About Leelanau State Park
Leelanau State Park sits at the very tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, where Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay meet, about 20 minutes north of Northport. The park's biggest draw is the Grand Traverse Lighthouse, an 1858 beacon that now operates as a small maritime museum you can tour by day and climb for sunset views. At 1,350 acres split into two units — the Lighthouse Unit and the Mud Lake/Cathead Bay Unit — it's one of the more remote and undeveloped state parks in the northern Lower Peninsula.
Camping is limited to a single rustic campground near Cathead Bay with 52 sites, no electric hookups, vault toilets, and a hand pump for water. It's a deliberately old-school setup that appeals to campers looking to get away from RV-heavy campgrounds — sites are wooded, spaced for privacy, and a short walk from Lake Michigan beach access.
| Campground | Sites | Hookups | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathead Bay Rustic Campground | 52 sites | None (vault toilets, hand pump water) | Tent camping, privacy, quiet |
Grand Traverse Lighthouse
PHOTO PLACEHOLDER
The 1858 Grand Traverse Lighthouse is the park's signature feature, preserved as a museum with period-furnished keeper's quarters and a climbable tower. Around it, roughly 9 miles of hiking trails wind through hardwood forest, dunes, and along the Lake Michigan and Cathead Bay shorelines, connecting to nearby Cathead Point.
How to Get a Reservation
The 6-Month Booking Window
Like all Michigan DNR campgrounds, Leelanau State Park opens reservations exactly 6 months in advance through MiDNRReservations.com. Because the rustic campground is small (52 sites), summer weekends can sell out quickly.
Set a CampDrop Alert
If your dates are already booked, CampDrop monitors MiDNRReservations.com around the clock and texts you the moment a site opens up at Leelanau State Park.
What to Know Before You Go
Hookups & Site Types
All 52 sites are rustic — no electric, water, or sewer hookups at individual sites. A hand pump provides water and vault toilets serve the campground.
Season
The campground typically operates mid-May through mid-October; confirm exact dates on MiDNRReservations.com since rustic Up North campgrounds can have shorter seasons than modern ones.
Pets
Pets are welcome throughout the park on a 6-foot leash.
Cell Service & Remoteness
This is one of the more remote state parks in the Lower Peninsula — cell service can be spotty at the tip of the peninsula, so plan accordingly and download any maps or reservations confirmations in advance.
Directions
Leelanau State Park is located at 15310 N Lighthouse Point Rd, Northport, MI 49670, in Leelanau County, about 25 miles north of Traverse City at the very tip of the Leelanau Peninsula.