0
Pull-thru
NPSSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore · Michigan
South Manitou Group Campground
Overview South Manitou Group Campground is a tent-only backcountry facility on South Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan.
Sites6all reservable
Elev.571ft
Comf.May-Nov7 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Traverse City0h51real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 571 ft, South Manitou Group Campground has a 7-month comfortable window (May-Nov). Winter nights average around 23°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. All 6 sites are reservable in advance, so plan ahead. Popular weekends book out. Of the sites, 6 walk-in. Within about 4 miles: lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on shade and reservability. Softest on roomy sites.
Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.
When to go
02 · CLIMATE
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Jun
May-Nov
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
88%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Apr 30
Last spring frost; first fall frost Nov 16.
60°F
Average July low.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Traverse City
30 mi
0h51
02
Grand Rapids
164 mi
3h20
03
Detroit
277 mi
5h34
04
Marquette
314 mi
6h39
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 8.5 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 6 SITES
Color byShow only
6 mapped sites · dot color = seclusion · click a dot for details. Basemap © OpenStreetMap.
6
Walk-in
0
50-amp
0
Accessible
0
Prime
6
Sites
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Trail segments
64
Viewpoints
1
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
8.5 mi
Method
We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.