Searching for the best camping near Big Rapids, MI? Big Rapids is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Michigan camping adventure.
"This is a hidden gem in northern Michigan, our campsite was right on the lake where we were able to pull our boat right up to, plenty of private space, and so fun to fish. I will definitely be back!"
$15 - $25 / night
"You take a narrow dirt road over a nearly flooded over land bridge to a remote circle plot of campsites."
$15 / night
"We chose a site on the Big Lake. There are also a few sites on the Litte Lake.
The sites include a picnic table and fire ring. We had plenty of room between sites."
"the big lake unit has large sites with lake views and 2 vault toilets. the little lake unit has small sites, 1 vault toilet, some lake views, some views of nearby houses (more mosquitos at the time too"
"Clean bathrooms, easy access to lake, nice beach Make sure to bring extra hose and extension cord as the water and electric can be a ways away from some sites."
"Kids biked around all day and everyone drives slow! 🙌🏽 lots of shade, clean bathrooms, friendly staff! A great little campground"
"Wonderful trails for hiking. Lots of activities. We will definitely come back. A little pricey."
$135 / night
"Upon arrival at Pine Meadows, we followed the short red bark path through the trees to our cabin tent, which was next to a lovely meadow and near a small pond."
$30 - $90 / night
"Tent camping only. Four family sites and two group sites. Hard to get a reservation on the weekends. Campground is at the end of a canoe/kayak company's trip. "
"All sites are "walk to" from the parking lot. Overlooks the Pere Marquette river and has a small sandy shore where you can get into the water to cool off or do some fishing."
$15 / night
"A nice rustic campground, it’s small but has steps leading to the creek that’s perfect for kids to play in and a few trails. There is a hand pump for water and two vault toilets."
TravelerThis campground has the feel of a hike-in campground while being accessible by vehicle. It is located off the beaten path in the middle of nowhere, down a couple of well-marked dirt roads about 20 miles from the highway. There are only 8 sites, but each site is spacious. Sites are divided by small stands of trees providing some privacy from neighboring sites. 4 of the sites are facing the lake. Fire ring, picnic table, vault toilets and hand pump water. Surprisingly good cell reception. There is a dirt boat ramp, but only for trolling motor, canoes and kayaks. Very quiet campground.
RangerThere is something for everyone here. Tent, camper, or RV and fun for all ages with everything from 3 playgrounds, basketball courts, volleyball courts, and tennis courts, to a boat launch, fishing pier, and fish cleaning station. There is also a fairly large swimming area. The showers are actually nice and clean! The restrooms were surprisingly clean and modern as well. Firewood is available in bundles or loose and you stack it yourself. There are numerous picnic areas throughout the campground. There are picnic tables and fire rings at every site and hook up such as electric and water vary. Kids are riding their bikes all over, fishing, playing at playgrounds, the beach, everywhere. Everyone was very friendly. You probably don’t necessarily need a sleeping pad or air mat if you’re in a tent, but they’re always nice. The mosquitos weren’t bad at all! We stayed at site #226. You do need a county park pass, $6/day until 10pm or $25/year.
RangerGo to the beach for the day, but don't camp here. The sites were on top of each other and there was no privacy. There was only one bathroom for the entire campground meaning that only 3 stalls were offered for all of the women. Because there is only one bathroom and it isn't in the middle of the campground, it is a long walk for most of the campers. The showers were nice, but the bathroom could use an upgrade.
All of the sites were sandy with no shade. Traveling on bike meant having few comfort items. We really could have used a tree or some other shade after a long day of touring, but there was no shade at the site or anywhere nearby. Most folks had awnings on their campers. I could see how having a camper or RV (or even a car) would make the experience more enjoyable, but still I would not choose to return here.
It is not a tent friendly site because the tent gets blown off the sand. Sandy sites make it difficult to stake down a tent. We went on a particularly windy day and the gear we had was not enough to hold down the tent. I ended up going to bed at 7:30pm just to keep the tent from blowing away.
There was wifi, but it hardly worked at the site. The beach was decent, but nothing any more impressive than anywhere else on the lake. If you have the opportunity to stay somewhere other than here, go there instead. I was shocked that so many people would pay so much for such a pathetic campground. If you are paying to stay at a Michigan State Park, find yourself a better one!
I intended on taking pictures, but was so unimpressed I completely forgot.
GuideA friend and I stayed two nights in a tent. The campground is on the smaller side. You mostly see campers and RVs, many who stay seasonally. It felt like a community where everyone knows each other well. The couple on the neighboring campsite were incredibly friendly, offering help with fire starters and a hammer to pound down the stakes on our tent.
Our site had a fire pit, picnic table and electric hookup we used to charge cell phones. There wasn’t much shade but there are other shady sites in the campground.
While the river site was scenic, mosquitoes were of course having a feast! There was a play area for the kids, volleyball net and horseshoe pit. The camp store had the basics with hard pack ice cream for sale. There’s also a game room off the camp store with pool, ping pong and laundry room for longer visits.
You’re able to rent a tube, kayak or canoe to cruise down the Muskegon River. They were kind enough to shuttle us to the drop off point a couple of miles away.
There is a restroom/shower building that’s kept quite clean. The ladies room had three separate showers and I never had to wait for a turn during my stay.
It’s definitely a family campground so if you’re looking for a quiet camping trip, this place is perfect. It’s a bit far from the Detroit area for a weekend but I’d definitely return for a longer stay.
GuideNice park with dispersed sites. Hand pump for potable water and out houses for bathrooms. On a cute little lake ideal for kayaking or small boats. Not really set up for large TT, but people brought one in anyway. Close to US 131 and you can hear the traffic.
Sites have fire rings and picnic tables.
GuideWe live in Kalamazoo and wanted a quick trip out in the tent for a long weekend. We chose the park for it's proximity to home and because of nearby kayak/canoe launches. We enjoy rustic camping and were a little let down with the lack of seclusion on each site (that's to be expected when car camping but the photos and website left us hopeful for more space than was offered). The sites are deep but many are close together. Ours had a little extra room but was next to the vault toilet. There are a few trails in the park that are pleasant and the views of the lake are nice. The staff at the time wasn't very helpful when we asked for nearby hikes. They only knew of a paved trail but on our way out of town we met a couple who told us of many river trails and other hikes nearby. Overall it's a decent place to stay. Personally, I don't find it worth it to have vault toilets and no shower if I'm still going to be in a fairly cramped campground. I'd prefer that they have hike-in sites or offer the amenities of car camping.
RangerI stayed here for two nights recently. The campground is not too large with 18 or 19 sites if I remember correctly. Most of the sites are pretty private and a few are along the river that runs along the campground. The water is very peaceful to listen to while falling asleep.
There are ample vault toilets and enough parking for one or two vehicles on most sites. The sites are not that large, so large RVs will not fit.
Plenty of space for a tent or two per site. Each site has a fire ring and a picnic table. Finding firewood in the campground is near impossible, so plan to bring some or buy some before you arrive.
TravelerTimber Creek is a lovely campground within Manistee National Forest. The campsites are a perfect size, there is an easy-hike walking trail, and the view of the stars at night is truly out of this world (pun kind of intended). It’s also spacious enough for your doggos to run around to their hearts content!
Pricing is $10/night and $5/day pass, with a 14(?) day limit on your campsite stay.
Vault toilets are available but HOO boy do they smell, so if you have a Luggable Loo or equivalent portable toilet I definitely recommend it (along with hand sanitizer!).
Water pump is available, though I can’t speak to the quality as we didn’t end up having to use it.
Honestly, my only real gripe is the fire pits. I fully assume the design is meant to prevent forest fires so it’s for the best, but the fire pits have a higher wall around them with a grill on top you cannot remove. Great for cooking food, but if you’re looking to sit by the fire to warm up, you’d probably be better off with a portable heater. It’s also worth noting that I’ve noticed this type of fire pit at every campsite in Manistee so far, so don’t put too much effort into venturing out to find a better one.
All in all we really loved our stay here and we can’t wait to stay here again!
GuideWe came to this campground on a very busy weekend for camping and we made a reservation online just in case they were all full, but they do have a self-serve drop box if you don't have a reservation. The walk-in tent sites were gorgeous, very hidden away in the trees, and 2 sites are literally right next to the river. The drive-in sites are close together but surrounded by trees so it gives you some privacy. Host camp has flushing toilets next to it, ice/wood available, and can make change for you. Vault toilets are available every few sites. Over run with caterpillars, not sure what kind but they were everywhere. We went across the street to rent a Canoe and float the Pine River. Great location.
Tent camping near Big Rapids, Michigan offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for a peaceful retreat.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Big Rapids, MI is Haymarsh State Game Area with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 43 tent camping locations near Big Rapids, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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