Camping in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park

 We will be making reservations in the Platt River Campground which is located right in the park near Lake Michigan.  We like “Loop 3” the best as it is very wooded and pretty with lots of trees and space between each site.  Sites 301 – 327.    This is an extremely popular campground which requires calling in your reservation or reserving a site online EXACTLY six months to the day prior to your arrival day.  The reservation line and website open at 7 a.m. and most sites are gone by 7:10 a.m.  No kidding!

 Check in time:  12:30 p.m.

Check out time:  12 p.m.

Maximum people per site:  6

Base rate:  $19/night  (varies with date)

Trip dates are Thursday night  8/16/12 – Sunday 8/19/12

 Must make campground reservations on Thursday 2/16/12 at 7 a.m.to ensure a spot!!!

Familiarize yourself with the website ahead of time and “Sign-Up” for a log-in ahead of time.

Have your credit card available and be ready to key in your information quickly!!

To sign up:

Ø  Go to recreation.gov

Ø  Click on “Sign-Up” link on top left

Ø  Enter your email address and create a password

Ø  Enter your personal information

Ø  Save your password for the future

To make a reservation:

Ø  Go to recreation.gov

Ø  Click on “Log-In” link on top left

Ø  Enter log-in information from above

Ø  Click “Home” on top menu bar

Ø  In “Where?” search box – enter “Platt River Campground, Beulah, MI”

Ø  In “Interested in” search box – select “Camping and Lodging”

Ø  In  “Looking for” – just take the default value

Ø  Enter Arrival Date in search box

Ø  Enter the number of nights you will be staying in Length of Stay box

Ø  Click SEARCH button

Ø  Click on Platt River Campground link that appears in the center of the screen

Ø  Click on “Standard Electric” link    (Tents only sites are “walk-in” sites.  It’s a long way to haul all your camping gear!!).

Ø  Mary Anne and Betsy will hopefully get a reservation in LOOP 3, sites 301 – 327.

Ø  Find a site to reserve using Legend below

LEGEND ON CALENDAR

Ø  A = available for online reservation (click to book arrival date)

Ø  R = reserved

Ø  X = not available

Ø  N = You are trying to book beyond the 6-month maximum reservation window

Ø  L = accepting lottery application