Michigan state park camping fees to increase starting Aug. 1
- Beginning Aug. 1 state park campsite and lodging fees will increase to offset rising operational costs
- Some campsite rates will rise by $4-$10 per night depending on the amenities but fees for rustic sites will not change
- An overnight stay in a cabin will range from $60 to $120 per night and deluxe lodging will cost $160
Outdoor enthusiasts should prepare to spend more to camp at Michigan’s state parks. The Department of Natural Resources is raising some campsite and overnight lodging fees beginning Aug. 1.
For modern and semi-modern campsites, prices will rise between $4 and $10 a night, depending on location and amenities. Modern sites have access to flush toilets, showers and electricity. Semi-modern sites have access to either flush toilets and showers or to electricity.
Prices for rustic campsites in state parks and state forest campgrounds will remain the same.
Rates for staying overnight in a cabin will range from $60 to $120 per night. Deluxe lodging will be $160 per night. The rates are being adjusted to be more consistent with fixed costs like utilities, equipment replacement and staff, according to the DNR. A 7.5% premium fee will be added to locations with 85% or higher occupancy rates.
Related:
- Bill would give Michigan residents dibs on campsite reservations at state parks
- Several Michigan campsites will be closed for renovations in '25. See list
Prices for modern lodges will increase gradually but be capped at $236 per night. Locations with an occupancy rate of 85% or higher will incur a $50 premium fee per night.
Michigan allows people to make their camping reservations up to six months in advance, so, beginning in February, people who book reservations on or after Aug.1 will be charged the new rates, said Jeremy Spell, central reservation system analyst for the DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division.
“All the prices of everything that is required to run and operate our state park system go up in cost every year,” he said. “It's been three years since we raised rates and we needed to make that correction to keep up with that pace of the Consumer Price Index.”
“When toilet paper goes up 20% it really starts digging into the budget when you're used to spending $2,500 on toilet paper and now it's $4,000,” Spell said.
The DNR also plans to establish fees for intermittent camping, which allows people to park their vehicles and equipment storage.
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