Petoskey State Park sits on the northeastern shore of Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan, about 3 miles northeast of downtown Petoskey and 6 miles south of Harbor Springs. The 303-acre park is best known for its mile-long sand beach, its views across the bay (the sunsets here are locally famous), and the Petoskey stones — fossilized coral that is Michigan’s official state stone — that wash up on its shores. The park has two modern campgrounds, two mini cabins, hiking trails, and easy access to the area’s extensive paved bike trail network.
Note: The entire park (campgrounds, trails, and day-use areas) is closed through at least May 15, 2026, for construction on the sanitation station, underground facilities, and park roads. The shoreline remains open for foot traffic only during the closure. Check the Michigan DNR website for updates before planning your trip.
Campgrounds
Petoskey State Park has two campgrounds with a combined 168 modern campsites. All sites have electric hookups (20- and 30-amp), and both campgrounds have modern restroom and shower facilities. Campsite reservations can be made at midnrreservations.com or by calling 1-800-447-2757. For summer visits (Memorial Day through Labor Day), reservations open six months in advance and fill quickly — book as early as possible.
Tannery Creek Campground (98 sites) is at the park’s southern end, arranged in four “D”-shaped loops with paved camping pads. Some sites have 50-amp service. The campground is close to the beach — you can walk to the water from the end of each loop. This is the better option for larger RVs and trailers. Two mini cabins — named Trillium and Orchid — are located in the Tannery Creek Campground. These are small rustic structures (not full-service cabins) and can be reserved 12 months in advance.
Dunes Campground (70 sites) has narrower roads, smaller sites, and a more wooded, enclosed feel. It is better suited for tents and smaller campers. Some sites offer more privacy than is typical for Michigan state park campgrounds. A short trail connects the Dunes Campground to the day-use beach area.
Check-in is at 3 p.m., checkout at 1 p.m. Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. A Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry ($12/year for Michigan-registered vehicles, $34/year or $9/day for out-of-state vehicles). You can purchase one when you register your vehicle at the Secretary of State or at the park entrance.
Beach
The mile-long sand and stone beach along Little Traverse Bay is the park’s main attraction. The best sandy stretch is at the day-use area on the park’s north end, which has picnic tables, grills, a playground, and a beach shelter. The water is typically calm (the bay setting protects it from Lake Michigan’s open-water waves), and shallow areas extend out a good distance — making it popular with families and younger children. On rougher days, waves can pick up enough for tubing and playing in the surf.
The beach is a prime Petoskey stone hunting ground. The stones — fossilized colonial coral (Hexagonaria percarinata) roughly 350 million years old — are easier to spot when wet. Early morning, after storms, and in spring when ice has reworked the shoreline are the best times to find them.
Pets are not allowed on the lakeshore at Petoskey State Park due to piping plover habitat. Piping plovers are a federally endangered shorebird that nests on Great Lakes beaches. Pets are welcome in the campgrounds on a 6-foot leash.
Trails
The park has two short hiking trails.
Old Baldy Trail is a half-mile loop that climbs to the top of Old Baldy, a large stable sand dune. The trail includes stairs. The view from the top — out across Little Traverse Bay and the surrounding forested hills — is the park’s signature vista and worth the short climb.
Portage Trail is a 1-mile out-and-back path through a wooded dune area with a mix of hardwoods and conifers. It is flat to gently rolling and good for a quiet walk through varied terrain and vegetation.
For longer rides and walks, the Little Traverse Wheelway — a 26-mile paved trail linking Charlevoix to Harbor Springs — passes directly by the state park entrance. The North Western State Trail, which connects Petoskey to Mackinaw City, begins just south of the park. Both are excellent for cycling.
Other Activities at the Park
Kayak and SUP rentals are available at the beach concession (Lake to Lake Rentals, located at the beach house in the day-use area) from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Fishing: Lake Michigan and Tannery Creek offer opportunities for salmon, trout, perch, smallmouth bass, and northern pike. Note that there is no boat launch in the park — the nearest launches are in Harbor Springs and Petoskey.
Winter: Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular in the park during winter months.
Nearby Attractions
The Petoskey and Harbor Springs area is one of northern Michigan’s most popular vacation destinations. Several worthwhile stops are within a short drive of the park.
Bear River Valley Recreation Area: A 1.5-mile park along the Bear River near downtown Petoskey, featuring walking and biking paths, river views, and a whitewater kayaking course — one of the first in Lower Michigan. The park underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and is an easy stop on the way into or out of town.
Thorne Swift Nature Preserve: About 4 miles north of Harbor Springs on M-119, this 30-acre preserve has 1.5 miles of trails through cedar swamp and low dunes, 950 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline (300 feet open as a public beach), and a nature center. Non-township residents pay a $5 parking fee. A quiet, less-crowded alternative to the state park beach.
Tunnel of Trees (M-119): The scenic drive on M-119 from Harbor Springs north to Cross Village is one of the most famous stretches of road in Michigan — a narrow, winding two-lane highway under a dense canopy of hardwoods and cedars with Lake Michigan views. The drive is about 20 miles one way. At the end, Legs Inn in Cross Village is a well-known restaurant with a distinctive folk-art exterior and Polish-American menu.
Petoskey Brewing Company: Located just outside the state park, the brewery occupies a striking 115-year-old building — a four-story brick structure originally built for the original Petoskey Brewing Company, with 26-inch-thick walls and a 70-foot tower. The brewery still uses artesian spring water from wells on the site. A convenient dinner option after a day at the beach.
Downtown Petoskey: The Gaslight District has shops, galleries, restaurants, and a waterfront park. The Little Traverse History Museum and the Crooked Tree Arts Center are both downtown.
Proud owner of https://travelyouman.com/