Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park

A delightful area right off the main drag as we went out-and-about in TC. There are picnic tables and a playground. There were a couple of outhouses. The bathhouse with inside bathrooms was not yet open, May 1st is what was posted. The beach is long and pretty wide along here. Very nice sand, and the water was calm. I actually came across a morel mushroom in the grass. It is posted that no animals or glass containers are allowed on the beach. There is a guard gate to collect a park fee, but no one was there the day we went. The park hours are posted. A fabulous place!

My family and I just returned from a weekend at this state park and campground. There is some noise from the main road. However the location is very hard to beat. My folks rented a campsite for two weeks and my partner and I joined them for the weekend. The campground itself is excellent. The shower and bathroom facilities are well-maintained. The campground is well-maintained and the DNR staff are very helpful at directing when it is high traffic times. I would highly recommend a stay here. You will need to book the campsite months in advance as they fill up fast, especially in the summer months around the holidays. You will have access to the state maintained public beach via walkway that connects to the campground. You will need a recreation passport to enter the park. I purchased one with my license plate tab renewal, but you may purchase one at the entry from the DNR staff if you don’t have one or if you are traveling from out of state.

First off here are the pros: good level sites (gravel/dirt, not paved) newer picnic tables and fire rings, plenty of clean restrooms and showers, not so busy during the week, kind and helpful staff, access to beach is just a walk over the bridge, good location to get to attractions, plenty of dogs and kids biking. Cons: busy especially closer to the weekends- it’s a highly visited park, the last loop is right on Munson Ave and sirens/engine noise went all night long, it’s also adjacent to the airport and helicopters were flying around/planes taking off all day and night ITS SO LOUD, dog beach is not dog friendly. Please consider my review in terms of what my family looks for in a site when camping- quiet, reclusive, a little dirty and beautiful. We have toddlers and dogs and a pop up. We will head back to northport for our favorite campground- leelanau state park. *The sites have electricity plug in but no water. There was also a long line for the dump when we left on a Friday.

Quiet, beautiful, beach access, large sites, close to downtown.

Quiet, beautiful, beach access, large sites, close to downtown.