Rules and regulations

Park hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Only registered campers are allowed in the park after 10 p.m. with the exception of occasional events.

A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, DNR-managed boating access sites (boat launches), state forest campgrounds and parking at state trailheads.

Alcohol possession and use is limited or prohibited at certain state parks and boating access sites. See the full list of alcohol restrictions.

Pets are welcome on a 6-foot leash in state parks, campgrounds, some state park cabins, state forest campgrounds, non-designated bathing beach areas, most harbors, the majority of trails and many boat launches. Learn about pet-friendly recreation and rules.

Leash laws do not apply on state park lands if the dog is being used for hunting, field trials or while being trained for hunting purposes on land open to such use.

Many parks and recreation areas have access to fishing. With the exception of Free Fishing Weekends, if you are over the age of 17 you are required to have a license to fish. Buy your fishing license online, buy a fishing license at a retailer, or download the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and purchase through the app.

All state recreation areas are open to hunting unless designated closed. All state parks are closed to hunting unless designated open. Find a list of parks and recreation areas where hunting is allowed.

Wheelchairs, including power-driven wheelchairs, and other power-driven mobility devices (known as OPDMDs) are allowed in areas open to pedestrians and while operated at walking speed. A number of criteria apply.

Some events on public lands, such as weddings, 5K races, festivals, tournaments, require a permit. Learn about the types of events and requirements.

Businesses and individuals using public-owned lands, such as state parks, trails and boat access sites, for commercial operations must obtain a permit.

All research activities within state parks, recreation areas, boating access sites and rail trails are required to have a use permit. Most research projects will require no fees, bonding or insurance, but will require submittal of a report at the conclusion of the project in place of monetary payment. Learn how to obtain a land use permit for research.

Metal detecting is allowed in designated parks when it is conducted in ways that do not damage the resources or violate state laws. Any items found must be reviewed by park staff and may be retained for further investigation. See a list of parks where metal detecting is allowed.

Fireworks such as Roman candles and bottle rockets are prohibited in Michigan state parks at all times; however, smaller novelty fireworks such as party poppers, snappers/drop pops, snakes, smoke bombs, sparklers and ground spinners are still permitted.

Find all state land rules associated with state parks and recreation areas.

• A responsible person (18 years or older) must register the site and be a member of the party camping each night.
• Campsites are intended for overnight use. An established campsite may not be left unoccupied for more than a 24-hour period.
• Reservations are held until 3 p.m. one day after the scheduled arrival date. Failure to check in within 24 hours of the check-in time will result in a “no-show” status and will incur the loss of two nights' fees, the reservation fee, $10 cancellation fee and the reduced-stay fee (assessed on remaining unused nights using the sliding modification/cancellation formula).
• A camper may not camp for more than 15 consecutive nights in any separately administered campground in a state park or recreation area between May 15 and September 15. If a camping party is required to leave a campground upon reaching the 15-night limit, the party is not eligible to return until 5 nights have elapsed.

Campsites:

• Check-in for camping arrivals start at 3 p.m.
• Checkout is 1 p.m.

Lodging:

• Check-in for overnight lodging arrivals start at 4 p.m.
• Checkout is noon.

In the off-season, please use the yellow phone if staff is not in the campground office.

Yellow phone:

If you arrive during the times below and staff is unavailable at the campground office, please pick up the yellow phone and it will automatically connect you to the call center:

• Monday -Thursday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Fridays; 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Saturdays and Sundays; 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

If you arrive after call center hours, you can check the campground office window for information on site availability and instructions on how to self-register.

Pets are allowed in all campsites and some overnight lodging locations. Pets must be kept quiet, always be on a 6-foot leash, under owner’s immediate control and never left unattended. All pet waste must be properly disposed of in trash receptacles.

No pets allowed in buildings, including toilet and shower buildings, except qualified service animals.

• No more than six people allowed per campsite.
• One primary camping unit (ie. truck camper, trailer, RV, etc.) may be allowed per campsite. Tents may also occupy the campsite with the trailer, RV, or truck camper within the geographic boundary of the campsite, as long as the number of campers is not violated.
• No more than two vehicles allowed per campsite. A motorhome does not count as a vehicle when used as the camping unit.
• Tent-only campsites are limited to the number of tents that can fit within the site, which means as many tents as necessary to accommodate a single camping party are permitted within site boundaries.

Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings only and must never be left unattended. Do not burn garbage.

Don't move firewood. Invasive insects and diseases have destroyed MILLIONS OF TREES in Michigan – often after hitching a ride on firewood. Hauling firewood, even a short distance, from one part of the state to another is a common way for these invasive species to infest new locations. Please purchase local or certified heat-treated firewood sold in state parks, local stores and roadside stands.

You can always transport your own or rented camping unit or RV in and out of a state park; however, if a rental is being delivered and set up for you at the park, you must rent from a permitted vendor.

Camping is permitted in designated sites only.

Campground and park visitors are not allowed between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Please remember that only two vehicles are allowed in each campsite .

The use of fuel-powered generators is not allowed during established quiet hours (10 p.m. to 8 a.m.). To help visitors with medical needs, electric and solar-powered generators are allowed.

Quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. during which time campers can not knowingly cause noise that disturbs others.

Reasonable sound levels must not be exceeded at any time.

Radios, generators or other amplified devices may not create excessive noise.

To help reduce impacts to park infrastructure and protect natural resources, non-registered campers are required to pay a $10 fee and have a Recreation Passport to utilize sanitation/dump stations except for locations where infrastructure can't withstand additional use.

Locations that do not allow non-registered campers to utilize sanitation/dump stations include Baraga State Park, Burt Lake SP, Cheboygan SP, Fort Custer SP, Hoeft SP, Holly Recreation Area, North Higgins Lake SP, Port Crescent SP, Rifle River RA and Twin Lakes SP.

Discharge of firearms, air guns, slingshots or arrows aren't permitted in campground boundaries.

If you’re traveling distances without a motor vehicle or similar means of transportation, and you’re in need of overnight camping, space is available at state parks and state forest campgrounds even when the location is at full capacity. In these specific, need-based cases, sites are made available to individuals who are self-supporting, leave-no-trace tent campers carrying their camping gear on their bike, in a backpack or within a canoe or kayak. A safe area within the park, with varying levels of amenities, will be assigned. The following requirements apply:

• Camping permits for locations other than designated campsites will be written for one night only.
• If assigned space other than a designated campsite, campers must leave by 10 a.m. the following morning or register for a designated campsite.
• Camping fees are determined by amenities available to campers, with up to six people per camp allowed.
• Campfires are prohibited unless an approved fire pit is available in the designated camp area.

Selling or renting a state-managed campsite, cabin, lodge, or harbor slip is defined as commercial activity and is prohibited. Reservations must be canceled if they cannot be used by the original reservation holder, they cannot be sold or transferred to another party. Park staff may not honor a reservation that has been sold and transferred.

See the following documents for rates and operating dates at facilities. If you need assistance reading these documents or would like them in an alternative format, please call 517-284-7275.

NEW! Camping and lodging fee adjustments: To help ensure the long-term sustainability of state parks and that rates are keeping pace with fixed costs, camping and lodging fees are being adjusted. New nightly rates will be effective Aug.1, 2025. Find info on the adjustments.

There is a non-refundable fee that is assessed when making reservations online a MiDNRReservations.com ($8) or by phone at 1-800-447-2757 ($10).

As part of the pet-friendly lodging program, there is an additional fee of $10 per night/pet/cabin or $15 per night/pet/lodge (only applies to lodging where pets are allowed).