Gaylord KOA

The Great Outdoors

Nature lovers can find plenty to enjoy when it comes to hiking and exploring while motorhome camping at Gaylord KOA. Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve is one of the most interesting destinations around. Among other things, here you can see ancient shipwrecks. This marine sanctuary is located in “Shipwreck Alley” and is near the sites of nearly 100 wrecks. Visitors can kayak and snorkel around the area, and there are also some interesting exhibits to check out on the shore.If you want to stay on dry land during your RV camping trip, you can head over to Hartwick Pines State Park found in Grayling for some fun in the sun. You can find almost 10,000 acres to explore there, with activities like hiking, fishing, camping, snowshoeing, birding, and more. The area is pet-friendly, and there's some history to enjoy too. Stop by the logging museum in between trips into the wilderness for some variety during your visit.The explorations don’t have to stop, especially with the Gaylord State Forest Area nearby. At this rugged wilderness spot, you can do some epic hiking on the numerous trails. You can tackle these trails in numerous ways, depending on the season, including on foot, on a bike, or by cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Lengths and difficulties vary, so there's something for everyone when you visit Gaylord State Forest Area with the campervan rental. There are more trails to hike and sights to see at Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve, and Pigeon River Country State Forest features old-growth pine forests, hardwood spreads, and even a cedar swamp.

Explore the City

While RV camping at Gaylord KOA, you'll be near the beautiful Otsego Lake. Along its shores, you'll find sprawling beaches, scenic driving opportunities, and even a couple of golf courses. There are lots of other ways to experience the area too, from the delicious takes on American cuisine to all of the interesting places that highlight the area's history and features. The Call of the Wild Museum in Gaylord houses around 60 displays featuring wildlife and other topics related to the region. If you want a different kind of interactive entertainment, you check out the go-karts and adventure golf offered here. Dennos Museum Center is in Traverse City and features some pretty intriguing exhibits. Here you can scope out a variety of unique artwork ranging from an outdoor sculpture garden to the Inuit Gallery and the interactive Discovery Gallery. If you prefer art to be a bit more natural, you can head over to The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park. It's the perfect spot to slow things down a bit and take in the array of stunning and exquisitely arranged vegetation that you can find here.For some Michigan maritime history, pack up the Gaylord camper rental and take a day trip north to check out the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise. You can visit historical restorations of relics of the past like the Oil House, Alcohol House, Lookout Tower, Surfboat House, Lightkeepers Quarters, and more. Dive deep into the underwater research covering multiple shipwrecks, including the ill-fated S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald.History, culture, and a delightful atmosphere combine to make camping in an RV at Gaylord KOA a can’t-miss vacation.