Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping in Mackinaw City, Michigan: An Honest Review (Beach, Bridge Views + Mackinac Island Tips)

We spent three nights at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping in Mackinaw City, Michigan, in June, with our toddler and our Coleman 17B. It sits right on the Straits of Mackinac, a couple of miles from the Mackinac Bridge, with its own sandy beach and a short drive to the Mackinac Island ferries. We paid $29 a night for a water and electric site, the bathrooms were nice, and when something went wrong the staff fixed it in minutes. The one thing we did not love is how close together the sites are. Here is everything you need to know before you book, plus how we got to the island.

We paid for our stay ourselves. Nobody sponsored this review.

In this post

1. Watch the trip video
2. Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping photos
3. Where is Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping?
4. Our site and what we paid
5. The beach and the lakefront
6. Bathrooms, showers, and the camp store
7. Is it good for kids?
8. The one thing we did not love: tight sites
9. Getting to Mackinac Island from the campground
10. Where we ate and what we did
11. Mackinaw Mill Creek FAQs
12. Final thoughts: is it worth it?
13. Nearby campgrounds (with map)

Watch the trip video

The boat ride under the Mackinac Bridge and a walk around Mackinac Island, from the same trip.

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping photos

All photos and video stills are from our June stay.

Where is Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping?

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping is at 9730 US-23 in Mackinaw City, Michigan, about two and a half miles southeast of the Mackinac Bridge. The campground says it is about five minutes from downtown Mackinaw City and the Mackinac Island ferry docks, and about half a mile from Mill Creek Discovery Park. It is a big place: the campground lists over 600 sites, with about a mile of natural lakefront along the Straits of Mackinac.

That size means it has a little of everything. Site types run from full hookup “Bridgeview” RV sites with 30 or 50 amp service, down through water and electric sites, electric only sites, non-electric sites, and cheaper “Super Saver” sites that the campground says can be smaller and farther from the main facilities. There are also cabins. Unless a site is marked pull-through, plan to back in.

Our site and what we paid

We stayed in site 36 from June 19 to June 22, 2026. It was a water and electric site, and it cost $29 a night. Rates depend on the site type and your dates, so check the campground’s reservations page for current pricing.

Our arrival had one hiccup: there was no power at our site when we pulled in. We let the office know, and they were there in minutes to fix it. That kind of response says a lot about how a campground is run.

The playground was right by our site, which was handy with a toddler.

If you are curious about the camper, here is our honest Coleman 17B owner review.

The beach and the lakefront

We spent time on the beach during our stay. The campground has natural beaches along the Straits, with a sandy stretch, swings facing the water, and a grassy lakefront with a pavilion that is a great spot for sunset. On a clear evening you can see the Mackinac Bridge from the shoreline.

We also took several walks around the park. With roads and trails winding through the whole property, it is easy to get some steps in, and the lakefront is the obvious place to end up.

Bathrooms, showers, and the camp store

The bathrooms and facilities were nice, and we used the showers and restrooms throughout our stay. The campground lists three shower buildings with flush toilets.

The camp store came in handy. We bought our Mackinac Island ferry tickets there, along with a few goodies. The campground says the store also sells pizza, groceries, ice, firewood, and camp supplies, and the office or store can help with tickets for other local attractions too.

The campground also lists a seasonal heated pool, free mini golf, free antique fire truck and hay rides when the weather allows, three playgrounds, dog exercise areas, bike rentals, and an RV sanitation station. We did not try all of those, so check what is running before you go.

Is it good for kids?

Absolutely. We camped here with our toddler and it worked really well. Having a playground right next to our site, a sandy beach to dig in, and plenty of room to walk made it an easy place to camp with a little one.

The one thing we did not love: tight sites

The only real downside is how tight the sites are. With over 600 sites, they are packed in close, so you are near your neighbors and there is not much room to spread out. Everything else about our stay was great, so this is not a deal breaker, but go in expecting it.

If space matters to you, look at the larger site types when you book. The campground’s site list includes Large and Extra Large full hookup sites, and it notes that the Super Saver sites can be smaller.

Getting to Mackinac Island from the campground

The campground is a short drive from the Mackinaw City ferry docks. We took the Arnold Mackinac Island Ferry and bought our tickets at the camp store before we left.

A few things to know:

1. There is no ferry shuttle anymore. The campground says the ferry companies no longer run a shuttle to the campground, so plan to drive or bike into town.
2. Plan to pay for parking. We parked in a paid lot across the street from the ferry. The campground warns that free town parking is limited and that parking outside the designated ferry lots can get you a ticket.
3. You can bike in instead. The campground points to a dedicated state bike trail from the area into town that reaches the ferry docks, and it rents bikes by the hour or day.

Our boat ride took us right under the Mackinac Bridge. You can watch it in the video above.

Where we ate and what we did

Here are the places we checked out around Mackinaw City and on Mackinac Island:

1. Rusted Spoke Brewing Co., a brewery in Mackinaw City
2. Bière de Mac Brew Works, a restaurant, brewery, and beer garden in Mackinaw City
3. Clyde’s Place, a bar in Carp Lake, just south of Mackinaw City
4. Lucky Bean Coffee House on Mackinac Island
5. Fudge from the Murray Hotel on Mackinac Island
6. Fort Mackinac, the historic fort on the hill above the island’s harbor

Mackinaw Mill Creek FAQs

How much does it cost to camp at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping?

We paid $29 a night for a water and electric site in June 2026. Rates depend on the site type and your dates, from non-electric and Super Saver sites up to full hookup Bridgeview sites, so check the campground’s reservations page for current pricing.

Does Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping have full hookups?

Yes. The campground lists full hookup RV sites with 30 or 50 amp service, including larger sites and some with bridge views, plus water and electric, electric only, and non-electric sites.

Does Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping have a beach?

Yes. The campground has about a mile of natural lakefront on the Straits of Mackinac, including a sandy beach with swings facing the water.

How do you get to Mackinac Island from Mackinaw Mill Creek?

Drive about five minutes into Mackinaw City and take a ferry from the docks there. There is no ferry shuttle to the campground anymore, so plan on paid ferry parking, or bike in on the state bike trail. You can buy ferry tickets at the camp store.

Is Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping good for families?

Yes. We camped with our toddler and it was easy, with playgrounds near the sites, a sandy beach, and lots of room to walk. The campground also lists free mini golf and hay rides when the weather allows.

What time is check-out?

Check-out is 11 a.m., according to the campground map.

Final thoughts: is Mackinaw Mill Creek worth it?

Yes. For $29 a night we got a water and electric site a few minutes from the Mackinac Island ferries, a sandy beach with the bridge on the horizon at sunset, nice bathrooms, and staff who fixed our power in minutes. We would stay again.

The honest critique is the spacing. The sites are tight, so you will be close to your neighbors. If you want more room, book one of the larger site types.

If you are planning a Mackinac Island trip with a camper, Mackinaw Mill Creek is an easy, affordable base, and it worked great with a toddler.

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Campground details:

• Address: Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, 9730 US-23, Mackinaw City, MI 49701 (directions)
• Phone: (231) 436-5584
• Reservations: campmackinaw.com
• Season: opens in May, check the campground’s site for dates