Family-Friendly Vacation Rentals Worth the Drive

Go on a sweet escape!

Looking for a nearby escape to private, super cool accommodations? Check out these awesome Airbnbs and Vrbos where you can soak up nature and enjoy extra outd25oor time with your crew.

The Lost Tee Pee, By the Mackinac Bridge, Michigan

Just big enough for a parent-kid adventure or romantic evening with your sweetie, this tee pee is located 30 feet from Lake Michigan, near the Mackinac Bridge. Take in spectacular sunsets, gaze up at twinkly stars, then fall asleep surrounded by natural beauty and the sound of waves lapping the pier. There’s one bed for snuggling inside the tee pee and use of a shared bathroom included.

Heritage Hollow, an Experiential Farm, Stockton, Illinois

Animal lovers will swoon over a stay at this hobby farm, where you can collect eggs, pet bunnies and ride horses. This recently renovated farmhouse is surrounded by 30 acres of open space in a picturesque valley.

Tiny Private Cottages, Traverse City, Michigan

A yurt is a large, round semi-permanent tent. This one includes a kitchen, bathroom, couches, TV, beds and more. Roam 20 acres of private forest near the Manistee National Forest, then rest comfortably at night.

Barn House with Sand Beach Room and Slide, Merrimac, Wisconsin

This super cool barn house would make an awesome escape for you and your 22 closest peeps.  Not only is it huge, modern and located on a beautiful bluff, but it features a beach room with a sandy floor, a slide down from the second floor, and a game room with mini air hockey, mini ping pong, karaoke and more. Located near waterfalls, hiking and golf, your group is sure to have an unforgettable time.


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Just 10 minutes from historic Route 66, you can spend the night in a canvas tent on a wooded retreat at Otter Lake. This off-the-grid getaway is perfect for those looking to fish, toss bean bags, kick back and relax.

Camper Ready for You, Any Rend Lake Campground, Bonnie, Illinois

Want the experience of camping in an RV near water without the stress of setting it up or hauling it? This Airbnb host does all the work, delivering the four-person camper to any slot you book at a Rend Lake area campground, plus hauling it away and dumping the refuse after you’re done. You can even rent kayaks or firewood from the owner, too.

Yurt by Manistee National Forest, Baldwin, Michigan

A yurt is a large, round semi-permanent tent. This one includes a kitchen, bathroom, couches, TV, beds and more. Roam 20 acres of private forest near the Manistee National Forest, then rest comfortably at night.

Barn House with Sand Beach Room and Slide, Merrimac, Wisconsin

This super cool barn house would make an awesome escape for you and your 22 closest peeps.  Not only is it huge, modern and located on a beautiful bluff, but it features a beach room with a sandy floor, a slide down from the second floor, and a game room with mini air hockey, mini ping pong, karaoke and more. Located near waterfalls, hiking and golf, your group is sure to have an unforgettable time.


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This adorable silver camper fits up to four guests with one bedroom and one bath. Permanently located at Petite Lake Resort’s RV Park, it’s a short walk to the beach and docks. Rent a boat or play in the sand all day, then enjoy s’mores around a campfire at night.

Hidden Ridge at Otter Lake, Girard, Illinois

Just 10 minutes from historic Route 66, you can spend the night in a canvas tent on a wooded retreat at Otter Lake. This off-the-grid getaway is perfect for those looking to fish, toss bean bags, kick back and relax.

Camper Ready for You, Any Rend Lake Campground, Bonnie, Illinois

Want the experience of camping in an RV near water without the stress of setting it up or hauling it? This Airbnb host does all the work, delivering the four-person camper to any slot you book at a Rend Lake area campground, plus hauling it away and dumping the refuse after you’re done. You can even rent kayaks or firewood from the owner, too.

Yurt by Manistee National Forest, Baldwin, Michigan

A yurt is a large, round semi-permanent tent. This one includes a kitchen, bathroom, couches, TV, beds and more. Roam 20 acres of private forest near the Manistee National Forest, then rest comfortably at night.

Barn House with Sand Beach Room and Slide, Merrimac, Wisconsin

This super cool barn house would make an awesome escape for you and your 22 closest peeps.  Not only is it huge, modern and located on a beautiful bluff, but it features a beach room with a sandy floor, a slide down from the second floor, and a game room with mini air hockey, mini ping pong, karaoke and more. Located near waterfalls, hiking and golf, your group is sure to have an unforgettable time.


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Talk about a private retreat with your closest friends and family! Your pod can rent out four private tiny cottages on West Bay in Northern Michigan for a vacation all to yourselves. Savor 100 feet of private waterfront right outside your door.

Airstream Dreams @ Petite Lake Resort, Antioch, Illinois

This adorable silver camper fits up to four guests with one bedroom and one bath. Permanently located at Petite Lake Resort’s RV Park, it’s a short walk to the beach and docks. Rent a boat or play in the sand all day, then enjoy s’mores around a campfire at night.

Hidden Ridge at Otter Lake, Girard, Illinois

Just 10 minutes from historic Route 66, you can spend the night in a canvas tent on a wooded retreat at Otter Lake. This off-the-grid getaway is perfect for those looking to fish, toss bean bags, kick back and relax.

Camper Ready for You, Any Rend Lake Campground, Bonnie, Illinois

Want the experience of camping in an RV near water without the stress of setting it up or hauling it? This Airbnb host does all the work, delivering the four-person camper to any slot you book at a Rend Lake area campground, plus hauling it away and dumping the refuse after you’re done. You can even rent kayaks or firewood from the owner, too.

Yurt by Manistee National Forest, Baldwin, Michigan

A yurt is a large, round semi-permanent tent. This one includes a kitchen, bathroom, couches, TV, beds and more. Roam 20 acres of private forest near the Manistee National Forest, then rest comfortably at night.

Barn House with Sand Beach Room and Slide, Merrimac, Wisconsin

This super cool barn house would make an awesome escape for you and your 22 closest peeps.  Not only is it huge, modern and located on a beautiful bluff, but it features a beach room with a sandy floor, a slide down from the second floor, and a game room with mini air hockey, mini ping pong, karaoke and more. Located near waterfalls, hiking and golf, your group is sure to have an unforgettable time.


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Cortney Fries
Cortney Fries
An award-winning travel journalist, Cortney Fries (pronounced "freeze") has been writing about family travel for over a decade. She knows that parents planning trips are looking for all members to have fun and make lasting memories. Cortney believes that you should definitely try anything that makes you slightly nervous.

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