Camping near Metamora, Michigan offers diverse options in a region characterized by shallow lakes, wooded terrain, and mixed recreational opportunities. The area sits approximately 50 miles northwest of Detroit at elevations of 900-1,100 feet, with sandy soil conditions that can affect campsite drainage during spring thaws. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F with higher humidity levels from June through August.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area features extensive trail systems with varying difficulty levels. "The park is extremely sandy so be prepared. Overall it was a quiet, peaceful weekend in a great location," notes a camper about the nearby Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area.
Water activities: McGinnis Lake at Holly Recreation Area offers multiple lakes for recreation. "This is a giant recreation area that features a campground, 3 lakes, tons of trails, and even a splash zone for kids," explains Kate K., highlighting the variety of water options.
Disc golf courses: Addison Oaks County Park maintains a popular disc golf course among its amenities. "Addison Oaks is a campground that features hiking and mountain biking trails, campground, cabins, disc golf course, and a lake for boating," shares Kate K., describing the recreational options.
What campers like
Wooded campsites: Holly Recreation Area provides secluded spots among mature trees. "We got a secluded campsite, and it's gorgeous- tucked into the woods and was easy to back into. You're far enough from people to where you don't really see a lot of them," reports Ashley F.
Fishing opportunities: Wolverine Campground offers excellent fishing access. "Lake is supposed to be great for walleye fishing, even if it a tad shallow. Campground is well maintained with picnic tables, and fire rings," notes Chris S.
Boat access: Many campgrounds provide easy water access for various watercraft. "The campground has it all, electric, cabins, playgrounds, basketball courts, etc... The lakes are nice and there are tone of options of things to do and places to explore," reports Kate K. about Holly Recreation Area.
What you should know
Site proximity: Many campgrounds feature closely spaced sites, especially during peak season. "Stayed here the first night of July 4th weekend. Full campground and sites are close together and crowded. With the large camping trailers and 2-3 vehicles per site, it felt claustrophobic," warns a camper about Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area.
Water quality concerns: Water hookups can be inconsistent at some locations. "We tested the water prior to hooking it up to the camper and it came out brown," reports one camper about water conditions at The Holly Campground.
Terrain challenges: The region's sandy soil affects campsite conditions. "If it rains everything is mud if you're in the back camp section," notes a regular at Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area who reports staying "over 100 times in past thirty years."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Groveland Oaks County Park caters specifically to families with children. "Great campground, so much to do, especially for families with smaller children," explains Anna H.
Beach considerations: Swimming areas vary significantly between parks. "The lake has a small shallow swimming area and beach that gets very busy during the day but less traffic right before sunset," shares a visitor about optimal swimming times.
Playground access: Several parks feature multiple play areas for different age groups. "They have kids activities on the weekends, a lake for swimming, great playgrounds and everything is really clean," reports Wendy K. about Addison Oaks County Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Be prepared for utilities located far from parking pads. "If you are hoping to hook up to electrical, bring extension cords; some hook ups are exceptionally far away from the designated RV parking pad," advises Mary H. about Pontiac Lake Recreation Area.
Site leveling: Many campgrounds feature uneven sites requiring leveling equipment. "A good number of sites are not level," notes a camper about Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area.
Site selection: Consider specific camping loops for better experiences. "We stayed in the rustic Aspen loop and it was fine for early season but come peak season, the sites lack privacy and are kind of small," shares Ashleigh M. about Holly Recreation Area's various camping sections.
