Introduction:
This is a great find for folks looking for a reasonably priced, basic campground in Mackinaw City.
Click here to read about our criteria for campground reviews.
The Basics:
Overall Rating: 3.8/5
Price per night / Discounts: $20 / $20 per night for W/E. $130 per week. $500 per month.
Campground website: Mackinaw City Campground
Our Site #: Unk
Privacy Rating (how spacious and private do the sites feel):
2/5: Sites are pretty close to one another with minimal privacy. Sites in the first row have some trees which certainly help the overall feel, but sites in the second two rows are basically open. It's not the worst we've seen by any stretch, but its definitely not spacious nor private.
Location Rating (accessibility to points of interest or to major highways):
5/5: The campground's location is fantastic. It takes less than 10 minutes to drive from the campground to the Shepler's Ferry parking area. The main dock, from which the ferries depart, and where several restaurants, shops, and the Mackinaw Icebreaker are located, is just 2 or 3 minutes farther. The campground is located in a perfect spot for exploring the area.
Site Quality and Big Rig Accessibility Rating (utilities and accessibility of campground hook ups):
3.5/5: We had solid 30 amp service and water. There are no sewer hookups at the sites, but the dump station is easily accessible, if needed. Our site was in a grassy area. It was 'lumpy,' but we were able to get level without needing blocks. Interior roads were easy to maneuver.
Technology and Customer Service Rating (online resources, reservations, campground wifi, and staff):
3.5/5: You can call to make reservations. Both times I called, I left a message and then received a return call relatively quickly. Reservation information is on a board at the front. Unreserved sites are available FCFS. The information board is helpful and easy to use, the firewood was incredibly cheap - just $4.00 for a whole crate full of it, and they also sell eggs and other products on an honor system. We very much appreciated that they have maintained reasonable prices.
Overall Value Rating (the overall value of the campground; was it overpriced for what it was?):
5/5: The value here was outstanding. It's rare we find campgrounds that cost only $20 per night these days, and given the campground's proximity to super touristy Mackinac Island, it's a steal. This is a family owned campground and, apparently, they have decided to maintain the prices that were set long ago. We thought it was great and we are sure others appreciate it too.
Summary:
This campground was a real gem. While the sites aren't huge, for $20 per night, we got a reasonably level site, water, and electricity just down the street from all the touristy stuff. I imagine the other local campgrounds are charging two or three times as much for the same thing. We liked the folksiness and charm of this campground. It's simple and no frills, but that's all we usually want. We would definitely stay here again.
