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Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
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Schoolie Bus Wooded Experience
92%
(25)Campfires allowed
Toilet
Pets allowed
Picnic table
from
for NaN guests$125
/ nightReviews
92% Recommend25 ratings · 21 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Didn't disappoint! Beautiful area, quiet, and the bus was GREAT!
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Erica C.
2 years on Hipcamp
The bus was clean and everything was ready for us. We really enjoyed the location for exploring northern Michigan. Price was right too!
Melissa R.
1 year on Hipcamp
The school bus was great! We took our 2 year old on a long trip in Michigan and stayed at multiple 5 star hotels. What was his favorite? The school bus! We enjoyed late night fires and easy slow wake ups! Our son particularly enjoyed opening and closing the bus door manually. In summary, we made fond memories in the school bus!
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Alyssa T.
7 months on Hipcamp
Overall, this was a unique and enjoyable experience. The space appeared clean, and there were two beds available for us to set up our sheets and sleeping bags. The ac worked well and there was a toilet. The yard was pretty and fairly secluded, though it is situated off to the side of the host’s yard. There is some highway noise, and guests should be aware that there are minimal window coverings. We brought our own wood for a small fire, and you’ll need to bring all your own supplies, including toilet paper and paper towels. We enjoyed visiting a local brewery down the road for pizza and beer. While we’re glad we tried it, we personally would not return, as the amount of gear needed for the stay felt like a lot for the price. We’re not against rustic, as we love picking out the most unique stays (treehouses, yurts, hogans, boats) but the bus just lacked the basics that we get for the price at similar style unique airbnbs. This was our first Hipcamp stay.
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Sara W.
1 year on Hipcamp
Unique stay with a lot of character! Was so glad to see a small AC unit since it was 92 out when we got there. Located close to great sights and a fun little brewery. We enjoyed the cozy rope lights and played cards in the ambiance. We slept so hard it was unreal! Loved the privacy of the location but had a couple chicken visitors! Do read the description well - you need to bring your own everything including TP.
Amanda D.
1 year on Hipcamp
My family and I enjoyed staying in John’s bus. Our three kids stayed in the bus and my wife and I slept in our roof top yep adjacent to the bus. We were out in the Charlevoix-Petoskey area for much of the trip but it was nice to be able to come back to the bus after our excursions. Having a bathroom was nice and we enjoyed having the tables, chairs, and fire ring. There was plenty of room for horseshoes and badminton and we had great views of the stars. The road noise from the highway is a little loud at night but we all had a great time.
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Kevin H.
6 reviews
The schoolie was a great place to call home for a few nights in the heart of Charlevoix. The bus was spacious and there was ton of room to run around. We enjoyed yoga in the lawn in the morning and stargazing at night. Although you could see the road from the picnic benches, not many people drove by.
Make sure to bring your own blankets, cookware and dine ware! Otherwise the bus has all of your basic necessities.
Make sure to check out Fisherman’s Island for a beach day and Friske’s Farm Market for great pizza and baked goods (+ fresh cherries and berries)
Catie V.
3 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
With kids ·
Schoolie Bus Wooded Experience
I stayed here for two nights with my 7 year old daughter— it was such a fun and memorable experience for her! Highly recommended this stay; everything was great. Thank you!
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Kait R.
6 months on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· July 2025
With pets ·
Schoolie Bus Wooded Experience
The pictures make it look a lot nicer than it actually is. We had a few issues with the water pump, air conditioner, and one of the back hammocks fell while my son was sitting in it. The host responded timely to my texts, even though he was out of town, and sent someone right away to replace the battery (the cause of the water pump & some lights not working). Overall, it was a unique experience at a great location, about 10 min from downtown Charlevoix.
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Tara W.
2 reviews
This property is really unique! The bus is simply that: a bus! It has a huge bed, a propane stovetop with oven, a flushable toilet, a dishwashing sink (non-potable water) and an air conditioning unit. The grounds are lovely, open, and off the beaten path. The evenings are quiet and dark, and the days offer comfortable surroundings for reading, play, outdoor cooking (2 grills outdoors,) and all about 2 miles from the beach town of Charlevoix! Highly recommended!!!
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Tony Z.
4 reviews
Recommends
· October 2024
With kids ·
Schoolie Bus Wooded Experience
Lovely spot, cozy bus, excellent area.
Highly recommend.
A
Andrew Y.
4 reviews
Recommends
· September 2024
With kids ·
Schoolie Bus Wooded Experience
We had a fun stay at the bus. The setup was great and a bit rustic, but with a toilet, so it was great. John was responsive and helpful.
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Nicole P.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
With kids ·
Schoolie Bus Wooded Experience
The bus was the perfect start to our trip and John was kind to share some of his gardens bounty and local knowledge, which led us to one of the best sunsets we had ever seen.
The bus was as advertised and with our younger kids it took on a life of its own. It also rained part of each day so it was amazing to sleep and cook in a dry space. Thanks so much and we hope to be back again someday.
K
Kristian W.
2 reviews
Great site, Awesome experience. Comfortable bed. Small bathroom no shower (as advertised). Not sure how it sleeps 5 unless 3 are very small and 1 is going to sleep with the parents in the bigger bed. Obviously, tents can be set up near the bus. Everyone I have told about our bus experience agreed that we are the only ones they know who slept on a school bus!
B
Bob C.
5 reviews
Everything was exactly as described in the app and as was described in my first contact with owner.
J
John G.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
With pets ·
Schoolie Bus Wooded Experience
Spending a night on a school bus was fun! It's a neat old bus decked out with everything you need. There are so many wonderful hiking trails and water opportunities in the area - we loved it. Plus John was great.
Michelle P.
4 reviews
We absolutely loved camping on John’s land. He was available when we arrived to let us know where the power switches were in the bus, and how to properly work the toilets so that we didn’t accidentally dump out all the water. The land was very private and peaceful. The bus was an absolute bonus for my nephews, they loved every aspect of exploring the bus and running in the open fields behind it. John’s land is absolutely a must visit, and perfect for families or large groups.
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Sarah S.
7 reviews
Recommends
· July 2024
With pets ·
Schoolie Bus Wooded Experience
Great setup, convenient location with tons of things to do nearby
Chad A.
9 reviews
Thank you for checking this off our bucket list, such a fun and unique experience! You did a great job maximizing the space with all of the essentials for a cozy night.
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Whitney H.
4 reviews
Recommends
· July 2024
With kids ·
Schoolie Bus Wooded Experience
What a fun experience!! Host was quick to respond to an issues and very receptive to suggestions. The beds are comfortable and main bed is huge. Loved the lights around the ceiling at night, gave it such a pretty glow.
Beautiful location and super close to everything.
S
Shannon C.
3 years on Hipcamp
So much fun! I’ve always wanted to camp in a school bus so check! John was great, the land was beautiful and lots of space. Highly recommend
K
Kimberly D.
3 reviews
Location
Charlevoix, Charlevoix, Michigan, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by John M.
Joined in May 2024Things to do nearby
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- Charlevoix
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