Name your family’s favorite outdoor activity to do and Michigan has a state park or recreation area where you can do that. Does your family like beaches? Check. Does your family like to hike, fish, canoe, bike, or dive? Check. Perhaps your family is into winter activities like skiing, snowmobiling, tubing or sledding. Yep, Michigan has state parks and recreation areas where you can do that too.
Chances are if your big family is into outdoor activities, then you’d love to stay at the park too. We researched Michigan’s state parks and recreation areas to find cabins, yurts, and lodges that will accommodate your big family. Enjoy!
Below lodging can be booked through Michigan State Park & Harbor Reservations site. Check the Lodging tab and each of the four categories on that tab to find your desired park.
Bald Mountain Recreation Area – Lake Orion, MI
Bald Mountain Recreation Area has some of the steepest hills and most rugged terrain in southeastern Michigan. Camping is limited to rustic cabins, but the extensive trails, inland lakes, trout streams, and wild game provide recreation opportunities all year long. Beach store available. Paddleboard rentals are available.
- Arrowroot Cabin – Rustic electricity-free cabin with a view of the lake, screen windows, 4 triple bunk beds, and 4 double beds. Woodstove for heat (wood provided but gathering wood is allowed as well). Countertop and cabinets, table, and chairs. Outside hand pump for water, vault toilet, 2 picnic tables, grill, and fire ring. Sleeps 20.
- Morel Cabin – Rustic electricity-free cabin with a view of the lake, screen windows, 6 triple bunk beds, 2 single beds, and deck. Woodstove for heat (wood is provided but gathering wood is allowed as well). Countertop and cabinets, table, and chairs. Outside hand pump for water, vault toilet, 2 picnic tables, grill, and fire ring. Sleeps 20.
Brighton Recreation Area – Howell, MI
Brighton Recreation Area provides a combination of high, irregular ranges of hills, interspersed with several attractive lakes. The area has several miles of trails available for equestrian riding, mountain biking, and hiking.
- Aji-jaak – Single-room cabin overlooking Caroga Lake. 4 sets of bunk beds, no linens provided. Furnished with bench table, has LP Gas for heat, no electric, no AC. Sleeps eight.
- Migizi – Secluded single-room cabin in an open area surrounded by trees. Triple bunk beds for sleeping, no linens provided. Furnished with a bench table, has LP Gas for heat, no electric, no AC or fans. Grill on site. Sleeps 20.
- Wabizi – Single-room cabin with access and a view of Bishop Lake. Great location for bird watching. 4 sets of bunk beds, no linens provided. Furnished with a bench table, has LP Gas for heat, no electric, no AC or fans. Sleeps 8.
- Wegwaas – Single-room cabin, bench table, and 4 bunk beds. The cabin has LP Gas for heating. Close to the road and a short distance from the parking lot. No linens provided. No electric, no AC or fans. Sleeps 8.
- Windigo – Secluded single-room cabin, Farthest from the road. 4 sets of bunk beds, No linens provided. Furnished with bench table, has LP Gas heat, no electric, no AC or fans. Sleeps 8.
Cheboygan State Park – Cheboygan, MI
Cheboygan State Park has a system of well-marked trails that provide access to scenic Lake Huron vistas and glimpses of rare wildflowers.
- Modern Lodge – sleeps eight with three bedrooms, one bath, kitchen appliances
Craig Lake State Park – Champion, MI
Access to the park can be an adventure. Vehicles with high ground clearance are recommended. The park contains six full lakes and a variety of wildlife such as deer, black bear, beaver, loons and moose.
- Keewaydin Lake Yurt – 20 feet around, lake and forest floor surfaces, woodstove heat with cooktop, small propane grill, bring your own 1 pound propane bottles, equipped with 1 set of twin bunk beds with mattresses and 1 set of full bunk beds with mattresses, armoire, and table and chairs. Sleeps 6.
- Large Cabin – Heat with a stone fireplace and a wood stove that has a cooktop. Three bedrooms, with four sets of twin bunks with mattresses, one futon couch/bed, dining table, and chairs. There are also two cots available for use. Sleeps 14.
- Small Cabin – Woodstove heat, one small bedroom with a bunk bed, the large bedroom has two log bunk beds and one log full-size bed; mattress provided. This cabin also has a cabin and chairs. Wood available for indoor heating and cooking. Sleeps 8.
Fayette Historic State Park – Garden, MI
Fayette Historic State Park houses a Historic Townsite, a representation of a once-bustling industrial community. The park features a modern campground, harbor slips, a boat launch, a beach, and 5 miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails with impressive views from the limestone cliffs that surround the harbor.
- Furnace Hill Lodge – sleeps up to 10 people, includes a fuel-efficient furnace, remodeled kitchen, all appliances, and bedding.
Fort Custer Recreation Area – Augusta, MI
Located in Augusta between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, Fort Custer features three lakes, the Kalamazoo River, second-growth forests, prairie restoration areas, a 219-site campground, and a multi-use trail system used by mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers, and dog-sledders.
- Lakeview Cabin – Bunkbeds that sleeps 12, gas heat, grill, fire circle, picnic tables.
- Riverside Cabin – Located along the Kalamazoo River, popular with families and hunters, adjacent outhouse, a charcoal grill outside, picnic table, fire ring, bunk beds, gas heat, no electricity, water available at the park office, riverbank fishing is accessible from the cabin. Sleeps 6.
- Trailside Cabin – Bunkbeds that sleeps 12, gas heat, grill, fire grill, picnic tables.
Grand Haven State Park – Grand Haven, MI
Grand Haven State Park has a beautiful sandy shore on Lake Michigan along the west side of the park and the Grand River along the north side of the park. The park consists entirely of beach sand and provides scenic views of Lake Michigan and the Grand Haven pier and lighthouse.
- Modern lodge – Lodge includes a queen-size bed, a double, two twin beds, and a couch that pulls out to a queen-size sleeper for a total capacity of eight. All linens and towels are provided, along with a washer and dryer. The modern kitchen has a refrigerator, stove, microwave, and all cookware and eating utensils are supplied.
Harrisville State Park – Harrisville, MI
Nestled in a stand of pine and cedar trees along the sandy shores of Lake Huron. The park is within walking distance of the resort town of Harrisville and it’s many events and close to Sturgeon Point Light House.
- Sunrise Cabin – lake view and screened windows and doors. It sleeps 6 people in 3 sets of bunk beds. The one-room provides a large dining table with bench seats and two chairs. The cabin also has propane heat, a refrigerator, and an oven/stovetop. There are hooks on the ceiling available for lanterns. No linens or cooking utensils provided. No electricity. Outside grill.
Hartwick Pines State Park – Grayling, MI
The principal features of this park are the 49-acre forest of Old Growth Pines and the logging museum.
- Bright Lake Cabin – Cabin has three bunk beds: one with a full mattress on the bottom, the rest are twins. It is also furnished with a table with benches and propane heat. Outside is a hand pump for water, a vault toilet, a picnic table, a grill, and a fire ring. There is no electricity in the cabin Sleeps 7.
Highland Recreation Area – White Lake, MI
Offers 5,900 acres of forest, marshes, and lakes in the rolling hills of Southern Michigan. With trails to accommodate equestrian riders, mountain bikers, hikers, and skiers, there’s an activity for every season.
- Bass Lake Lodge – includes a foosball table, TV/DVD player, and gas fireplace. Sleeps six.
Hoeft State Park – Rogers City, MI
Hoeft State Park is a heavily wooded park with a mile of sandy, Lake Huron shoreline. A paved non-motorized trail connects the park to Huron Sunrise Trail which stretches to Rogers City riding along the beach next to Lake Huron and ends at the world’s largest open-pit limestone mine.
- Sears and Roebuck Modern Lodge – The 1920’s Sears and Roebuck Lodge has three queen-size beds and a set of bunk beds to comfortably sleeps eight. However, the living room has two futon couches for extra sleeping capacity. Two bedrooms and a half bath are located on the second floor. There is a first-floor master bed and bathroom. Amenities include a refrigerator, electric stove, microwave, coffee maker, and toaster. Linens/towels are supplied along with dishware, utensils, pots, bakeware, pans.
Island Lake Recreation Area – Brighton, MI
The park has great canoeing, volleyball courts, picnic shelters, and swimming.
- Blue Spruce Cabin and White Pine Cabin – The cabins provide campers with an Up North experience close to the city. The water supply is shared with the White Pine Cabin. The cabin has bunk beds, a propane heater, a closet, and a grill. Vault toilets nearby. Sleeps 20.
Little Presque Isle State Forest – Champion, MI
Enjoy the seclusion and quiet of a log cabin get-away among the birch and pine woodlands of Harlow Lake and Harlow Creek. Natural beauty surrounds you with eighteen miles of hiking trails, over four miles of Lake Superior beach, breathtaking scenery, fishing opportunities, and wildlife at Little Presque Isle.
- Six cabins – The log cabins are one room that can accommodate up to eight people. Water is provided by an outdoor hand pump and vault toilets are nearby. A wood stove provides warmth in cold weather. There is NO electricity at Little Presque Isle.
McLain State Park – Hancock, MI
Offering two miles of sand beach on Lake Superior. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of activities in the park: fishing, windsurfing, berry picking, beachcombing, sight-seeing, and hunting. The sunsets at McLain State Park are spectacular and the view of the lighthouse is magnificent.
- Birches Cabin – The cabin sleeps 8 people, has LP gas heat, and a cookstove. No electricity or light is provided. Has a lake view with screened windows and doors. Firepit with grill outside.
Mears State Park – Pentwater, MI
Charles Mears State Park is located in the quaint village of Pentwater along the Lake Michigan shoreline and a swimming beach is adjacent to the harbor pier. Kayaks and stand up paddleboards are available for rent in the Village of Pentwater. A short walk away, visitors can shop, dine or take in one of the many summer festivities in the Pentwater business district.
- Dune Grass Villa – sleeps eight and includes cable TV, a washer and dryer, fire circle, and grills.
Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area – Metamora, MI
Consisting of 723 acres with 80-acre Lake Minnewanna in the center Campers, hikers, boaters, anglers, hunters, cross-country skiers, and others enjoy a wide variety of recreational opportunities throughout the year. The park is located close to Seven Ponds Nature Center, Crossroads Village, and Frankenmuth.
- Camper Cabin – This two bedroom camper cabin is located in an isolated area south of the North campground to provide privacy. Just 25 yards off the shoreline, you can sit on the front porch and enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Minnawanna. The cabin has electric heat, a ceiling fan, microwave, and mini-fridge. There is no running water or bathroom in the cabin but modern restrooms and water supply are nearby. This cabin also includes a grill, a fire circle, and a picnic table. Sleeps 6.