Four Michigan state parks with campgrounds are within about an hour of Walnut Hills Family Campground in Durand: Seven Lakes, Sleepy Hollow, Holly and Metamora-Hadley. Each one is a good park with its own strengths, from quiet fishing lakes to miles of trails. We’ve written a fair, side-by-side comparison of each one with Walnut Hills, so you can decide where to camp, or plan to enjoy both.
State parks near Walnut Hills at a glance
| Park | From Walnut Hills | Campground | Known for | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Lakes State Park | About 23 miles, about 45 min | 70 modern sites on Sand Lake, 30/50-amp | Six small lakes, quiet fishing and paddling | Seven Lakes vs Walnut Hills |
| Sleepy Hollow State Park | About 25 miles, about 45 min | 180 modern sites, some 50-amp; 2 cabins | 410-acre no-wake Lake Ovid, horse trails | Sleepy Hollow vs Walnut Hills |
| Holly Recreation Area | About 28 miles, about 50 min | McGinnis Lake Modern, 144 sites; 4 cabins | 8,000+ acres, trails, Heron Lake beach | Holly vs Walnut Hills |
| Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area | About 56 miles, about 1 hr 10 min | 214 sites in two loops; 1 cabin | Lake Minnawanna, wooded and lakefront loops | Metamora-Hadley vs Walnut Hills |
Distances are driving routes from Walnut Hills to each park’s address, rounded. Park details come from the Michigan DNR; check each park’s page for current notices.
How state parks and Walnut Hills differ
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.
In practice, that means a few consistent differences:
- Power and hookups. The four parks list electric sites (many with 50-amp) and dump stations. Walnut Hills has 80 full-hookup sites with water, electric and sewer.
- Booking. State parks book through MiDNRReservations.com or 1-800-447-2757, up to six months ahead, and need a Recreation Passport for vehicle entry. At Walnut Hills you book with us and your license plate opens the gate.
- What’s on site. State parks offer space: big lakes, long trails and boat launches. Walnut Hills focuses on what families do at the campground: a spring-fed swimming lake and beach, the Wibit floating water park, the Kangaroo Jumper, an arcade and events most weekends.
- Quiet hours. Michigan state parks set quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Ours run from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.
The four parks in brief
Seven Lakes State Park
A compact 1,434-acre park near Holly with six lakes and a 70-site campground along Sand Lake, including its own swimming beach. A good fit for anglers and campers who like a small campground. Compare Seven Lakes and Walnut Hills.
Sleepy Hollow State Park
A 2,600-acre park near Laingsburg around 410-acre Lake Ovid, a no-wake lake. It has 180 modern sites, more than 12 miles of horse trails and four fishing piers. Our own guests visit it. Compare Sleepy Hollow and Walnut Hills.
Holly Recreation Area
More than 8,000 acres with the 144-site McGinnis Lake Modern Campground, cabins on Wildwood Lake and a beach on Heron Lake. Its WhoaZone floating water park was closed for 2026 because of dam repairs. Compare Holly and Walnut Hills.
Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area
A 723-acre park south of Lapeer with 214 sites on Lake Minnawanna, split between an open north loop and a wooded south loop. The beach and day-use area are scheduled to close in spring and summer 2027 for dam repairs. Compare Metamora-Hadley and Walnut Hills.
Also nearby: Ortonville Recreation Area
Ortonville’s campground is a 21-site rustic equestrian camp, open to non-equestrian campers only from July 1 to August 31, so we haven’t written a full comparison. It’s a good choice for riders, with horse trails and a beach on Big Fish Lake.
Where Walnut Hills fits
Walnut Hills is a resort-style family campground on the Shiawassee River with 201 RV sites, 18 tent sites and 2 camping cabins on 42 acres. Families from Flint, Lansing, Owosso and the north Detroit suburbs come for what’s at the campground: the beach and the Wibit, river trips with Cheff’s Canoe Rental, the dog park and themed weekends. See the full list on our amenities page. Rates vary by date and site; see our rates page to book your site.
Many guests do both: they camp with us and take a morning trip to a state park to fish, paddle or hike. If you’re new to state park booking, our Michigan state park reservations guide walks through how the DNR system works.
Questions
What is the closest state park to Walnut Hills?
Seven Lakes State Park near Holly and Sleepy Hollow State Park near Laingsburg are the closest with campgrounds, each about 45 minutes away.
Which state park near Flint has camping?
Holly Recreation Area, Seven Lakes State Park and Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area all have modern campgrounds within reach of Flint. Sleepy Hollow is west of Flint near Laingsburg.
Do Michigan state parks near Durand have full hookups?
The DNR pages for these four parks list electric service (many with 50-amp) and dump stations but don’t mention water and sewer at the site. Walnut Hills has 80 full-hookup, 50-amp sites.
Do I need a Recreation Passport to visit these parks?
Yes. The DNR requires a Recreation Passport for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas. It isn’t needed to stay at Walnut Hills.
