Best Campgrounds near Lupton, MI

Campgrounds in the Lupton, Michigan area include several options within the Rifle River Recreation Area, offering a mix of rustic and modern camping experiences. Devoe Lake Rustic Campground, Grousehaven Campground, and Spruce Rustic Campground provide tent and RV sites with varying levels of amenities. The region also extends to dispersed camping opportunities in the nearby Huron-Manistee National Forests. Campers can choose from established campgrounds with electric hookups and modern facilities or more primitive sites along lakes and rivers. Several locations accommodate cabin camping and glamping options for those seeking alternatives to traditional tent or RV setups.

Recreation areas near Lupton require advance reservations for most established campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends and holidays. As one visitor noted, "Sites require a reservation either at the office or online. Not somewhere you can just pay for on spot because it's in the Rifle River Recreation Area." Access to camping areas varies by season, with some campgrounds open year-round while others operate from spring through fall. The Rifle River Recreation Area features multiple lakes and waterways that attract paddlers and anglers, though weather conditions can affect water activities. Rustic campgrounds typically offer vault toilets and water pumps, while modern campgrounds provide shower facilities and electric hookups. Winter conditions may limit accessibility to some areas, especially for larger RVs or trailers.

Campers consistently highlight the natural surroundings and water recreation as primary attractions in the Lupton area. The lakes within the Rifle River Recreation Area receive particular praise for their paddling opportunities. According to reviews, "The water is super clean and crystal clear...and usually sand or rock bottom." Visitors appreciate the spacious, private sites at rustic campgrounds, with many mentioning the tree coverage and natural screening between campsites. Families find the modern campgrounds particularly suitable, with one reviewer noting that Grousehaven is "extremely family friendly with a nice beach, park, and picnic area." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the region, with reports of loons, eagles, osprey, and beaver sightings. While most camping areas maintain a peaceful atmosphere, some reviewers mention increased activity and noise during holiday weekends.

Best Camping Sites Near Lupton, Michigan (185)

    1. Devoe Lake Rustic Campround — Rifle River Recreation Area

    12 Reviews
    Lupton, MI
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 473-2258

    "Rifle River Recreation Area is located directly east of Houghton Lake within the AuSable State Forest, near the city of Lupton.

    The RRRA offers several camping areas within its borders."

    "This here is one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. The facilities are clean and kept up. All access to trails, lakes and the river are close and easy to get to."

    2. Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground

    8 Reviews
    Rose City, MI
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 275-4622

    "There are a few sites on the lake and a boat launch. Sites have tables, pits and trees. They are also well separated with trees. Pretty easy access to the campground and the place was clean."

    "Nice rustic campground located just north of west branch. No showers, privy is is decent shape. Not the worst not the best. Several lake front sites to choose from with excellent views."

    3. Grousehaven Campground — Rifle River Recreation Area

    4 Reviews
    Lupton, MI
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (989) 473-2258

    "Right on Grousehaven lake with a small beach and playground and a large open grassy area for kids and dogs to to run."

    "But the beach was nice as were the trails. Once in the camp itself, we loved how much better it was than Tawas. It's more spread out and I didn't feel like people were staring at me."

    4. Au Sable River Primitive Camping

    12 Reviews
    Mio, MI
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 362-8961

    $10 / night

    "The absolute BEST campsite I have ever camped at in Michigan! The perfect morning and evening view of the river. Directly across from the best fishing spot and shoreline to soak up the summer sun."

    "You are surrounded by forest and dunes and the sites themselves provide ample space for a group of 5 or more."

    5. Huron-Manistee National Forest

    9 Reviews
    Brethren, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 775-2421

    $10 - $14 / night

    "River Trail."

    "We walked this trail for 5 days and 4 nights. Cell service was spotty, which was the goal. Lots of wildlife and great views. You need to carry everything out that you carry in."

    6. Spruce Rustic Campground — Rifle River Recreation Area

    3 Reviews
    Lupton, MI
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 473-2258

    "I wish I would have picked a different spot as I was right next to the bathroom but it was fine. Plenty of fire wood around the collect with access to trials and the river."

    7. Alcona Park

    9 Reviews
    Glennie, MI
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 735-3881

    $16 - $30 / night

    "I had cabin #3, very beautiful on the lake. Wish they had a grate to cook some things, however I failed to bring my own. It made do with what I had."

    "This is a great campground and very close to canoe rentals. They pick up trash right at your site! Also, buy the wood from the people driving around."

    8. Ogemaw Sport and Trail Center

    3 Reviews
    Rose City, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 685-2999

    $30 / night

    "Great place for Moto wonderful peaple and trail riding and kid track we’re awsome"

    9. Rollways Campground

    4 Reviews
    Hale, MI
    13 miles
    Website

    $15 / night

    "This is one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. The sites are big, most are well shaded."

    "We brought our own kayaks and spent the day at on loud lake which was about a 15 min drive away. There were plenty of vault toilets which were very clean and water stations."

    10. Arrowhead Lake Camp

    1 Review
    Lupton, MI
    7 miles
    +1 (313) 510-4399

    $50 - $300 / night

    "We stayed in the Lakeside cabins. Amazing views! We went kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and fishing. The wildlife is plentiful and the lake is full of fish. The staff are fantastic."

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Recent Reviews near Lupton, MI

503 Reviews of 185 Lupton Campgrounds


  • alicianlv The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Au Sable Loop Campground — Huron Manistee National Forests

    Au Sable Loop #3

    We were passing through and didn't have time to explore campground arriving around 7p & road tired.
    Site # 3 was without metal fire ring as shown to have in reservation picture. In its place was a hole and pile of ash with a hardened ash plug as if it was dug out of ground and thrown near bushes, strange. We were only campers there but heard faint voices outdoors after turning in to sleep, kinda creepy.

    Pictures taken just before leaving early morning. Heard there might be poison ivy around camp so only took basic photos but stayed clear of foliage around site.

  • Byron S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Camp Grayling Trailer Park

    Great RV park

    This is a military base and need proper identification to enter. The sites are well maintained (sand pads). The beach area is well maintained and relaxing. The wireless internet is GREAT! Also have cell coverage. Clean and quite for only $20 per night (cash or check only). The camp site manager (Tim) was fantastic!

  • Jonathan  B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Au Sable River Primitive Camping

    Primitive camping, but too close to the road/airport

    The site was truly rustic. About 1/4 mile to the next site. Nice clearing with multiple spots you could maneuver a small camper back into if you are a good enough driver. If not, there is a nice clearing by the road that also works. Had a fire ring with a flip over grill. Trails run back into woods to potential cat hole locations. For water, you can head up the road a few miles to the lumberman monument park, and they have a fauset by the parking lot. Also, about 1/8 mile down the road is an established path down to the Au Sable River to get water to extinguish your campfire but not for drinking (this stretch of the river is not safe to drink). During the day and sometimes at night you can hear a lot of road traffic and also jet engine noise from the local airport. Good openings for solar if you are using movable panels or can get your camper back far enough, but not so good in the default parking spot. Verizon = 3-4 bars 5G.

  • K
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Au Sable Loop Campground — Huron Manistee National Forests

    Spacious Private Sites

    We camped on the ausable river camping on alcona pond. The sites are very secluded from one another, no bathrooms, no water available, but its quiet, private, and had access right to the river. Lots of poison ivy in July, so be aware. Lots of campers across the river that you can see, but nothing overly noisy or distracting. Our site had room for 3 families with tents. Some walking paths, but we didn’t wander too far. Short drives to beautiful overlooks, or the dam for fishing. We wanted 006 site originally. its level with the river and right on a winding bend! Sites seem to reserve fast, so be ready!

  • Edward C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Tawas Point State Park Campground

    Terrific location

    This is a beautiful and picturesque park. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained.

    Sites are large in general with plenty of room for activities.

    The pet friendly beach is fantastic for dogs as the water is very shallow and let's them be active.

    The access roads on the loop are narrow, so you may need to take some care of if you have a large vehicle.

    There's also a kids playground and volleyball court.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Jackson Lake State Forest Campground

    Jackson Lake

    20 bucks a night very clean toilets, fire pits picnic tables plus $11 for out of state registered vehicle plate so nowhere near free camping but a nice stay over spot

  • Kristin Z.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Paddle Brave Canoe Livery & Campground

    Clean, Friendly, and Perfect River Tubing Trip

    We stayed at PaddleBrave this past weekend and couldn’t be happier with our experience. We rented Cabin 1 and the campsite directly across from it, and from start to finish, everything was fantastic.

    The owner and staff were incredibly friendly, accommodating, and had excellent communication both during the reservation process and throughout our stay. The sites and camp bathrooms were the cleanest I’ve ever seen, and the staff went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable.

    The gift shop was a nice bonus, offering fresh coffee for just $1 every morning and stocking plenty of essentials in case you forgot something at home. Downtown Roscommon is only about 6 minutes away, making it easy to pop into town.

    We also did the 4-hour tubing trip and rented tubes from Paddlebrave—it couldn’t have gone better. The river was beautiful and the whole experience was smooth and well-organized.

  • L
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Monument Campground

    Quiet spot in the pines

    18 spots available. Half are reservable and half are first come first serve. There are a few double lots. Pay at entrance in envelope. Camp host came around to check our ticket. Clean pit toilets and water spigots throughout. Close to Lumbermans monument visitor center. $15 for single site or $30 for double. Half price if you have a Golden Age/Access or Interagency Senior/Access Pass


Guide to Lupton

Cabin camping options near Lupton, Michigan include accommodations for different camping styles across the Rifle River Recreation Area and surrounding forest land. The area sits within Michigan's northeastern Lower Peninsula at approximately 1,200 feet elevation, with mixed hardwood forests and multiple waterways. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, while summer highs typically reach the upper 70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit.

What to do

Mountain biking trails: Devoe Lake Rustic Campground offers excellent biking opportunities for all skill levels. According to Dawn C., the campground features "amazing views and great riding for all ages!" The trails wind through wooded areas with varying terrain difficulty.

Kayaking and canoeing: Rollways Campground provides convenient access to the Au Sable River. Kelsey P. notes, "What's really awesome about this place is if you pay a little extra, they will provide dropoff and pickup of both your party and all your kayaks to the appropriate points so you don't have to deal with transporting everything yourself."

Wildlife viewing: The lakes within the recreation area support diverse wildlife. Tasha T. from Devoe Lake Rustic Campground shares, "The wildlife is plentiful... The overlook tower is definitely worth the hike and there's a hidden surprise at the same location for those who know where to look."

What campers like

Lake access: Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground offers waterfront sites with easy swimming and paddling access. D G. explains, "Rustic first come first serve sites. Well water pump and vault toilets... All the spots are very large with picnic table and fire pit... The lake is small but good for kayak & paddle boarding."

Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing at Spruce Rustic Campground within the Rifle River Recreation Area. Jason N. describes it as "Small, rustic, remote, clean and quiet. Large and level campsites that are well spaced."

Four-season recreation: While most visitors come during summer, the recreation areas remain open year-round. Zack L. from Ambrose Lake notes that the campground offers "Pretty easy access to the campground and the place was clean. The trailhead is maybe 1/8th of a mile down the only road in and trails were fun on the bike."

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds within the recreation area require advance planning. Erin S. explains at Devoe Lake Rustic Campground, "Sites require a reservation either at the office or Online. Not somewhere you can just pay for on spot because it's in the rifle river recreation area."

Holiday crowds: Several campgrounds experience significant visitor increases during peak weekends. Ashleigh M. from Devoe Lake Rustic Campground shares, "I camped in one of the rustic campgrounds over a holiday weekend and it got a little too rowdy for my tastes."

Water access points: Campgrounds vary in how easily you can reach water. At Spruce Rustic Campground, Jason N. notes, "Although only one of the sites has a river view this campground is ideal for trout anglers. There's an access point to Gamble Creek between sites 171 and 173."

Tips for camping with families

Beach facilities: Grousehaven Campground offers family-focused amenities. Jessica J. mentions it's "Extremely family friendly with a nice beach, park, and picnic area. The campground was always well maintained and had some of the cleanest bathrooms and showers of any campground I have stayed at."

Swimming options: Dennis B. appreciates Grousehaven's water recreation: "The lake is absolutely gorgeous and is paddle only, no motors of any kind. The water was warmish and crystal clear, my 2.5 y/o daughter loved playing at the beach and the shallow swimming area."

Winter preparation: If camping outside summer months, pack additional layers. Temperatures can drop quickly, especially in spring and fall. Hallee L. notes that Grousehaven sites offer "some shade, perfect to park under as we car camped."

Tips from RVers

Site access for larger vehicles: Alcona Park accommodates various RV sizes, though some preparation is needed. Ralph E. advises, "Sites are clean and many have good space for larger campers... some rustic sites could use some dirt to level them up but manageable."

Rustic site considerations: For campers seeking more primitive options, Jason N. from Spruce Rustic Campground confirms, "I got my 20' trailer back there no problem."

Hookup availability: Electric service varies by campground. Alex H. from Rollways Campground cautions, "Only drawback having an RV is there is no dump/fill station so keep that in mind before you arrive, but it is a state forest campground."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Lupton, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, Lupton, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 185 campgrounds and RV parks near Lupton, MI and 4 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Lupton, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lupton, MI is Devoe Lake Rustic Campround — Rifle River Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 12 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Lupton, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Lupton, MI.