Michigan campgrounds filling ahead of Memorial Day

WWMT reported on May 22 that campgrounds across Michigan were filling ahead of Memorial Day weekend, with travelers still booking trips despite higher costs for gasoline, food and propane. The report said Fort Custer Recreation Area near Augusta was among the parks seeing strong demand before the holiday. Campers interviewed by the station said they were adjusting spending, shortening trips or packing more supplies from home as prices rose. State and travel data show the holiday rush is arriving as more Americans plan to drive this weekend. ### Which Michigan campgrounds were drawing campers before the holiday? Fort Custer Recreation Area, a 3,033-acre state park between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, has a modern and equestrian campground along with lakes, trails and river access, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. WWMT said Fort Custer was among the places filling up before Memorial Day, as families locked in camping plans despite higher travel costs. The station’s report focused on west Michigan campers preparing for the long weekend at a time when demand for outdoor trips remained strong. ### What costs were campers saying had gone up? (michigan.gov) WWMT reported that campers cited gasoline, food and propane as the main pressures on holiday budgets. Some travelers told the station they were still going ahead with trips but were watching spending more closely or trimming how long they would stay. AAA said Michigan’s average price for regular gasoline was $4.668 a gallon on May 23, down from $4.706 a day earlier but up from $3.256 a year earlier. (wwmt.com) AAA’s Michigan page also showed a month-ago average of $3.872, underscoring how much fuel costs had climbed heading into the weekend. ### Are high prices keeping people home? AAA projected that 45 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, setting a Memorial Day weekend record. (wwmt.com) The group said 39.1 million of those travelers would go by car, making driving the dominant mode of travel even with pump prices at their highest level since the summer of 2022. WWMT’s reporting matched that pattern in Michigan. (gasprices.aaa.com) Campers told the station that higher prices were changing how they traveled rather than canceling plans altogether, with some shortening trips and others budgeting more carefully for meals and fuel. ### How far in advance can Michigan campers book sites? Michigan’s state park reservation system says camping, lodging and harbor reservations can be booked up to six months in advance. (midstates.aaa.com) Picnic shelters can be reserved up to a year ahead, according to the Department of Natural Resources booking site. The state’s camping and lodging page directs visitors to reservation tools for campgrounds, cabins, yurts and lodges across Michigan parks. (wwmt.com) Vehicle entry to state park and forest campgrounds also requires a Recreation Passport, the department says. ### What should campers watch next? Memorial Day travel runs through Monday, May 25, under AAA’s holiday forecast window. Campers looking for openings can continue checking the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reservation system for availability at Fort Custer and other state parks, while drivers can track daily fuel prices through AAA’s Michigan gas-price updates. (midnrreservations.com) (midstates.aaa.com) (michigan.gov)