Tawas Point State Park is one of the most popular parks in the Michigan State Park system and probably the most popular park in the east side of the state. If you want to camp here in the summer you definitely need to make reservation six months to the day. The park sits at the tip of a point that sticks out into Lake Huron. Some refer to it as the “Cape Cod of Michigan”
Official Website http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=499&type=SPRK
Address
686 Tawas Beach Road
East Tawas MI, 48730
Pros
- Near East Tawas
- Beautiful Beaches
- Nice Bathroom Buildings
Cons
- Popular park and can be difficult to get reservations
- Sites are small
Campgrounds
The campground has 193 campsites and there are only a few trees so the sites are mostly open and sunny. In my opinion, the sites seem to be smaller than in other state parks that I have camped in. Its a beautiful place to camp on a point out into Lake Huron away from a busy road just be aware that in the summer the park is popular and usually full even midweek so there will be a lot of people in the campground. The sites to the south are near the water along Tawas Bay and are the most popular sites in the park. There are some trees between the water and the campsite, so you probably won’t be able to look out over the water while sitting in your campsite. The campground is flat so no matter where you are at your site it is going to be relatively level. I don’t have a large trailer but if you do be prepared for the streets to be tight and it can be tricky to back into your site. Be sure you have a spotter or a couple of spotters to help with backing up.
Cabins and Yurts
The park has two mini-cabins and a yurt along the north side near the bathroom. And there are two camper cabins near the bay with a kitchen, two bedrooms, and a living room. The porch faces towards the bay and you can sit on it overlooking the water. I have never stayed in one but if you don’t have a camper and you want to stay in Tawas a cabin overlooking Tawas Bay for about $90 a night is a good deal.
Reservations
Tawas Point SP is one of the more popular parks and if you want to camp here you need to make reservations six months to the day. The lots closest to the lake are taken first so you have to be sure to try for those right when the system lets you reserve them at 8 am.
Bathrooms
One of two identical modern bathrooms in the campground
The campground has two identical modern bathrooms. They are newer bathrooms that seemed to be well maintained. They also have a dishwashing station for washing out pots and pans after cooking dinner and is really helpful if you are camping in a tent.
Beaches
There are two beaches in the state park. The main beach is over by the lighthouse along Lake Huron and has a large bathhouse. The other beach is on Tawas Bay in the campground. Both are wonderful beaches but the size of the beach can vary depending on the level of the water in Lake Huron. A few years ago the water level was low and there was plenty of sand before you got to the waterline. Lately, the water levels are up so the beaches are smaller than usual but still worth going to. I know many people who say they are the nicest beaches on Lake Huron. If you go camping with mans best friend there is also a dog beach so you can take them swimming on hot summer days.
Shopping
The Park is about 5 miles from downtown East Tawas. Just to clarify there are two cities next to each other Tawas and East Tawas (which is north of Tawas, I did not come up with the names). East Tawas is where the main tourist shopping district is near the harbor. I think it is one of the reasons why the park is so popular since there is a variety of shops and restaurants to visit. Tawas is a large enough town to have anything you would need, with a Walmart and hardware stores. If you need something it’s not a long drive to get it.
Things to Do
The best thing to do at Tawas Point S.P. is visiting the historic lighthouse. Even if you are not camping and you have never been to the lighthouse it’s worth the trip to the park just to see the lighthouse which is open on the weekends for tours. There are some hiking trails through the marshlands of the park which is popular for birders. In may there are a variety of bird species that migrate through the parks. if you are working on a big year or just enjoy watching birds, the park is a good place to visit.
Tawas and East Tawas have plenty of events to partake in while you are there. A list of events can be found HERE
About 20 miles away is Lumbermans Monument and Iargo Springs along the Ausable River.
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