Top Tent Camping near Clayton, MI

Looking for tent camping near Clayton? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Clayton, Michigan's most popular destinations.

Best Tent Sites Near Clayton, MI (21)

Showing results 1-10 of 21 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews In Clayton

463 Reviews of 21 Clayton Campgrounds


  • Wendy F.
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Hudson State Recreation Area
    Oct. 14, 2024

    Lake Hudson State Recreation Area

    Spacious sites

    What an absolute gem of a state park. Almost every site is private, with a few exceptions. Nice trails, well built picnic tables, and huge fire pits. Overall a fantastic experience.

  • Adrienne N.
    Camper-submitted photo from Way Back In Campground
    Oct. 12, 2024

    Way Back In Campground

    Do not recommend

    We camped at Way Back campground llc in Michigan for three seasons, initially building strong friendships with the owners and their grandchildren. Our kids would eagerly await our weekly arrivals during the summers, often chatting and playing video games during the off-season. The campground initially offered family-friendly activities like hayrides and crafts.. these dwindled to events that included only our children and the owners' grandchildren, often overshadowed by drunken behavior unsuitable for kids. By the second season, that sense of community soured when the owners' friends/family began uninvited weekend parties on our campsite. Groups would show up, using our firewood and partying late into the night while our kids struggled to sleep, often leaving only after we became assertive and telling them to leave so we could go to bed. This disregard for our family's needs, compounded by other unsettling issues made it clearly evident that Way Back is not a family friendly campground. Our campsite being littered with debris from a previous burned, condemned camper on our lot, promises of cleanup that went unfulfilled for 3 seasons. Obscene drunken adult behaviors in front of children that went unaddressed, only created a growing sense of disappointment. We also faced safety concerns, such as homeless individuals using drugs and living in the campgrounds. Convicted sexual offenders and known drug addicts in the park. Hostile fighting and commotion usually provoked by and instigated by the owners. A lingering presence of inappropriate adults around children at the park. Despite our initial rapport and giving the owners multiple chances to make improvements, issues only escalated, leading us to strongly advise against this campground. (Photos from last day. The glass and Debris has been collected like that every weekend for the last 3 years)

  • Mano P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sterling State Park
    Sep. 28, 2024

    Sterling State Park

    Travel Trailers

    This park will accommodate any size travel trailer? Fifth wheel camper of any kind, the pull throughs are huge. The park is enormous with lots of fishing activities. Great water, the only downfall is there's no shade. Showers and restrooms are updated and always clean.

  • Mano P.
    Camper-submitted photo from W. J. Hayes State Park
    Sep. 28, 2024

    W. J. Hayes State Park

    Travel Trailers

    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. Lots of activities for the family by camp staff. Water sports and lots of trails

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Indian Creek Camp & Conference Center
    Sep. 23, 2024

    Indian Creek Camp & Conference Center

    Super friendly staff

    I only stayed one night. I am a tent camper and where I was, it was only me in a fenced in area. I was right next to a cow field. The cows did not moo all night and there was no foul order. I needed no amenities so I can't vouch for that

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Harrison Lake State Park
    Aug. 24, 2024

    Harrison Lake State Park

    Great site!

    Our first time at this park and got lucky with our site. The pad was a little unlevel but easy to fix. The fire ring was fantastic and had pea gravel around it so if it rained it wasn’t a muddy mess. Great site with grass for tents and no one behind us besides a cornfield. We had a sidewalk next to us to the bathroom but there were so many bathrooms we didn’t have very many people pass by. It had pretty decent shade but unfortunately a sweet gum tree nearby so watch out if you’re barefoot. The shower house was nice but no benches in the stall and only had curtains. They were very clean and the camp hosts were friendly. We are headed back in September!

  • Gary G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Sterling State Park
    Aug. 7, 2024

    Sterling State Park

    Nothing seems enforced here

    Stayed 5 days. Had a FHU site, of which there's a lot here. That all worked fine. Almost no trees here. None of the usual painted lines on the pavement to indicate your site boundaries, which sucks. You have to guess, and hope your neighbor doesn't spread out.

    Nothing seems enforced here, and I mean nothing. Rarely saw anyone patrolling the park, never saw any staff checking sites before the next camper came in. My site had dog droppings and cigarette butts in the firepit. Neighbors had FOUR vehicles on site, two more than the rules. Witnessed endless speeding and people going the wrong way on the roads. Without exaggerating, 80% of the cars were going too fast, 75% going the wrong way. No one seems to care or enforces anything. I think the supervisor here should be fired or retrained. I camp in 4 to 8 MI state parks per summer, this is the only one where it felt like no one cares.

    They need some "wrong way" signs and "speed limit 10" signs. (15 is too high, cause 15 means 20 to people, 10 means 15... ). Then they need to care.

    At least the bathrooms were clean.

    You can get TV from Detroit or Toledo, and T-Mobile service was ok.

    Groceries and many dining options not far off.

    We're 50/50 on staying here ever again.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Toledo East-Stony Ridge KOA
    Aug. 5, 2024

    Toledo East-Stony Ridge KOA

    Small basic campground near Toledo

    Our site was $59.95 a night.

    We were in Site# 504. We had Full hook- up with a gravel pull-through.
    We travel towing a 14 foot trailer and were able to fit both in our pull through site along with my jeep. The site was easy to level. We were charged $25 additional for my jeep since we were towing the trailer. We also were charged $10 because we arrived at 1:25 PM and check-in is at 2 PM. The park was close to empty so arriving early was not an inconvenience. We drove ourselves to our spot (no escort).

    Our site was shaded with lots of trees. This was a smaller lot with our neighbors fairly close.

    The lot comes with a concrete patio with picnic table and fire ring. They sell wood for $6 a bundle.

    There is free WiFi, although not strong. They offer Cable TV and there are many channels.

    There is not a community outdoor kitchen or community fire pit.

    They pickup your garbage at your site daily before noon.

    You are allowed to ride personal golf carts. They do not provide golf cart rentals. There is really not a need to have a Golf cart because it is a smaller campground.

    They do have a Swimming pool but it is currently closed due to maintenance (although it just looked closed- no signs of maintenance being done).

    There is a Playground. They also offer horseshoes, corn hole, giant jinga.

    They have a basic general store. There are not scheduled activities for kids.

    There is not a snack bar/restaurant on site.

    The streets are gravel so not great for riding bikes. This is an RV park with tent camping and cabins to rent.

    They have one shower house. The shower house has individual bathrooms with your own sink, shower, toilet. These are kept very clean.

    There is a laundry facility. It is a cash only facility, but they have a change machine. There are approximately 4 washers and 4 dryers. It is approximately $2.50 to wash and $2.50 to dry a load.

    They have a small fenced in dog park.

    There isn’t tons to doin the actual city of Perryville. But Toledo is a 20 minute drive.

  • Ronald B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Hell Creek Ranch & Campground
    Jul. 29, 2024

    Hell Creek Ranch & Campground

    Great Campground

    Great out of the way campground. It was nice and quiet. Bathrooms were clean and well kept. The gentleman that checked us in moved things around so we could all be together not on different sites well away frome each other. Would definitely go there again.

  • Tony T.
    Camper-submitted photo from Harrison Lake State Park
    Jul. 22, 2024

    Harrison Lake State Park

    Great Campground

    The sites in the tent-only section were well sized and shady. We were on the lake side and were able to get some nice views of Harrison Lake. There were families on either side of us with little kids who were well behaved, albeit a little noisy (i.e a really young child was screaming for about 2 minutes straight non-stop at 9 am until finally the parents said something). Bathroom facilities (single occupancy with shower) were about a 3 minute walk and were clean. Good stay!

  • Miranda J.
    Camper-submitted photo from W. J. Hayes State Park
    Jul. 15, 2024

    W. J. Hayes State Park

    Hayes State Park

    We stayed in a tent on site 32, this was a very nice campground, peaceful, with trails and ample shade. Campsites were decently sized, fire pits were big, $5 per bundle of dry wood, showers were private with hot water, and there were activities and a beach/playground for kids. 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.

  • Wendy F.
    Camper-submitted photo from Hideaway RV Park
    Jul. 15, 2024

    Hideaway RV Park

    Great 1st camping experience

    This was our 1st ever camping trip and it was a delight. Pull thru spot, super easy to get to, full hookup. Spots had plenty of room, some had grass others had concrete. Quiet, very chill RV park, small beach on a pond for fishing playground for kids and plenty of room for our small dog. Linda (owner) was amazing, very helpful and easy to use venmo for payment and for firewood use. Overall a great experience , would definitely visit again. Plenty to do around town, lakes everywhere just have to choose which one to go to.

  • Gary G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bruin Lake - Pinckney SRA
    Jul. 12, 2024

    Bruin Lake - Pinckney SRA

    Great staff, good hosts, not bad

    Camped here thru the 4th of July weekend. The staff kept noise and other stupidity tamped down. They say quiet time is all the time, and I love that.

    Typical MI state park, sites are electric (30a and/or 50a) only.

    No real beach, but there is a swimming area. Picked up Detroit TV stations easily, good for the rainy mornings we had.

    With T-Mobile, Internet service was practically non-existent. Phone calls & texts worked. The camper across from us said it was the same for Verizon.

    One section is mostly paved & ADA sites, the "upper" section is grassy and/or dirt. Both restroom/shower buildings were fine, I just wish they had posted times when they'll be closed for cleaning.

    All in all, we'd have no problem returning here.

  • Kyla T.
    Camper-submitted photo from Twin Pines Campground & Canoe Livery
    Jun. 27, 2024

    Twin Pines Campground & Canoe Livery

    Quaint, pretty, and fun!

    I visited this campground last summer! It was a smaller campground, but very woodsy (just how I like it)! They have kayak/canoeing, a playground area for the kids, and good site sizes. The only thing that wasn’t pleasant was the beach area (too small and muddy), and the fact that my boyfriend’s mother had to pull off leeches various different times after being in the water!

  • Kelsey S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sterling State Park
    Jun. 15, 2024

    Sterling State Park

    Great spot!

    Wonderful views from site 117. We booked the last spot of the night. It was an easy pull through with water, electric, and sewer hookup. You are right across from some good walking trails and walking distance to the beach. Lots of electric scooters, dogs, and bikes around.

  • l
    Camper-submitted photo from Mary Jane Thurston State Park
    Jun. 14, 2024

    Mary Jane Thurston State Park

    Good spot.

    We had spot 8 and it was a good spot. It was a pull through spot that could fit a pretty large RV we will be staying here again if it is close on our travels. Highly recommend

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Happy Acres Campground
    Jun. 4, 2024

    Happy Acres Campground

    Stay in the Skybox

    We rented site 95 in the “skybox” it’s on the backside of the property. Super clean campground with friendly workers and seasonal residents were so friendly. Enjoyed the pool, pickleball and walking the trails. Has a 9hole disc golf. Very cool place and Angola has a lot to offer.

  • Mitchell S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Marble Springs Campground
    Jun. 4, 2024

    Marble Springs Campground

    More rules then posted refused to update rules.

    Fishing but is catch and release. It is not posted any where in the rules or at the fishing spots. Nore was I told this be fore being warned about it. Cancled season and went to where I could catch and eat.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Maumee Bay State Park Campground
    May. 16, 2024

    Maumee Bay State Park Campground

    Clean Facilities / Great Location

    Sites are large, level, and grassy with vegetation barriers between sites with mowed buddy site access at back of each site. Shower houses are limited but modern and clean. Sunday morning’s line at the dump station can get very backed up!

  • Gary G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Waterloo State Recreation Area Portage Lake
    May. 3, 2024

    Waterloo State Recreation Area Portage Lake

    Vicious dogs not on 6-foot leash as required

    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 as I walk my dog more than once this month. So the camp host or ranger should , after warning the offending campers once, call the county animal control. This situation is way out of control.

  • Tina G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Happy Acres Campground
    May. 2, 2024

    Happy Acres Campground

    Unexpected gem

    We made an last minute stop here on a Sunday night. The owners were helpful and went out of their way to help us. The campground looks awesome and makes you feel at home. They are also big rig friendly. We will stop back here again.

  • fThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Kimpels Hickory Acres
    Mar. 8, 2024

    Kimpels Hickory Acres

    Decent place, will try again

    There is a Waterpark, pool, and hot tub at this campground you can access for an additional price. I camped in a tent next to the cabin that my sister rented so I'm not sure about the tent sites that are available. There are ALOT of full time campers here so I was under the impression that a good site will be hard to find here, but the bathrooms were good and there were things to do so I will try this place out again.



Guide to Clayton

Camping near Clayton, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and family-friendly activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun-filled adventure, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking and Biking: Explore the trails around the area. Many campers enjoy the trails at Lake Hudson Recreation Area. One visitor mentioned, "There are some good trails along the lake," making it a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts.
  • Fishing: If you love fishing, head to Waterloo Portage Lake Modern. A camper shared, "Nice campground with clean bathrooms. Short walk down the hill to the lake," perfect for casting a line.
  • Swimming: Enjoy a refreshing swim at W. J. Hayes State Park Campground. One reviewer noted, "There’s a nice little mile nature trail through one of those loops," which leads to a beach area.

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Mary Jane Thurston State Park Campground said, "Clean and simple campground," highlighting the cleanliness of the facilities.
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A camper at Green Lake Rustic Campground mentioned, "Both sites seemed larger than most suburban house lots," making it comfortable for families.
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often rave about the helpful staff. One visitor at Wilderness Campground said, "Great staff very friendly and helpful," which adds to the overall experience.

What you should know

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Lake Hudson Recreation Area, have limited amenities. A camper noted, "It’s a rustic campground with no water or dump station," so be prepared.
  • Mosquitoes: Be ready for bugs, especially in the warmer months. A visitor at Waterloo Sugarloaf Modern warned, "The mosquitoes were pretty bad the evening that we were there."
  • Road Noise: Some campgrounds are near busy roads. A camper at White Oak Campground mentioned, "There is some road noise," which might be a consideration for light sleepers.

Tips for camping with families

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with activities for kids. One parent at Monroe-Toledo North KOA said, "The activities for kids are great," making it a fun spot for families.
  • Playgrounds: Choose campgrounds with playgrounds nearby. A visitor at Wilderness Campground noted, "There are a lot of things for kids to do including a swimming pond, playground," which keeps the little ones entertained.
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or snacks. A camper at Harrison Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "The camp hosts were friendly," which can help if you need local tips for food.

Tips from RVers

  • Check Hookups: Make sure to check for electric and water hookups. A visitor at Lake Hudson Recreation Area advised, "Make sure you have extension cords!" since some sites have hookups far from parking.
  • Space for Larger RVs: Look for campgrounds that can accommodate larger RVs. A camper at W. J. Hayes State Park Campground said, "Our site was the perfect spot for two tents and a hammock," indicating spacious options.
  • Dump Stations: Know where the nearest dump stations are located. A visitor at Mary Jane Thurston State Park Campground mentioned, "Your potable water and dump station were located at the Marina," which is good to plan for.

Camping near Clayton, Michigan, has something for everyone, from families to RVers. Just remember to check the amenities and prepare for the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Clayton, MI?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Clayton, MI is White Oak Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 10 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Clayton, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.