General Campground Information

Photography & Filming

You may appear in pictures or film that may be used in advertising, news reporting, public relations or other activities regarding the campground. Reservations at the campground or a visitor's pass constitute your consent for Gaylord South/Bradford Lake KOA Campground to use any pictures or films it deems appropriate without payment, inspection or review.

Check-in/Check-out Information

RV Sites/Tent Sites
Check-in: 1:00pm, Check-out: 11:00am
Accommodations
Check-in: 3:00pm, Check-out: 11:00am

After Hours & Emergency Number

Campground Staff:  989-290-5639
Please call 911 for all other emergencies.

Cancellations

The Gaylord South/Bradford Lake KOA follows KOA's National Cancellation Policy:Cancellation Policy (Effective for reservations made starting on 10/1/24):
If you need to cancel your reservation, please call us at 989-731-0459 before the deadlines below to receive a refund of your deposit, less a $20 administrative cancellation fee. Text and email notifications of cancellations will not be accepted.

Cancellation Deadlines:
RV & Tent Sites: You must give 7 days cancellation notice. Call us at 989-731-0459, by 4 p.m., seven days before your scheduled arrival.  
Lodging & Accommodations: You must give 14 days cancellation notice. Call us at 989-731-0459, by 4 p.m., fourteen days before your scheduled arrival.  

Cancellation Details:
• Reservations made after these deadlines require nonrefundable deposits.
• Cancellations made after the deadlines will result in forfeiture of the full deposit.
• No refunds are given due to the discomforts of nature, including no-shows and early checkouts.
• No refunds are given on or after the arrival date.
• Refunds will be processed using the original credit/debit card, with no exceptions.
• The cancellation policy may be amended during a Regional/National travel disruption.
• Holidays and special events may have unique deposit and/or cancellation requirements. Please call us at 989-731-0459 for details.

Kampstore/Registration Office Hours

KAMPSTORE/REGISTRATION OFFICE HOURS
May 1-October 15

10:00am-6:00pm 
October 16-April 30
10:00am-2:00pm

LAUNDRY HOURS
Available 24 hrs, 7 days a week unless otherwise posted on the door.

QUIET HOURS
10:00pm-8:00am. Please respect your neighbors by keeping noise volumes to a minimum during these hours & outside lights dim or off. Disrespectful guests may be asked to leave the campground.

Pet Policy

Pets are welcome at the Bradford Lake KOA! 
We accept all well-behaved pets regardless of breed; however, aggressive dogs of any kind will not be tolerated. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times and cleaned up after, with all waste disposed of properly.  Pet stations are located throughout the park for your convenience. Your dog will enjoy our KampK9 Dog Park where they can run, jump, and play in a secure fenced-in area.  Pets may not be left unattended at sites. Excessive barking is also prohibited. Pets are allowed in all tent and RV sites and we have predesignated cabins that are dog-friendly. 

Pet Fees 
We do not charge for pets, but we do have a 2-dog limit for our dog-friendly cabins.

Recreation Rentals

Lake rentals available May 1 - October 15.
???????Explore Big Bradford Lake on one of our canoes, kayaks, paddle board or pedal boat.

Speed Limit

Speed limit is 5mph
Please help us keep our campers safe, particularly the children on our campground, and adhere to our speed limit.

Late Check-in & Night Registration

If you will be arriving after our Kampstore/Registration Office is closed, your registration packet will be located in the area clearly marked "Night Registration", to the right of the Kampstore door.
  • If you already have a reservation:  You will find a Registration Packet with your name and site number on it.  Inside is a map directing you to your site. Please come to the Kampstore when it opens the next morning to complete your registration.
  • If you DO NOT have a reservation:  All available sites will be listed on a white, dry-erase board to the right of the Kampstore door.  Select an available site and complete a Night Registration Envelope, enclosing cash or providing credit card information for payment.  Place your envelope in the lock box and proceed to your site.  A campground map is included in the Registration Envelope. Please come to the Kampstore when it opens the next morning to complete your registration.
  • Please note:  Cabins are not available unless a reservation is made prior to arrival.

Firewood Policy

For a complete list of Fire Safety Rules, please click HERE.

Michigan Department of Agriculture restricts moving firewood more than 10 miles due to invasive species of insects. We will not allow any outside firewood in the campground in an effort to help protect our beautiful northern Michigan forests. Thank you for doing your part to help preserve the forest for generations to come!  Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information!

Firewood can be purchased at the campground for $7.00/bundle (or 3 bundles for $20.00) and can be delivered to your site.

Trash/Recycling

TRASH PICK-UP
Please place bagged trash next to the road at your site for pickup. Please do not leave trash or food outside on your site overnight.
RECYCLING
Aluminum cans can be deposited in recycling bins that are located throughout the park.

Propane Filling

Propane is available during Kampstore hours. Please see the Front Desk for more information.

Photography

You may appear in pictures or video that may be used in advertising, news reporting, public relations or other activities regarding the campground. Reservations at the campground or a visitor's pass constitute your consent for our campground to use any pictures or video it deems appropriate without payment, inspection, or review.

Visitor Policy

Visitors must register before entering the park and receive a guest pass. Admittance fee required. Please ensure all visitors arrive/register prior to the office closing. Guests are expected to adhere to all campground policies and guidelines.

Lake Rules

Please be courteous and respectful of our lake neighbors! No wake 6:30pm-10:00am. Watch for loons and steer clear of them, their nests, and their chicks. Please use lead free sinkers/jigs when fishing. Fishing licenses required. No littering!

Look out for Loons!

Big Bradford Lake is home to its own family of loons. They are threatened in Michigan and are protected by federal law. Please refrain from using lead sinkers and jigs and retrieve all fishing line.

Wildlife Awareness

Various types of wildlife may be found on and around our campground.  Be alert and give them distance and respect.  Keep dogs on a leash and properly store food, trash and cooking supplies.    
Your safety and the future of our local wildlife depend on you.

Meet Your Hosts

The Jordan Family

See you by the lake!

Hello! We are the Jordan Family: Chris and Elizabeth, and our boys - Nathan and Noah. We are so excited to be sharing another camping season with you, our guests, on beautiful Big Bradford Lake! We have been hard at work improving the campground, our KOA conversion is complete and the largest part of our renovation is behind us.  Whew.  The renovation included the bathhouse and the boat dock.  We expanded our RV sites and our private beach.  We moved and added cabins.  We now have a large Kamp K9 and a small Kampstore that somehow has just what you need, when you need it.  We even hosted a wedding at the campground this summer!  This little campground has quickly become near and dear to our hearts since we made it our home back in 2022. It is our hope that we can make your stay a memorable one, forming camping memories for you and your loved ones to last a lifetime!