D.H. Day Campground
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 4th Sunday in November. Reservations are required May 15 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.
The group site has its own page: D.H. Day Group Campground.
More like this: electric hookups in Michigan · reservable in Michigan · pets allowed in Michigan
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| RV, no hookups | 56 |
| Walk-in | 13 |
| Tent-only | 12 |
| Standard, no hookups | 1 |
| Host/management | 5 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
82 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Generator | Tent only | 25 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 02 | Generator | RV | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 03 | Generator | Walk-in | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 04 | Generator | RV | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 05 | Generator | Tent only | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 06 | Generator | Walk-in | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 07 | Generator | RV | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 08 | Generator | Tent only | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | 6 / 1 | Yes | |
| 09 | Generator | RV | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 10 | Generator | Tent only | Back-in | 27 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore charges a variety of entrance fees, depending on how a visitor arrives at the park. All visitors must have an entrance pass (separate from camping fees). |
| Accessibility | Site 86 is listed accessible |
- 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 Campground, 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 at a self-pay station.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
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.
| Nearest town | Glen Arbor, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44.8973° N, 86.0206° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | under 0.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Wild Lettie ↗ | 18.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Bish's RV ↗ | 22.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
D H Day Campground Sleeping Bear Dunes Part 1
Worth a stop
- To the East and North:
- 1.5 miles - Village of Glen Arbor - the Crystal River winds through on its way to Lake Michigan
- 5.7 miles - Port Onieda Historic District can be found 5.7 miles to the North.
- 20 miles - The Harbor Town of Leland serves as the gateway to both North and South Manitou Islands.
- To the West and South:
- 0.7 miles - Alligator Hill Trail
- 0.8 miles - 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).
- 2.0 miles - The Dune Climb and Dune Center bookstore.
- 4.2 miles - Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, the location of the Lake Michigan Overlook
- 7.5 miles - Village of Empire
- 4.8 miPort Oneida Heritage Center ↗Visitor center
Public land it sits in
Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness begins about 10.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.5 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
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.
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.
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 Campground?
Sites at D.H. Day 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 Campground?
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore charges a variety of entrance fees, depending on how a visitor arrives at the park. All visitors must have an entrance pass (separate from camping fees).
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at D.H. Day Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does D.H. Day Campground have?
87 sites, including 56 RV sites without hookups, 13 walk-in sites, 12 tent-only sites, and 1 standard site without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at D.H. Day Campground?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does D.H. Day Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at D.H. Day Campground?
Free hot showers are available at Platte River Campground, located 17 miles (27 km) south along highway M-22.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at D.H. Day Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at D.H. Day Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at D.H. Day Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at D.H. Day Campground?
Site 86 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 Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G 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 Campground?
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's rustic D.H. Day Campground is beautifully wooded. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation