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Best Tent Camping near Clarklake, MI

429 Reviews

The Irish Hills region surrounding Clarklake, Michigan offers several tent camping options within a 30-mile radius. Paradise Campground and Irish Hills Resort Campgrounds in nearby Cement City provide tent-only sites for campers seeking a more rustic experience. Wildwood Acres Campground in Jonesville, operating from May through mid-September, offers tent campsites with basic amenities. For those willing to travel slightly farther, Crooked Lake Rustic Campground in Pinckney Recreation Area provides walk-in tent sites with lake views and a more secluded camping experience.

Tent camping facilities in the Clarklake area vary considerably in their amenities and accessibility. Most tent-only sites feature fire rings and picnic tables, though firewood availability differs between locations. Paradise Campground notably lacks firewood, showers, and trash facilities, requiring campers to pack in their own supplies and pack out waste. Appleton Lake Campground, though farther from Clarklake, offers primitive tent camping with vault toilets and fire rings but no hookups or RV accommodations. Seasonal considerations are important, as many campgrounds in the region operate only from May through September or early November, with 6 Lakes Campground in Hillsdale maintaining a May 1 to November 30 season.

Tent campers visiting the Clarklake region often note the varying levels of privacy between sites. According to reviews of similar rustic campgrounds in Michigan, sites with mature trees provide better seclusion. One visitor to Appleton Lake Campground reported that "sites were fairly secluded from each other with fire rings and ample space to park and set up a tent." Wildlife encounters are common, with raccoons sometimes being problematic after dark. Backcountry tent camping experiences can be found at Crooked Lake, where campers describe "awesome lake views" and "a great slice of wilderness." The proximity to water features enhances many primitive tent camping experiences in the region, with 6 Lakes Campground offering tent sites with "the perfect amount of shade" near water access points.

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Best Tent Sites Near Clarklake, Michigan (20)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Clarklake, MI

14 Photos of 20 Clarklake Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Clarklake, MI

429 Reviews of 20 Clarklake Campgrounds

  • Megan T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 11, 2019

    White Oak Campground

    Peaceful Greenery

    I had a friend's wedding at The Stables (which I didn't realize was 3 min away) and decided to camp here rather than get a hotel. I set up right at 3 at Site 7 - there's no check-in process or attendant. I hadn't printed my permit, so I wondered if I would get a visit from a ranger but all was quiet. The site was spacious, sandy, and well suited for both tent and hammock. The fire ring was in good condition and fire wood was already stacked. The property was well maintained and the bathrooms clean and cool - the women's did have some standing water from a leaky toilet it looked like. You can hear distant cars and some not so distant planes. Also, while all the sites are wooded the woods are not very thick so you can see and hear your neighbors pretty well. Site number three looks at the most secluded to me while site number four was pretty much in the open beside the bathrooms. Group sites were full sun it appeared. The stream behind my site was dry. Nice map and brochures at the parking area. Sturdy picnic tables.

  • L
    Oct. 15, 2018

    White Oak Campground

    BEAUTIFUL! 10/10 would camp here again!

    Campground is nicely kept, only 5 individual sites, has two group sites. Nice restroom facilities, FREE firewood available. Grey water sinks for dish cleaning. Picnic table and fire ring at each site. Parking is general, but close to each site. We were there on a Monday night, only had one other tent in the campground. Nice flat sand pads for tents to set up on!

    DOWNSIDE: MUST RESERVE ONLINE BEFORE 4PM. There is no walk-up service, and online site goes down after employees go home at night.

  • Don H.
    Jul. 9, 2019

    Island Lake Recreation Area

    Hidden Canoe Camps

    Island Lake Recreation Area is home to two Huron River Canoe Camps. The sites are boat-in only (!) meaning you must haul any and all gear in a kayak or canoe for your stay. The sites, Canoe Camp #1 and #2, can be only be reserved by calling or visiting the main office.

    This is an awesome place to stay, especially if you live in the area, as it provides a backcountry, boat-in camping experience very close to town. The sites each feature a fire ring and picnic table. Canoe #1 sports a floating dock to tie up boats. There is also a vault toilet, and firewood provided for both sites to share, as well recycling and trash cans.

    The sites and common area (toilet and garbage cans) are connected by short trails and you may, once in awhile, hear the folks at the site next to you. Thankfully, In my experience, people have always been friendly and respectful.

  • Ryan F.
    Oct. 20, 2021

    Brighton Recreation Area

    Lake Murray Rustic Sites

    This was our first camping experience in Michigan, so we weren’t exactly prepared. My rating takes this into consideration.

    First of all, if it’s rainy or muddy, you might want to think twice about entering the rustic camping area. We have a 4Runner, so it was no problem but a few little cars did slide around and have trouble on the hill by our site.

    Our site wasn’t level, so we were rolling around a bit. If I went there again I’d try to find a spot towards the end of the loop by the exit. These sites were higher and some of them were private. I’d examine the map carefully because some of the sites were horrendously open and basically on the road. Maybe good for a vehicle with a rooftop tent or a trailer of some sort, but it would have been annoying for us. Site M22 was big and far enough away from other campers, but again not level. Probably a good location for a group of hammock campers.

    All that aside, the biggest problem was mosquito activity. The camping area sits on an inaccessible lake with a marsh area.

    When we rolled in the first thing we noticed was that everyone had screen houses set up.

    We didn’t have anything but our tent and a hammock with a big net so everyone got bitten up while cooking and hanging out by the fire. It was pretty miserable. Yes, I realize this is mostly our fault.

    I’ve since purchased a thermacell backpacker and some bug net hats and stuff. I’m looking into constructing an ultralight screen house that can be suspended from trees.

    The last problem was drunk campers hooting and hollering all night but that isn’t the camping areas fault.

    This place is super close to where we are living so I’ll probably schedule it next spring and come prepared. There are lots of nearby lakes and recreational trails so it’s a fun place to be with family.

  • beth S.
    Aug. 13, 2022

    Lansing Cottonwood Campground

    Primitive Sites!

    We came to the Lansing area for a family function and stayed at one of the Primitive Sites at Cottonwood Campground. The front of the grounds did seem a bit congested and not many trees, but we had a primitive site and it was everything we wanted. We camped in hammocks and had a pretty large site with great trees that could accommodate at least three to four hammocks (siteP5). Our site had a picnic table which was very helpful to have. There are a lot of wildlife noises, owls, frogs, crickets, etc. and you can hear some of the highway traffic but the nature sounds kind of drown it out.

    Overall was a good experience and staff were friendly and the primitive sites were over half empty. We will definitely come again.

    Second night, it had rained pretty much all day. Spiders came out at alarming numbers, mostly daddy long legs and the night before, raccoons had gotten into our food storage bins by undoing the side latches on them. The next night we made sure to house trash and food items in our truck.

  • Mike B.
    Sep. 3, 2018

    Appleton Lake Campground

    Quiet, private rustic campground

    I liked that this campground had sites that were fairly secluded from each other. Each site has a fire ring and ample space to park your vehicle and set up a tent or small trailer.

    My only complaint is the vault toilets were not clean and very full.

  • J
    Jun. 9, 2019

    Green Lake Rustic Campground — Waterloo Recreation Area

    Rustic campground near civilization

    This campground is part of the Waterloo State Recreation area, about 6 miles north of Chelsea MI. Sites are decent-sized, not much privacy between some sites. Only a couple of sites overlook the lake. Picnic table, fire ring, vault toilet and hand pump water. Quiet little campground.

  • Mike B.
    Sep. 5, 2018

    Green Lake Rustic Campground — Waterloo Recreation Area

    Rustic Campground Close to Town

    I stayed here with my kids because it was close to home and town. It makes for an easy getaway for a night or two.

    It is rustic with just vault toilets. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring.

    The lake is not good for swimming as it is very mucky and covered in Lilly pads.

    It can fill up quick because it is close to town.

    There is a Yurt for rent here as well through the Waterloo Recreation web page.

  • Kate K.
    Aug. 22, 2019

    Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern — Waterloo Recreation Area

    A Wonderful Winter Getaway

    We stayed in the Southfork Rustic Cabin at the end of Feb and it was lovely much needed get away. The cabin was semi modern (solar lighting) but only a wood stove for heat. Small kitchen unit with table for eating. You had to hike in about a quarter mile to get there, and it sleeps four people with two bunk beds. 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.

Guide to Clarklake

Tent camping opportunities near Clarklake, Michigan extend beyond the immediate area into surrounding communities within a 30-40 mile radius. The region sits within Michigan's southern lake district at approximately 1,000 feet elevation, characterized by rolling hills and numerous kettle lakes formed by glacial activity. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F during camping season, with cooler nights requiring adequate sleeping gear.

What to do

Water recreation access: Crooked Lake Rustic Campground provides direct water access for swimming and paddling. One camper noted, "The views of the lake are awesome, it's a great slice of wilderness in this part of the state," though they also mentioned wishing "there were better noise restrictions and the campgrounds were more separated."

Trail running and hiking: Appleton Lake Campground features multiple trail systems suitable for various skill levels. A visitor mentioned, "Great trails - perfect for trail running," while another advised, "Watch out for ticks though."

Fishing opportunities: Multiple small lakes near Clarklake offer fishing without large motorboat traffic. Smaller watercraft work best, as one camper at Appleton Lake stated, "Appleton lake is perfect for kayaking or very small fishing boats. No real beach area at this lake but Brighton rec is minutes away."

What campers like

Lake connectivity: 6 Lakes Campground features an unusual water system allowing exploration of multiple connected waterways. According to one camper, "Has a boat access, with a beautiful lake. You can go through little canals to get to other parts of the lake."

Shaded sites: Tree cover provides relief during summer months. Sites at 6 Lakes Campground have "perfect amount of shade," making them comfortable during peak season heat.

Wildlife viewing: The natural setting supports diverse wildlife observation opportunities. Be aware that after dark, some campgrounds experience active nocturnal visitors. One camper at Appleton Lake Campground reported, "The camp site itself was nice, but once it got dark, we were fighting off about 10 raccoons all night."

What you should know

Site selection matters: At Crooked Lake Rustic Campground, terrain varies considerably between sites. A camper in a van noted, "Staff helped us choose a site that had good views and felt private (SITE #22). It was a little slanted, but it didn't bother me."

Toilet facilities: Most rustic campgrounds in the area provide only vault toilets with varying maintenance. One Appleton Lake visitor complained, "My only complaint is the vault toilets were not clean and very full."

Seasonal operations: Most tent camping facilities near Clarklake operate on limited schedules. Wildwood Acres Campground runs May 1 to September 15, while Wheel Inn Campground remains open year-round, providing an option for off-season tent camping.

Campground size variation: Some locations offer more privacy than others. Appleton Lake provides "sites that were fairly secluded from each other," while a camper described it as a "quiet, private rustic campground."

Tips for camping with families

First-time camping: Appleton Lake Campground works well for introducing children to camping. A visitor shared, "Great starter campground which is just what we wanted - my buddy and I took his 6 year old camping for the first time."

Hygiene considerations: Tent campers staying at rustic sites can sometimes access facilities at nearby developed campgrounds. One resourceful camper at Appleton advised, "You can take a shower and the Main site," referring to nearby Brighton Recreation Area's modern facilities.

Alternative accommodations: For families wanting a tent camping experience with more comfort options, Way Back In Campground offers tent sites alongside cabin rentals for mixed groups with different comfort needs.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Most tent camping areas near Clarklake have limited space for larger vehicles. Wheel Inn Campground is one of few locations accommodating larger rigs, described by a visitor as "very clean and nice camp ground."

Water hookups: RVers needing services while still enjoying a rustic experience should note that Wildwood Acres provides electric and water hookups at tent sites without offering full shower facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Clarklake, MI is Paradise Campground with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

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