Platte River Campground

Despite our current administration’s cutbacks, the NPS is doing what it can to keep SB Dunes beautiful. Still one of the best examples of a well planned out campground in all of the US.

This is a beautiful campground, well managed and kept immaculate. When planning a campground, people should come and look at the layout of this campground and bathhouses. A lot of space between campsites (unfortunately private campsites cram sites for $$), bathhouses set up with individual shower rooms, and a dishwashing station at every bath house complex. The park rangers were very helpful with any questions we asked.

Wonder experience as always. Staff was super great and helpful! Thanks for a great trip again :-)

Clean and quiet just like we wanted. Camp sites were spaced apart nicely for privacy. Lots of room for pulling vehicle onto a parking spot by tent.

Overall, nice camp ground. Nice to be able to access the beach.

Great campground!! Loved our spot! Nice, quiet niche with plenty space to neighboring campers

Very nice spaced out campsites in the woods with nice flat areas to set-up.

Platte River campground was great for our family. The sites were spacious and well separated, quiet and peaceful. The staff at check-in were incredibly helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back!

I love this campground! The campsites in loop 4 were wonderful! There was a picnic table and fire pit with plenty of room for my tent. The space between campsites was good, but if you prefer not seeing your neighbors or want a more remote experience, loop 4 may not be for you. It was nice to see folks going for walks together or going for their morning run. It was also wonderful to see the kids enjoying the great outdoors zooming around on their bikes with their light up wheels.

The bathrooms and showers were clean and much appreciated at the end of a very hot day. The showers did get busy at night, but I never waited more than 15 minutes during my trip. For the bathrooms I always carry some extra TP just in case but didn’t need to use it.

The campground is located very close to the Platte river if you like to kayak or canoe. The public launch is just across the street. The campground also has a trail that leads you right to a beach on Lake Michigan (about 0.8 miles). This part of the beach was much quieter and emptier than the area where the Platte river lets out to Lake Michigan.

The other thing I love about this campground is that so many of my favorite places are nearby. Stormcloud brewery in Frankfort, MI is a great place for lunch after exploring their beach and lighthouse. Keep on Grinding Coffee house in Benzonia, MI is a hidden gem with great coffee and even better muffins (and WiFi if you have to get work in). Then of course the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive with great stops along the way for beautiful views of lakes and dunes.

Last but not least the National Park Rangers make the stay memorable. Hayden who checked me in for my stay was incredibly helpful when I was having some trouble with my visitor pass. Thank you Park Rangers for everything you do for visitors, it is truely appreciated!

Campground was great! About 200 steps from site to the bathroom/shower. From the site there was a 1 mile sand path to Lake Michigan directly. Small portion of beach is open but also roped off bc of bird nesting.