W. J. Hayes State Park Campground welcomes pets at its modern campsites near Clarklake, Michigan. The park offers full hookup sites with electric, water, and sewer connections alongside pet-friendly tent sites and cabins. Waterloo Recreation Area maintains multiple pet-friendly campgrounds including Portage Lake Modern, Sugarloaf Modern, and Green Lake Rustic, all accommodating dogs with standard 6-foot leash requirements. Ted Ranch Campground and Holiday RV Campground both provide designated pet areas, with Holiday featuring a giant dog park adjacent to fishing ponds. Apple Creek Campground & RV Park and Hideaway RV Park maintain pet-friendly policies throughout their facilities. Most campgrounds require pets to remain leashed at all times, though enforcement varies by location. Campgrounds near Clarklake typically allow multiple pets per site without breed restrictions, though some seasonal campers with larger dogs have created occasional concerns for other guests.
Waterloo Recreation Area's extensive trail network provides excellent dog walking opportunities with multiple access points from pet-friendly campgrounds. Lake Hudson Recreation Area offers secluded, wooded sites with lake access where leashed dogs can swim in designated areas away from the main beach. Several campgrounds feature dedicated dog beaches or swimming areas separate from human swimming zones. The dog park at Holiday RV Campground includes multiple acres for off-leash exercise. Campers report varying levels of rule enforcement regarding the 6-foot leash requirement, with some mentioning encounters with unleashed dogs on trails and in camping areas. Summer temperatures in the region can reach uncomfortable levels for pets, making shaded sites preferable during peak season. Most campgrounds provide water spigots throughout the grounds for pet hydration, though campers should bring portable water dishes for trails and beach areas.
"Most sites around the outside are decently wooded. There’s a nice little mile nature trail through one of those loops. There’s a nice dog run that we took advantage of."
"It has access to Wamplers Lake and there are several other lakes near by. The area is quiet and clean."
$25 / night
"campground though, MIS started a new music night this year at the M50 Creekside campground within the track and the music was so loud that we heard the bass and every lyric at Ted Ranch (which is a mile away from"
"This place is across the street from Michigan international speedway and sure beats fighting all the people/campers in the infield campgrounds!"
"It is a bit of a walk to get to but is handicap accessible.
There are two bathrooms throughout the loop and one at the beach.""A few bathrooms are located around the campground. The spaces are generous and the majority have electricity only. The lake has a little beach with sands. Nice place."
"It is usually easy to get multiple sites next to each other with reservations.
There is a decent sandy beach here with a playground and volleyball net.""There is an outside vault toilet behind the cabin. Lots of trails connecting the cabin to the rest of the park. Cheap too! Only $68 per night."
"There is also nice walking/hiking trails connected right to the property. Our visit was for 2 days/3 nights. Over half the sites are seasonal, so despite a lot of RVs, we saw very few people."
"The group area is circular and surrounded by trees which helped to keep it cool. Each site had electric hook-up and some had water."
$35 - $75 / night
"The campground offered a haunted trail, trick or treating and crafts for the kids."
"Pool, lake, arcade, golf, ice cream parlor. Bathrooms are clean."
$20 - $150 / night
"This small campground (about 40 sites) is well off the beaten path, but still easy to access by road. This is the perfect campground to get back to nature."
"My site has a path right out to the lake. My 2p tent could easily fit on this lakeside spot but it is sadly much too windy on the lake today."
"Quiet, very chill RV park, small beach on a pond for fishing playground for kids and plenty of room for our small dog."
"Giant dog park and ponds. Pool was closed. Just needs more grass. Our spot was really patchy and resulted in a lot of mud. Great campground with polite and helpful staff. Don’t pass this one up."
"Giant dog park and ponds. Pool was closed. Just needs more grass. Our spot was really patchy and resulted in a lot of mud. Great campground with polite and helpful staff. Don’t pass this one up."
"A great campground with its own private lake for fishing and kayaking. Has an impressive indoor gym and climbing wall with many weekend activities for the family."
GuideA mostly seasonal campground that can be had to find. Super amenities with huge pool and large field with dog park, baseball field, bags, basketball and sand volleyball. Many trails to walk.
ScoutWe really enjoyed our stay. The hosts were very welcoming and helpful. Delivered our firewood right to our site. Lots of shade trees, beautiful well groomed trails for walking. Even a dog park, which our Golden Retriever really enjoyed.
GuideNice Park Nice park for full timers. Large spots to accommodate big rigs and kids. Full hook ups. Cell service great with Verizon hotspot(22u, 20d, 38ms and AT&T cell(27d, 20u, 27ms). Playgrounds everywhere for the kids. Giant dog park and ponds. Pool was closed. Just needs more grass. Our spot was really patchy and resulted in a lot of mud. Great campground with polite and helpful staff. Don’t pass this one up.
GuideNice park for full timers. Large spots to accommodate big rigs and kids. Full hook ups. Cell service great with Verizon hotspot (22u, 20d, 38ms and AT&T cell(27d, 20u, 27ms). Playgrounds everywhere for the kids. Giant dog park and ponds. Pool was closed. Just needs more grass. Our spot was really patchy and resulted in a lot of mud.
Great campground with polite and helpful staff. Don’t pass this one up.
GuideWe have been here a few times. Really enjoy the secluded sites and the lake. It’s a small campground but it’s clean and quiet. Most sites don’t have water hookups but they do have electric. There isn’t much to do outside of the campground but there is a nice lake with canoe and kayak rentals. Very pet friendly and even has a dog beach.
RangerThey offer campsites full hookups pet friendly
They offer electric only no pets they offer campsites no pets.
They have a tent only section.
They have a beach, tennis courts, children's playground,rustic cabins, they have a recreation field Kids Activities arts and crafts!!! They have 16 resort cabins, this place is HUGH
Bathrooms were dated and we arrived Monday after Labor Day so I can't judge them. They had a FULL HOUSE on Labor Day per the front gate. I was very impressed there was no garbage at campsites and picked up very well.
GREAT biking trails you can catch on premise and bike over to Kensington and to the charming town of Milford
TravelerNice lakes for swimming and can take your pet as well! Big playground and nice bathrooms
ScoutPet friendly. Great camp store. Clean campground. Nice beach. Beautiful!!
TravelerSites and restrooms were alright, think it is ridiculous to pay extra each night for each pet and children, too many other campgrounds in our area that are more updated and reasonably priced.
Clarklake camping options span across Michigan's Irish Hills region, characterized by rolling terrain and over 50 small lakes within a 20-mile radius. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F during the day with overnight lows in the 50-60°F range. Seasonal sites make up approximately 40-60% of many campgrounds in the area, limiting availability during peak weekends.
Fishing opportunities: W. J. Hayes State Park Campground connects to Wamplers Lake with dedicated fishing areas. "Take the kids there and they love it. Nice little fishing pier and access to Round lake and Wamplers lake. Decent beach and park," notes Gary R.
Stargazing experiences: Lake Hudson Recreation Area holds official dark sky preserve status with minimal light pollution. "The best part of this campground is the stars at night! This is a dark sky preserve campground and the stars are the show. We stayed here at the end of the perseid meteor showers and saw several of falling meteors," shares Michelle M.
Hiking trail access: Multiple trails connect directly to campsites in the region with varying difficulty levels. "We went on both east and west sides of the waterloo-pickney trail, located off the Campground access road. I believe it was the west trail after Cassidy road we experienced some steep inclines," mentions Rebekah J. about Green Lake Rustic Campground.
Swimming beaches: Most lakes feature designated swimming areas with varying bottom conditions. "The lake has a nice beach with sands. Nice place," writes Raul O. about Portage Lake at Waterloo Recreation Area.
Spacious, private sites: Green Lake Rustic Campground offers notably large campsites with views. "The sites are generously sized, with room to stretch out. There isn't much privacy between sites, with a few exceptions, but this campsite is so quiet and well-behaved that it didn't end up mattering much," explains Alaine S.
Proximity to MIS racetrack: Several campgrounds provide convenient access for race events. "This place is across the street from Michigan international speedway and sure beats fighting all the people/campers in the infield campgrounds! We attend the NASCAR race at least once per year and this is our absolute favorite place to camp," shares Stephanie C. about Ted Ranch Campground.
Morning refreshments: Some campgrounds offer unexpected amenities. "Checkin/out was simple, and coffee/hot coco was provided by the campsite each morning. Will be returning to this campsite again. I suggest sites 93-96 for more private/shaded sites," notes Miranda J.
Boat access: Multiple lakes permit varied watercraft with designated launches. "My site has a path right out to the lake. My 2p tent could easily fit on this lakeside spot but it is sadly much too windy on the lake today," describes Jennie S. about Lake Hudson.
Site reservation challenges: Booking patterns can create issues for last-minute campers. "When I booked this camp site, I was originally looking at the Rustic camping on the app The Dyrt. The app brought me to the state park site, campsites looked beautiful and absolutely gorgeous for the rustic, it's showed a picture of the bath house etc," explains Toni B. about Green Lake confusion.
Variable water quality: Lake conditions differ significantly across the region. "The lake is not good for swimming as it is very mucky and covered in Lilly pads," warns Mike B. about Green Lake, while other reviewers note better conditions at larger lakes.
Road noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some otherwise peaceful sites. "A major roadway passes along the other side of the lake making lake front sites noise until about 12am and rear sites sit near a wetland aka the boarder of the mosquito kingdom; neither of these problems are terrible if you plan accordingly," advises Jordan B.
Dog rule enforcement: Waterloo Portage Lake Modern experiences occasional issues with pet management. "The 6-foot leash rules are very clearly stated. There are many campers whose dogs remain the exception and don't abide by the rules. My leashed dod has been threatened by vicious larger unleashed dogs," reports Gary G.
Playground amenities: Multiple dog friendly campgrounds near Clarklake feature dedicated play areas. "Nice little mile nature trail through one of those loops. There's a nice dog run that we took advantage of. The day use area has a nice big grass picnic area," shares Alex H. about W.J. Hayes State Park.
Weekend activities: Holiday RV Campground organizes regular family programming. "Playgrounds everywhere for the kids. Giant dog park and ponds. Pool was closed. Just needs more grass. Our spot was really patchy and resulted in a lot of mud," notes Sean N.
Beach considerations: Sand quality and water conditions vary significantly. "Great for fishing, wildlife viewing and swimming. You must bring your water unless you want to hand pump it from the only central pump," advises Bob J. about Lake Hudson Recreation Area.
Site selection for privacy: Look for outer loop sites with tree buffers. "Hayes State Park is a great little spot in the Irish Hills. Our site was the perfect spot for two tents and a hammock, and I loved the fire pit and table being next to the driveway," shares Emma W.
Hookup limitations: Apple Creek Campground & RV Park provides varied options but with limitations. "Each site had electric hook-up and some had water. The rest of the campground is mostly RV and surrounded by many trees, too. The facilities near the group area were sub-par but were manageable," notes Ryan M.
Site size considerations: Many campgrounds have length restrictions that may not accommodate larger rigs. "If your longer than 40ft be aware most sites will not work for you here, they do have some but the wood line, privacy and nature is great," warns Mano P.
Power management: Some sites require preparation for hookups. "Extension or long electrical cords may be needed, as boxes are at back end and halfway to next site over," advises Cheryl M. about Lake Hudson Recreation Area.
Waste disposal options: Limited dump stations may require planning. "There is no dump station at the campground, but down the road a few miles is a gas station named Yoder's and you can dump for free. The dump station at Yoder's is actually nicer than most campgrounds I have been to," shares Stephanie C.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Clarklake, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Clarklake, MI is W. J. Hayes State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Clarklake, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 103 dog-friendly camping locations near Clarklake, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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