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Maple Valley Farms
83%
(26)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
from
for NaN guests$61
/ nightReviews
83% Recommend26 ratings ¡ 19 reviews
Recommends
¡ August 2025
8 ft campervan ¡
Maple Valley Farms
This is a nice peaceful and private spot near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We have a small teardrop size trailer and we were able to find level ground behind the pole barn. Larger trailers may need to camp in the front but the road is lightly used. Potable water is in a tank behind the pole barn and there is a clean portable outhouse. Really enjoyed our stay close to everything the park has to offer and the town of Empire.
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Kathryn F.
3 reviews
Not recommend
¡ August 2025
May Not Be a Real Listing
19 ft campervan ¡ With kids ¡
Maple Valley Farms
Host did not communicate at all. Never responded to any of my messages (not one) and the phone number provided in the listing was disconnected. We arrived late and had a hard time finding the place. When we arrived to what I thought was the correct location it looked like the perfect location for a mass murder or a meth lab. After a few short minutes, for the sake of my childrenâs well being, we left and ended up sleeping in our campervan in a parking lot. I am convinced that it is a scam listing. Working to get my money back through Hipcamp.
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Ryan K.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ July 2025
Tent ¡ With kids ¡
Maple Valley Farms
We tent camped in the area near the port-a-jon behind the pole barn (unfortunately hard to find level ground) but opted for that instead of out front by the road. Turned out the road wasnât very busy so setting up in front would have been fine too. We were able to plug in at the back of that pole barn for power (4 outlets there) but depending on where you set up you may need 100-150 feet of cords to reach. Property is well maintained, the grass mowed and roads grated to reach other parts of the property. We only saw one other party camping there that would swing through to use the bathroom. The hydrant out front didnât have water like we thought it would but we just filled water jugs from the refill stations at the nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes access sites. Super convenient location to Empire, Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear Dunes.
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Bj G.
3 reviews
Wow! Robertâs land is truly magical.
We couldnât have asked for a better place to camp. We spent two nights with complete privacy on a beautiful, clean, and spacious lotâso big, we even spotted deer running through it. The on-site potable water was a huge bonus, and Robert was incredibly kind and responsive throughout our stay. Totally worth the higher price point. Highly recommend!
A
Arad K.
5 months on Hipcamp
If you are looking for a rustic location close to Sleeping Bear Dunes, it might be good for that. Unfortunately it was too rustic for us and this wasnât clear from the listing, which said there was an outdoor shower, but there wasnât a shower. There was also only one port-o-pot at the base of the hill and the drinking water was from a single well towards the front of the property. There also werenât any fire pits that we could find. This didnât work for us and we decided not to stay. But the host did refund our money. So mostly just things need to be communicated clearly that this is a pretty rustic location with minimal amenities available. Note also that the location is an unmarked farm area with a couple older buildings and no posted signage or street number, but a private property sign. But our GPS got us to the correct location and after we called the host (who answered promptly), we were reassured that we could drive onto the property. Final note is that there was limited camping space near the port-o-pot, with other potential spaces up a pretty steep hill. But if you are accustomed to rustic camping, it could work.
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Kevin M.
2 reviews
Overall, great experience depending on what youâre looking for! Did not expect sites to not be marked / mowed and for there to be no fire grates. Took my friend camping for the first time and it made the trip a little rougher than she was expecting! However, if youâre looking for a true outdoors experience, this is definitely a great spot! While a little on the pricey side, you have plenty of privacy and are super close to the park!
A
Alayna W.
2 reviews
Great private Location. My group were the only campers this weekend. We explored the orchards and woods on the property seeing tons of wild life like Deers, Turkeys and even a few Moles. Being able to see the stars was definitely a highlight of the trip. It being close to the Sleeping Bear dunes, the beach and both Empire and Glen Arbor is amazing. Would recommend this sight to anyone. Will definitely be back next season.
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Sean P.
6 reviews
Recommends
¡ May 2025
Tent ¡ Group trip ¡
Maple Valley Farms
had a great weekend would 100% recommend.great spot for tennis
A
Austin S.
7 months on Hipcamp
if you want a private and secluded spot to stay, this place is perfect. me and my boyfriend were the only people camping on the property during the first week of august (usually crazy busy) so it was really nice. for anyone thatâs confused, just pick out your spot on the property where you want to camp, thereâs no assigned spots (that was a point of confusion for us). seriously was a great spot for a long weekend.
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Maya R.
2 reviews
This camp site was awesome. If you are looking for peace and quiet, then itâs for you. The host stopped by and showed us around. He made sure we had everything we needed and knew how to access the water. Also had the cleaned porta potty around! Our girls (5 & 8) loves exploring the property and trails. If youâre looking for something different, this campsite is for you. We used it as a base camp to explore the area. We will stay here again!
T
Tony D.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ July 2024
Tent ¡ With kids ¡
Maple Valley Farms
Me and my family brought a tent to camp here, and we had a great time. This spot is definitely more for those looking for a secluded spot to stay while you enjoy what the area has to offer. We ended up using our space as a home base when we wanted to rest in between going to the beaches and small towns around the area, and for that it was perfect. There were nice trails that we didn't get to explore too much, but as far as tent camping I'd expect to camp about where we were.
Robert (the owner) kept the area clean. The on site toilet was kept clean, and the paths to the various different areas were kept short.
Would recommend to anyone looking for a home base to enjoy what Northern Michigan has to offer!
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Robert V.
3 reviews
Read the reviews to make sure this cool spot is for you. There are no designated spots. Thereâs a super clean portapotty. Itâs beautiful and quiet. You show up and find your spot, respectfully. There is a water spigot. There is drop cords to plug in.
We had been in a campground for a week, so this beautiful, peace and quiet was just what was needed. I did panic a little at first, as I wasnât sure what to do. So I looked at everyoneâs pictures to figure it out.
The owner stopped by to see if we had questions, even on July 4th. It is very close to Sleeping Bear and right near Empire Bluff. Thatâs what we needed.
The value was the location and the quiet. If it were $30, it would probably be crowded overused.
Wendy S.
5 reviews
Beautiful place to camp. After reading the other reviews this place was exactly as described despite other reviews from people who donât know how to camp apparently. Plenty of Places to hook into power and water but no campsites necessarily. A beautiful farm/Orchard with miles of UTV trails that the host left open for us to use. We parked our class A near the barns which arenât far from a paved road that gets minimal traffic even on a weekend in June. We used our UTV to ride the backroads and find some beaches and trails to explore of which there are many in the area. It was the weekend we needed. The host stopped to check on us once and then left us be which was perfect for us. Super nice guy who left us to enjoy the place as our own. Itâs not a campground. If you want a campground, this place and this app probably arenât for you and a lot of reviews seem to be skewed with people who need their hand held and seemingly think this is one of those places. We thoroughly enjoyed our family time away from the masses of people. This place was right up our alley and I would highly recommend it for a quiet weekend.
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Paul B.
2 reviews
Recommends
¡ September 2023
37 ft Class A ¡
Maple Valley Farms
Very few amenities, but who cares. The solitude and serenity was amazing. Close to Sleeping Bear Dunes and a short drive to Traverse City. It was the last of four different camping destinations spread over ten days. What a relaxing spot to unwind before heading back to work. We will definitely return.
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Jeffrey D.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
¡ August 2023
16 ft pop-up camper ¡ Group trip ¡
Maple Valley Farms
Robert was very responsive: property very quiet. We enjoyed our camping experience.
S
Stephanie R.
3 reviews
Pros: Freedom to roam and camp wherever, power outlets and extension cords, nice porta john, very quiet, lots of birds, private, gorgeous convenient farm setting close to SBD. Owner is nice!
Cons: The site was not really designed for campers. There was no working shower most of the time even tho it was advertised. Youâll have to build your own firepit, and be careful of the debris around the barn area (we stayed near the silo/pole barn). Had to detach a high powered sprinkler to get potable water. The price seemed high for what it was.
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Karelyn M.
3 reviews
We loved Robertâs expansive tranquil property. This was camping at its best- very private yet close to the Lakeshore and dunes. We rode bikes to the beautiful local beach for great swimming in turquoise water, and to hiking. Robert was an excellent host!
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Jill V.
5 reviews
Lots of woods to explore. Portalet was cleanâŚfunctioning heated shower, nearby popular attractions like Cherry Bowl, Empire Beach, the dunes and Traverse City. Plenty of space to set up a tent and build a fire in shaded areas or fielded areas. Host was very friendly, accommodating and professional.
A
Aaron P.
3 years on Hipcamp
Overall we enjoyed our stay. Itâs very quiet with very little interaction with others. Being close to an orchard is awesome. Person greeting us and on property a few times was very kind.
The part I wasnât as impressed with was the description and price compared to what we encountered. I think if you have an rv and can hook up, the cost is fine.
We were tent camping and our option for water was a duel spigot attached to a RV. There was a port-o-john.
The shower was outside with no privacy. There was an electric outlet near the shower outside if we really needed to use (we did without) The camp areas were along what looked like grass âroadsâ to their orchard areas. We were able to build a fire wherever and had privacy from a couple other campers we saw. Based on the description and price I thought weâd have a little better access to electric and water. I wouldnât say any area we were near was flat except the one spot we were able to get our small tent on. That was fine, but camp chairs etc were all on an angle. I am being detailed so others know what to expect if camping. I think itâs a very decent rustic site super close to the dunes which is fantastic. I could have been a little better prepared had I read a review like this. And also consider the cost I paid for the site. I think about $30 a night would be more fair for what you get.
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Michelle S.
3 years on Hipcamp
Location
Empire, Leelanau, Michigan, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Robert L.
Joined in May 2022Things to do nearby
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