Mountain Valley Lodge and Campground

Campground in Thompsonville, MI • 60 RV Sites

Three miles from Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Michigan—in Benzie County in the northwestern Lower Peninsula where the Betsie River, the Crystal River, and the surrounding chain of spring-fed lakes create the river kayaking, trout fishing, and lake recreation landscape that Benzie County's outdoor community is built around, and where Crystal Mountain's 58 ski trails and championship-quality golf courses anchor the resort economy that keeps the Thompsonville area busy across all four seasons—Mountain Valley Lodge and Campground provides 76 campground sites, 20 lodge rooms, a heated outdoor pool, and the most functionally complete non-resort-affiliated camping option adjacent to Crystal Mountain for guests who want the mountain's amenities at campground pricing. The three-mile proximity to Crystal Mountain creates the combination that neither the mountain's own camping nor a distant campground can match. Seventy-six total campground sites include 10 large full hookup pull-through positions, 50 full hookup back-in sites, and 16 electric-only sites serving tent campers and small pop-up rigs. Every campsite includes a fire pit and picnic table in the standard configuration that Michigan campground guests expect as the baseline site amenity. An 8-room bathhouse building with private shower rooms and separate men's and women's restroom facilities serves the campground's shared hygiene infrastructure. A heated outdoor pool provides the aquatic recreation anchor for summer stays, and a volleyball court and basketball court extend the organized sport options. A recreation room in the lodge—with a full-size pool table, air hockey, and additional table games—provides the indoor entertainment infrastructure for rainy Michigan summer days that the campground's wooded position makes statistically likely on any multi-week stay. Twenty lodge rooms give guests traveling without RVs the enclosed accommodation option at campground-proximate pricing, making the property's combined lodge-and-campground format practical for mixed groups where some members arrive in RVs and others prefer conventional lodging. Crystal Mountain's four-season resort character makes the Thompsonville area a year-round viable destination in a way that distinguishes Benzie County from single-season camping markets. Winter brings Crystal Mountain's 58 ski and snowboarding trails, ice skating, and tubing to a scale that makes it Michigan's largest family ski resort. Summer converts the mountain to a golf destination with championship courses and the Alpine Slide—a wheeled summer luge run down the ski terrain that is among the most purely enjoyable non-athletic summer activities in the Michigan resort landscape. The spa, the resort's extensive summer hiking and mountain biking trails, and the canopy tour extend the warm-season activity calendar. The Betsie and Crystal Rivers accessible within minutes of the campground provide the kayaking, canoeing, and fly fishing access that Benzie County's cold, spring-fed river systems are specifically celebrated for in the Michigan outdoor recreation community. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore—ranked by Good Morning America viewers as the most beautiful place in America in 2011 and sustaining that reputation with the Dune Climb's 200-foot sand face above Lake Michigan—is a 45-minute drive west, providing the national park day trip that completes the Benzie County camping itinerary. Mountain Valley Lodge and Campground is open year-round in alignment with Crystal Mountain's four-season resort calendar. Book early for ski weekends in January and February and summer peak weeks in July and August, and let the three-mile proximity to Crystal Mountain turn a Benzie County camping trip into the full northern Michigan resort experience at the fraction of the mountain's on-site accommodation pricing.

Campground rules and policies

Registrations and Arrival
Check-In Procedure
- Campground check-in time is 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
- We request arrival prior to 9 pm to insure other campers are not disturbed with bright lights and people setting up.
- If arriving outside of check-in times, please reach out to make arrangements.
- No arrivals past dark.
- Anyone who comes in after dark (10:00 pm) will be charged a $100 fee.
- Arrival times are 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm.
- Campground check-out time is 12:00 pm.
- Late check outs must be pre approved by management.
- Any campers still occupying a site past 12 pm will be charged another nights stay.
- If camper is left on a site past 2 pm and interferes with another campers stay or reservation an additional $100 will be charged.
- If no communication has been made and camper remains on site by 6 pm, then the camper may be towed at owners expense.
- Lodge check-in after 3:00 pm on the day of your reservation.
- Lodge check-out before 11:00 am to avoid any additional charges.
- All late lodge check outs will be charged an additional $30.00 fee to the card on file.
- Any lodge guests not checked out before 3:00 pm will be charged a $100.00 fee.
- While each park attempts to accommodate your exact spot request, the onsite manager has the ultimate decision for spot placement.General Policies
- For the safety, comfort, and enjoyment of all our customers, please adhere to the following rules.
- Rules and regulations are subject to change at owners discretion.
- Mountain Valley Lodge is privately owned and management reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.
- Management will not be responsible for accidents or injury to guests or a loss of money, jewelry or valuables of any kind.
- Use of the facilities is for customers and registered visitors only.
- All rates are subject to state and local taxes.
- Rates are subject to change without notice.
- Must be 21 years of age to register.Quiet Hours
- Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Lodge)Deposit Policy
- Campground requires 100% of your stay to be collected at time of booking.Pets Policy
- Pets are welcome (Campground sites only).
- Dogs are welcome at all sites for $5 per dog.
- Limit 2 dogs per site.
- Guests with more than 2 dogs on their site will automatically be charged a $100 fee.
- Dogs are not allowed in the camp buildings or near the lodge at any time.
- Dogs must be kept on a 6 foot leash and must never be left unattended.
- Please clean up after your animals.
- Any site that does not clean up after their dogs or comply with the leash and pet rules will automatically be charged a $25.00 fine for every occurance.
- If rules are not followed, you will be asked to leave.
- No refunds are given if you decide not to bring your dogs after reserving.
- Do not throw animal feces in the garbage cans in the bathhouse.
- Anyone caught disposing of their animal feces in the bathroom garbages will be charged a $25 fee.
- It is the campers responsibility to ensure their dog is on their reservation.
- Any site that does not have a dog on their reservation and has a dog on their site will automatically be charged a dog fee.Speed Limit
- The speed limit is a strict 7 mph.
- Go slow and watch for kids.Swimming Pool
- Wristbands are required to enter the pool area.
- Wristbands for the pool will only be issued per the number of children on your original reservation.
- Additional wristbands can be purchased by registered campers for their visitors for an additional $10 per wristband based on availability.
- If a wristband is removed or broken then the guest must bring the broken one to the office for a replacement.
- If a wristband is lost then a $10 fee is charged for a new wristband.
- Children under 14 years old must have an adult present with them at all times to use the pool area.
- All posted rules must be followed or you will lose pool privileges and may be asked to leave the campground.
- Pool hours are posted at the pool gate.
- The swimming pool may be closed for maintenance and or inclement weather.
- There are no refunds or discounts to nightly rate if the pool is closed.
- Normal pool hours are monday - saturday, 10:00 am - 8:00 pm and sundays 12:00 noon - 8:00 pm.General Rules
- Water balloons are not allowed anywhere on the property.
- Personal pools are not allowed in the campground.
- Firearms and fireworks are strictly prohibited in the campground.
- Running generators is prohibited.
- The power pedestals wiring is rated for one connection per site.
- No charging of electric vehicles.Marijuana & Alcoholic Beverages
- The use of marijuana in public is not legal or allowed.
- No use of marijuana in the campground is allowed.
- Possession of or consumption of any alcoholic beverage by persons under 21 years of age is illegal and constitutes grounds for eviction.Smoking Policy
- It is against Michigan state law to smoke inside public buildings.
- If anyone in your party is caught smoking inside the buildings, there will be a $200 fee.Campfires Rules
- Campfires are allowed only in the fire pits provided.
- No cutting trees or shrubs.
- Firewood is sold at the office.
- All fires must be supervised at all times and extinguished when unsupervised.
- Any person who allows a campfire to escape from the fire pit is liable for any and all damages of property caused by the fire.Minors Policy
- Children 12 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult at all times.Behavior Policy
- Drunkenness, use of narcotics, and indulging in boisterous, loud, abusive, threatening or indecent conduct or speech is prohibited.
- Violation will result in eviction.Recreation Room
- Recreation room is for lodge guests only.Extra Guests Policy
- Baseline fee for rv campsites covers 2 adults and up to 6 children.
- Maximum of 8 persons per site according to state law.
- Tent only sites cover 2 adults and 4 kids with a maximum of 6 people and 2 tents per site.
- Each additional adult will be $10.00 per night.
- It is your responsibility to confirm the number of overnight guests in your party at check in.
- If extra guests are not on your reservation, you will be charged double for each extra guest.
- Tents are not allowed on rv sites.
- Tents for minor children on an rv site must be approved prior to reserving the site by management.
- Screened tents are allowed if they do not have a floor on the bottom.Tent Sites Policy
- Air conditioners are not allowed to be used in tent sites.
- Maximum of 2 adults and 4 children allowed per tent site.
- Maximum of 2 tents per site allowed.Visitors Policy
- Outside visitors are welcome from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm.
- You are responsible for the conduct of your visitors.
- Visitors must leave by 10:00 pm or you will be charged an additional $20 per visitor.
- Visitors must park in the entrance by the campground check in signs.Vehicles Policy
- No parking on grass.
- Any site with vehicles parked on the grass will be charged a fee of $25.
- Vehicles including boats and extra trailers are limited to two per site.
- Inquire about extra parking prior to arrival.
- No washing of vehicles or campers at the sites.
- Sites with more than 2 vehicles will automatically be charged $10.00 per day for each additional vehicle.
- Visitors of registered guests must park vehicles near the entrance by campground check in signs.Trash Policy
- All trash must be disposed of in the dumpsters located near the entrance to the campground.
- Littering is an offense.
- Do not put trash in the fire pits.
- Putting trash in the fire pits or leaving trash on the site will result in a $20.00 fine.Lodge General Policies
- You will be responsible for any damages to your room or furnishings during your stay.
- Additional cleaning fees may be charged if the room or rec room is left excessively dirty.
- Additional charges will apply for cleaning of vomit or fecal matter depending on the level of clean-up required.
- No minors under the age of 17 can be left unattended on the property at any time.
- Minors are not allowed in the rec room without adult supervision at any time.
- Adults must be 17 years or older.
- No one under the age of 13 may use the pool table.
- Children are welcome with an accompanying adult.
- Children age 17 and under stay free.Lodge Smoking & Marijuana Policy
- Smoking of any kind is not allowed in the motel rooms or the rec room at any time.
- A $200.00 fee will be charged if your room smells of smoke or if anyone violates the no smoking policy.
- Marijuana is not allowed in the motel rooms at any time.
- If your room smells like marijuana, there will be a $200.00 cleaning fee.
- Management has the final say if your room smells like marijuana.Lodge Pets Policy
- No pets allowed.
- There will be a $100 fee per pet per night if this rule is violated.Campground Disclaimer
- The equipment, apparatus, and facilities furnished are solely for the convenience of guests and all persons using them do so at their own risk.
- Management will not be responsible for accidents, injuries, or loss of property by fire, theft, wind, or any act of god.
- Failure to comply with these rules or other request by management will result in immediate eviction with no refund.
- Guest are responsible for any and all damages they cause to any mountain valley lodge property.