Camping in the Heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Everything was great! Campground was clean, several porta potties, firewood available with a dropbox for overnight, and a store with tons of good stuff. Definitely recommend!

Everything was great! Campground was clean, several porta potties, firewood available with a dropbox for overnight, and a store with tons of good stuff. Definitely recommend!

My husband and I visited the campground this past weekend and stayed in one of the cabins. It was very cute and comfortable! The staff at the campground were very welcoming and treated us like family! The market was a bonus and fresh brewed coffee in the morning was a great way to start the day! I LOVE that this location is so close to all major attractions! We will certainly return for another visit! Thank you for a lovely stay!

Everything was excellent. The sites, the people, the market, the brunch. We would gladly visit again!

This brand new family run campground is simply delightful and all together wonderful! DO NOT miss your chance to stay here before word gets out! Our family of 4 camped here in our 42’ 5th wheel for 3 weeks in July 2025. We feel so fortunate that we stumbled upon this hidden gem before it becomes one of the most popular campgrounds in the area. First, the location. Perfectly situated between Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes and right off highway...

It was a nice place to stay considering that it's a fairly new campground however it could use a playground for kids and toddlers

Quiet, rustic, well maintained and centrally located. We had a great time. Nice fire rings with grill grate, picnic table was solid, grind was pretty flat for tent camping, and the general "feel" was family friendly. Close enough to a lot of tourist destinations, but far enough away that your aren't feeling that pressure. Definitely on our list of places to camp again. The Lively Acres Store is a gem for local foods and wares.

Great Brand new campground! Nice market! Host was very nice and helpful! We could stay more if they were full Hook up!

Very Clean, convenient to great Empire and Sleepy Bear dune locations. Store is awesome with great variety of good food. We loved the dog path threw the meadow and the Staff including Patricia the host was awesome.

Came for the camping, went into the small market to check it. bought some tomatoes and strawberries that were so good, I had to come back after my day at the dunes. 10 out of 10. five stars is not enough

We just needed somewhere to plug into shore power and refill our water tank of our converted school bus. This perfectly fit the bill without breaking the bank. The market was an unexpected delight. To be able to buy some local farm to table food was such a bonus. Met the owners who also run the market and they were very kind and helpful.

Easy to book the cabin and the campsite. Great staff, very friendly and helpful. I hadn't been there before so had a few questions so I knew what to bring with me. I called and they were very helpful! It's so close to Empire and Sleeping Bear but also an easy drive to Traverse City. Beautiful dark sky at night, perfect for stargazing. The market is lovely with lots of delicious, healthy options for grab and go. The cabin was very...

My wife and I had a great stay at lively Acres. We and four of our best friends camped the night of a music festival. Enjoyed the music, great food and even had a sweet brunch on Sunday morning. The campground is minutes from all the beautiful hiking, biking and swimming in the Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore.

As the 2025 camp host at Lively Acres Campground, I can confidently say—this place is a hidden gem! Nestled in the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, it’s the perfect mix of peaceful nature and small-town charm. With 14 spacious pull-through sites (50 AMP), 13 cozy back-in sites (30 AMP), 11 rustic tent spots, and 2 charming cabins, there’s a perfect spot for every kind of camper. Right onsite, our 7-days-a-week Lively NeighborFood Market is a must-visit—serving up fresh coffee,...

We stayed 1 night at this great campground. What makes it so special besides the sites and location is the atmosphere and tasty farm market right onsite. The market has fresh produce from local farmers and the onsite gardens plus local food products and gifts and basic camping supplies. And if you forgot your dinner you can buy farm raised meats or find freshly premade foods from the onsite chefs. I hear too they’ll be doing some Sunday brunches!

Perfect jumping off point to explore the area. Food and coffee available in the market too. The stars were amazing!

Up and coming Campground with an amazing grocery store full of local goods!