Sleepy Hollow State Park, outside Laingsburg, is about 25 miles and about 45 minutes from Walnut Hills Family Campground in Durand. It’s one of the parks our own guests drive to, and it’s a good one: 2,600 acres of woods, fields and trails wrapped around Lake Ovid, a 410-acre no-wake lake. Walnut Hills is a 42-acre resort-style family campground on the Shiawassee River, built around a spring-fed swimming lake, a floating water park and weekend events. Both are good places to camp in mid-Michigan. They’re just built for different trips.
State parks and private campgrounds are funded and priced differently. A state park is paid for through camping fees, the Recreation Passport and public investment. A private campground like Walnut Hills pays for its amenities, staff and utilities through the site rate. That difference shapes what each one offers, so the useful question isn’t which is better, it’s which one fits the trip you have in mind.
Sleepy Hollow State Park vs Walnut Hills: quick comparison
| Sleepy Hollow State Park | Walnut Hills | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from Walnut Hills | About 25 miles, about 45 minutes | — |
| Campsites | 180-site modern campground in two loops, paved pads; 2 cabins; group tent site | 201 RV sites, 18 tent sites and 2 camping cabins on 42 acres |
| Hookups and power | Electric, some 50-amp; sanitation (dump) station; pull-through sites | 30- and 50-amp; 80 full-hookup (water, electric, sewer) sites |
| Reservations | MiDNRReservations.com or 1-800-447-2757; Recreation Passport for vehicle entry | Book directly with us; license-plate gate, no office check-in |
| Swimming | Buoyed swim area in the day-use area on Lake Ovid | Spring-fed lake with a sandy beach and the Wibit floating water park |
| Boating | 410-acre no-wake lake; boat and kayak launches; seasonal paddle rentals | Shiawassee River launch; canoe, kayak and tube trips through Cheff’s |
| Trails | 12+ miles of equestrian trails; hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing; disc golf | Scenic walking trails; the Shiawassee River is the main outdoor draw |
| Fishing | Four fishing piers; muskie, bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish | Catch-and-release in the campground lake and ponds; the swim lake’s north end |
| Pets | 6-ft leash; pet-friendly beach just north of the swim beach; both cabins pet-friendly | 6-ft leash; fenced off-leash dog park; dogs can swim in the river, not at the beach |
| Quiet hours | 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. | 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. |
| Best for | Paddlers, anglers, horse owners and big-park hikers | Families who want a full weekend of things to do on site |
Park details come from the Michigan DNR’s Sleepy Hollow page. Check it for current notices before you go.
Who Sleepy Hollow State Park is best for
Sleepy Hollow is a big, open park, and it’s at its best for people who want room to roam and a quiet lake.
- Paddlers. Lake Ovid is a no-wake lake, so it’s calm for kayaks and canoes. There’s a boat launch and a separate kayak launch, and paddlesport rentals run from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
- Anglers. The DNR lists muskie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish, with four fishing piers, including one near the campground.
- Horse owners. More than 12 miles of equestrian trails start from a staging area near the campground entrance, and two cabins are set up for horses with picket poles and corrals.
- Hikers, mountain bikers and disc golfers. The park lists hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing, and the disc golf course is open year-round.
- Large groups that tent camp. A rustic group site holds up to 100 people (reserve through the park office).
- Campers who want a modern cabin with a bathroom. Sleepy Hollow has a two-bedroom modern cabin with a kitchenette and bathroom, and both of its cabins allow pets.
The campground itself is modern, with 180 sites on paved pads, electric service (some 50-amp), pull-through sites, a toilet and shower building, a dump station, a playground and a camp store.
Who Walnut Hills is best for
Walnut Hills Family Campground is a resort-style family campground, and it’s built for families who want to spend the weekend at the campground itself rather than driving somewhere every day. Our team hears the same thing from guests every season: the campground is the destination.
- Families with kids. The spring-fed swimming lake has a sandy beach and the Wibit floating water park (open Tuesday through Sunday through Labor Day, free for campers Tuesday through Thursday; ages 7 and up, kids under 16 with a parent present, life jackets provided). There’s also the Kangaroo Jumper, playgrounds, an arcade, sand volleyball and gaga ball, plus themed weekends with crafts, games and food trucks.
- RVers who want full hookups. We have 80 full-hookup, 50-amp sites, and many sites run 70 to 80 feet long for rigs up to 45 feet.
- River lovers. We sit on the Shiawassee River. Cheff’s Canoe Rental, an independent outfitter, runs canoe, kayak and tubing trips from our launch.
- Easy arrivals. There’s no office line. Your license plate opens the gate, and after hours you can call the store to pre-check in.
- Dog owners. Dogs stay on a leash around the campground, run off leash in the fenced dog park, and can cool off in the river.
What we don’t have: a pool, Wi-Fi or laundry. Our season runs May 1 to October 20. Rates vary by date and site; see our rates page to book your site.
The clearest difference between the two is the water. Sleepy Hollow is about a large, quiet lake for boating and fishing. Walnut Hills is about a swimming lake with a beach and a floating water park, with the river next door for float trips.
Visiting both
You don’t have to choose. Plenty of families camp with us and spend a morning at Sleepy Hollow. Put a kayak on Lake Ovid or fish from a pier early, drive back to Durand by early afternoon, and the kids still have the beach and the Wibit (Tuesday through Sunday) for the rest of the day. Remember that you’ll need a Recreation Passport on your vehicle to enter the park, and pets aren’t allowed on the designated swim beach.
If you’d rather stay at the state park and day-trip to us, non-campers can buy beach and Wibit passes on weekends.
Still weighing it up?
Questions
How far is Sleepy Hollow State Park from Walnut Hills?
About 25 miles, or about 45 minutes by car from our campground in Durand. The park is outside Laingsburg.
Does Sleepy Hollow State Park have full hookup sites?
The DNR lists electric service at its 180 modern sites, some with 50-amp, plus a sanitation station, but not water and sewer at the site. Walnut Hills has 80 full-hookup, 50-amp sites.
Can you swim at Sleepy Hollow State Park?
Yes. There’s a buoyed swim area in the day-use area on Lake Ovid. Dogs have their own pet-friendly beach just north of the swim beach.
Do I need a Recreation Passport to camp at Sleepy Hollow?
Yes. The DNR requires a Recreation Passport for vehicle entry into state parks, including campgrounds. You don’t need one to stay at Walnut Hills.
Is Sleepy Hollow good for horseback riding?
Yes. The DNR lists more than 12 miles of equestrian trails with a staging area near the campground entrance, and two equestrian-friendly cabins.
Do I need a fishing license at Walnut Hills?
Not on the campground’s private lake and ponds, which are catch and release. You do need a Michigan license on public water, including the Shiawassee River and Lake Ovid at Sleepy Hollow.
Can I bring my own firewood to Walnut Hills?
No. Outside firewood isn’t allowed at our Michigan parks, to protect the old-growth trees from insects carried in on wood. The camp store sells firewood and delivers it to your site.
Is the Wibit open in September?
No. Labor Day is its last day; the pieces come off the lake for the winter and return the next season. The beach, Kangaroo Jumper and Halloween weekends keep fall busy, and the park is open through October 20.
