Embrace Winter: The Unique Camping Experience at Harrison RV Family Campground

Harrison RV Family Campground is open year around, including being open during the winter, so that campers have a place to camp during the winter months. The summer season is for five months, from first of May to the 30th of September. The winter season is from the first of October to the 30th of April.

Harrison RV Family Campground is one of only a few private campgrounds that are open during the winter season. In fact, MARVAC, which is the Michigan Association of Recreational Vehicles and Campgrounds, only lists 15 member campgrounds that are open all winter.

During the winter, water pipes can freeze, as can sewer lines, and so most campsites only have electricity available during the winter. There are two campsites that have insulated water pipes and sewers that can be used during the winter months.

The campground has heated restrooms, including showers with hot water, that are for the campers to use. While the Campground has a person that cleans the restrooms, the cleaning person only cleans once a week during the winter and so it is the responsibility of the campers to keep the restrooms, including the shower areas, clean. In addition, there is a separate entrance in this building (restroom) that has a large deep sink that winter campers can use to obtain water for purposes of cleaning their camper, cooking in their camper, etc.

The Campground has both a snowblower and a snowplow The snowblower is connected to a John Deere 318 riding tractor and the plow is connected to a Cub Cadet ATV. However, in some years we contract out snow removal to a local contractor that has a truck with a snowplow.

Campers should be aware that they are responsible for snow removal on their own campsite. Campers are also responsible for any lawn maintenance activities, including grass cutting. However, it should be noted that lawns do not need not be mowed during the cold winter months.

Harrison RV Family Campground supports all types of RVs (Recreational Vehicles), including Motorhomes, Camping Trailers, Fifth Wheel Trailers, Pop-Up Campers, Teardrop Trailers, and even tents. There are several nearby fun winter activities, such as hunting, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snow tubing, snowboarding, ice skating, ice fishing, Fat Tire Biking, Snowmobiling, Winter hiking, Snowshoeing, and riding on ORV trails. These activities can be enjoyed near and around Harrison RV Family Campground.

There is a nearby 175-acre lake that is within a mile of Harrison RV Family Campground, called Budd Lake, where campers can go to ice fish. Budd Lake is typically frozen by New Year’s Day and Ice fishing on Budd Lake is popular until mid-March to early April. Campers may also try their hand at ice golfing during the annual Frost Bite Open Golf Tournament on Budd Lake.

The Michigan DNR (Department of Natural Resources) has an open hunting season at all times on public and private land from the first of August through the 31st of March every year. This includes the several months when Harrison RV Family Campground is open during the winter season.  A large portion of the open Deer hunting season is during the winter months. Pheasant hunting and Quail hunting, as well as Ruffed Grouse and Sharp-tailed grouse hunting, also occurs during the Harrison RV Family Campground winter season. The majority of Wild Turkey hunting and Woodcock hunting is also during the Harrison RV Family Campground winter season.

There are a few ski resorts within an hour of Harrison RV Family Campground in Michigan, including Snow Snake Ski and Golf, which also has a Harrison, Michigan address, and who’s activities include Downhill skiing, Snowboard skiing, and Snow tubing.

The Leota Trail that traverses Missaukee, Roscommon, and Clare counties, has an entrance near   Harrison RV Family Campground. There is also a Leota ORV Trailhead (entrance) a few miles away. The Leota Trail ORV routes are maintained at a width of 72 inches and are open to all ORVs up to 50 inches in width. Motorcycle trails are maintained at a width of 24 inches on the ground and 40 inches at handlebar height. The Leota Trail ORV is 51.7 miles in length. The Michigan DNR also has snowmobile trails in Clare County, which is the county that Harrison RV Family Campground is located. There is a nearby DNR snowmobile trail a little north of the Harrison RV Family Campground.