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Michigan is one of my favorite places to explore. It’s got everything: big cities, big trees, great views, lake views, and swimming in turquoise waters. It’s easily become one of our go-to spots for weekend trips since it’s so close to Ohio.

We decided to take a camping trip to Michigan, but many of the camping sites through the national parks were already booked. So I checked on Hipcamp and was so glad I did! If you’ve never used Hipcamp, it’s awesome.

We found this awesome place near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore that ended up being a dream.

Camp Moonshadow

This amazing campsite came with a full outdoor kitchen that included running water. The kitchen had a stove, a mini fridge, shelves for storing food, dishes, pots, pans, a coffee pot, and a grill. It really has everything you need, and everything you’d expect in a rental home (minus an oven).

It also had hot showers available, one indoor and two outdoor. We opted for the outdoor hot shower; it was so cool to shower among the trees. It was probably one of the coolest showers I’ve ever used.

There were only six campsites, so it’s an intimate camping experience. The sites aren’t too close together, but close enough that you can hear what’s going on next to you.

The only thing I didn’t love was the Porta-Johns. I don’t like those anyway, but I definitely don’t like it when the campsites are full and so are the Porta-Johns. Stinky.

But that was a small price to pay for everything else. We were within 10 minutes of a beautiful beach and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Esch Road Beach

This was a 10-minute drive from the campsite. It was a little crowded in the area right from the parking lot. However, if you keep walking down the beach, you’ll find some solace. This is part of the National Park System, so you need to bring your park pass or pay a fee to enter.

We came back here to watch the sunset, and they allow campfires on the beach!

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

There is so much to explore in this area, which makes it hard to pick and choose. We opted for one hike, one beach, and a scenic driving loop of some of the park’s best overlooks.

Empire Bluff Trail

This was a short little hike. It was a little steep in some places, but we saw people of all different abilities doing this — elderly people, children, and people with strollers — so you can do it!

Bohemian Road Beach

This beach was so beautiful. It was a little on the crowded side, but the waves were so loud that once you were in the water, it was relaxing. The crystal, sparkly water, the sun, and the cliff views were perfect.

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

This was an easy loop that enables you to see some of the beautiful overlooks. They’re all numbered, which makes it easy to pull off, hop out of the car, and take a peek. Here were two of our favorites:

Glen Lake Overlook

Lake Michigan Overlook

After spending two days in this beautiful area enjoying the views, beaches, and camping, we headed back to Ohio. On the way, we stopped by one more beautiful overlook.

Arcadia Overlook

We had to carry our dog up the stairs because there were too many holes for her small paws. It was a nice little cardio pick-me-up after sitting in the car for a while.