Summer's Last Gasp!

Quick – bag up the tent, grab some firewood, put the hot dogs in the cooler and load everyone into the car! There's still a little summer left, so no matter what your camping style, go and make some last-minute memories at these great campsites before the real world sets back in.

RUSTIC RETREAT

PETOSKEY STATE PARK
2475 M-119, Petoskey
midnrreservations.com/petoskeystatepark

From the smallest tent to the biggest RV, Petoskey State Park's two campgrounds, The Dunes and Tannery Creek, offer a wide range of sites for all kinds of campers. Amenities are fairly basic – electricity, water stations, restrooms and picnic areas – but the surroundings make up for it with a large, busy beach right on Little Traverse Bay, plus kayak rentals and a grocery and sandwich shop just a short walk away.

STARTING RATES: $31/night for campsites (not including state park permit)

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND RESERVE: 231-347-2311

THE GANG'S ALL HERE

CAMP PET-O-SE-GA 1
1000 Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga, Alanson
emmetcounty.org/petosega

Operated by the Emmet County Parks and Recreation Department, this facility offers 90 campsites plus a half-dozen rental cabins, all with electricity and water. Well-kept facilities, a new playground and open game areas make this campground located on Pickerel Lake a perfect choice for the whole gang. It also boasts a recreation hall big enough for a family reunion and an outdoor pavilion that shows movies every Saturday night.

STARTING RATES: $18/night for campsites, $40/night for cabins

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND RESERVE: 231-347-6536

HAPPY GLAMPING

KOA (4 locations)
1800 US 31 North, Petoskey;
566 Trailsend Road, Mackinaw City;
5101 Campfires Parkway, Gaylord;
9700 S. M-37, Buckley
koa.com/campgrounds/petoskey

These popular destinations are for those who prefer "camping lite," with a more civilized, dare we say organized, air. In addition to tent sites, RV sites offer concrete patios, while deluxe log cabins, cottages and lodges include bathroom and kitchen amenities, cable TV hookups and WiFi, all surrounded by landscaped grounds. If camping itself isn't enough of a distraction, there's also a swimming pool, a snack bar and different events at each location, from pancake breakfasts to bingo.

STARTING RATES: $25/night for campsites; cabins and cottages vary

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND RESERVE: 800-562-0253

FUN AND FUDGE

MACKINAW MILL CREEK CAMPING
9730 US Hwy 23, Mackinaw City
campmackinaw.com

Five minutes from the Mackinac Island ferry docks and downtown Mackinaw City, Mill Creek is the perfect place to set up your base for that trip to the island and one more box of summer fudge. Situated on more than 200 acres of woods and a mile of shoreline, this campground features views of the Mackinac Bridge, electric/water/sewer/RV hookups, and everything from budget tent sites to three-bedroom cabins, plus a pool, arcade and mini-golf.

STARTING RATES: $12/night for campsites, $54/night for cabins

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND RESERVE: 231-436-5584

ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE

TIMBER RIDGE RESORT
4050 Hammond Road East, Traverse City
timberridgeresort.net

Open year round with winterized cabins, Timber Ridge's property includes miles of trails and campsites, plus an RV park, lodge, banquet facility and cabins. Restrooms, laundry facilities, WiFi (request when reserving), golf cart rental and a camp store ensure all the necessities are covered. Organized activities like dodge ball games, wagon rides, nighttime glow parades and popular theme weekends keep the fun quotient high.

STARTING RATES: $30/night for campsites, $65/night for cabins

CHECK AVAILABILITY AND RESERVE: 231-947-2770