Community Forums

carl oh · 02-02-2017, 09:03 AM

I am planning a trip to traverse city in July for the cherry festival. Any suggestions on nearby campgrounds. I did some research and it seems a lot are full for that week. Found Interlochen State Park has availability. Anyone familiar with this campground?

**CLIFFTALL** · 02-02-2017, 09:06 AM

I was there in 09 and stayed in an Airstream owners park as I recall. There were mostly Airstreams. Just outside of Traverse City. Stranger than staying in an Airstream park with a Bounder was that had to import all the Cherries from Washington as their crop wasn't ready yet

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twogypsies · 02-02-2017, 10:18 AM

Have you checked this site? Also, get a map and check different nearby towns. There are many places in the area. However, the Cherry Festival time is a big time there so get on it right now.

The very best place is Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore which isn't far from Traverse City. That is also an extremely popular park.

Interlocken is good if they have openings. It's the site of the famous music camp for very talented young musicians from all over the world. You can walked the campus and listen to them practice and they also give concerts.

Holiday RV is the above-mentioned formerly Airstream park. It accepts all kinds of RVs.

Keep the fairgrounds in mind as a last resort. It's not bad, has hookups.

Traverse City, MI Campground Reviews - Best of Traverse City Camping - RV Park Reviews

Fencebuster · 02-02-2017, 06:26 PM

Interlochen is a great idea! Traverse City is pretty crowded in the summer even without the Cherry Festival going on. They do offer shuttles in to the downtown festivities from Northwestern Michigan College and Thirby Field, usually. Interlochen State Park has the arts camp nearby which will be in full swing while you're there. They have a great concert series with some of the same great acts that perform downstate but in a covered, somewhat intimate venue. Tickets become available in late April. It truly is interesting to walk around the camp as rehearsals are top rate since student concerts occur frequently and they need to practice. Very talented students admitted through a competitive process. This is not your normal summer camp.

We like Interlochen State Park. Only electricity, but if you fill up your tank and are somewhat judicious, you can make it work well. Lots of cool places west of Traverse City that you would be able to get to more quickly by not going through Traverse City. I wouldn't abandon the festival, of course, but there is a lot to do in that area of the state.

If you choose Interlochen, remember that you will need a recreation passport/pass as well as paying the fee for the daily rate. Another option is up in the Leelanau Peninsula around Lake Leelanau but those spots are more than likely gone. Nice wine country though!

icepick · 02-03-2017, 05:06 AM

check with traverse bay rv resort, next to the casino. upper end and kinda pricey, but worth it. The Airstream park the other guy was talking about is called Holiday travel park and it is on the south side of traverse. the old part of the park is top notch, but the new part sucks. no trees, no shade, dusty roads. I was there last year and it was hotter than you know what, the voltage was dangerously low.

aeblank · 02-03-2017, 08:31 AM

I work in traverse. Cherries are imported every year, cause having the festival over the 4th is more important to them.. you best be ready for people. Place is stupid busy.

Interlochen is a good park. They have a primitive side, if you don't need electric.

carl oh · 02-04-2017, 07:56 AM

Thanks everyone, i booked at Interlochen State Park, they were the only ones that had sites available and the price is great (there was'nt very many sites left). From the reviews i've seen it sounds like it's a very nice campground and it is only 15 miles from Traverse city.