Dunes Harbor Camping Near Silver Lake Sand Dunes

Dunes Harbor Campground is the ideal environment for families with children. Located in close proximity to beautiful Silver Beach, this new campground is a retreat for all. Come enjoy the beauty and draw of Silver Lake and the sand dunes without the noisy, crowded state park.

By far Dunes Harbor is the cleanest, most well maintained we’ve been to, it almost felt like glamping. We’re talking grass sites with cement pads, garbage pickup right at your camper, large spotless bathhouse, showers, restrooms and laundry.

The location and set up of the campground was thoughtfully planned. Holiday Lake wraps around the campground, creating ample sites with lake views. We loved being able to launch our kayaks right from our site and fish whenever we wanted. Sites were decent sized, although The one negative we found was that there wasn’t a lot of vegetation or trees to create privacy between sites.

There are options for full hookups, tent sites, as well as, cabins and RV rentals. For reference our family of six camped in an 27ft travel trailer, next to our friends during our stay.

Helpful and friendly staff made the reservation process simple. Unlike state parks, you do not select a specific numbered site, but they honor requests to camp near friends or family. I would recommend calling to simplify the process. This campground easily accommodates larger groups and has pavilions centrally located for meeting up.

Amenities

Dunes Harbor has a beautiful camp store, an ice cream shop, a pool with a water slide and splash pad, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, hammock park, gaga ball, and sand play area. Don’t worry about bringing sand toys or balls, they have everything you need on site.

Onsite Activities

Dunes Harbor offers family camp activities that varied everyday including; laser tag, a climbing wall, trampoline bounce, horseback riding, archery, slip-n-slide kickball, and crafts.  *additional fees for some activities.

Spend the Day at the Dunes

Visit beautiful Silver Lake and Lake Michigan. If you’re up for a trek over the sand dunes, Dunes Beach is a well earned reward since there is no easy footpath to the spot, unless you come by boat. Boaters can launch their boat from Silver Lake State Park and anchor at Dunes Beach. Since we didn’t want to carry sand toys over the dunes, we instead spent hours creating drip castles. If you are unfamiliar with them, check out this quick tutorial here.

One of the biggest draws of Silver Lake is that the water is warmer than Lake Michigan. Not to mention, the thrill of running down the dunes and diving into the refreshing waters. Other great beaches for swimming and relaxing include the Golden Township Park and the sandy beach area by Little Sable Lighthouse.

The ORV (Off Road Vehicle) Area

Hitting the dunes is one of the biggest attractions at Silver Lake Sand Dunes. My husband spent many summers riding dirt bikes, four wheelers and trucks here. The sand dunes are always changing and can be dangerous so know and adhere to all the rules. For all the information for the ORV area click here .

There are also private tours and rentals such as Parrot’s Landing and Mac Wood Dunes Rides. This is a thrilling, but safe way for families to enjoy the dunes with trained professionals driving. Mac Wood Dunes Rides has their own private land without any public access for other OR’s, so you get a unique ride through the dunes and along their secluded stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline! It’s seriously a blast for the whole family!

Nearby Kid Friendly Activities:

Lewis Farms: A family owned farm with a petting area, bakery and activities for the family.

Little Sable Lighthouse: Climb the 100 ft tall lighthouse located in Silver Lake State Park for a small fee. The sandy beach surrounding the lighthouse is ideal for swimming and picnics.

Silver Scoops: Savor an ice cream or a delicious dole whip after a fun day spent at the beach.

Country Dairy: Spend the day exploring this dairy farm, which provides daily farm tours, a play area, store and, of course, delicious homemade ice cream and milk products!

Chicken Shack: Enjoy a drink and some of the best wings you’ll find in Michigan! They’re seriously delicious, especially after a fun day on the dunes! Sit under the large covered pavilion as you listen to live bands during the summer months. Such a fun and relaxed atmosphere, we headed back two nights in a row for the music and dancing!

Golden Sands Golf Course: Don’t feel like cooking, Golden Sands is known for their amazing pizza and casual backyard atmosphere, perfect for children to run and play.

Tin Man Towering at 20 ft tall, visit this iconic sculpture of the tin man. It was first on exhibit in front of the Amway Grand Plaza during Art Prize of 2021, but now makes its home in Hart, MI.

Silver Lake State Park: Visit this Michigan State Park that has an awesome playground and day use area on beautiful Silver Lake.

Hart- Montague Trail This 22 mile paved path is ideal for bikes, scooters and rollerblades. With a variety of sights, this path leads past orchards, fields, woods and through towns.

Pentwater This nearby beach town is a fun day trip. You’ll find two toy stores, cozy coffee shops, sweet candy stores, delicious restaurants, art galleries and a marina.

If you’re looking for a fun family get away, then you can’t go wrong choosing Dunes Harbor for your next family vacation. Don’t forget to Save and Pin this for later and follow Discovering Anew’s Facebook page for more Michigan Adventures and campground reviews. Subscribe to get emails right to your inbox. Happy Camping!

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