South Manitou Group Campground
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore — lakeside, hiking
Location: EMPIRE, MI, MI
Price: From $30 per night
Rating: 3.9 out of 5 (8 reviews)
Season: May through October
South Manitou Group Campground is a tent-only backcountry facility on South Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan. Campers must take a 1.5-hour Manitou Island Transit Ferry trip or boat ride to reach it, and must backpack their gear into the campground from the dock. **Booking for individual sites on South Manitou Island are made on a first come/first served basis directly through Manitou Island Transit .** This facility is comprised of three reservable group
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/south-manitou-group-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Gorgeous tent-only backcountry campground on South Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with fire rings, picnic tables, and helpful rangers. Central location makes it easy for groups and offers excellent hiking and visitor center access.
Wildlife alert: Eastern Chipmunks are known to steal food from packs; mosquitoes are prevalent across the island. Also present: North American River Otter, Muskrat, Sandhill Crane, Baltimore Oriole, Piping Plover, Common Loon, Eastern Hognose Snake, Eastern Garter Snake, and Common Snapping Turtle.
Insider tips for South Manitou Group Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground Individual sites are first come/first served through Manitou Island Transit, not online reservations Secure all food in bear-proof containers to protect against chipmunks Watch for poison ivy which is rampant on the island Cell phone charging available at orientation area
Skip South Manitou Group Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available. You cannot access via ferry — requires 1.5-hour Manitou Island Transit ferry ride and backpacking gear from dock. You have mobility issues — backpacking required to reach campground from dock. You are sensitive to mosquitoes — reported as bad across the island.
Best time to visit South Manitou Group Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: D.H. Day Group Campground (EMPIRE, MI), D.H. Day Campground (EMPIRE, MI), White Pine Backcountry Campground Permits (EMPIRE, MI), Platte River Campground (EMPIRE, MI).
Cell Phone Coverage at South Manitou Group Campground
Cell signal at South Manitou Group Campground (EMPIRE, MI): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
South Manitou Group Campground is a tent-only backcountry facility on South Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan. Campers must take a 1.5-hour Manitou Island Transit Ferry trip or boat ride to reach it, and must backpack their gear into the campground from the dock. **Booking for individual sites on South Manitou Island are made on a first come/first served basis directly through Manitou Island Transit .** This facility is comprised of three reservable group sites at Bay Campground and three others at Weather Station Campground.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground
Individual sites are first come/first served through Manitou Island Transit, not online reservations
Secure all food in bear-proof containers to protect against chipmunks
Watch for poison ivy which is rampant on the island
Cell phone charging available at orientation area
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Traverse City, Michigan, take M-22 to Sutton's Bay. Go west on M-204 from Sutton's Bay towards Leland. Turn north at the junction of M-22 and M-204 to Leland. Take the Manitou Island Transit ferry from Leland to South Manitou Island.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does South Manitou Group Campground cost per night?+
What season is South Manitou Group Campground open?+
Does South Manitou Group Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at South Manitou Group Campground?+
How do I make reservations at South Manitou Group Campground?+
What is the cell service like at South Manitou Group Campground?+
What season is South Manitou Group Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
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