Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Permit Guide 2026

Last-minute friendly

Michigan · No dogs in the backcountry

By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger

Last updated

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan is known for its towering dunes and Lake Michigan shoreline, with remote backcountry camping on North and South Manitou Islands. A backcountry camping permit reserves your group's site during your stay. Because sites are limited and the reservation window is short, popular summer dates can be competitive.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. Backcountry campsites open on a rolling 7-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.

When permits are released

Backcountry campsites open on a rolling 7-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party.

Fees

  • Per night: $13 per site per night

How to get a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore permit

  1. Choose your backcountry campground and trip dates. Each reservation covers your whole party.
  2. Reservations open on a rolling 7-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). Your entry date becomes bookable seven days ahead.
  3. Book on recreation.gov the morning your date opens, since the short window means sites can fill quickly for busy weekends.
  4. If a site is already reserved, keep watching - cancellations return sites to inventory. Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a sold-out Sleeping Bear site reopens.

Notable trails

Top passes in this area

The most in-demand Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore entry points, each with its own detail page.

Frequently asked questions

When do Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore permits open?

Backcountry campsites open on a rolling 7-day window, advancing each morning at 10:00 AM Eastern (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party. Exact on-sale details are on the recreation.gov permit page.

What if my dates are sold out?

Cancellations open up all season. Watch the passes you want on Permit Ranger and you get an instant alert when a date you need becomes bookable.

Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?

No. Permit Ranger alerts you the moment a watched date opens, with a direct booking link, but the booking is always yours to make on recreation.gov.

More permits in Michigan

Last-minute & walk-up friendly permits

Plan ahead

Sold-out dates reopen all the time from cancellations and quota drops. Permit Ranger checks recreation.gov around the clock and alerts you the moment your dates open. It never books for you.

Browse Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore passes · Book on recreation.gov