An Epic Summer RV Trip to Michigan: Part Two (Interlochen State Park and Traverse City)

What this episode covers

Interlochen State Park Campground Review: A Classic Michigan State Park Near Traverse City On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas podcast, we’re back with the second installment in Casita Dean May’s epic three-part Michigan series—and this one takes us right into the heart of one of our favorite summer RV regions in the entire country: the Traverse City area. Last week, Dean walked us through Holland State Park. This week, he’s bringing us to Interlochen State Park, a campground that sits between two lakes, feels delightfully old-school, and offers an easy home base for exploring everything we love about Traverse City: beaches, breweries, coffee, small-town charm, and those long summer days that make you wish you could bottle August and save it for February. To listen to our interview with Casita Dean May please click on the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas podcast wherever you get your favorite shows. Why the Traverse City Area Feels Like “One of the Best Places in America” Before we get into campsite loops and electrical hookups, we need to say out loud what we said in the episode: the Traverse City area has that rare “I could live here” energy. It’s not just beautiful—it’s livable. It’s the kind of place where you can imagine a slower, seasonal rhythm: summer on the water, fall color drives, and then maybe you escape the deep winter and come back when the cherries blossoms bloom. Dean and Laura even joked that they used to chuckle at the idea of being snowbirds… until Michigan made the case for it. Spend eight or nine months somewhere like Traverse City, Holland, or Petoskey, then head south for the hardest part of winter? That’s not a bad plan at all. Where Interlochen State Park Is Located Interlochen State Park is located about 15 miles from Traverse City, near the tiny community of Interlochen (we’re talking 500–700 people). It sits between Duck Lake and Green Lake, which gives the park its signature feel: water is always nearby, the air feels fresh, and the whole campground experience is wrapped in trees and shade. Dean and Laura headed north from Holland and took the direct route (they were meeting family), but whether you meander up US-31 along the coast or head inland, Michigan has one major advantage for RV travelers: you’re never far from another great state park. Dean put it perfectly—drive 30 minutes, and you’ll probably “bump into” another state park. Interlochen’s Secret Superpower: A World-Class Arts Scene Here’s one of the coolest “wait, what?” details from this stop: for a town that small, Interlochen has an enormous cultural footprint because it’s home to the Interlochen Center for the Arts, an internationally recognized institute for young musicians, dancers, and performers. In the summer, the arts center hosts rehearsals and performances—sometimes outdoors—and Dean described how you can even hear music “wafting” through the campground during peak season. Even if you’re not planning your trip around a concert, the idea that a world-class arts community is tucked into this small slice of northern Michigan is part of what makes this region feel so special. Two Campgrounds in One Park: Green Lake vs. Duck Lake Interlochen State Park is one of those parks we love because it gives you two distinct camping experiences within the same destination. Green Lake: Rustic and Quiet The Green Lake campground is the rustic option. It has two loops and 52 sites, and it’s surrounded by trees—including some of the park’s notable stands of virgin pine. If you love that classic, simple state park feel and you don’t need electricity, this is the “walk the loop and feel like you’re in the woods” kind of campground. Dean was candid here: they didn’t stay on the Green Lake side because they don’t do rustic camping.