven & the General Store bookstore (0.8 miles ), the Maritime Museum (1.1 miles), and the Sleeping Bear Point Trail (1.4 miles).
The Dune Climb (2 miles) and Dune Center bookstore are a short drive to the south.
4.2 miles to the south is the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, where the Lake Michigan Overlook is located .
Village of Empire (7.5 miles South).
The Crystal River winds its way to Lake Michigan just a few short miles to the north.
The Port Onieda Historic District can be found 5.7 miles to the North.
The Harbor Town of Leland is 20 miles north of the Lakeshore & is the gateway to both North and South Manitou Islands.

Recreation

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's rustic D.H. Day Campground is beautifully wooded. Campers can swim, canoe, kayak, fish and relax along the shoreline of the campground. The multi-use Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail passes through the campground opening up 20+ miles (32 km) of biking and hiking. There are canoe and bicycle rentals nearby in the village of Glen Arbor. The historic village of Glen Haven is a short 15-minute walk away. Multiple hiking trails, the Dune Climb, and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive are just a short drive away. D.H. Day Campground is the perfect launching point for a fun-filled stay at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Changes & Cancellations

Contact Information

SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE ATTN: D.H. DAY CAMPGROUND 9922 FRONT STREET EMPIRE MI 49630

Physical

8010 W. Harbor Hwy. (M-109) Glen Arbor MI 49636

Mailing

9922 FRONT STREET Empire MI 49630

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 231-326-4700 ext 5035

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Empire, MI: Drive north on M-22 for 2 miles (3.2 km) to the intersection of M-109, turn left onto M-109, continue for another 5.3 miles (8.5 km) past the Scenic Drive, Dune Climb & entrance to the D.H. Day Group Campground. The entrance to this campground will be on your left.

From Glen Arbor, MI: Drive west on M-109 for 1.4 miles (2.2 km), the entrance to this campground will be on your right.

Physical Address: 8000 W. Harbor Hwy, Glen Arbor, MI 49636

Available Campsites

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