Devin T.
Traveler
TravelerRainbow Camp
Rainbow Camp
It’s an easy camp to get your car tucked in but the road is used. Unsure if it was other campers or people using the end of the road as a landing. We didn’t get bothered and slept well also.
Camping near Bitely, MI
261 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping options near Bitely, Michigan include several small, rustic campgrounds nestled along scenic lakes in the Manistee National Forest. The area features both established campgrounds like Highbank Lake, Walkup Lake, and Sawkaw Lake, as well as dispersed camping opportunities. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, though sites typically lack hookups and modern amenities. Campgrounds range from small facilities with 6-9 sites to more developed options with modest amenities, providing a range of experiences from isolated forest settings to lakefront locations.
Access to campgrounds varies seasonally, with most open from May through September or October, while a few like Walkup Lake Campground remain open year-round. Many sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with self-registration, though some larger facilities like Nichols Lake South Campground offer reservations. Amenities typically include vault toilets or outhouses, drinking water access at most established sites, and basic infrastructure like fire rings and picnic tables. Cell service can be limited throughout the region. "Easy, small, quiet, weekend getaway, first come first serve for us. $20 for a night, small water station and restrooms in the middle of park," noted one camper about Highbank Lake.
The waterfront locations represent a significant draw for visitors to the Bitely area, with several campgrounds situated directly on small lakes. Campers appreciate the fishing opportunities, swimming access, and boat launches available at many sites. While some campgrounds receive consistent praise for their scenic lakeside settings and spacious sites, others generate mixed reviews regarding noise levels from nearby roads. Several visitors mentioned the pristine natural surroundings and access to hiking trails, including connections to the North Country Trail. Privacy between sites varies significantly by location, with some offering well-separated, wooded sites while others feature more open layouts. As one camper described Sawkaw Lake: "Brand new vaulted toilet, lake view and deep forest all around. Easy access to North Country Trail."
Best Campgrounds near Bitely (261)
1. Nichols Lake South Campground
"We found ourselves down a dead end dirt road and had to drive back out around town. Once here we discovered a wonderful campground. "
"Our family had two sites next to each other and it seemed like half an acre! Some very uneven areas. Quiet time was strictly observed, camp manager was helpful and watchful."
from $30 / night
Check Availability2. Highbank Lake Campground
"Got in late around 9:30 at night, but was able to find the last camp site. The sites are small but are all equipped with several spots for tents. "
"Some sites are right on the small lake while others are more wooded. Some of the sites are close together so choose the style you prefer."
from $30 / night
Check Availability3. Benton Lake Campground
"The first loop was almost filled so we checked the second one and found a site away from others. It felt like we were alone until we took a walk around the campground."
"Nice and spaced out sites with easy access to a beautiful lake, friendly and helpful management, and well taken care of vault bathrooms. Pricing isn’t bad either."
4. Sawkaw Lake
"Found several spots around Sawkaw Lake, to include Little Half Moon Lake which is right next to it. Nice and quite."
"Brand new vaulted toilet, lake view and deep forest all around. Easy access to North Country Trail. Loved it!"
5. Sulak Campground
"Great campsite with trails nearby and amazing fishing opportunities! Close to Baldwin!"
"Short 5-10 min walk from the river where we were able to see a ton of spawning salmon. Just be careful walking on the road, locals fly down it."
6. Walkup Lake Campground
"Our plan just to find an inexpensive and wild camp and road trip to explore northern Michigan ."
"We are accustomed to very rustic camping and prefer to be distanced from our neighbors. Walkup camp is a really sweet campground except for the noise from the very close by road."
from $10 / night
Check Availability7. Leverentz Lake State Forest Campground
"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"
"On the lake with a boat launch. One hand pump water source at the entrance, no electric."
from $15 / night
Check Availability8. Shelley Lake Campground
"Couple hiking trails and ground to explore and relax after driving all day. Probably wouldn’t recommend any big rigs."
from $10 / night
Check Availability9. Newaygo State Park Campground
"This was such a beautiful location!! And definitely a nice find!"
"I love the campsites at this state park, they're decently big and each site is surrounded by trees. The sites are a little close together but all in all we really enjoyed our stay."
from $20 / night
Check Availability10. Bowman Bridge Campground
"Minutes outside Baldwin, Mi., Bowman Bridge is out in the middle of nowhere. Which, if you like that kind of camping, is awesome. It is a small campground without much shade on the sites."
"Add easy access to the Pere Marquette River to sling a streamer at some beasty browns and it's a great place to spend a weekend."
from $30 - $110 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr from Muskegon, MI
- 1 hr 3 min from Grand Rapids, MI
- 1 hr 23 min from Traverse City, MI
- 1 hr 36 min from Midland, MI
Recent Camping Photos near Bitely, MI
371 Photos of 261 Bitely Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Bitely, MI
1045 Reviews of 261 Bitely Campgrounds
DJ B.TravelerPJ Hoffmaster State Park
Good state park campground
Staff is friendly. Nice campground lots of pines no alcohol allowed at this park. Nice and quiet most of the time. A few hiking trails, 15 min walk to lake Michigan. Fire wood at the park is not too good. Bathrooms are clean as well as the showers. Playground if you have children.campsites are reasonably level some are a little tight to get into close together so not a lot of privacy. Still a beautiful campground we are spending the week here so far it's good.
Linda N.
GuideHoffmaster State Park Campground
Top fav
After eyeballing this campground all year and waiting for a cancellation, we finally got to visit.
Yes, it was the most densely packed campground we’ve ever been to. I have never seen this many cars at a campground before. But somehow, despite the sold out weekend, it just didn’t feel that crowded. Neighbors were kind, kids were running all over the place, and it just felt like a big community. It gave us that 90s summer vibe where kids roamed around and you just walked over and spoke to a neighbor.
Quiet times are pretty adhered to. Most sites were lights out by 10pm.
The walk to the beach is really manageable even with folding chairs and a cooler. And despite it being sandy, bring a bicycle if you want to! There was a review that said leave the bikes behind and our kids were sorely disappointed when we discovered 85% of the path to the beach was paved.
Shower house was the second cleanest facility we’ve ever experienced! For how busy it was, it the crew did a really fantastic job. Camp hosts also had activities and coffee hour which was a huge hit.
We’ve already decided that we would come back here again. Our kids absolutely loved it.
- mmick
ScoutPines Campground — Ludington State Park
Ludington State Park
Nice Park with a nice river and Lake Michigan nearby. Lovely sand dunes too. Family oriented with lots of kids having fun riding bikes etc. tents and rv’s welcome. The town of Ludington is a quintessential lake town with all the places to eat and shop you’d expect. Highly recommended.
Kristy W.GuideOrchard Beach State Park Campground
Lk Michigan sunsets included
Ideal location to explore Manistee county, just north of city. The trolley bus offers rides to town and back. New bath house, updated facilities and most sites include electric. Nice hiking trails across the road, the outer loop is a 2mile walk. Just north of here are the largest sequoia trees east of the Mississippi River. Park offers Hammocks for daytime use over looking the Lk Michigan bluffline. Pet friendly.
Nikki S.ScoutFisherman's Landing & Campground
Very nice, affordable campground
Super cute little campground, it’s definitely located in an odd spot but nonetheless it’s a nice campground. The staff are very kind, and the lake view is beautiful. Also located very close to drop off points for kayaking down Muskegon river, which btw is also a beautiful river trip! I would definitely stay here again. The only thing I wish was a little different was that they would add a dog run, and clean up what used to be a beach area.
Mary Ann M.TravelerHenry's Landing Campground
Fun and friendly campground
The staff is awesome and super friendly! Remember you from the time you set your reservation. Take care of all your needs and have awesome evening activities. It may be small but just right. Every site is on the water and no bad spots to fish.
Maria Mercedes M.
LegendLake Michigan Campground — Muskegon State Park
Sand Dunes & Rolling Lake Waves
Framed by dunes on the western side of the campground and shaded pines in every direction, the campground here at Muskegon State Park feels like it was built for families who crave both forest calm and water views. The 140 sites are generous, spacious and peaceful, and while the bathhouses have a little age to them, they’re spotless and well-tended. Our boys spent half the trip barefoot on the sandy trail leading to the channel, where they splashed in the shallows and waved at passing fishing boats. I’d recommend Muskegon State Park at Lake Michigan campground for families who love the scent of pine mixed with lake breeze, the sound of kids laughing down the trail and the EZ comfort of a well-loved state park that has a manned ranger booth when checking in adding to overall sense of security.
- Cassondra P.Legend
Hill and Hollow RV Park
Great campground
We love Hill and Hollow!
It’s a great campground for our group of friends who have kids in a wide variety of ages
We have kids from 5 to 16 and this allows them to do what they love - some like the go carts area, the pool, the playground or just hanging out
It’s close to pentwater and not far from ludington
The campground staff are super friendly and we have had a great experience here
Guide to Bitely
Dispersed camping sites near Bitely, Michigan offer tent and RV options with varying accessibility levels throughout the year. The area sits within the Manistee National Forest, where campers encounter mixed hardwood forests and small inland lakes at approximately 900 feet elevation. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from November through March, while summer highs typically reach the 70s-80s°F.
What to do
Fishing access points: Benton Lake Campground provides excellent fishing spots with multiple docks. "Fishing was great, lots of blue gill and bass," notes a visitor at Benton Lake, where anglers can launch small boats or fish from two accessible piers.
Paddling opportunities: The Pere Marquette River near Bowman Bridge Campground offers canoeing and kayaking routes. "We highly recommend Baldwin Canoe Rental as they were able to pick us up at the campsite (on time too!) and take us straight to the canoe launch. We paddled for about 4 hours before beaching at the access at Bowman Bridge," explains one camper.
Trail connections: Several campgrounds connect to the North Country Trail system. At Sulak Campground, campers appreciate that "sites back up to the north country trail. Very spacious and more than 50 yards in between some of them." Hiking options include both short loops and access to longer trail segments.
What campers like
Lake views: Many sites offer direct views of small lakes. As one visitor to Leverentz Lake State Forest Campground describes, "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."
Privacy between sites: Site spacing varies between campgrounds. At Benton Lake Campground, "the sites are really big and spread out. They are split between 2 loops. The first loop was almost filled so we checked the second one and found a site away from others. It felt like we were alone."
Clean facilities: Despite being rustic, many campgrounds maintain good facilities. "The toilets are well maintained and the camp manager was super nice. We stayed Sunday-Tuesday both times and it wasn't busy and we felt alone in the forest which is perfect," reports a visitor to Benton Lake.
What you should know
Accessibility challenges: Some campgrounds have limited access for larger vehicles. At Shelley Lake Campground, "it's a narrow fit with few turn-outs- picture a classic, small 2-track trail. I would hesitate to take a larger camper here."
Water availability: Not all campgrounds offer drinking water. Those that do typically provide hand pumps. At Highbank Lake Campground, "the water source has its own building. The vault toilet has a ramp for accessibility."
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds operate from May through September. A camper at Leverentz Lake notes that "the campground was full on a late september weekend but still quiet and didn't feel crowded at all."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Some lakes offer good swimming access for children. At Newaygo State Park Campground, "I bring the kids to this park every 4th of July weekend, we absolutely love it. I always reserve my site on the Poplar side, due to it having closer access to the lake to swim."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I camp at Walkup Lake in Bitely, Michigan?
Can I camp at Walkup Lake in Bitely, Michigan?
Yes, you can camp at Walkup Lake Campground in Bitely, Michigan. This campground offers drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access options, making it versatile for different camping styles. Basic amenities include water and toilets. The campground provides good access to Walkup Lake for fishing and other water activities. While it's not as developed as some larger state park campgrounds, it offers a more rustic experience that many campers prefer for a peaceful nature retreat.
What campgrounds are available near Bitely, MI?
What campgrounds are available near Bitely, MI?
The Bitely area offers several campground options within short driving distance. Highbank Lake Campground and Walkup Lake Campground are both located near Bitely, offering drive-in access with basic amenities like water and toilets. If you're willing to venture a bit further, you'll find additional options like Sawkaw Lake and Leverentz Lake State Forest Campground near Baldwin. These campgrounds provide access to the natural beauty of Michigan's lakes and forests, making them ideal for those seeking outdoor recreation in the Bitely region.
What lakes in Bitely, MI offer good fishing and camping access?
What lakes in Bitely, MI offer good fishing and camping access?
Several lakes around Bitely provide excellent fishing and camping opportunities. Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake offers a family-friendly camping experience with direct access to Bass Lake, known for good fishing. The campground features nicely spaced sites, a playground, and lake access via a path. Additionally, Sawkaw Lake near Bitely offers drive-in camping with basic toilet facilities and fishing access. Highbank Lake is another option in the area with camping facilities and fishing opportunities. These lakes typically contain species like bass, pike, and panfish, making them popular destinations for anglers camping in the Bitely region.
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