Camp Near Lansing at Sleepy Hollow State Park
CAMP NEARBY AT SLEEPY HOLLOW STATE PARK
Especially as gas prices soar, staying closer to home sounds better and better. Yes, we’d all like to be transported to the UP with all it’s beauty, but there is quite a lot of appeal for lower Michigan. We discovered, while camping at Sleepy Hollow State Park in Lansing, that camping close to home can still be quite an adventure. We met up with friends to camp for a 3 day weekend at Sleepy Hollow State Park, just Northeast of Lansing. Camping near a city can give you the best of both worlds. Unwind and relax while you play in nature at the campground, then head into the city to explore our state’s capital, Lansing.
We booked this campground on a whim because we were camping with friends and it was centrally located for both our families, just 1.5 hours for each of us. Not expecting much, we were pleasantly surprised. Plenty of activities awaited us at the campground including swimming, biking, hiking, and kayaking.
Site 61 handicap site
Some highlights were shaded, semi- private sites, 18 miles of trails, a large playground and activity area, plus a beach just a short trail walk away, with a designated dog area.
Depending on the time of year, Sleepy Hollow is known as a spooktacular place to camp for Halloween. Fall activities include pumpkin painting, corn hole tournaments, hay rides through the campground to view all the decorated campsites, kid’s scavenger hunts and, of course, trick-or treating. Check with the office upon arrival or the Sleep Hollow Facebook page for activity list and dates.
The Camp Hosts were friendly and provided donuts and coffee, plus crafts for the kids.
CAMPGROUND SITES
Site 62 at Sleepy Hollow State Park
For being close to the city of Lansing, I was impressed with the campsites. There are 180 Modern campground sites, many that recently updated the electric. We biked though the park to get a feel for the layout and sites. Ample shade, with trees and hedges separating campsites created semi- private spaces. The layout of the park was well planned and helped to reduce the amount of traffic. Several campsites were newly renovated and combined to support pull through sites. The handicap sites are spacious with large concrete slabs. Honestly you can’t go wrong with most sites.
We camped at site 62 in a 27 ft trailer and found it was quite spacious. We had 3 trees that were perfect for hammocks. We did a little hammock stacking with 5 hammocks between three trees.
Warning: Secure your garbage because the racoons are quite bold.
One rustic cabin is available to rent.
Bathrooms were adequate and showers were hot, with decent pressure.
BEACH
The beach is located on Ovid Lake. The sand is raked daily and was clean, sand is not beach sand, so not the best for building sand castles but my kids still loved it. The water is shallow for a long distance, ideal for young children. There are many trees, weeping willows and a large grassy open area.
Sleepy Hollow Beach
Amenities include picnic tables, pavilions, and two swing sets, including an infant swing. A paved walking path to the fishing dock is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. A beach water wheelchair is also available. Monitor children because there is no lifeguard on duty.
Boat and kayak rentals are first come/first serve for $25/day. A boat launch is on the other side of lake for your kayaks and small rowboats.
A designated dog beach swimming area will make your four legged friends happy.
“The Legend” Disc golf course is located near the beach. It is a beautiful and challenging 18 hole course.
PLAYGROUND
Situated in the middle of the state park, Sleepy Hollow Playground and Activity Area provides fun for the whole family and is ideal for groups. The modern playground is impressive and is nestled among trees, which provides privacy from the camping area.
A paved path leads to the open grassy area. A large modern play structure has seven slides, including two twirly slide and two sets of racing slides. There is also two ziplines, tunnels to climb through, a bridge, and various monkey bars and climbing structures. For younger children there is a sand box area for them to enjoy.
Other Amenities:
Benches and picnic tables surround the play structure. An expansive covered pavilion contains picnic tables, grills, and garbage cans. Bathrooms are located nearby.
Bring your sports equipment for group games or check them out at the ranger station because there is a basketball court and a gaga pit. Multiple outdoor game areas are permanently set up including; two horse shoes pits, ladder ball, and corn hole. Biking to the park is convenient and recommended because there are multiple bike racks. Two swing sets, an a ADA handicap accessible swing allows access for all children.
HIKING/ BIKING/ RIDING
Grab a map at camp office or view this online Trail map. There are over 16 miles of hiking trials and 12.5 equestrian trails. Although when we camped in late May, we did not see any horse back riders during our stay.
Trails
We hiked 1 to 2 to 3 , took the bike trail from 3 West to the bike/ horseback trail, then headed South to main road back to 1.
From the campground, we biked until we reached a gate that read, “no trespassing” for vehicles, then we rode around it and continued the path on around the lake. Once we reached the bridge we parked our bikes and hiked over and around the island.
Several Michigan State Parks participate in a program sponsored by Project Learning Tree. The Explorer Pack can be checked out and contains tools like compasses, binoculars and Michigan species ID pamphlets to help foster activities to help with bird watching, identifying plants and animal tracks and so much more.
Geocaching or Letterboxing, both are located at the state park, think of it as a modern day treasure hunt. Try your hand at Letterboxing as you search for the Sleepy Gnome.
PROS/CONS
CONS- Some goose poop at the beach grassy area but they rake sand daily, some poison ivy off trails, bold racoons, longer walk to beach.
PROS- Shaded semi private sites, trails, large playground and activity center, nearby Lansing activities and The Ledges hike in Grand Ledge.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Although we tend to camp to get away from the city and busyness, the draw of camping in Lansing is that you can get a blend of both. We used this opportunity to introduce our children to Lansing and visit Grand Ledge.
Hike the nearby Ledges Trail at Fitzgerald Park in Grand Ledge
Hike The Ledges in Grand Ledge
Definitely add this to your trip! One of our favorite hikes in lower Michigan! Only a 20 min drive from Lansing, this unique hike is located at the spacious Fitzgerald Park. The beauty and uniqueness of the sandstone cliffs ledges are a true wonder. With the Grand River along one side and 40 foot ledges along the other, the trail is spectacular.
A $3.00 parking fee is required, but the park has playgrounds, soccer fields, pavilions and numerous hiking trails. We planned a quick stopped here on our way home and it was the highlight of the trip. We easily spent half a day hiking and exploring Fitzgerald Park. You can read all about it here.
Afterwards we grabbed a tasty treat and flavored blasted ice cream at the Corner Cone
Head into the City of Lansing
Walk around Lansing and take some pictures with murals
State Capital Visit and tour Michigan’s State Capital
Impressions 5 Science Center This is the spot to head if you have a rainy day. Build, explore and play indoors as you learn about the mysteries and wonders of science. Read about our experience here.
Potters Park Zoo: Visit the rhinos, monkeys and kangaroos at the oldest public zoo in Michigan.
Michigan History Center Learn about the history of Michigan and check out all the exhibits.
Uncle Johns During the fall, head to the orchard for fall family fun with hayrides, a corn maze, apple picking, fresh cider and donuts.
Philip’s Orchard Head over for delicious donuts and cider at this local orchard.
Restaurants
Blue Moon Ice Cream Shop: Camping isn’t complete without a trip to get ice cream.
Brent’s Pizza: Local pizza place
Lansing Brewing Company: Grab a flight of beer, plus delicious food. Outdoor seating and outdoor games with kid-friendly meal options
Jolly Pumpkin: Good kids menu, yard games and fun street scene.
Love family adventures and camping? You may also enjoy these featured posts.
Michigan is blessed to have tons of colorful destinations for fall camping in Michigan. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to camp in Michigan to view fall colors, family- friendly fall harvest festivals and Children’s Halloween activities occurring at Michigan State Parks, private campgrounds and nearby farms. Kids will love fall activities and parents will enjoy the beauty of the fall leaves. Let us help you plan your families next fall camping trip for September and October.