Port Crescent State Park
Port Crescent State Park
4.5
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
133 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
47
Average
8
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Tracy S
7 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
We stayed in one of the new geodomes at the state campground. We liked the location and that it was sound proof and air conditioned. We liked that we had a small fridge, microwave, fire pit and 4 chairs for by the fire. We could easily walk to the beach and spent most of our time there. Note: you do not have direct access to the beach from your site, but it’s a short walk.
There are a few things that would made this a 5 star stay. Some shade - there are no trees near the domes - you are in the sun 100%. I recommend campers bring a canopy. The bathroom is quite a little jaunt away. There is a need for some hooks inside the domes to put wet towels or bags. Finally, although the description says it comes with 2 bunk beds- you must assemble them. The space is small after assembled. I would not recommend for more than 2 people or for a family with small children only.
There are a few things that would made this a 5 star stay. Some shade - there are no trees near the domes - you are in the sun 100%. I recommend campers bring a canopy. The bathroom is quite a little jaunt away. There is a need for some hooks inside the domes to put wet towels or bags. Finally, although the description says it comes with 2 bunk beds- you must assemble them. The space is small after assembled. I would not recommend for more than 2 people or for a family with small children only.
Written July 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
immererin
Bexley, OH19 contributions
Sep 2021 • Family
Our third trip to the campground, and not our last.
We’ve stayed in the mini cabin (nice enough, great price) but noisy close to 25 and far from bathrooms AND beach. Close to the entry with its WiFi (terrible cell coverage throughout the park)
We’ve stayed in a hilltop tent site - close to bathroom, close to the noisy road (25) and far from beach. But well shaded and fewer rigs up there, more tents and hammocks.
We’ve just finished a four night stay in a dome. Comfortable, spacious, and close to the beach. However / it’s a novelty. The price is outrageous given it doesn’t have a view or plumbing.
We love the beach at PSCP. We love the clean bathhouses. We love the topography and the trees. But mostly? We love that it’s a quiet park. quiet hours enforced all day every day.
Lots of things to do within 10-25 minutes, too: quaint restaurants, lighthouses and their history, petroglyphs, trail riding, kayaking tours, and weekend markets and craft fairs.
Please don’t go. Or if you do… don’t tell anyone.
We’ve stayed in the mini cabin (nice enough, great price) but noisy close to 25 and far from bathrooms AND beach. Close to the entry with its WiFi (terrible cell coverage throughout the park)
We’ve stayed in a hilltop tent site - close to bathroom, close to the noisy road (25) and far from beach. But well shaded and fewer rigs up there, more tents and hammocks.
We’ve just finished a four night stay in a dome. Comfortable, spacious, and close to the beach. However / it’s a novelty. The price is outrageous given it doesn’t have a view or plumbing.
We love the beach at PSCP. We love the clean bathhouses. We love the topography and the trees. But mostly? We love that it’s a quiet park. quiet hours enforced all day every day.
Lots of things to do within 10-25 minutes, too: quaint restaurants, lighthouses and their history, petroglyphs, trail riding, kayaking tours, and weekend markets and craft fairs.
Please don’t go. Or if you do… don’t tell anyone.
Written September 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gracie G
10 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Nice overall campground, very clean bathrooms. We wanted a waterfront campsite, but everything was booked up. Only #60 was available on Monday night, so we took it. Probably the smallest waterfront site, very close to #59, more space with trees in between site #61.
Right across from the bathroom, which there was no smell, but during the night... we thought either someone/dog 1. Pooped near our campsite or 2. Exhausted pipe near us or 3. The RV smells nearby!? Again this was not coming from the bathroom.
Next time I hope to book 6months in advance for a bigger site. Favorite larger waterfront sites for next time #70, 61, 63, 57, 56, 53 (we only walked around in the 2nd loop and did not see the other sites in the other loops. The inland sites had nicer trees.
We'll come back again for the private beach access, nice bathrooms, the new cabins looked nice.
Right across from the bathroom, which there was no smell, but during the night... we thought either someone/dog 1. Pooped near our campsite or 2. Exhausted pipe near us or 3. The RV smells nearby!? Again this was not coming from the bathroom.
Next time I hope to book 6months in advance for a bigger site. Favorite larger waterfront sites for next time #70, 61, 63, 57, 56, 53 (we only walked around in the 2nd loop and did not see the other sites in the other loops. The inland sites had nicer trees.
We'll come back again for the private beach access, nice bathrooms, the new cabins looked nice.
Written September 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith B
Wayne, MI481 contributions
Jun 2021
This is a large state park built on a long gone town named Port Crescent. There camping area is separate from the trails and beach- the latter portion is what I used.
The road in turns to gravel halfway, only to be paved again, very odd. Signage on trails is a bit faded and in some areas missing and you can get lost. Beach access isn’t marked as well as it should be (you follow a specific trails that branches out to the water. It is quiet though.
Lake Huron is high this year so the water was shallow for quite a ways. I went way out and it didn’t get above my stomach.
There is an area that attracts stargazers at night- I was not there to experience it.
The road in turns to gravel halfway, only to be paved again, very odd. Signage on trails is a bit faded and in some areas missing and you can get lost. Beach access isn’t marked as well as it should be (you follow a specific trails that branches out to the water. It is quiet though.
Lake Huron is high this year so the water was shallow for quite a ways. I went way out and it didn’t get above my stomach.
There is an area that attracts stargazers at night- I was not there to experience it.
Written July 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beach461
Oahu, HI2 contributions
Jul 2022
The park has a good day use area, but we were there for the Dark Park.
For dark park use, astrophotography, using telescope? I don't know. It was difficult. The viewing platform is TINY and became so crowded we had to leave. Children, children, children, at 1am don't do well: they were all over everyone and LOUD. Hordes of them.
Meanwhile in the parking lot, car after car after car with full lights on, shining right up to the platform, and more and more groups coming up the trail to the platform using flashlights: I put my camera away rather than damage it with too much light during a shot. Don't even think about using your cam here: this is not the place.
We did get out of the platform, through the crowd, to the designated parking lot, but with all the cars driving in and out with lights on, even at 2am, just locked the cams and equipment in the trunk and enjoyed the view when lit up cars and people with flashlights were not in the area - which was about 1/4th of the time, over 4 hours, that we were there.
There must be better dark parks, maybe those that are difficult to get to and require a long hike?
For dark park use, astrophotography, using telescope? I don't know. It was difficult. The viewing platform is TINY and became so crowded we had to leave. Children, children, children, at 1am don't do well: they were all over everyone and LOUD. Hordes of them.
Meanwhile in the parking lot, car after car after car with full lights on, shining right up to the platform, and more and more groups coming up the trail to the platform using flashlights: I put my camera away rather than damage it with too much light during a shot. Don't even think about using your cam here: this is not the place.
We did get out of the platform, through the crowd, to the designated parking lot, but with all the cars driving in and out with lights on, even at 2am, just locked the cams and equipment in the trunk and enjoyed the view when lit up cars and people with flashlights were not in the area - which was about 1/4th of the time, over 4 hours, that we were there.
There must be better dark parks, maybe those that are difficult to get to and require a long hike?
Written July 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lakefronter
Holland, MI215 contributions
Aug 2022
Thought we would try it out for 3 days. Grounds were clean, staff nice. Showers/ bathrooms are dated and need attention. Cleaning shuts them down at 10am. Well shaded throughout. Wifi is at the office only, A bit crowded for us with 5 tents and 3 campers in the 3 spots next to us. A few sites were pretty loud. Seemed to squeeze them in. Not for us.
Written August 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
katydog
Frederick, MD33 contributions
Aug 2021
The day use area of this state park features spectacular scenery, a great beach, and some very nice hiking trails. On this visit, we parked at the small parking area along M-25 and walked in across the old bridge. Beautiful area.
Written September 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dawn B
Wyoming, MI26 contributions
Sep 2020
Wanted to go to the dark sky park so we went during the day to check it out. Nice beach. Water really cold! We messed up and went at night the second night we were there but too cloudy. But on clear night it would be great to go to dark sky area.
Written September 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan M
Shelby Township, MI963 contributions
Sep 2022 • Family
The camping experience was enjoyed by all in the family. On an 85 degree day, swimming was a pleasant experience. They had wood for sales. The ice finally came on Saturday afternoon. The dark skis area was about two miles down the road, so you had the drive there. With two nights of clear skies, the sky was full of stars. The milky way and the Big Dipper were easily seen. Even people with telescopes were there.
Written September 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cello12345
Urbana, IL824 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
This park is great for folks who want to swim. There's a fairly sizable sand dune between the parking area and the beach, with boardwalks to make the hike easier. A building with good restrooms (running water!) and a roofed picnic area is at the beginning of the boardwalks.
Written July 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
it sure does - it’s across the drive aisle from the beach access point (well, the primary access that has the posted warnings and flags). it’s sandy and pretty decent, and also next to the toilets/bathhouse. It’s not quite central to the campground.
Written March 2, 2022
That last time we camped on the east side of the state (East Tawas), the mosquito scene was really intense. I see Tawas is even doing a mosquito control program. We’ve avoided the East/Lake Huron side since. I’m thinking of trying Port Crescent, though... maybe it was just a fluke? Idk. Anyone have insight on the mosquito situation at Port Crescent?
Written June 2, 2020
Anyone have any experience on site 62, as far as concerns about being so close to restrooms/septic area? Especially for a weekend at end of September? We're also considering sites 85, or possibly 73/74 . but aren't sure and are weighing factors -- traffic noise from M25, restroom proximity, lake-views/hill sites as well as being in more flood-prone or mosquito areas...
Written August 15, 2019
Can't speak for 62. 85,73,74 can have issues with winds if they come from the north as the sand will blow in since they are on the lake. We had 120/121 and were very pleased, close to bath house and playground and short walk down hill to the beach.
Written August 16, 2019
I am planning a a trip to Port Crescent State Park and spending the day at the beach.
Is it true that I could be turned away from using the day use area if the campground is full?
Written August 3, 2019
No. Day use and campground are separate units at this park.
Written August 3, 2019
Aren't your confusing Grindestone City (EAST of Port Austin) which is a real "ghost town" for Caseville (WEST of Port Austin) which is full of life?
Written July 5, 2019
I am rather sure that the ghost-town is east of Port Austin -- Grindstone City, not Caseville. Caseville is a thriving small town and is west of Port Austin.
Written August 3, 2019
Yes the campsites have electric. Also, have flush toilets and showers.
Written June 26, 2018
Each campsite is allocated a picnic table.
Written June 27, 2018
Hi. Looks like great place to camp! I am wondering about cellphone service. We are on the Verizon network. Will we have reception at this campground or not?
Written February 3, 2018
We have sprint and it worked well in most of the campground.
Written March 6, 2018
We have booked site 61 in May 2018,no picture on DNR site but read it can accommodate an RV...we have a 25 foot motorhome,do you think we will fit? Thank you.
Written November 21, 2017
We camped on site 63 and 61 last year in tents. When we first arrived we set up our tent on 63, because the rest of the family didn’t arrive until the next day. There was a small trailer camping on 61 when we arrived, so I do believe that it will be just enough space for a 25 ft vehicle. You may have to move the picnic table around to make it work. The fire pit is of course stationary. There is a slight slope on the site, so you may have to also maneuver your RV to the most level spot. It is a very nice spot. The kids loved it as they could easily run down to the beach, and was right across from bath house. See the pics I posted on this site. Enjoy!
Written January 11, 2018
I have no idea. I suggest you call the state park and ask them. Good luck.
Written August 1, 2017
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