There was a new most popular Michigan state park campground in 2025

As expected, there was a new most popular Michigan state park or recreation area campground in fiscal year 2025.

Holland State Park in Holland, which has two modern campgrounds and camper cabins, had the most nights camped in fiscal year 2025, which ran Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, according to Michigan Department of Natural Resources data.

The park had 40,088 nights camped. Its Beach campground sits along Lake Michigan.

Ludington State Park in Ludington, which was the most popular the past few years, had its campgrounds closed for park renovations from September 2024 through June 26, 2025, missing key days of prime camping season in 2025.

Each year, popularity rankings, reservations and occupancy rates are affected by campground closures, which limit possible camping nights.

The number of construction closures were similar in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, but 2025 was slightly higher, according to the DNR.

Once Ludington reopened in June, it bounced back to finish in the top 10 of most popular campgrounds.

Here's how the Michigan state park and recreation area campgrounds ranked in fiscal year 2025.

Most popular Michigan state park, recreation area campgrounds in 2025 by nights camped

1. Holland State Park in Holland: 40,088 nights camped
2. South Higgins Lake State Park in Roscommon: 39,328 nights camped
3. Interlochen State Park in Interlochen: 37,231 nights camped
4. Wilderness State Park in Carp Lake: 35,951 nights camped
5. Hoffmaster State Park in Norton Shores: 33,137 nights camped
6. Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Paradise: 32,501 nights camped
7. Ludington State Park in Ludington: 32,012 nights camped
8. Sterling State Park in Monroe: 31,031 nights camped
9. Muskegon State Park in Muskegon: 29,375 nights camped
10. Lakeport State Park in Lakeport: 28,737 nights camped

Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Paradise, which has two modern campgrounds, a rustic campground, backcountry camping, a lodge and camper cabins, had the most reservations in fiscal year 2025.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park in summer 2019.

Michigan state park, recreation area campgrounds with most reservations in 2025

1. Tahquamenon Falls in Paradise: 12,861 reservations
2. Porcupine Mountains State Park in Ontonagon: 12,373 reservations
3. Wilderness State Park in Carp Lake: 11,716 reservations
4. Interlochen State Park in Interlochen: 11,406 reservations
5. Holland State Park in Holland: 11,205 reservations
6. Waterloo State Recreation Area in parts of Jackson and Washtenaw Counties: 10,930 reservations
7. Hoffmaster State Park in Norton Shores: 10,591 reservations
8. Straits State Park in St. Ignace: 10,461 reservations
9. Ludington State Park in Ludington: 10,100 reservations
10. South Higgins State Park in Roscommon: 9,757 reservations

Campground occupancy rates

Just because a campground has a lot of reservations, doesn't mean it's the toughest to get into.

Many of the parks with the most nights camped weren't on the list of parks with the highest occupancy rates.

In fiscal year 2025, Fort Wilkins State Park in Copper Harbor had the highest occupancy rate at 84.21%. The park has one modern campground.

Fort Wilkins Historic State Park in summer 2023.

Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin came in second with an occupancy rate of 81.01%.

Top Michigan state park, recreation area campground occupancy rates in fiscal year 2025

1. Fort Wilkins State Park in Copper Harbor: 84.21% occupancy rate
2. Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin: 81.01% occupancy rate
3. Tawas Point State Park in East Tawas: 78.06% occupancy rate
4. Petoskey State Park in Petoskey: 77.25% occupancy rate
5. Holland State Park in Holland: 74.86% occupancy rate
6. Porcupine Mountains State Park in Ontonagon: 74.54% occupancy rate
7. Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling: 74.3% occupancy rate
8. Young State Park in Boyne City: 73.01% occupancy rate
9. Wilderness State Park in Carp Lake: 72.4% occupancy rate
10. Leelanau State Park in Northport: 72.11% occupancy rate

Occupancy rate rankings change slightly when you look at prime camping season from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.

Michigan state park, recreation area campground occupancy rates during summer season

1. Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin: 90.71% occupancy rate
2. Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Paradise: 90.58% occupancy rate
3. Holland State Park in Holland: 90.12% occupancy rate
4. Grand Haven State Park in Grand Haven: 89.53% occupancy rate
5. Leelanau State Park in Northport: 89.14% occupancy rate
6. Petoskey State Park in Petoskey: 88.57% occupancy rate
7. Wilderness State Park in Carp Lake: 87.86% occupancy rate
8. Mears State Park in Pentwater: 87.05% occupancy rate
9. Tawas Point State Park in East Tawas: 86.07% occupancy rate
10. Young State Park in Boyne City: 85.58% occupancy rate

Michigan state park, recreation area reservations up, cancellations down

Overall, reservations in fiscal year 2025 were up slightly by 0.17%, increasing to 443,215 from 442,442 the previous year.

And campsite reservation cancellations were down 13.32% in fiscal year 2025. The previous year, the cancellation rate was 13.87%.