Choosing to live full-time in your RV offers a fulfilling lifestyle filled with limitless travel opportunities. Residing in your RV in Michigan provides convenient access to the state’s stunning forests, lakes, and parks. In this guide, we will explore everything you need to know to make RV living a reality for you, including tips on parking and boondocking throughout Michigan.
Please note that this is not an official source of information, and rules and regulations may have changed since the writing of this article. Please always check with your local authorities before making any long-term decisions and if you are unsure of your local laws.
Can You Live in an RV Full Time in Michigan?
In the state of Michigan, law dictates that you may not live permanently in an RV. This includes all motorhomes and camping trailers. However, temporary living in recreational vehicles designed for camping is allowed in certain emergency situations. While you can’t use a campground as a permanent residence, you could live in your RV full time by periodically changing campgrounds.
Rules and Regulations for RVing in Michigan
Before you commit to full-time RV living in Michigan, you may need to know the state laws applicable to RV use. For example, you’ll need to know where it is legal to park your RV in certain cities and whether or not you can park an RV in your own driveway.
RV Parking Laws
The laws for RV parking vary greatly across Michigan, and it’s best to check with the city you live in to see the city’s local regulations. For example, the city of Sterling Heights does not allow RV parking in driveways but parking in garages or away from sidewalks may be permitted. In some cities, RVs can be parked on public streets temporarily. For example, in Trenton, RVs can be parked on the street for up to 72 hours.
Trailer Towing Laws
In the state of Michigan, vehicles are typically only permitted to tow one vehicle, and this would include pickup trucks towing one recreational vehicle, such as a travel trailer or fifth wheel. The total length of a towing vehicle and a trailer should not exceed 75 feet on any Michigan highway.
Boondocking Regulations
There are many places where you can boondock in Michigan, especially in the state’s Upper Peninsula, where many public lands are. If you like dispersed camping areas, check out the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area, near Ludington on the Lower Peninsula. This location has great camping areas for smaller RVs. On the Upper Peninsula, you can check out the Hovey Lake Dispersed Campground, which is a hotspot for fishing and kayaking in a wilderness area.
RV Insurance Requirements
When it comes to RV insurance, Michigan requires all motorhomes to have liability coverage plus property protection insurance and personal injury protection. The required limits for RV insurance in Michigan include $50,000 in injury coverage per person, $100,000 in total injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 in property damage per accident. Additional insurance is not required for towed RVs, but it’s a good idea to invest in travel trailer insurance to cover possible collisions.
Rules for Camping on Public Land
There are two national forests found in Michigan that you can camp in, including the Huron-Manistee National Forest and Ottawa National Forest. For either of these forests, you are allowed to camp for free for up to 14 days, and no permit is required to camp in these areas in Michigan. You may camp in any area not specifically designated as a no-camping area as long as it is at least 200 feet away from any body of water.
Full-Time RVing in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan’s largest city, is home to tons of museums and historic places, like the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and the Detroit Institute of Arts. There are also many Detroit-area RV campgrounds that offer seasonal rates for longer stays.
RVing in Detroit FAQs
Can you park an RV anywhere in Detroit?
Up to two RVs can be parked on private property in Detroit city limits. On city streets, RVs may be parked in one place for up to 24 hours unless otherwise noted.
Can I live in my RV on my property in Detroit?
No, you can’t live in your RV full time in Detroit on your private property. However, if you have experienced an emergency, such as a fire, you may be able to obtain a permit to live in your RV for up to two years.
Full-Time RVing in Lansing
Lansing is Michigan’s state capital, and it’s home to the famous Potter Park Zoo. It’s also where you can find a couple of year-round campgrounds and RV parks, like Lansing Cottonwood Campground and nearby Sleepy Hollow State Park.
RVing in Lansing FAQs
Can You Park an RV anywhere in Lansing?
In the city of Lansing, RVs can be parked in front yards for up to seven days during the summer months. However, RVs are never allowed to block sidewalks or streets. RVs must be parked in backyards or storage areas, such as a garage, for the remainder of the year.
Can I live in my RV on my property in Lansing?
No, residents are not allowed to live in their RVs on private property in Lansing.
Full-Time RVing in Ann Arbor
With the Huron River running through it, the city of Ann Arbor is a camping and living destination for many. In the area around this city, you can find short-term and long-term campgrounds like KC Campground, Apple Creek Campground & RV, and Ja Do Park Campground.
RVing in Ann Arbor FAQs
Can you park an RV anywhere in Ann Arbor?
In residential areas of Ann Arbor, RVs must be parked inside of a structure, like a garage, or in a driveway. RVs are not permitted to be parked in open front yards in Ann Arbor.
Can I live in my RV on my property in Ann Arbor?
No, residents of Ann Arbor cannot live in their RVs. However, you may live in your RV in a nearby long-term-stay campground.
How to Live in an RV Full Time
If you’re ready to commit to living in an RV full time, make sure you have a plan to make this lifestyle work for you. For example, if you will need a job while on the road, consider finding remote work or applying to become a campground host for a camping season or two. It’s also a good idea to plan a monthly budget for things like fuel and phone services. Plus, you’ll want to find proper healthcare insurance plans that allow you to receive healthcare while on the road.
If you’d like to continue receiving mail while living full time in your RV, you will want to set up a mail forwarding service, plan on getting your mail delivered to an RV park, or try using General Delivery with the Post Office.
Types of Properties You Can Live on Full Time in an RV
• Long-stay campgrounds: Plenty of campgrounds in Michigan allow you to stay for longer than one season, and you might be able to stay at such campgrounds year-round. Some public Michigan campgrounds are open in the winter with seasonal rates. Keep in mind, though, that some campgrounds may shut off water or restrooms in the winter due to freezing temperatures.
• Public lands: Staying on Michigan public lands is a great way to try RV living full time, and you can stay on any of the lands covered by the state’s national forests. Keep in mind that, with this option, you will need to move off of the forest lands every 14 days.
RVing in Michigan FAQs
Can you sleep in an RV while driving through the US?
Michigan rest stops typically do not limit the amount of time you may park to rest, and sleeping in vehicles at rest areas is allowed. If you are a passenger in an RV, you may sleep in the RV while on the road so long as you wear a seatbelt. In all of Michigan, sleeping in the bed of an RV is prohibited for safety reasons.
What is the new RV law in Michigan?
There have been no new laws regarding RVs passed in Michigan since 2021.
Is it legal to live in an RV full time in Michigan?
It is not legal to live full time in your RV in Michigan on private property except in emergency or temporary circumstances. However, you may live in your RV full-time if you rotate staying at private campgrounds or on public lands.
Can I park my RV on my property in Michigan?
Most cities in Michigan allow you to park your RV on your own property, although the regulations for parking vary greatly. While most cities prefer RVs to be housed in a garage, some places allow parking in yards so long as your RV does not interfere with public sidewalks.
Can I buy land and live in an RV in Michigan?
No, it is not permitted to live in an RV on your own land in this state. However, you may store your RV on your own land.
How long can you stay at an RV park in Michigan?
Many RV parks in Michigan allow campers to stay for a full season or year-round, including most campgrounds in the Upper Peninsula.
Living full time in an RV can be a highly rewarding experience, but it helps to try this lifestyle first before you commit to it. Consider renting an RV in Michigan to see if RV living is right for you. While on the road, you can start learning how to plan and stick to a budget for RV life. You can also explore the top attractions of Michigan, like its many lakes and beaches, while you travel.
