249 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Manistee National Forest surrounds Brethren, Michigan, providing extensive camping opportunities along the Manistee River and nearby Lake Michigan shoreline. Tippy Dam State Recreation Area offers year-round camping within the village limits, while Government Landing Campground provides dispersed camping options with river access. The region includes both developed facilities with modern amenities and more rustic experiences with primitive tent sites, depending on visitor preferences. Many campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with some locations like Twin Oaks RV Campground and Cabins offering cabin rentals for those seeking additional comfort.
Access to camping areas varies seasonally, with many campgrounds operating from spring through fall. Northern Exposure Campground operates from May through November, while others like Tippy Dam remain open year-round. Winter camping requires additional preparation due to Michigan's snow and cold temperatures. Roads to dispersed sites may become difficult or impassable during wet weather or winter conditions. Most developed campgrounds provide toilets and drinking water, though shower facilities are limited to larger operations. Cell service can be spotty throughout the forested areas, particularly in river valleys. A review noted, "Campsites are very clean and big, with nice trails to explore. Just a heads up, the sites with 'lake access' don't actually have lake access - it's a steep drop to the water."
The Manistee River provides a focal point for many camping experiences in the area, with fishing opportunities consistently highlighted in visitor reviews. Several campgrounds offer direct river access for fishing, kayaking, or swimming. Dispersed camping along the Manistee River Trail attracts backpackers seeking more solitude and primitive experiences. Developed campgrounds typically provide fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, while dispersed sites require self-sufficiency. The proximity to Lake Michigan beaches represents another significant draw, with many campers using Brethren as a base camp for day trips to the lakeshore. Families particularly appreciate the combination of forest camping with water recreation options. The region's mix of state recreation areas, national forest land, and private campgrounds provides options for every camping style and budget.
"Pretty standard Michigan State Park campground. Nice staff. Park maintenance is currently building a wood fence to keep folks away from steep bluff edge. Views of Lake Michigan fairly limited."
"Clean park with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. Unfortunately no access to beach because of erosion. Typical site sizes for Michigan State Park. Walk across the road for a 2 mile hike in the woods."
from $36 - $120 / night
Check Availability"We asked to be away from the lake because of our young kids but the lake lots looked beautiful. We will be back."
"I love having a view from my campsite that has a lake on it! Not many big boats on it so there was no motor noise constantly like how it is on most inland lake campgrounds."
from $30 - $45 / night
Check Availability"Campsites are very clean and big, with nice trails to explore. Just a heads up, the sites with "lake access" don't actually have lake access - it's a steep drop to the water. Tumble at your own risk."
"Steps go right down to the river. Good fishing. When we were there the toilets were In need of a pump out desperately."
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Nice private campground with good access to ATV trails as well as good proximity to big M for mountain biking. Sites are nice and spaced out as well."
"And while I will say it's not very hidden away from the other sites it was still plenty relaxing and served the purpose of somewhere to hang my hat at the end of the day."
from $11 - $90 / night
Check Availability"You are surrounded by beautiful pines. I wasn't able to explore as much as I liked to but hear there are great trails and you are in walking distance of water."
"It's right by the second largest suspension bridge in Michigan. Great please to stay before you canoe or kayak the Manistee river."
from $30 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Sand Lake is a really nice, well kept campground. Beautiful area, nice beach on a clean lake, and spacious campsites."
"Site 19 has its own little path to the beach. So do several others on that side of the campground. Nice little lake and beach. Loons in the evening."
from $40 - $105 / night
Check Availability"I hear it’s darn near impossible to find an open site During June-August. Sites are large with fantastic views. Walking trails, bike trails and ORV trails a d routes are in close proximity."
"Is a bathroom within walking distance of a few sites. No water fountain/pump that I was able to located but there were easy walkways down to pond."
"Although this is listed as "dispersed" camping, the camping on the Manistee River Trail side of this loop is mostly at designated sites. Most sites seemed to be able to accommodate large groups."
"I've hiked and kayaked this trail on a few occasions and I can confidently say this is one of my favorite trails in all of Michigan."
"I wish we had a place to dump our grey water, but otherwise it was an easy drive in and had fresh water."
"One of my Favorite places in Michigan to camp. Out of the way without being out of the way. The walk in sites are a very short walk and well away from the other sites."
"Lots of campsites 30 to 50 feet away from the roadway offering appropriate privacy. Woods and bushes separating campsites. Shower houses in excellent condition and clean. Pads for tents in place."
from $22 - $50 / night
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TravelerCampground had amazing amenities. Lots of things for kids to do!! Pool was always clean. Bathrooms & showers were always clean. My only complaint is how close the sites were together.
TravelerOur site, and most sites, we're very shaded. Bathrooms and showers were very clean. The rangers working were fantastic. In a great location to visit nearby sites!!!
LegendJuly 8, 2026, 82 degrees Make sure you goto michigan reservations as it’s confusing for first come first serve.
Site 22, 2 bars 5G on T-Mobile Flat Sandy grass, pit toilets. Trash dumpster on the way out. Good rustic camping, bugs were not bad, mostly flat and only a few campers during the week. Horse, bike and hiking trails right next to the CG. We saw a few loons near the boat launch.
GuideI camped here on my motorcycle in a tent. NO CELL PHONE SERVICE!!!It is quiet after dark, river sites all over, walkin sites at the entrance. Its $20 a night. Its a nice scenery the bugs are a little rough but there is fire wood close by for $5 a bundle. All in all a good experience except... The damn racoons!! It was like the movie the great outdoors and they come in packs!!! I had to hide everything and they stole my ketchup 😂
TravelerThis campground was absolutely breathtaking. The showers and bathrooms were so clean and easily accessible. 10/10 experience all around.
LegendJuly 3-7th, site 489, Easy check in and the water fill up was next to the dump station.
The dump station only has two drains and the cap is in the middle of the island to dump. The site was flat with trees, our 21’ fit well with our truck.
30amp, metal fire ring with old picnic table. Looks like water will puddle during rains.
Newer shower and bath facilities are amazing. The showers are separate and private from the shitters. The lots are Michigan sand and rock, very little gravel and grass, bring ant killer for the site.
Some sites are paved asphalt.
Firewood was$23 for 3 bundles Cash App or Venmo near the general store.
Water fill stations throughout the park but the spigot does not allow a house hookup. Fill up at the dump station. The south lot area was full and very crowded, narrow asphalt road with lots of trees, larger 5th wheel campers would be better on the north section.
There is a Pine Nature Trail that runs on the west side of the south area. About 2 miles but part of the trail has not been cleared from recent storms. A great place to bring your SUP and kayak. Peaceful lakes in the area.
ScoutThis was our first time in orchard beach and we will definitely return! This campground was so clean, the sites were large, the bathrooms were immaculate, and the staff was kind and helpful! We had a site backing up to the fence of the drop off and we could hear the water all night. The view is absolutely beautiful, I was bummed to miss the sunset on our first night. We took away a star because of the blocked off stairs. We were under the impression that there would be water access so that was disappointing. But! We had a blast and made friends with our site neighbor and will definitely recommend this spot to friends!
TravelerSix or so full hook up sites in the campground (several are seasonal/permanent sites). The sites are spacious, woodsy, shaded with nice grass for the kiddos to play in. The owners, Rocky and Richard were friendly and available if needed. They even filled our campfire ring with wood before we arrived. There is a porta potty on site, but otherwise expect to use your camper for bathing needs. The 25 min drive into traverse city felt easy even with toddlers in toe. The town of Cedar is small but quaint.
TravelerWe dropped in on a friend who was camping here and stayed just one night at the start of a long trip, but we'll definitely be back. Site 19 has its own little path to the beach. So do several others on that side of the campground. Nice little lake and beach. Loons in the evening.
Camping near Brethren, Michigan offers varied terrain throughout the Manistee National Forest, with elevations ranging from 580 to 920 feet above sea level. The region experiences four distinct seasons with average summer temperatures of 75-80°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Sandy soil conditions in many camping areas allow for good drainage during rainfall but can make tent stake placement challenging.
Kayaking the Manistee River: Access river paddling directly from Northern Exposure Campground & RV Park which offers waterfront sites. "Great sites right on the water! The campground offers clean facilities, general store, rentals for the lake, and camp events like movie night. With sites right on the water remember to bring your kayak!" notes Dalton B.
Hiking forest trails: The trails around Seaton Creek Campground provide access to the Manistee River Trail system. Jonathan W. explains, "I love the trails hugging the river and Creek and pond, the host Frank has been so nice, and he told us about a rope swing across the river if you take a particular path."
Salmon fishing: Seasonal salmon runs create prime fishing opportunities. "Go when they release the salmon from the hatchery - you feel all the salmon brush against your kayak as they swim upstream!" advises Joyce B. about river activities near Platte River. September through October offers peak salmon viewing and fishing conditions.
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds feature larger-than-average sites. At Seaton Creek Campground, a camper notes: "The sites are large and well maintained. You are surrounded by beautiful pines." Sites at this location can accommodate multiple tents with room to spare.
Clean facilities: Twin Oaks RV Campground and Cabins receives consistently positive reviews for upkeep. One camper remarked, "Camp store was a very nice commodity and the camp ground staff were VERY helpful and friendly. Campsite was well tended and fit my needs."
Fishing access: Direct river access for fishing ranks high in camper satisfaction. A visitor to Tippy Dam Recreation Area noted, "Steps go right down to the river. Good fishing. The campsites are spacious and feature trails that lead directly to the Tippy Dam Backwater. There's also convenient access for launching a boat on either the Manistee River or the backwaters side of the dam."
Water access limitations: Despite proximity to water, not all "waterfront" sites have easy water access. A camper at Tippy Dam State Recreation Area cautions: "Campsites along the lake are high overlook campsites with narrow trails down to the water. Minimal swimming area but ours had a small sand bottom."
Seasonal availability: Operating seasons vary significantly across campgrounds. Northern Exposure Campground operates May 1 to November 30, while Seaton Creek Campground has a shorter season from May 15 to September 14. Winter camping options are limited to Tippy Dam and select dispersed sites.
Reservation requirements: Manistee River Trail Dispersed Camping doesn't require permits but gets crowded on weekends. "Great dispersed camping area to getaway! Can sometimes get busy on the weekends, but nothing like a normal campsite," reports Josh D. For holiday weekends, book established campgrounds 3-6 months in advance.
Family-friendly activities: Northern Exposure Campground offers organized events for children. One reviewer notes: "Nice little camp store and pizza restaurant on site. Great playground, evening activities. Nice mix of electric hook up, R.V. and tent sites. Boat rentals, etc. Great place for a group of families to come camp together."
Swimming options: Sand Lake Campground provides a supervised swimming area. "Sand Lake is a quiet wooded campground... The lake is clean and quiet for the most part, although there are usually a couple of motorized boats out on weekends," says John W.
Bear awareness: Secure food storage is essential with confirmed bear activity. At Government Landing Campground, campsites are directly on backwaters with no barriers between camp and forest. One camper notes the area is "beautiful and peaceful" but recommends storing all food securely.
Site selection: Choose sites carefully based on rig size. At Twin Oaks Campground, "Nice spot near the Pine River" is available but Mark K. notes "Was a little dusty," suggesting gravel or dirt access roads that may be challenging for larger rigs during dry conditions.
Hookup availability: Northern Exposure Campground offers full hookup options. A camper shares: "I think they have a few full hookup sites but all sites have electric and water. We stayed at the the north end of the campground in back which was very quiet during the weekday."
Road conditions: Access roads to campgrounds like Marzinski Horse Trail Campground can be navigated by larger rigs but require caution. "We stayed here in our van and it was just what we needed. I wish we had a place to dump our grey water, but otherwise it was an easy drive in and had fresh water," notes Tobi W.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Brethren, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Brethren, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 249 campgrounds and RV parks near Brethren, MI and 12 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Brethren, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Brethren, MI is Orchard Beach State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 31 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Brethren, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near Brethren, MI.
What parks are near Brethren, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Brethren, MI that allow camping, notably Huron-Manistee National Forests and Sleeping Bear Dunes.
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