My friends and I were supposed to go to a music festival out of the state last fall but of course…read moreplans changed, so we decided to book a camping weekend at Orchard Beach State Park instead. Located in Manistee, there is plenty to do nearby but unfortunately the weather was pretty rainy for most of the weekend we were there. The access to the beach was closed due to erosion but there are other beaches available. Checking in was easy and there is onsite ice and firewood for sale. The host site was awesome with lots of books for use and a whiteboard with local info. Our site had water and electric hookup, so we were tucked in amongst several RVs and motor homes. The campground was very quiet, which was nice! The restroom facilities were clean and functional, although one had a small set of stairs leading into the actual bathroom area which made it not so accessible. We were on spot 95, which is right near the highway. We knew this going in and could see from the photos that it didn't look that close. Well, it was pretty close, and very loud with road noise. This wasn't a big deal for us but if noise bothers you I'd skip this part of the campground. Another thing to note is that some of the sites hold water when it's been raining, so maybe not the best for tent camping. Our site seemed ok but it was mostly dirt so it did get a little muddy. Nothing too terrible, though. Overall we enjoyed our stay but this definitely wasn't my favorite of the state parks we've visited or camped at. There is a nice lookout point over the lake that made for some nice photos, and getting into town was easy.

Small compared to other state parks across Michigan, but a stunning state park nonetheless located…read moreon bluffs above Lake Michigan! The campground is wonderful and we really loved that it was one that was more underrated and less trafficked. We had a prime camping spot with an uninterrupted view of the lake and even though the weather we had during this weekend wasn't the best, we made do with cozy time in the tent, did a hike through the state park that was lovely and well maintained, and explored the nearby downtown of Manistee, of which Orchard Beach State Park is located just 5-10 minutes north! A wonderful weekend and state park in my books!

Went here with my dad a few times in the 70s and 80s. Was back recently for a fall getaway with…read moremy wife. We weren't there to fish, as practically everyone else there was, but we found it a nice base for hiking and color touring. It got a little noisy on Saturday night, when the place was mostly full, but very quiet the next two nights. We were in the section along the river, where most others were tenting like we were, though there were a few RVs there too. The site was level, though the ground was a little stony, which made driving tent stakes a challenge. Lots of shade, though no trees where we could conveniently set up a clothesline. The fire ring is portable, so you can move it to maximize distance from your tent, regardless of what corner of the site you want to pitch it on. The one real inconvenience is that getting to the showerhouse (and the drinking water spigot) from that section of the campground requires a fairly lengthy walk that includes a steep hill climb. But once you're up there, you'll find clean, well-kept facilities. Shower stalls were roomy. There's a small camp store on site that sells some basic gear and groceries, as well as fishing tackles and souveniers. This is a nice, cozy northwoods destination. And one of these days I'll get back to fish!

We recently stayed at Matson's campground and we're extremely pleased with our vacation. The…read moregrounds and bathrooms were very clean and well maintained. We loved the beautiful views from the bluff above the Big Manistee River and the relaxation in the glider chairs and community fire pit provided by the campground. Thank you so much for a wonderful stay Cheryl, Scott and Hank!

Stayed here over a weekend with friends. We rented a cabin while our friends had a camping area…read morewith the RV. Easy to check in and out. Great location for all the things to do in the area. Cabin was well furnished and well maintained. Dog friendly and quiet

I was extremely happy front he time I called them to see about booking the cabin til the time I…read moreleft! We got there super late due to unforeseen events. To my surprise the owners texted to check on our progress. Not once did they ever have anything but a positive attitudes. We made it in and got settled very late. The time difference had us off slightly. The whole cabin was well furnished and extremely clean. It was very roomy and came with amenities most 5 star hotels don't! I was completely shocked at the experience and have now found a new place for my family to go whenever we feel a need to "get away", which is often! Upon our departure, the owner was even nicer than when we first met! I am so pleased with this place I will recommend you trying it out for yourself. If you don't like your first night is on me! ***Wink wink*** Make sure to check in for great coupons and little bonus gifts. Customer service 5 Location 5 Quality 5 Prices 5 Cleanliness 5 Overall 5 stars!!!

Very nice and clean campground. The staff is friendly and extremely accommodating 10/10read more

Very nice place! Came on memorial day weekend with family. Staff was very friendly and seems to…read moreactually care a lot about the place and our enjoyment, and they are mindful of future improvement. Campsites were very clean and well laid out. Public washhouse was also very clean. Nice hot water showers! Even has a little kitchenette and laundry facility. Got kids? Place is awesome for that too. Big playground, organized activities (for adults too), and slow speed limits to maximize safety. Oh, they have a fenced in mini dog park too for your more furry "children". It was a little noisy in the afternoon and evening with kids playing sports games together, some dogs barking, and people being themselves around the campfire. But once the official quiet hours hit, it was nearly silent. And, they have staff that doubles as security to enforce the quiet hours. Overall, nice place. We'll definitely consider coming back, especially if they upgrade more RV campsites to full hookup (most have electric, some have water, few have sewer), which is in their future plans!

This is a hidden beach that few know about, mostly because you need to drive toward the Portage…read morePoint Inn (be sure to fill your water bottles at the artesian spring, just past the camp), and then keep going right past it on a VERY dinky, one lane road. Head past the marina and yacht club, take a right, and up the dune to the parking lot (free). There's a single room changing area with a pit toilet (needs must), well lit. There are two gazebos and a wooden walkway at the south end of the small parking lot, and a gazebo with benches at the north end of the parking lot. There are dog bags, if you're walking your dog (thank you for cleaning up after them!). I especially love the new addition this year of a barely inclined wooden walkway, with a handicap mat (not sure what to call it, but it is plastic netting that is a stable place for you to walk or wheel down). There's a pier, and a lighthouse at the end. There are 4 fire rings, if you are inclined to have a lovely beach sunset fire (bring supplies). This is my favorite hidden beach in Michigan, and the swims - and sunsets - are glorious.

An ourstanding destination for rustic camping. No showers/electricity, but very quiet with shady…read moresites, miles of trails, and Lake Michigan one dune ridge away. This is the kind of place you could stop at for a few days without having having to leave to have fun. There is the beach of course, but also lots of opportunities for hiking and many other nature activities. I was in the area to fish the nearby Big Sauble river, so I didn't get out to see as much of the Rec Area as I'd have liked, but would love to return some day. The campsites all have a long, level asphalt pad that could easily accommodate a large trailer or motor home. Tenters like me have plenty of open ground behind that to set up on. Most of the sites in my loop looked level, and mine did in the preview at the USFS web site, though when I got there I saw it had a distinct slant. I was able to set up so that I was able to sleep more or less level, but be away that some sites may take creative tent placement to stay comfortable. As I said, the site was very shady, which was nice as I was there on some very hot days. Never wore sunglasses in camp, even at midday. The vault toilet facilities were clean, and water is available at a pressure tap, not a hand pump, as at many national forest campgrounds. Not too many complaints. One, which some other campers I talked to had as well, is that the trail to the beach is long and needed to be better marked. The other is the cost: $40+ per night is a lot compared to other national forest campgrounds. I shelled out since it was convenient to where I wanted to fish and would be cooler than inland campgrounds--I was paying a lake-breeze premium. And on this trip, that was a worthwhile investment. If you're looking for a secluded but convenient campground with lots of recreation close at hand, it still may be a bargain.

I love this area. I try to camp up here every summer. The campground is clean and generally quiet…read moreand just a short hike to the beach, which is never packed like the state parks down the shore. There are several places to watch the sunset and for stargazing. A lot of people hike through the area, too. The only thing I don't like is the hike over the sand dune to get to the beach. It's a smallish hill, but if you have bad knees or you're out of shape, you might not like it. It's definitely not ADA accessible.

Google labels Sleeping Bear Dunes a "mountain peak" - LOL. But it is a pretty cool…read morenaturally-occurring pile of sand (and every form of life that is adapted to it). We hiked Cottonwood Trail, but *might* have strayed off it a bit in order to see Lake Michigan. It is great to know that this area is protected.

My only kind that I have about this place was that parking was really expensive! Overall, if you're…read moreinto scenic views, challenging walks, even going to the beach too or are just a avid adventurer this is the place for you. Me and my wife basically did the Dune Climb which was very extraordinary which I reviewed on a separate page. This place was very well maintained with very minimal trash. The dunes were very scenic and even the people were very friendly too. I have never seen water looks so clean and beautiful before. Getting into the beach can be a bit painful with all those rocks just stabbing your feet. I absolutely had an incredible time here regardless. I highly recommend checking this place out if you ever have to chance!

It was our annual sisters reunion and I arranged a kayak trip through this establishment. Very…read morefriendly on the phone when I called the day before to reserve three kayaks. We loaded up in the bus and listened to the infamous "Kayak Song" to get us in the mood(look it up, it's EPIC!) The kayaks were the sit on type and we were launched with no issues. We were the only humans on the rustic and scenic river and the birds provided a show. We saw a bald eagle three times which was a real treat! Highly recommend this place for kayaking!

The staff members were really nice and the guy driving the bus was really funny They also carry…read morelaws about our safety definitely would come back here

We were unfamiliar with this campground, but we made reservations months in advance for two nights…read moreof tent camping in June, 2023 in Loop 4 (site 418). And, we're so glad that we did. It's a wonderful campground that is well-maintained by the National Park Service. The sites are huge, with a lot of space between you and your neighbors. The pads for pitching your tent are equally large, flat, and sandy -- and each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. The clean bathrooms and showers are down the road, as are heavy duty containers for trash and recycling. The Rangers at the office were very friendly, and helpful. They also warned us to be bear-aware, as bears had been spotted near the campground. (We didn't see any). Unfortunately, there weren't any nature programs during our 2-night stay but we were there mid-week. We were staying at this campground primarily to visit the main sites of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Most of the main attractions (Empire Bluffs hike, Dune Climb, Scenic Drive) are about ten or more miles away. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find a path adjacent to the campground that went down to Lake Michigan (about one mile each way). It mostly flat with walking in sand the closer you get to the lake. You could also drive down to a park at the end of the road. It's a wonderful place to watch the sunset. There are also nearby options for bicycling and kayaking. The campground is a bargain at $26 per night for tent camping. (You also need to pay the entrance fee for the national park). There was a nice mix of other campers ... solos with a dog or two; retirees; and young families. All were quiet and abided to the rules for quiet hours and no generators in loop 4. We also lucked out with respect to the lack of bugs. We had been fighting mosquitos and midges in other wooded areas in northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, but hardly had any insect issues at this campground. Two things worth mentioning. (1) Given the warnings about being bear aware, the NPS should consider installing bear boxes at each site for the storage of food and other scented items. (2) Firewood can be purchased at a "vending machine" for $7. While the machine for traditional firewood was working, the one for a composite substitute that we wanted to try had a broken credit card reader (and we didn't have the right denominations to pay cash). Overall, a great trip!

Stayed here with my husband & our friends over the summer & had a great time! The bathrooms &…read morecampsites were clean. The sites themselves are a bit small. With 4 people, 2 tents, & a canopy, we were pretty cramped, but able to make it work! There was a trail leading to a beautiful beach area & Lake Michigan. The place for kayak/canoe rental is a super short drive & is also a general store & ice cream shop! We had such a great time & can't wait to go back! Sites book up REALLY fast, so if you are thinking of booking definitely do it well in advance!