20 Jul The Ultimate Guide to Camping at Ludington State Park
The campground at Ludington State Park has it all: scenic hikes, a relaxing river float, and of course, all-important stretches of Lake Michigan shoreline. The nearby lighthouse and sand dunes — iconic Michigan sights — are the perfect spots to catch sunsets and Lake Michigan views. Whether you’re traveling with family, a significant other, or your gal pals, Ludington has something for everyone!
Getting There
Head through downtown Ludington and follow Ludington Avenue all the way to the end. Turn right onto N. Lakeshore Drive, and take this road until it forks, where you’ll keep left onto M-116. This road takes you along a scenic view of Lake Michigan, and the rest of the way out to Ludington State Park!
Getting Around & Parking
Only two cars are allowed at each campsite. You can park any additional cars at a park and ride, the Meijer parking lot, or at the overflow lot in the state park. The campground is expansive, but definitely walkable. If you have a bike to bring, that would be ideal!
Fees
Recreation Passport: To enter any Michigan state park, you need to have a valid Recreation Passport. The Recreation Passport is valid for one year and/or until the license plate registration expires. For Michigan residents, it costs $17 if purchased at the park for the year (if it’s not already on your plates). If you don’t live in Michigan, it costs $34 annually or $9 per night.
Ludington Summer Weather
At night, the temps are in the upper 50’s, and in the day it ranges usually from upper 70’s to low 80’s. Always plan for a chance of rain too! It is Michigan after all.
Ludington State Park Campgrounds
Ludington State Park has three campgrounds: Pines, Cedar, and Beechwood. Each one has restrooms, free showers, and electricity.
Something to note: cell service within the park is nonexistent. If you need to use your phone, you will have to drive into town.
Where to book: https://www.midnrreservations.com/
Not sure which campground to choose? We personally love to stay in Cedar Campground. It is in the middle of all the action, and is closest to the camp store (aka the source of firewood and ice cream). Pines is our second choice, but it’s best to have a site by the dunes (ideal for a short walk to sunsets on Lake Michigan).
Campground Activities
Hiking:
Our favorite trail at Ludington is the Lost Lake Trail. It starts as the Island Trail by the Hamlin Lake Beach parking lot (if you can’t find it, walk towards the swings on the north end — you can see the trailhead from there)! During this short, beautiful hike you will walk from island to island, crossing foot bridges and trekking through the woods. If you would like to extend your hike, this trail also connects to the Island and the Ridge Trails.
Map for all the trails to check out at Ludington State Park: Ludington State Park Trail Map
Big Sable River:
This river runs from Hamlin Lake all the way down to Lake Michigan, and is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, or our favorite activity: floating down the river in a tube. You can access the river in several spots, but the easiest points are at the top (by the Hamlin Lake Public Access parking lot), or halfway down (by the bridge across from the Cedar Campground). The river is very slow, so we suggest tubers start at the halfway point.
If you do choose to tube: We recommend bringing your water shoes (i.e. flip flops, Tevas, etc.), a tube, and some drinks! On our last float trip, we brilliantly brought a cooler for our seltzers, and attached noodles to the sides to make it float (innovation). However, as you can imagine, our experiment was not the most successful, and we now strongly recommend getting a cooler actually designed to float. (Remember, you will have to carry it back to your campsite, regardless of how much of the cooler’s content you consume while floating. You’ve been warned).
Note: Glass is not allowed in the river! Please plan to carry out any cans or other garbage you have in order to keep the river clean.
Big Sable Point Lighthouse:
This lighthouse is a true Michigan icon, and is definitely worth the hassle it takes to get there. The path to the lighthouse is a gravel road, 2 miles long (one way), and winds through the dunes. It is not shaded, so it’s best to go first thing in the morning or after dinner! Once you arrive, you can enjoy the views, go inside the lighthouse, and even climb to the top (for a $5 donation fee).
Beaches:
Beaches: There are two main beaches at Ludington State Park: Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake. The beach on Lake Michigan is equipped with several volleyball nets, restroom facilities, ice cream, and bike racks. It’s also the best spot to watch sunsets! Hamlin Lake is much calmer and warmer (perfect for paddle-boarding and kayaking), and is most popular for families with younger kids and visitors with boats.
Things to Do Nearby:
House of Flavors:
House of Flavors: Our favorite place to get ice cream! This shop’s decor is straight out of a 1950’s diner, and they have no shortage of ice cream flavors (definitely lives up to its name). They also serve diner food, making it a great spot to stop for breakfast or lunch. Their claim to fame: Guiness World Record for the Longest Ice Cream Dessert in the world — a very important feat, we think.
Stearns Park & Ludington Breakwater Lighthouse:
The lighthouse closest to downtown Ludington. Great for pier-walking and boat-watching!
Most Instagrammable Spots:
> Sunset on the dunes of Lake Michigan
> Lost Lake Trail
> Big Sable Point Lighthouse
Campsite Spotlight:
Our latest Ludington adventure was made especially memorable by the appearance of our newest Camp Gal icon: Tammy. Tammy was our surprise camp elf, a friend of Rachel’s co-worker and the kindest human. Our first interaction with Tammy included a bundle of string lights that were too much for her to untangle. She asked if we’d like to take them off her hands, and we said OF COURSE. Needless to say, our campsite has never looked cuter. When we came back from sunset, Tammy had left some more goodies by our picnic table, and the next morning I heard her say “I’m going to go see if the girls want this” and brought us a nice floor mat for our shoes. Shoutout to Tammy her generosity, and for helping us up our gear game!
♡ Rach & Olivia
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Linda Harre
Posted at 16:53h, 20 JulySuch good content! Beautiful pics and love the links at the end!