Platte River Campground

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Platte River Campground is located in the southern district of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the lower peninsula of Michigan.
This year-round facility is one of the most popular campgrounds in the park. It is within walking distance of the Platte River and a short walk or drive away from the Lake Michigan shore. Hikers can access many of the area's day use and backpacking trails just north of the campground.

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. 

Winters are cold, with daytime highs from 20° to 30° F (-7° to -1° C) and lows in the 10s and 20s F (-12 to -7° C). Snow is usually on the ground from late November through March.

This facility is well-maintained, well-organized and offers a wide variety of sites, including back-in and pull-through sites with electric hookups for RVs, non-electric sites, walk-to sites, group sites (hike-in, tent-only) and a nearby backcountry campground. Each site has a campfire ring and picnic table. Each loop has restrooms with flush toilets and sinks. Hot showers are also available. The group sites allow no more than 25 people per site; pets and RVs are not permitted in them.

Notifications and Alerts

• 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.

• The Ironman Michigan triathlon will be taking place Sunday, September 14, 2025. The bike course takes place on M-22 and will have significant impact on local traffic.  

  M-22 will be closed from 8:30 am to approximately 2 pm between the City of Frankfort and Esch Road.

  • To avoid road closures, arriving campers should not arrive before the scheduled check-in time of 2 pm.
  • To avoid road closures, departing campers should exit by 8:30 am via Deadstream Road, Platte Road, or M-22 northbound. Southbound M-22 will be closed.

Need to Know

• Entrance 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). The park also honors Federal Recreational Lands interagency passes (e.g., annual, senior, access, military, 4th grade, Golden Age). For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page. 

  The Michigan Recreation Passport is not valid for entry at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which is a federally managed site.

• BE A GOOD CAMPER, PLEASE OBEY THE FOLLOWING PERMIT CONDITIONS: 

  1. Campers must check-in at the campground office immediately upon arrival.

  2. Campers must notify the campground at 231-326-4700 ext 5029 if they will not arrive within 24 hours of the check-in time or their reservation will be cancelled; they will be charged the first night's camping fee plus a $20 no show fee.

  3. Check-in time is 2 p.m. Check-out time is 12 noon.

  4. Camping is permitted ONLY in designated areas, on the established tent pads, and parking pads. All vehicles and trailers must remain on asphalt and off gravel or vegetation.
  5. No more than six (6) people will be permitted on a site and only one truck camper, camper trailer, or motor home will be permitted on each site.

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

  7. Generator use is prohibited at Platte River Campground.

  8. Camping is limited to 14 TOTAL days per designated campground between Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.

  9. ACTIVE BEAR AREA: Store food, drinks, ice chests/coolers (empty or full), toiletries/hygiene products, trash/recyclables, equipment to prepare food and all scented items in a sealed hard sided vehicle, RV, or food storage locker day and night. Never feed wildlife.

  10. To prevent and slow the spread of forest pests and diseases, YOU MAY ONLY BURN NPS APPROVED FIREWOOD. Firewood may be purchased between the entrances of Loops 2 & 3.

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

  12. It is unlawful to cut, destroy, damage or remove ANY standing tree, shrub or plant, 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.

  13. 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.

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

  15. Pets must be on a six-foot (6'/1.8 M) leash under restraint or caged at all times. Do not leave pets unattended and tied to an object. Pet owners are responsible for the cleanup of all excrement. Pets are NOT allowed in group camp areas.

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

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

  18. Unless registered for a group or walk-in site, parking in those areas is prohibited. Overflow parking is available at Platte Picnic Area located at Lake Michigan Road and M-22.

• Violation of terms may result in permit suspension, revocation and/or issuance of a citation by law enforcement.

• COMFORT STATION CLOSURE:

  The comfort station located in the upper portion of Loop 1 is closed indefinitely due to a water main break.

  Handicap accessible portable toilets are available at that location. Seven full-service restroom/shower facilities remain available throughout the campground.

Natural Features

The campground lies in a wooded area within walking distance of the Platte River and less than two miles (3.2 km) away from the beaches of Lake Michigan. Although the lakeshore 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, and those for which it is named, are the perched sand dunes above Lake Michigan. The overlooks at Sleeping Bear, Empire and Pyramid Point bluffs are about 400 feet (122 m) above the lake. With 65 miles (105 km) of Lake Michigan shoreline and numerous inland lakes and streams, the park is wonderfully water-oriented.

Recreation

Campers can hike, canoe, kayak and fish on the river or the lake. There are canoe rentals at nearby Platte River Point, where the river meets the lake (the point also has beach access for those wishing to drive there). The Platte Plains trail system boasts more than 25 miles (40 km) of trails, some of which can be accessed a short walk away from the campground. Trails to the primitive White Pine backcountry campground are also close by.

Changes & Cancellations

Contact Information

Default

SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE 9922 FRONT STREET EMPIRE MI 49630

Physical

5685 Lake Michigan Road Honor MI 49640

Phone Number

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

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From the east (Traverse City): Take State Highway M-72 west to Empire. Turn south on State Highway M-22. Proceed 10 miles 16 km) (and turn right on Lake Michigan Road. Follow the signs to Platte River Campground.

From the south (US-31/M-115): At the junction of U.S. Route 31 and M-115, continue north for seven miles (11 km). Turn left on Platte Road. Proceed five miles and turn right on M-22. Proceed one mile (1.6 km) and turn left on Lake Michigan Road. Follow the signs to Platte River Campground.

PHYSICAL CAMPGROUND ADDRESS: 5685 Lake Michigan Road, Honor, MI, 49640

Available Campsites

• Site 135, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 215, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 107, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 318, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 214, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 448, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 442, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 412, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 121, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site C002, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 116, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 206, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 309, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 120, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 111, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 311, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 139, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site B001, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 105, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site D001, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 409, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 122, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site G002, Loop Group Sites, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
• Site G004, Loop Group Sites, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
• Site 406, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B007, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site A005, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 115, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 134, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site D003, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 429, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 434, Loop Loop 4, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 304, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 437, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 209, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site A001, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 305, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 112, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site A008, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 102, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 124, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 431, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 219, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 123, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 401, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 141, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 450, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 438, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site D002, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 451, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 404, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 425, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 132, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site C004, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site C006, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 411, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 422, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 104, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 217, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 129, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 203, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 212, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site A002, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 308, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 317, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site B002, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 125, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 126, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 303, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 407, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 427, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 320, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 315, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site B008, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 417, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 405, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 430, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 110, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 439, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B003, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 408, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A007, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 312, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 441, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 319, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 307, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 224, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site C003, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 310, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 410, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 101, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 136, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 314, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 138, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 453, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 137, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site B005, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site A003, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 117, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 127, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 301, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 223, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 433, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 109, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 218, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 316, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 119, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 426, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 220, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 419, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site A006, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 440, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 444, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 403, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 106, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 207, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site C001, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 118, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 323, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 130, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 128, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 306, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 142, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 325, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 420, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site G005, Loop Group Sites, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
• Site 424, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 321, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 114, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 449, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site G003, Loop Group Sites, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
• Site 414, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B006, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 432, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 222, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 103, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 322, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 205, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site A004, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 131, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 140, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 413, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 211, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 443, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 213, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 208, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 113, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 210, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 313, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 421, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 447, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 435, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 324, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 326, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric
• Site 221, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site C005, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 418, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 133, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site G001, Loop Group Sites, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
• Site 416, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 436, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 428, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 108, Loop Loop 1, Type Standard Electric
• Site 216, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 423, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 415, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 446, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site B004, Loop Walk-In, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 204, Loop Loop 2, Type Standard Electric
• Site 445, Loop Loop 4, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 327, Loop Loop 3, Type Standard Electric

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