Holland State Park has claimed the title of the most popular campground in Michigan for the fiscal year 2025, which spanned from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. The park recorded an impressive total of 40,088 nights camped, according to data from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This marks a shift in popularity, as Ludington State Park previously held the top spot for several years but experienced a temporary closure for renovations that significantly impacted its camping capacity.
Ludington State Park, located in Ludington, was closed from September 2024 until June 26, 2025, missing a significant portion of the prime camping season. Despite these challenges, the park made a notable comeback upon reopening, finishing in the top ten of popular campgrounds with 32,012 nights camped.
Ranking Michigan’s Campgrounds by Nights Camped
The rankings for Michigan’s state park campgrounds are influenced by various factors, including renovations and seasonal demand. The following campgrounds topped the list for fiscal year 2025 based on the number of nights camped:
– **Holland State Park** in Holland: 40,088 nights camped
– **South Higgins Lake State Park** in Roscommon: 39,328 nights camped
– **Interlochen State Park** in Interlochen: 37,231 nights camped
– **Wilderness State Park** in Carp Lake: 35,951 nights camped
– **Hoffmaster State Park** in Norton Shores: 33,137 nights camped
– **Tahquamenon Falls State Park** in Paradise: 32,501 nights camped
– **Ludington State Park** in Ludington: 32,012 nights camped
– **Sterling State Park** in Monroe: 31,031 nights camped
– **Muskegon State Park** in Muskegon: 29,375 nights camped
– **Lakeport State Park** in Lakeport: 28,737 nights camped
Tahquamenon Falls State Park, which features two modern campgrounds and various accommodations, had the highest number of reservations at 12,861, followed closely by Porcupine Mountains State Park in Ontonagon with 12,373 reservations.
Understanding Campground Occupancy Rates
While the number of reservations provides insight into popularity, it does not necessarily reflect the difficulty of securing a spot. The occupancy rates for campgrounds tell a different story. In fiscal year 2025, Fort Wilkins State Park in Copper Harbor achieved the highest occupancy rate at 84.21%. Other top parks included:
– **Port Crescent State Park** in Port Austin: 81.01% occupancy rate
– **Tawas Point State Park** in East Tawas: 78.06% occupancy rate
– **Petoskey State Park** in Petoskey: 77.25% occupancy rate
– **Holland State Park**: 74.86% occupancy rate
– **Porcupine Mountains State Park**: 74.54% occupancy rate
During the prime summer camping season from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, the occupancy rates shifted slightly, with Port Crescent State Park maintaining a dominant rate of 90.71%.
Overall, the total number of campground reservations in fiscal year 2025 saw a slight increase of 0.17%, rising to 443,215 from 442,442 the previous year. Additionally, campsite reservation cancellations decreased by 13.32%, indicating a growing commitment among campers to their reservations compared to the 13.87% cancellation rate recorded in the prior year.
As Michigan’s campgrounds continue to adapt to changing visitor patterns and construction schedules, the popularity of outdoor recreation remains robust. The data reflects a strong interest in camping experiences across the state, with parks like Holland State Park leading the way.
