D.H. Day Group Campground
D.H. Day Group Campground is a tent-only facility located in the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, about one mile (1.6 km) north of the Dune Climb, where visitors can walk over miles of sand dunes. This year-round campground has four sites which accommodate groups of 7 to 25 people.
This is the group site. Looking for the main campground? D.H. Day Campground, 87 sites, is 1.2 miles away.
More like this: reservable in Michigan · tent only in Michigan · group sites in Michigan
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group tent areas | 4 |
Site guide
4 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Pets | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G001 | Gravel | 25 / – | Yes | No | ||
| G002 | Gravel | 25 / – | Yes | No | ||
| G003 | Gravel | Partial | 25 / – | Yes | No | Yes |
| G004 | Gravel | 25 / – | Yes | No |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | 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 or purchase in advance. |
| Accessibility | Site G003 is listed accessible |
- Picnic tables, food storage boxes, and campfire rings are provided at each campsite.
- Each campsite has a designated area where tents must be pitched.
- The campground has drinking water during the reservation season, but the water is shut off from October 16 through April 26 (weather permitting).
- Pets and RVs are not allowed in the group sites.
- Access to the campground is via a dirt road.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Traverse City, Michigan take M-72 west to Empire. Proceed 2.1 miles (3.4 km) north of Empire on M-22. Go 4.1 miles (6.6 km) north on M-109 to West Harwood Road. Take a left on West Harwood Road and continue all the way to the end of the road to D.H. Day Group Campground. Reservation holders MUST check-in and pay entrance fees at D.H.
| Nearest town | Empire, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44.8917° N, 86.0428° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 1.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Wild Lettie ↗ | 20.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Bish's RV ↗ | 23.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Camping in Michigan: D.H. Day Campground
Worth a stop
- To the East and North:
- 1.3 miles - Alligator Hill Trail - via Harwood Road (E), M-109 (S), Day Farm Road (E), & Stocking Road (N).
- 1.5 miles - Historic Village of Glen Haven & the General Store bookstore
- 2.0 miles - Maritime Museumand
- 2.3 miles - Sleeping Bear Point Trail
- 3.2 miles - Village of Glen Arbor - where the Crystal River winds through town to Lake Michigan.
- 7.3 miles - Port Onieda Historic District.
- 21.8 miles - The Harbor Town of Leland serves as the gateway to both North and South Manitou Islands.
- To the South:
- 1.5 miles - The Dune Climb and Dune Center bookstore.
- 3.5 miles - Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, home of the Lake Michigan Overlook.
- 6.5 miles - Village of Empire.
- 5.9 miPort Oneida Heritage Center ↗Visitor center
Public land it sits in
Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness begins about 10.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.9 miSleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 32,557 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
The campground is open with sparse vegetation. Contrary to the park's name, bears are rarely sighted here, yet other wildlife such as birds, deer and wild turkey may be seen. Although the Lake Michigan shore 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, for which it was 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.
Recreation
D.H. Day Group is a hub for water activities. Motorized and non-motorized boating is allowed on the lake, with restrictions, and there is a boat ramp about six miles away by which boaters can access Lake Michigan. Campers can also rent canoes and kayaks in the town of Glen Harbor to float the nearby Crystal River. The beach at Glen Haven, which is popular for beachcombing and swimming, is about one mile away from the campground. There are no lifeguards on duty at the park's beaches. The facility is also close to the Dune Climb, where visitors can climb on sand dunes over 200 feet high, walk more than 1.5 miles on the dunes to Lake Michigan and catch a great view of Glen Lake.
Guidebooks for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Michigan
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at D.H. Day Group Campground?
Sites at D.H. Day Group Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at D.H. Day Group Campground?
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 or purchase in advance.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at D.H. Day Group Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does D.H. Day Group Campground have?
4 sites, including 4 group tent areas.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to D.H. Day Group Campground?
D.H. Day Group Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at D.H. Day Group Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at D.H. Day Group Campground?
Site G003 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at D.H. Day Group Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at D.H. Day Group Campground?
D.H. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to D.H. Day Group Campground?
Empire, Michigan. To the East and North:
Source: Getting there
What if D.H. Day Group Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are D.H. Day Campground (1.2 mi), South Manitou Group Campground (8.7 mi, partly first-come), and White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits (10.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is D.H. Day Group Campground in?
D.H. Day Group Campground is a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.