15 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Ortonville Equestrian Campground serves riders with rustic vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings in a specialized equestrian camping area. Located within Ortonville Recreation Area, the campground features a staging area for horse trailers along with standard amenities. While the campground itself is basic, the property includes excellent trail systems suitable for horseback riding. The trails are consistently well maintained and clearly marked for easy navigation. Access to two lakes and launches enhances the recreational opportunities for equestrians camping at this location. Campground reviews indicate the site is quite popular among horse owners despite its simple amenities.
Highland State Recreation Area offers rustic camping with spacious sites ideal for equestrian campers. The recreation area features extensive trails specifically designed for horseback riding, along with paths for hiking and biking. Private, quiet campsites provide ample room for both horses and camping equipment. The natural scenery includes fields of flowers and trees, creating an appealing environment for trail riding. A quiet lake located on the property allows horses to cool off after a day on the trails. The park's large campsites accommodate horse trailers, and the extensive trail network provides varied terrain for riders of different experience levels. The trails remain well-maintained throughout the riding season, with multiple routes to explore the 5,900-acre recreation area.
"Great hiking and world class mountain bike trails. Nice big lake. Only drawback is you must drive to the lake or hike 1.8 miles through the woods on a trail to get there. No camp store."
"An extensive horse back riding trail system and MTB trails are easily accessible."
from $22 / night
Check Availability"There are over 20 sites, about half of which are located lake side (not directly on the lake, but there are little paths that lead you there and you can somewhat see the water from these sites.)"
"Wish there was a few additional water filling points and that the dumpsters were all located near the camp entrance/exit. But really nothing to complain about. "
"The park has a beautiful 2.5 mile trail around the lake that makes this campground great. We brought our own kayaks but they do rent boats. We saw deer and rabbit."
"Always a great local retreat away from our hectic daily life. Don’t have to travel far to find some nature. Most sites generously sized, hookups available, clean restrooms."
"Great time to unplug and just enjoy our surroundings and begin to learn our own creativity!"
"This is one of our family's favorite close to home sites. Extra large camp sites, lots of room for the kids to run around. Extensive trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding."
"Campground Review: Bishop Lake is a great campground located in the middle of the Brighton Rec Area. The upper and lower campgrounds are both modern, with every site including electric."
"Great family place with paved and dirt biking/hiking trails. Very nice beach with grass and sand. There are 2 areas of inflatables, one of them is for the little kids 48 in. and under."
from $17 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Addison Oaks is a campground that features hiking and mountain biking trails, campground, cabins, disc golf course, and a lake for boating."
"The grounds are huge with bike/hike trails, a lake and a disc golf course. Mountain biking seems to be very popular there are dirt trails off the paved hiking loop."
"The campground here is actually a quite popular equestrian campground. There is a campground and a staging area. Rustic vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings."
"This is another great scout ing campground with cabins, rustic camping, tent sites, lakes, horses to ride, this is one HUGE camp ground for scouts to enjoy and learn.."
"Large play areas, dog run, basketball court, lots of walking trails, and family friendly."
"The location is pretty great, off the beaten path but, within 30 minutes of major stores and conveniences. "
"As an added plus a horse barn (Heavenly Horse Stables) right on property offering riding lessons, trail rides and meet and greets with their houses and other barn animals, my daughter wanted to move here"
"Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably."
from $20 - $35 / night
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LegendThe campground here is actually a quite popular equestrian campground. There is a campground and a staging area. Rustic vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground itself isn’t really much to write home about (unless you have horses that is). The lakes and launches are however very nice and there are some great trail systems through the area.
GuideVery nice sites. Wooded and up north feel. Great hiking and world class mountain bike trails. Nice big lake. Only drawback is you must drive to the lake or hike 1.8 miles through the woods on a trail to get there. No camp store. Equestrian trails and I hear they have a remote control airplane field and shooting range.
TravelerFriendly staff, clean park, close to supermarkets and other food locations. RV repair and sales nearby. I got lucky and woke up to a horse and dog competition at no extra cost to me.
ScoutWhat started as a little get away turned into not wanting to leave! A swimming pool and playground with basketball court to keep my kids entertained and clean facilities convinced me I had made the right choice. As an added plus a horse barn (Heavenly Horse Stables) right on property offering riding lessons, trail rides and meet and greets with their houses and other barn animals, my daughter wanted to move here. Other perks to this campground: Openings to Pinckney State trails right on property and all sorts of lakes, parks and small town downtown areas for food and shopping nearby, H.C.R.C. was a hidden gem.
LegendThis is a typical fairground campground with open grassy areas for campsites surrounded by barns and tracks. The fairgrounds is located just off I-94 which makes for easy entrance and exit to the campground, but, means there is lots of road noise. Close by are plenty of stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. In fact, there is a gap in the fence that runs around the fairgrounds allowing you to walk to a Walmart, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, and more.
We arrived without a reservation and the women in the office was very helpful providing a map with all available sites during our stay and letting us choose which one we wanted. One of the first things you notice is that a number of people are here long-term so we went to the back area hoping it would be quieter and less crowded. A number of the campsites are “buddy” sites meaning your patio opens to your neighbors so be careful which one you pick. This is pretty undesirable when the neighbor is a total stranger so we chose a site where we didn’t have anyone next to us.
They offer 50 amp full hook-up sites, 50 amp/water, and 30 amp/water sites with pull-thru and back-in options. There is a dump station located in the middle of the park which is easy to get to. The roads are wide and a lack of trees makes this campground accessible for any size RV. The sites are level but some lack grassy making the patio pretty dusty or muddy. Unfortunately, where we were was pretty muddy just after a light rain. This campground works best for RV’s and not tents. For tenters there is a designated section that is set in a corner of the park with large trees for shade but not much privacy between you and others. A water spigot is in the tent area and there was one picnic table. The camp office sells firewood but we only saw two fire pits in the whole park. Be aware that noise from the interstate and nearby train tracks may make for a restless night. Bathrooms are centrally located in the campground and were old and tired but relatively clean. On-site laundry is available.
Apparently, management is having some issues with campers not obeying some of the rules. One of the sad things about this campground is that campers have to be reminded to clean up after their dogs. Apparently, it is such an issue that we got a letter stating that if you don’t pick up your dogs poop you would be asked to leave. How sad is that? There is free WiFi which worked pretty well. Upon checking in, we had to sign a piece of paper stating that we would not download copyrighted material or stream movies or we would be asked to leave.
My favorite aspect of this campground is that they had a community garden that you were welcome to pick from. We got tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, broccoli, and more. Overall, this campground was fine for the few nights we were here and close to the attractions we wanted to visit. We never felt unsafe even though it was close to major cities. We chose this campground because we wanted to go to Ann Arbor and Dearborn and it was a very convenient location.
Pros:
· Good location if you want to visit Ann Arbor and Dearborn
· Close to interstate for easy access
· Long, level sites that will fit any RV
· Community garden you can pick from vegetables
· Stores and restaurants are nearby (some within walking distance)
Cons:
· Lots of road noise from I-94
· No trees for shade or privacy
· Would not recommend for tent camping
· Many campers are long-term
· “Buddy” campsites with patios facing each other
GuideThis is another great scout ing campground with cabins, rustic camping, tent sites, lakes, horses to ride, this is one HUGE camp ground for scouts to enjoy and learn..
ScoutA very quiet campground. The sites are spread out and only 2 vehicles per site are allowed. The East campground is more open and had 3 small cabins that can be rented. The West camping is more wooded and isolated. An extensive horse back riding trail system and MTB trails are easily accessible.
TravelerThis was our first time staying here. Great private campground with rustic, elec, water/elec (30 amp), and concrete pad sites. Very clean campground with nice shower house. Owners are very friendly. Direct connections to the Waterloo Pinckney trail system. Near Hell, Michigan and Chelsea, Michigan. Large pool in season. Priced reasonably.
ScoutThis is a fabulous campground! There are over 20 sites, about half of which are located lake side (not directly on the lake, but there are little paths that lead you there and you can somewhat see the water from these sites.) There is a boat launch on one end of campground and the amazing beach on the other. The water is clear and warm (perfect lake for swimming) and there is both sand and grassy areas on the fairly large beach. The beach also offers picnic tables and benches. The only negative aspect I can see about this campground is that the sites are right on top of each other, so if you have a loud group or a generator next to you, it is noisy. But most campgrounds have sites set real close together, so you will find this pretty much everywhere. Def camp here! About an hours drive from a Pictured Rocks National Park. There are no showers or running water. Camp hosts were very nice, helpful, & welcoming.
Equestrian camping near Village of Clarkston, Michigan offers diverse terrain across numerous recreation areas spanning nearly 40,000 combined acres. The region features glacial topography with rolling hills, kettle lakes, and mixed hardwood forests at elevations ranging from 900-1100 feet above sea level. Seasonal temperatures range from summer highs in the mid-80s to winter lows below freezing, making spring through fall the primary camping seasons.
Trail riding opportunities: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area provides extensive equestrian-friendly paths through diverse terrain. According to Christine A., "This is one of the best areas for hiking and biking and kayaking and swimming." The park's trail system connects directly to the campground, allowing riders immediate access.
Fishing at nearby lakes: Seven Lakes State Park Campground offers multiple water bodies for fishing enthusiasts. Kate K. notes, "This place has great water so bring a boat, board, or kayak. Very popular for fishing and paddling." Fishing licenses required for ages 17+, with daily and seasonal options available.
Mountain biking excursions: The region's varied terrain supports excellent mountain biking trails at several parks. Christie V. mentions at Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, "Very nice sites. Wooded and up north feel. Great hiking and world class mountain bike trails."
Winter activities: Several recreation areas remain open year-round for winter camping and activities. The trails convert to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing routes during winter months, with rentals available at some parks for $15-25 per day.
Private, wooded sites: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area earns praise for its secluded feel despite proximity to urban areas. Sam H. describes, "The spots are all pretty private due to trees and vegetation. Nice fire pit. Water hookup and dump on site." Most sites have 30-40 feet between neighbors.
Clean facilities: Brighton Recreation Area maintains well-kept shower buildings and restrooms. Brianna S. notes, "Large campsite with trees, lit path to the bathroom, and easy access to hiking trails and boat launch." Most modern campgrounds feature hot showers and flush toilets.
Accessibility to water recreation: Multiple parks feature lakes with swimming areas and boat access. According to Melissa M., Brighton Recreation Area has a lake where "you can rent kayaks, paddle boards, row boats or paddle boats." Rental prices typically range from $10-30 per hour depending on equipment.
Wildlife viewing: The parks host diverse wildlife populations. DeijaNay H. at Seven Lakes comments, "The trails are consistently well kept and easily marked to follow." Campers regularly report seeing deer, wild turkeys, waterfowl, and occasional fox.
Bug preparation essential: Multiple parks report significant insect activity, especially in warmer months. Kristina J. warns about Pontiac Lake: "There are tons of mosquitoes and ticks, so make sure you bring bug spray. Also make sure that all food and garbage is secure at night, the raccoons have no fear."
Site selection considerations: Brighton Bishop Lake Campground has varied site layouts. Debra B. notes, "Our campsite had a view of the lake, but no shade." Research site maps carefully before booking as shade availability varies significantly.
Distance to amenities: Some campgrounds have facilities spread across large areas. Renee R. points out about Pontiac Lake, "Only drawback is the distance from the lake. The lake is not within walking distance, you would need to drive."
Reservation requirements: Most parks require advance booking through the Michigan DNR reservation system, especially during peak season (May-September). Reservations typically open 6 months in advance with $8-10 reservation fees plus nightly rates.
Playgrounds and activities: Covenant Hills Camp offers extensive family programming. C P. shares, "Lots of things to do. climbing wall, zip line, swimming, fishing a lot of pike." Many activities included with camping fees, though some specialty programs have additional costs.
Beach options: Several parks feature swimming beaches with varying amenities. Holly S. describes Seven Lakes State Park: "The campground has a private lake that's good for swimming and fishing. Plenty of hiking/biking trails easily accessed from the campground."
Bike-friendly environment: Many campgrounds have paved roads suitable for children cycling. Andy B. notes about Seven Lakes, "The campground itself was a small loop; so not so much bike/scootering unless the kids like a big circle." Consider bringing bikes for recreation within campgrounds.
Wildlife education: Parks often offer ranger-led programs during summer weekends, typically 1-2 hours in duration. Programs cover local ecology, wildlife identification, and conservation topics appropriate for various age groups.
Hookup locations: Addison Oaks County Park provides electrical and water connections at sites. Richard T. explains, "Sites have electricity and water and are well spaced out." Some parks have connections positioned far from parking pads, requiring extension cords and longer hoses.
Pad types and leveling: Different campgrounds offer varied parking surfaces. Tim O. describes Addison Oaks: "Nice park, family friendly, very clean and maintained." Many sites feature paved or gravel pads, though some may require leveling blocks.
Dump station access: Most parks with RV camping provide dump stations, though not all sites have full hookups. Sanitation facilities typically open April through October, closing during winter freezing conditions.
Big rig considerations: Several campgrounds accommodate larger RVs but have specific loops or sites designated for them. Site lengths range from 25-50 feet depending on the park and specific site location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Village of Clarkston, MI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Village of Clarkston, MI is Pontiac Lake Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Village of Clarkston, MI?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 equestrian camping locations near Village of Clarkston, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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