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Best Campgrounds near Curran, MI

490 Reviews

Campgrounds near Curran, Michigan include a mix of established and dispersed sites within the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Horseshoe Lake Campground offers tent and RV camping with amenities like drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables. The area features several state forest campgrounds, rustic sites, and primitive camping areas along waterways. Alcona Park provides more developed options with electric hookups, showers, and cabin accommodations approximately 5 miles southeast of Curran. The region includes both drive-in access campgrounds and hike-in or boat-in sites for those seeking more remote experiences.

Camping in this area typically runs from April through November, with some sites closing during winter months. Road conditions vary throughout the region, with some campgrounds accessible via paved roads while others require travel on forest service roads. "This is one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. The facilities are clean and kept up. All access to trails, lakes and the river are close and easy to get to," noted one camper about a nearby recreation area. The Huron-Manistee National Forests permit dispersed camping with specific regulations regarding stay limits and fire restrictions. Cell service can be limited in more remote areas, particularly in the densely forested sections between campgrounds. Weather conditions change rapidly near Lake Huron, with cooler temperatures persisting even during summer months.

Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors to the region. Several campgrounds provide direct access to lakes or the Au Sable River, making them popular for fishing, kayaking, and swimming. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, campers particularly value the clean beaches and clear water at many of the area's lakes. Primitive sites along the Au Sable River offer more seclusion but require boat access in some cases. The combination of forest and water access creates diverse camping experiences throughout the region. Campgrounds closer to Harrisville and Oscoda tend to fill more quickly during summer weekends, while interior forest sites often remain available even during peak season. Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, turkey, and various bird species throughout the camping areas.

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Best Camping Sites Near Curran, Michigan (165)

    1. Huron-Manistee National Forest

    9 Reviews
    Brethren, MI
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 775-2421

    $10 - $14 / night

    "River Trail."

    "We walked this trail for 5 days and 4 nights. Cell service was spotty, which was the goal. Lots of wildlife and great views. You need to carry everything out that you carry in."

    2. Alcona Park

    9 Reviews
    Glennie, MI
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 735-3881

    $16 - $30 / night

    "I had cabin #3, very beautiful on the lake. Wish they had a grate to cook some things, however I failed to bring my own. It made do with what I had."

    "This is a great campground and very close to canoe rentals. They pick up trash right at your site! Also, buy the wood from the people driving around."

    3. Au Sable River Primitive Camping

    12 Reviews
    Mio, MI
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 362-8961

    $10 / night

    "The absolute BEST campsite I have ever camped at in Michigan! The perfect morning and evening view of the river. Directly across from the best fishing spot and shoreline to soak up the summer sun."

    "You are surrounded by forest and dunes and the sites themselves provide ample space for a group of 5 or more."

    4. Hoist/Reid Lake Areas

    3 Reviews
    Curran, MI
    4 miles

    "The trail is only about 8 miles but it would be easy to spend a day next to the water or a little inland."

    "Trail is easy enough and there are so many different spots to camp along the way. It is foot travel only and most sites are a decent hike to get to."

    5. Jewell Lake Campground

    4 Reviews
    Barton City, MI
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 775-2421

    $15 / night

    "Gorgeous area right on Jewell lake. Walking distance from Barton City. Sites have nice privacy between them. Utilized the grill on the fire ring alot Privy was well kept."

    "Relatively quiet and secluded, Jewell Lake campground resides in the Huron-manistee National Forest."

    6. Reid Lake Foot Travel Area

    2 Reviews
    Barton City, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (231) 745-4631

    "I took a hike around the lake and it was wonderful.The hike wasn't too hard and is perfect for everyone. It was only 4 miles for the whole thing."

    "This is not a drive-up campground."

    7. Gabions Campground — Huron Manistee National Forests

    2 Reviews
    Curran, MI
    7 miles
    +1 (989) 826-3252

    $10 / night

    "Though a few have the Shore to Shore trail going right through them. But there is access to the river. While I was there, it was peaceful, clean and easily accessible."

    8. Harrisville State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Harrisville, MI
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 724-5126

    $28 - $74 / night

    "Fire ring located near back corner... away from your awning. Path behind site makes for short walk to the beach."

    "Great wooded campground on the shores of Lake Huron. Great beach with sand and rocks. Once you’re out in about 2 feet of water it becomes all sand for as far as you can go."

    9. Horseshoe Lake Campground

    1 Review
    Glennie, MI
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 735-3580

    "Walk down lake access at our site. Rustic toilets and shared water pump. No houses on the lake other than one that is being built. National forest campground means only $10.00 per night."

    10. McKinley Horse Trail Campground

    1 Review
    Mio, MI
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 821-6263

    "This place is amazing if you just like to get away from everything. Surrounded by Huron and rarely many people there. Tons of privacy and more land to roam than you'll be able to."

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Recent Camping Photos near Curran, MI

169 Photos of 165 Curran Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Curran, MI

490 Reviews of 165 Curran Campgrounds

  • Byron S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Campers Cove RV Park And Canoe Livery

    Campers Cove

    Stayed 4 nights in early September. Nice area and RV spots around the lake. Check in was easy and friendly. Internet and cell coverage were good. Showers were clean and maintained. Level site, had shade trees. Very quiet and laid back. The site is clean BUT it’s September and the full time residents had all their Halloween old decorations scattered about….made it look a little trashy. Overall it’s a nice place to unwind and spend a few days, I would recommend it to others.

  • alicianlv The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Au Sable Loop Campground — Huron Manistee National Forests

    Au Sable Loop #3

    We were passing through and didn't have time to explore campground arriving around 7p & road tired.
    Site # 3 was without metal fire ring as shown to have in reservation picture. In its place was a hole and pile of ash with a hardened ash plug as if it was dug out of ground and thrown near bushes, strange. We were only campers there but heard faint voices outdoors after turning in to sleep, kinda creepy.

    Pictures taken just before leaving early morning. Heard there might be poison ivy around camp so only took basic photos but stayed clear of foliage around site.

  • Byron S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Camp Grayling Trailer Park

    Great RV park

    This is a military base and need proper identification to enter. The sites are well maintained (sand pads). The beach area is well maintained and relaxing. The wireless internet is GREAT! Also have cell coverage. Clean and quite for only $20 per night (cash or check only). The camp site manager (Tim) was fantastic!

  • Jonathan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2025

    Au Sable River Primitive Camping

    Primitive camping, but too close to the road/airport

    The site was truly rustic. About 1/4 mile to the next site. Nice clearing with multiple spots you could maneuver a small camper back into if you are a good enough driver. If not, there is a nice clearing by the road that also works. Had a fire ring with a flip over grill. Trails run back into woods to potential cat hole locations. For water, you can head up the road a few miles to the lumberman monument park, and they have a fauset by the parking lot. Also, about 1/8 mile down the road is an established path down to the Au Sable River to get water to extinguish your campfire but not for drinking (this stretch of the river is not safe to drink). During the day and sometimes at night you can hear a lot of road traffic and also jet engine noise from the local airport. Good openings for solar if you are using movable panels or can get your camper back far enough, but not so good in the default parking spot. Verizon = 3-4 bars 5G.

  • K
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Au Sable Loop Campground — Huron Manistee National Forests

    Spacious Private Sites

    We camped on the ausable river camping on alcona pond. The sites are very secluded from one another, no bathrooms, no water available, but its quiet, private, and had access right to the river. Lots of poison ivy in July, so be aware. Lots of campers across the river that you can see, but nothing overly noisy or distracting. Our site had room for 3 families with tents. Some walking paths, but we didn’t wander too far. Short drives to beautiful overlooks, or the dam for fishing. We wanted 006 site originally. its level with the river and right on a winding bend! Sites seem to reserve fast, so be ready!

  • Edward C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Tawas Point State Park Campground

    Terrific location

    This is a beautiful and picturesque park. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained.

    Sites are large in general with plenty of room for activities.

    The pet friendly beach is fantastic for dogs as the water is very shallow and let's them be active.

    The access roads on the loop are narrow, so you may need to take some care of if you have a large vehicle.

    There's also a kids playground and volleyball court.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2025

    Jackson Lake State Forest Campground

    Jackson Lake

    20 bucks a night very clean toilets, fire pits picnic tables plus $11 for out of state registered vehicle plate so nowhere near free camping but a nice stay over spot

  • Kristin Z.
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Paddle Brave Canoe Livery & Campground

    Clean, Friendly, and Perfect River Tubing Trip

    We stayed at PaddleBrave this past weekend and couldn’t be happier with our experience. We rented Cabin 1 and the campsite directly across from it, and from start to finish, everything was fantastic.

    The owner and staff were incredibly friendly, accommodating, and had excellent communication both during the reservation process and throughout our stay. The sites and camp bathrooms were the cleanest I’ve ever seen, and the staff went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable.

    The gift shop was a nice bonus, offering fresh coffee for just $1 every morning and stocking plenty of essentials in case you forgot something at home. Downtown Roscommon is only about 6 minutes away, making it easy to pop into town.

    We also did the 4-hour tubing trip and rented tubes from Paddlebrave—it couldn’t have gone better. The river was beautiful and the whole experience was smooth and well-organized.

  • Patrick H.
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Pickerel Lake (Otsego) State Forest Campground

    Nice campground, decent amenities

    Nice campground with 41 sites. Some sites are more remote, others are connected. The toilets are nice and stocked, however the water pump nearest our site is out of service which stinks but not a deal breaker. There's access to pickerel lake with a boat launch and a picnic table to enjoy a meal at. Great choice if looking in the area. We're rent camping but lots of RV's here.

Guide to Curran

Camping near Curran, Michigan, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor fun. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Biking: Enjoy the trails at Harrisville State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "Not a huge park, but complete with bike and walk/jog trails, access to Harrisville, which is quite lovely."
  • Fishing: The lakes around Tawas Point State Park Campground are great for fishing. A visitor shared, "You can climb a lighthouse and look out 30+ miles. Two swimming beaches. Dog beach."
  • Beach Access: Many campgrounds, like Ossineke State Forest Campground, provide access to Lake Huron. One camper noted, "Most are well spaced and offer lots of privacy. Many sites offer lake front access."

What campers like:

  • Privacy: Campers appreciate the spacious sites at Ossineke State Forest Campground. A reviewer said, "Most are well spaced and offer lots of privacy."
  • Clean Facilities: Many visitors enjoy the cleanliness of the restrooms at Tawas Point State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "It is very nice and extremely clean."
  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings at Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground. A review stated, "Beautiful sites with private, wooded locations or sunset, lake views."

What you should know:

  • Quiet Hours: Many campgrounds enforce quiet hours. A visitor at Harrisville State Park Campground shared a frustrating experience with noise complaints, saying, "We were talking normally or slightly quieter because the campground has a 10 pm quiet curfew."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Au Sable River Primitive Camping, have very few amenities. A camper noted, "They only have a fire ring, no picnic tables or bathrooms."
  • Crowded on Weekends: Expect busy weekends at popular spots like Tawas Point State Park Campground. One reviewer mentioned, "It can get really packed here on weekends."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Clear Lake State Park Campground, which has amenities for kids. A visitor said, "There’s electricity, full bathrooms with showers, private beach access."
  • Plan Activities: Bring bikes for the trails or fishing gear for the lakes. One family at Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground enjoyed, "Several ATV trails with direct access to sites!"
  • Pack Snacks: Keep snacks handy for the kids. A camper at Harrisville State Park Campground mentioned, "We collected some kindle/branches that were ON THE GROUND."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Tawas Point State Park Campground noted, "Sites feel close and everyone was very nosey."
  • Be Prepared for Tight Roads: Some campgrounds have narrow roads. A visitor at Tawas Point State Park Campground warned, "Big rigs, note that the roads can be tight."
  • Book Early: Popular campgrounds fill up fast, especially on weekends. A camper at Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground advised, "Not somewhere you can just pay for on spot because it’s in the rifle river recreation area."

Camping near Curran, Michigan, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Curran, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, Curran, MI offers a wide range of camping options, with 165 campgrounds and RV parks near Curran, MI and 3 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Curran, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Curran, MI is Huron-Manistee National Forest with a 5-star rating from 9 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Curran, MI?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Curran, MI.

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