Can you reserve a site at Sand Dunes?

No. Sand Dunes is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Sand Dunes

Facility · Michigan ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Hiawatha National Forest (NF) · Open Access

611 ft
Elevation

Sand dunes are a scenic part of the Michigan landscape, and can be found close to the present and past shoreline of the Great Lakes. One particularly attractive dune area is found on the Hiawatha National Forest in the St. Ignace Ranger District, 8 miles west on US 2, from Pte. Aux Chenes to beyond the National Forest boundary. Lake Michigan Campground is located in these dunes. On a hot summer day hundreds of people use these beautiful sandy beaches. Please be aware of dangerous rip currents along the beaches. There are educational signs on numerous access trails leading to the beach and also life saving stations located along a 6 mile stretch of the beach equipped with life jackets, throw ropes and life saving rings. Passersby on the highway are treated to a view of Lake Michigan on one side, and tall sand dunes on the other side.

Getting there

45.98598, -84.97145 · 45°59'9.5"N 84°58'17.2"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 77°F in Jul, down to 26°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	26	28	37	48	62	72	77	76	68	55	42	32
Low °F	7	7	15	28	39	49	54	54	46	36	27	16
Precip in	2.2	1.6	2.0	3.1	2.5	2.9	3.2	3.3	3.9	4.3	3.4	2.6

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

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Common questions about Sand Dunes

Can you reserve a site at Sand Dunes?: No. Sand Dunes is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Sand Dunes

Lake Michigan AT ST. Ignace less than 0.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Brevoort Lake Campground 1.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Carp River Campground 12.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Three Lakes 23 mi · Campground · we watch it
Brevoort Lake Campground 1.3 mi · Campground
Civilian Conservation Corps - CCC Camp Round Lake 5.1 mi · Facility
East Zone 10.1 mi · Facility
St Ignace Guided Auto Tour 10.1 mi · Facility
Fall Color Roads - East Side of Hiawatha 10.1 mi · Facility
Grand Hotel 19.1 mi · Facility
Search Bay 21.9 mi · Facility
Sault Ste Marie Guided Auto Tour 23.1 mi · Facility

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Info Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.