Michigan - Montana Owners Club

adelmoll · 07-17-2007, 11:00 AM

Hey all you Tiger/Lions fans. We will be going to Elkhart, IN soon and plan on going thru the UP from Wisconsin and then down to Elkhart. We would like the most scenic route (possibly along the lake) with suggestions for campgrounds that our Tana will fit into.

Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.

Helen

Mrs. CountryGuy · 07-17-2007, 11:36 AM

Cannot beat the lake routes, west side of the "hand" of Michigan is fab.

Have not camped there in such a long time, will not offer suggestions.

boylanag · 07-17-2007, 12:26 PM

Agree with Carol about the west side of the state. Get on US 2 at or west of Escanaba and follow it to the Macinaw Bridge. Much of this is right on the northern tip of Lake Michigan. Then south on US 31 through Petoskey, Charlevoix, Traverse City and then south on 31. When in Traverse City, a side trip (without Monty) into the Leelanau Pennensula to LeLand. This is quaint, old fishing village with all sorts of shops, and a pier with fishing boats. South are all sorts of villages and towns along the coast that are very interesting. Saugatuck is very artsy-craftsy if that is your thing. Enjoy!!!

wswebster · 07-17-2007, 01:41 PM

For campgrounds, just south of Traverse City Holiday Park then if your close to Luddington we love Poncho's pond. As for the U.P just east of Marquette is Gitchee Gumee rv park, in the woods with Big rig sites. Hope this helps a little. Stacy

adelmoll · 07-17-2007, 03:13 PM

Oh boy, this is just what we're looking for. Keep it coming.

Stacy, about 7 yrs ago we did the circle tour around Lake Superior and stayed at Gitchee Gumee. It was wonderful. We walked to the lake and had a bonfire. I was born in Duluth, MN on Lake Superior and never knew that the water got warm. Sure found out different when we were on the Michigan side. This time we will be doing the route that Carol and Jim suggested.. Thanks so much.

Helen

Mrs. CountryGuy · 07-17-2007, 04:11 PM

Helen,

Try this URL:

http://www.midnrreservations.com/

Look for campgrounds in the areas of Michigan you are gonna drive through. Michigan State Parks are very pretty.

Thoughts:

1.) In most cases you will have electric only, have to load up with fresh water on the way in, and dump on the way out.

2.) Many of the parks have a map online that will show you size of each site, and what kind of site it is, maybe sunny, gravel, grass, etc.

3.) Many of the parks will fill up 6 months in advance, places like Grand Haven and Holland, and Muskegon, are a bear to get into. But, if you could do middle of the week, NO weekends, you might be able to pull a few days at one of the popular parks. Can attest that the 3 I mentioned, plus Ludington, Silver Lake and a few others are too wonderful to describe!

Enjoy!

JimnJulie · 07-17-2007, 04:33 PM

Be sure to visit the Leelanau peninsula, also the Old Mission Lighthouse north of Traverse City. The drive along Lake Michigan is one of our favorites, the beaches are sand as opposed to the Lake Huron side which is mostly rocky. US 31 south out of Macinaw City is the way to go. Be sure to spend some time in Petosky and Charlevoix as you pass through them. They are two very beautiful towns. Traverse City has multiple places to see. Do not miss the Old Mission Lighthouse on M37 north of TC. You can walk out into the bay for a quarter of a mile or more with the water not more than 6 or 8 inches deep. Lots of boulders to sit on and take in the view. Sleeping Bear Dunes is a must as is Saugatuck/Douglas farther on down the coastline. South Haven and St. Joseph are very beautiful harbor towns with excellent light houses. From St. Joe it is just a hop and skip southeast to Elkhart. Enjoy the trip.

adelmoll · 07-18-2007, 01:44 AM

Oh these are wonderful suggestions. We want to do them all.

Carol, do you know the requirements for State Park admission. Do you need a season pass or daily? Is it included in the price of camping?

Helen

Mrs. CountryGuy · 07-18-2007, 02:51 AM

Daily pass, or yearly pass, PLUS daily fee. Fees are on the web site. Daily fees are NOT the same in each campground, the popular ones charge more, imagine that!

Have fun.

jrgwdenner · 07-18-2007, 03:58 AM

Helen, when we were in Michigan last year the yearly pass was cheap enough that it was beneficial to get that pass even though our stay was limited to one to two weeks. We stayed at the Straits State Park near the Mackinaw Bridge and enjoyed it there. Good location, nice sites, probably doesn't have sewer though. There's lots to see there. Be sure and see the Fort. It has a nice museum in it.

boylanag · 07-18-2007, 04:52 AM

While in the Mackinaw area, sing "Happy Birthday" to the bridge - 50 years old. It used to be a ferry ride from one peninsula to the other.

BDana · 07-18-2007, 07:18 AM

If you find yourself in the South Haven area there is Jensens RV Park off of North Shore Drive. This has full hooksup's and they added new lots last year so there are always one available. You are within a 5 minute drive to 4 different beaches and very close to Highway 196. It is exit 22.

old turbo · 07-18-2007, 10:17 AM

I do know you will need a state park sticker and the cost of each days stay. I have not stayed in a Mich. state park in years. I will not pay all that money for a generally dirt site with only elec. It is better to spend money at the private parks. The drive on 35 from Marrinete, WI . to Escanaba, MI. is nice. In Escanaba you pick up highway 2 which is a nice drive with views of Lake Michigan. Its been hard times on the UP of Michigan with the gas prices,some RV parks are out of business. Some nice KOA parks when you get on 2. Stay at KOA in St. Ignace with view of the Mighty Mackinaw bridge. Take the ferry across to Historic Mackinaw Island. Just horse and bike traffic on the Island. Then follow the directions from the other post.

Mrs. CountryGuy · 07-18-2007, 11:01 AM

Old Turbo, you might like that KOA at St. Ignace, but we will never stay there again. Last time we were there was a busy weekend, and they did not have the lawns cut, and other stuff. BUT the biggie was that one of the workers (checking people in) was wearing a side arm, as in handgun, in the open. Maybe that was to discourage ill behaved guests, but there were a lot of kids there. Each to his own bout guns, but I felt very uncomfortable with that situation and that is my right, to feel uncomfy.

As far as all state parks having dirt sites, that just is not true. OHHHHH, quite a few do, but not all. And, if you are in a heavy use area, the likelyhood is you will have a lot of dirt. But, one stay at Holland (out in the beach park), or Grand Haven, or Muskegon (again, in the beach portion), and all that glorius sand, OKKKK, so Carol likes the beach,

We were going to go up to Ionia, a State Recreation area at the end of July, got cancelled, cause the wedding got cancelled, but look at their sites, lots of grassy ones. IN fact, ALL the sites there are paved where ya park your unit, ditto at Pontiac State Recreation area. PAVED! Ya really gotta read that map and the site descriptions.

Check out this URL

http://www.geocities.com/genieyorks/uptour2002.html

and take a gander at the view from our trailer at Indian Lake State Park a few years ago. I believe as you say, the sites were dirt, put down a rug, pull up a chair, pop a cool one and gaze at one of God's gifts. The view was well worth it! ohhhh, that particular site would hold ANY Montana trailer, with as many slides as you can have.

There are some good private parks in Michigan, but we rarely use them, the State Parks have too much to offer, but gotta admit we don't like the way the fees have gone over the years. We get a much better deal in Texas during the winter.

sailer · 07-18-2007, 05:30 PM

On US 2 watch for the sand drifts ,, just like snow drifts at times in big storms but when you get to mackauna stay at mackinaw mill creek camping resort great place with nice lake views , then go to petoski and stasy at the koa as thats top class then down the west coast all the way to union pier , mich and stop and get some wine before coming to the moc in goshen the wine is at st jullians wne factory and we stayed in a nice park 30 miles away spalding lake rc niles mi nice park john

lawrenceb42106 · 07-18-2007, 05:51 PM

We stay at the Ionia Free Fair Grounds several times a year. Good prices $15.00 a night. Has water and elect. There is a dump station there also. The sites are all grass. http://ioniafreefair.com/ Check the days you cause they have a lot of things going on on the weekends.

adelmoll · 07-19-2007, 02:00 AM

You guys are great. Looks like we will need a couple of weeks to get there. Wish we were coming to the MOC rally John but we will be there for the Escapades the week earlier. We have to get back to Minnesota and will not be able to stay for the MOC. We will be able to say hi to some of the early birds though.

Helen

dsprik · 07-21-2007, 01:46 PM

I agree with Sailer on Mackinaw City. I would stay at Mill Creek CG and plan on one day in Mackinaw City and one more day on Mackinac Island. Helen you will hate yourself if you drive right by that spot without taking it in.

Also, if you had the time, the Porcupine Mts and Copper Harbor ( Brockway Mtn) are two of the most scenic areas in Mich.

adelmoll · 07-21-2007, 03:19 PM

Thanks Sailor and Dave for the suggestions but we have done that area several times before. Not that we won't do it again this time but we have never come down along the West Lake before so want to spend more time in that area. I used to spend lots of weekends at Copper Harbor sking in my youth. Duluth was just a hop, skip and a jump to the Mountains.

Dave and Cheryl, if you are in Minneapolis PM us. We would love to see you if we are still here.

Helen

dsprik · 07-21-2007, 05:12 PM

Helen, I will PM you...

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