Best Tent Camping near Charlevoix, MI

Tent campers visiting Charlevoix, Michigan can find several options across the Grand Traverse region, from established sites to backcountry tent camping. Sand Lakes Quiet Area offers backcountry tent campsites approximately 20 miles south of Charlevoix, with walk-in and drive-in access for tent campers seeking a more remote experience. Pinney Bridge State Forest Campground, located near Mancelona, provides tent-friendly sites with both hike-in and walk-in access options.

Most backcountry tent sites in the region lack amenities like running water and electrical hookups, requiring campers to bring necessary supplies. Sand Lakes Quiet Area features campsites with fire rings, vault toilets, and free primitive tent camping. At Pinney Bridge, sites include picnic tables and trash collection, but the closest parking is 700 yards and 50 feet lower in elevation than the campground. Both locations allow fires where designated rings are available, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. The camping season typically runs from April through October, with some areas remaining accessible year-round.

Areas farther from main roads offer tent campers deeper seclusion with opportunities for fishing, hiking, and wildlife observation. The Sand Lakes Quiet Area provides multiple lakes with excellent fishing opportunities and trails connecting various camping areas. Many tent sites sit near water, offering pleasant views and recreation options. One camper noted, "Amazing fishing and spacious campsites far away from everybody. We caught so many bass we lost count." Privacy varies by location, with some backcountry tent sites offering complete isolation while others may experience weekend crowds during peak summer months. Some campgrounds like C3 Farm Trust provide private tent camping with more seclusion in a rural setting. For tent campers seeking island experiences, North Manitou Island offers backcountry tent sites accessible by boat with acres of wilderness to explore.

Best Tent Sites Near Charlevoix, Michigan (27)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Charlevoix, MI

942 Reviews of 27 Charlevoix Campgrounds


  • Amanda L.
    Aug. 7, 2018

    D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    Sleeping Bear Bliss

    Quiet campground with sites quite close to one another. This campground butts up to the heritage trail, which is 20 miles of hiking, biking, walking, or skiing fun. A short walk will get you to Lake Michigan and it’s sandy beach. Each site has a nice picnic table, a designated tent pad (if it’s a tent site) and a fire ring with a grill top. Firewood is available on site for $5/bundle, vault toilets are also available. No shower facilities. Lots and lots of poison ivy! Stay on the paths!! And tIcks! Stay in trails and out of tall grass or weeds. The tent pad is very compacted ground, definitely need a hammer or decent sized rock to pound in the tent stakes, and also definitely bring a sleeping pad or air mat. Tent sites are only $20/night, but you also need a National Park Pass, which is $20/1 week or $40/ 1 year, so be aware of that! Stayed at site 88, seemed to be a slightly more “roomy” site than others, as there were no neighbors behind us. PLUS thIs Is located very near to thw sleepIng bear dunes and natIonal lake shore!

  • Ash S.
    May. 15, 2022

    Leelanau State Park Campground

    Very peaceful lakeside campground

    No hookups, No problem! Very quiet campground on the Shores of Lake Michigan. Sites are large and private with large fire rings and picnic tables. Vault toilets only but they are kept very clean.

  • Amanda L.
    Aug. 9, 2018

    D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    Perfect Proximity

    This campground is in this system ( the Dyrt) like 3 times under similar names, and I just want to be sure you all know how great it is! This is a first-come-first-served campground, so get there earlier in the day if you want a site, even on a weekday. There are rustic bathrooms, no flushing, no sink, nothing. No showers available here, either. However, it is so close to Glen Haven, Glen Arbor, Empire, and the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The location is truly fabulous. You are able to take a short walk down to Lake Michigan from your site. The sites are hard packed ground, dirt, rocks...so bring a mallet or hammer to pound in your tent stakes! I would also advise a sleeping pad or air mat for this same reason. The tent pads are nice and level though, which is awesome. It rained quite a bit over night when I stayed, so I’m thankful for the level ground. There is LOTS of poison ivy on location, so stay on the trails!!! Sites were only $20/night but you also need a National park pass which is $20/week or $40/year, so be mindful of that. This is also an “Active Black Bear Site,” so everything with a scent—clothes, candles, etc., must be stored in your vehicle. No, we did not see any bears while we were there. Everyone was very friendly, and the campground was so much more quiet than anticipated. It was very peaceful and serene. Firewood is available for purchase on site through a wood vending machine basically, so have $5 bills on hand. Stayed at site #88

  • Ari A.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 26, 2019

    Jones Lake State Forest Campground

    Peaceful spot, plenty of room

    Seems much larger than most state forest campgrounds in Michigan. There are 6 loops here with numerous sites on each loop. And yet, you don't feel crowded in and there's decent privacy in many of the sites. Jones Lake is peaceful and offers some great sunsets. Dirt road leading in is in decent shape and navigable by any size rig. Some of the sites may require some tight maneuvering for larger rigs but site size is good overall. Trees offer good shade cover at different times of the day depending on site location.

    Rustic campground, so no water or electric are available, but there are vault toilets, as well as trash and recycling receptacles.

    Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.

    We had a very pleasant stay.

    Deecnt cell coverage -- 2 bars LTE on Verizon, 2-3 bars LTE on Google Fi.

  • Gemma G.
    Apr. 24, 2019

    Scheck's Place State Forest Campground

    Schecks Place-TRAIL CAMP enjoy privacy, the river, horse trails

    There are 2 sections of Schecks Place. One is a campground with picnic tables and site numbers.

    The other is the trail camp. You drop your money in the box pick a spot of as much space as you want (there is hardly ever a lot of people).

    The last 2 times we went there was maybe one or two people with their horses or just passing thru.

    There are bathrooms and a well for water. No showers No electric.

    The river runs by and is awesome to go tubing down.

    There are trails that go through so if you are an equestrian this spot is perfect.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2023

    D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    Small Sites h

    DH Bear. Sept 2023 (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer). I rate based on desire for at least a moderate wilderness type experience w at least some camp site privacy. Overall Rating: 3.75 Price 2023: Usage during visit: Very full Site Privacy: Most sites are not real great.
    Site Spacing: Close Site surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Fine Road Noise: Bone Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: No. Platt River CG has electricity. Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes Generators: Be careful. Some sites do not allow generators. The more private sites are in the No-generator loop . Bathroom: Yes Showers: No Setting: Forest Weather: Very nice Bugs: Not bad Solar: Most sites do not offer enough sunlight .

  • Emily V.
    Aug. 17, 2018

    Pickerel Lake (Otsego) State Forest Campground

    Great getaway and lots of space!

    Great state forest campground. $15 per night can’t be beat. Sites are great for tents and RVs but no electricity. Hand pump wells for drinking water and vault toilets that are well kept. About 40 spots. All with picnic table and fire ring. Some are closer to the lake than others but good trails to get to the lake. Lake is perfect for swimming.

  • A
    Sep. 11, 2021

    D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    Great spots, close to beach

    Great campsite with spacious sites not too close to each other. Sites are close to the beach (3-5 min walk). Vault toilets are to be expected. Quiet at night when I was there. Easy access to hiking trails and Glen Arbor. Would stay again! $20 for basic tent site (non-electric).

  • R
    Jul. 24, 2022

    D.H. Day Campground — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

    D H Day Campground

    Enjoyed the D H Day Campground. Really liked the elevated boxes for tent placement and the site was clean. Pretty close to your neighbors, but our site still had some good tree cover. Easy walk to Lake Michigan through the campground. Vaulted toilets, community water and trash. Make sure you have bug spray. Great proximity to Glen Arbor and Empire. Short drive to the dunes for hiking and cannot over recommend Empire Beach to watch a sunset.


Guide to Charlevoix

Tent camping around Charlevoix, Michigan offers diverse experiences in the region's northern hardwood forests and along freshwater shorelines. The area sits at elevations between 580-1,060 feet above sea level with summer temperatures averaging 70-80°F during peak camping season. Winter tent camping remains possible at some locations like Graves Crossing State Forest Campground, which stays open year-round with temperatures often dropping below freezing.

What to do

Paddling opportunities: 2-4 hour trips on the Sturgeon River provide tent campers with accessible water recreation. Sturgeon Valley Campground offers direct river access for kayakers. One visitor shared, "Judy is lovely. River access great. My favorite place to camp and kayak."

Island exploration: 12 miles offshore in Lake Michigan awaits an experience unlike mainland camping. North Manitou Island Backcountry Campsites offers 15,000 acres of wilderness for tent campers. "THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! Taking a ferry is definitely an experience but then they drop you off in an old abandon village. From there you take off in any direction and find a cool place to camp," notes one visitor.

Historical sites: 1-2 hour hikes lead to abandoned structures throughout the region. On North Manitou Island, "You can go many miles of hiking, where you will encounter beautiful forest, marsh, dunes, and the abandoned buildings, ruins, and orchards unused for over 100 years."

What campers like

Crystal clear waters: visibility to 10+ feet in many lake locations draws swimmers and photographers. Power Island County Park Primitive Campsites showcases this feature. "The water is visible up to 10' maybe more.. Beautiful Caribbean blue waters," shares one tent camper.

Secluded tent sites: 700+ yards from parking at some locations offers true separation from vehicle noise. At Pinney Bridge State Forest Campground, "This campground is hike in/walk in only. The closest parking space is 700 yards and 50 feet in elevation lower than the campground."

Private beach access: tent-only trails lead to shoreline spots not accessible to day visitors. At South Manitou Island, "Our site had its own access trail to the beach, some area's on this side are sandy beach and some is rocky."

What you should know

Navigation challenges: unmarked paths can confuse first-time visitors to some locations. When tent camping at Sand Lakes Quiet Area, prepare for orientation issues. "We struggled to find this place and knew with the reviews it was possible. We ended up googling it on Google maps because the location on here was off and that got us closer."

Weather conditions: rapid changes occur particularly on island locations. For tent camping on Beaver Island, one camper advises: "Very windy so prepare by packing the right gear. No crowds which are very nice."

Reservation systems: varying procedures exist across campgrounds. When planning tent camping at South Manitou Group, know that "There are three campgrounds on South Manitou Island. All sites are first come first pick."

Tips for camping with families

Pest management: heavy mosquito presence requires preparation during summer months. Bring appropriate repellents for tent camping with children. On South Manitou Island, a camper notes: "Mid July was very buggy."

Water logistics: multi-trip planning needed at locations without nearby sources. "Water is about a mile out so that is a hike. After I bought water pills, so I will be more prepared next time. Friends had filter bags so that was ok."

Beach-friendly sites: shoreline access varies significantly between locations. C3 Farm Trust provides private tent camping options for families seeking controlled environments. A reviewer describes it as "Private tent camping in rural Michigan."

Tips from RVers

Conversion camping: tent options for RVers exist at several locations with size restrictions. Beaver Island Bill Wagner Memorial Campground accommodates tent campers arriving by boat with amenities not found at more primitive sites. "Clean outhouses, nice fire rings, and a water pump. Very windy so prepare by packing the right gear."

Site selection priorities: wind exposure affects comfort significantly in shoreline locations. "Private, quiet, and easy access to the beach (pebbly). Clean outhouses, nice fire rings, and a water pump."

Transportation planning: ferry schedules limit arrival and departure flexibility. When tent camping on islands, "I'd also recommend bringing more food than you think you need, in case the weather turns and the ferry can't pick you up on the day planned."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Charlevoix, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Charlevoix, MI is C3 farm trust with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Charlevoix, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Charlevoix, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.