RV Rental Bear Lake, MI

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The tiny village of Bear Lake, Michigan is located a few hours' drive north of Grand Rapids and Lansing in the northern part of Michigan’s lower peninsula. Only a few hundred people call this hamlet home, nestled right up against the lake with which it shares a name.

When Bear Lake was first founded, it was nothing more than a few lumber mills that shipped virgin timber to the nearby city of Manistee. After President Lincoln passed the Homestead Act in 1862, homesteaders from the east coast flocked to places like Bear Lake to start their own 160-acre farms, making Michigan's population expand. After decades of “lumber boom,” all of the area’s trees had been removed by 1902, forcing the town to change the basis of its economy. Since then, Bear Lake and its surrounding towns have been agricultural areas, with growing summertime tourism industries.

When you book an RV in Bear Lake, you can enjoy views of Bear Lake, or the much, much larger Lake Michigan, the shores of which are only a few miles away. This charming wonderland is a peaceful and gorgeous place to rent an RV no matter the time of year, but the summertime is perhaps the best time to see it shine.

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The Great Outdoors

There is no limit to the fun you can have when you pick up your Bear Lake RV rental, especially if you don’t mind leaving town and seeing the majestic forests or scenic lakeshores of Michigan. Orchard Beach State Park just outside of Manistee is a great example of what the shores of Lake Michigan can provide. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as one of the state’s older entities, with many of its original buildings still intact. This once private attraction was purchased by the state and made into a recreation spot where visitors can relax while staring out from the sandy beaches over the massive Lake Michigan. You can swim, fish, kayak, canoe, hike, or camp at the park’s campground using your Bear Lake motorhome rental. Mears State Park to the south is another example of an excellent lakefront park on Lake Michigan that you can explore during your vacation. Activities on offer here include fishing, swimming, picnicking, and camping, and there's a great hiking trail that ascends the park’s sand dunes overlooking the water.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a fabulous place too, covering a 35-mile stretch of shore with towering sand dunes, historic villages, ancient glacial remains, and lush forests. You can catch a glimpse of the sunset from the massive dunes overlooking the water, or camp out in your Bear Lake motorhome rental at one of its accommodating campgrounds. The national lakeshore includes several islands, like North and South Manitou Island just off the coast.

Manistee National Forest is another option to consider, and an easy one to visit as it is so close to Bear Lake. The half-million-acre forest occupies lots of space around Bear Lake, with stunning stretches of undeveloped forest where you can hike or camp. The forest also has dunes of its own occupying its coastal areas and is home to ski and snowboarding resorts.

RV Parks

Finding an RV park near Bear Lake should be simple. Hopkins Park Campground is right in town on the lake, with bathrooms, showers, picnic pavilions, swimming areas, and sandy beaches where you can sit and soak up the sun.

Little River Casino Resort to the south is an excellent place to visit, and you can stay there when you rent an RV in Bear Lake. The park has all the usual amenities, plus access to all of the high-end resort’s luxuries like swimming pools, saunas, and a fitness center too.

Kampvilla RV Park has rustic campsites, electric hookup sites, and spacious campsites for those seeking privacy. There are volleyball courts, a swimming pond, a pool, and lots of other fun activities for guests to enjoy.

City Attractions

Bear Lake is tiny both in terms of physical size and population, so it doesn't offer much in terms of landmarks, monuments, museums, and other attractions. What Bear Lake does have is some lovely lakefront property with dazzling views and sandy beaches, as well as some small-town eateries and shops. A ride to nearby Manistee will open up more opportunities to explore.

Manistee is a larger city with more to do, like walking along its fabulous Riverwalk, which connects its beaches to its lovely downtown area. The streets of the downtown area are lined with old buildings built over 150 years ago. The Manistee County Historical Museum does its best to preserve and protect these old homes and brick buildings while giving guests informative tours of its exhibits and galleries. You can learn about the timber industry, the local native peoples, the first migrants to work in Michigan, the Great Lakes ships, and different rooms to reflect different eras and time periods.

The Manistee North Pier Head Lighthouse is an iconic building in town also preserved by the Manistee Historical Museum. This unique lighthouse structure is old, first built back in 1870. Since then, it has guided countless ships to safety with its bright lights at night. Walking the narrow bridge to the lighthouse is part of the fun, and it is truly a great place to take photos.

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Popular nearby hiking trails and campgrounds


  • Hiking TrailLocation
  • Betsie River Pathway, MIBenzonia, MI
  • Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve Trail, MIFrankfort, MI
  • Orchard Beach State Park Loop, MIManistee, MI
  • Silver Lake Sand Dunes, MIManistee, MI
  • Betsie Valley Trail, MIBenzonia, MI
  • Bigg M Fire Tower, MIManistee Purchase Unit, MI
  • Big M Trail, MIManistee, MI
  • North Country Trail- Manistee River Section, MIBrethren, MI
  • The Manistee River Loop Trail, MIManistee Purchase Unit, MI
  • Platte River, MIBeulah, MI

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