The campground at Bay City State Park is the main place to pitch a tent or park an RV in Bay City, and it comes with a sandy beach, a spray park and a coastal marsh right next door. It is a modern campground with electric service, it is wooded, and it stays open for winter camping. This guide explains what the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says about it, how to reserve a site and what to bring.
Quick facts
• Where: Bay City State Park, 3582 State Park Dr, Bay City, on Saginaw Bay
• Campground type: modern, with 189 sites according to the DNR
• Power: 20/30-amp electrical service at every site, with 50-amp at some
• Reservations: through the DNR's online system or by calling 800-447-2757
• Winter camping: offered, with lower rates when modern restrooms are closed
• Vehicle entry: a Michigan Recreation Passport is required
• Managed by: Michigan DNR, which sets rates and season dates. Confirm them before you book.
The campground
The DNR describes the park's main campground as a modern campground with mostly wooded sites, each with 20/30-amp electrical service and some with 50-amp. One listing calls it an all-season campground of grassy sites among mature oaks, and the park is promoted for winter camping. The campground has its own playground with slides and swings, and the park as a whole offers miles of trails, a spray park, an accessible playground called Play by the Bay and the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center. The park also lists mini cabins (see rates below). Third-party listings give a slightly different site count (192 on some sites), so treat 189 as the state's number and check the campground map when you reserve.
How to reserve
- Online: use the DNR's reservation system, where you can pick a specific site on the map.
- By phone: call 800-447-2757.
- Plan ahead for summer. Weekends in July and August and the Fireworks Festival weekend fill up well in advance. See our festivals guide for dates.
- Group camping: the park has a separate youth group-use area. For questions, the DNR lists a park line at 989-684-3020.
Rates and season dates are set by the DNR and change, so confirm current figures when you book. The numbers below were reported from the park's own social-media notices and camping directories, not from a DNR rate table we could load:
- Campsites: generally about $22 to $80 a night depending on the season and site type, with electric and water/electric modern sites roughly $32 to $40 or more at peak times, and 50-amp sites costing more than 20/30-amp.
- Winter rates: reported at about $22 a night for 20/30-amp sites and $27 for 50-amp sites when the modern restrooms are closed.
- Mini cabins: reported as ADA-accessible, sleeping up to five, from about $51 a night. Linens and cookware are not included.
- Vehicle entry: a Michigan Recreation Passport is required for every motor vehicle entering the park.
RV tips
- Hookups: the DNR lists electrical service and a sanitation station, and does not mention water or sewer hookups at the sites. Confirm with the park, and plan to arrive with a full water tank and use the sanitation station for waste.
- Sanitation station: the park's station is at the modern campground and has potable water and two lanes. The DNR page says it is for registered campers, while one report says non-campers can use it for a $10 fee. Call the park before you plan on using it if you are not camping.
- Know your amperage. Sites have 20/30-amp service and only some have 50-amp, so reserve a 50-amp site if your rig needs it.
- Check site length and shade on the reservation map before you choose.
What's nearby
- The beach and spray park. The park has about a mile of sandy beach on Saginaw Bay and a spray park, though water and beach conditions vary. See our state park guide.
- Tobico Marsh. One of the largest freshwater coastal wetlands on the Great Lakes, with observation towers, boardwalks and trails for birdwatching.
- Saginaw Bay Visitor Center. A 10,000-square-foot center with exhibits and year-round programs, handy on a rainy day.
- Downtown Bay City. The Riverwalk, restaurants and theatres are a short drive away. See Things to Do.
Winter camping
The park is promoted for winter camping, which suits cold-weather campers who like quiet, snow and frozen-marsh scenery. In winter the modern restrooms can close, and the park posts reduced winter rates. Services and sanitation access can differ, so call the park or check the DNR page for what is open. See our winter guide for what to wear and where to warm up afterward.
What to bring
- Bug spray. The park includes marsh and wetland, so mosquitoes and other insects are common in warm months.
- Layers. Wind off the bay can make evenings cool even in summer.
- Groceries and supplies. Stock up before you arrive. Our groceries page lists stores on Wilder Road and N Euclid Avenue.
- Binoculars. For birds at the marsh, especially in spring and fall migration.
- Beach gear and sunscreen, plus water shoes for kids.
- Rules. Check the DNR's rules on pets, quiet hours, campfires and firewood before you go, and plan to buy firewood locally rather than carrying it from far away.
If camping isn't for you
Our Stay page lists the riverfront hotels and other lodging in town, and the Best Time to Visit guide helps you choose a season.
Sources
Campground details are from the Michigan DNR's Bay City State Park page as summarized in October 2026, with background from a public encyclopedia article on Bay City State Park. We could not load the DNR's rate table, so the rates and mini-cabin details above come from the park's social-media notices and camping directories and should be confirmed. This guide is independent and is not run by the DNR, and campground details change, so always confirm when you book.