2026 Michigan State Park Campground Closures: What to Know Before You Book
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Several Michigan state parks are running major infrastructure upgrades in 2026, and a handful of campgrounds are closed for part of the season as a result. Since Michigan reservations open up to six months out, it’s worth checking this list before you lock in a site.
Parks With 2026 Closures
- Fort Wilkins Historic State Park (Copper Harbor): The east loop of the modern campground is closed for electrical and campsite upgrades, expected back by summer. The west campground stays open.
- Indian Lake State Park (Manistique): The south campground is closed to build a new toilet and shower building. No confirmed reopening date yet.
- Ionia State Recreation Area: The modern campground and mini cabins are closed for utility system upgrades, targeting a May 1 reopening.
- Lake Gogebic State Park: Modern campground and cabins closed through July 20 for water, sewer, and electrical work.
- McLain State Park (Hancock): Partial closure this season — sites 1–91 are reopening in phases as construction progresses, while sites 100–135 and the cabins remain open and unaffected.
- Mears State Park (Pentwater): Modern campground closed April 22 through May 20 for electrical upgrades.
- Otsego Lake State Park (Gaylord): Closed through late spring while 44 sites get converted to full-hookup as part of an electric and septic system update.
The Practical Takeaway
None of this is bad news exactly — most of these projects genuinely improve the parks (more full-hookup sites, better bathhouses, upgraded electrical). But if you’re booking Michigan sites this far in advance, it’s worth double-checking a park’s current status directly before you commit, especially for anything in the Upper Peninsula or smaller parks where a closure might not be obvious until you’re already trying to reserve.
Michigan Options That Aren't Affected
If you’d rather skip the guesswork entirely, our Michigan picks are all independently run properties, not state park infrastructure projects — so none of this applies to them.
Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.