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Best Tent Camping near Gladwin, MI

327 Reviews

Tent camping near Gladwin, Michigan provides access to secluded forest sites and waterside campgrounds in the central Michigan woodlands. House Lake State Campground offers tent-only sites surrounded by northern Michigan forest, while Muskegon River Canoe Camp provides primitive tent camping with boat-in and walk-in access options. Sugar Springs Campground, located on Sugar River Road in Gladwin, accommodates tent campers with spacious sites under tree cover. These established campgrounds are situated within an hour's drive of Gladwin, providing tent campers with varied natural settings from riverside locations to wooded retreats.

Most tent campgrounds in the Gladwin area feature basic amenities suited for primitive tent camping experiences. House Lake State Campground provides vault toilets, drinking water from spigots, and fire rings with picnic tables at each site. According to one camper, "There is no cell service within 20 minutes of the campground, and the closest restaurants are 30 minutes away, but if you prepare it is an excellent location!" Muskegon River Canoe Camp offers truly primitive tent camping with no facilities, requiring campers to pack in all water and supplies. The camping season typically runs May through October, with some sites remaining open into December depending on weather conditions. Fire regulations vary by location, with most campgrounds providing fire rings and selling firewood on-site to prevent the spread of invasive species.

The tent camping experience around Gladwin features notable privacy between sites and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. House Lake State Campground is known for its population of chipmunks and good tree coverage providing shade for tent sites. Muskegon River Canoe Camp offers a more secluded backcountry tent camping experience, with one visitor noting it's "a great place for dispersed camping" though they recommend bringing bug spray. Sugar Springs Campground provides quiet, wooded tent sites with minimal crowds. Campers report the area is "never busy" at many locations, making these tent campgrounds ideal for those seeking solitude. The mix of walk-in, drive-in, and boat-in tent sites throughout the region accommodates various camping styles from car camping to more adventurous backcountry tent camping experiences.

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Best Tent Sites Near Gladwin, Michigan (33)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Gladwin, MI

11 Photos of 33 Gladwin Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Gladwin, MI

327 Reviews of 33 Gladwin Campgrounds

  • J
    Jun. 9, 2019

    Mud Lake State Forest Campground

    Small campground, big ambiance

    This campground has the feel of a hike-in campground while being accessible by vehicle. It is located off the beaten path in the middle of nowhere, down a couple of well-marked dirt roads about 20 miles from the highway. There are only 8 sites, but each site is spacious. Sites are divided by small stands of trees providing some privacy from neighboring sites. 4 of the sites are facing the lake. Fire ring, picnic table, vault toilets and hand pump water. Surprisingly good cell reception. There is a dirt boat ramp, but only for trolling motor, canoes and kayaks. Very quiet campground.

  • Lexi G.
    Jul. 30, 2020

    4-Mile Trail Camp DNR

    Cheap horse camp

    It’s never busy here. I don’t have horses but I’ve seen people stay with horse trailers with their tie outs to the poles that are designed for it. There’s trails in the surrounding areas. Also water pump and vault toilets. Picnic tables and fire rings are provided as well.

  • Janessa L.
    Jun. 23, 2020

    River Country Campground and Livery

    Weekend Getaway

    A friend and I stayed two nights in a tent. The campground is on the smaller side. You mostly see campers and RVs, many who stay seasonally. It felt like a community where everyone knows each other well. The couple on the neighboring campsite were incredibly friendly, offering help with fire starters and a hammer to pound down the stakes on our tent.

    Our site had a fire pit, picnic table and electric hookup we used to charge cell phones. There wasn’t much shade but there are other shady sites in the campground.

    While the river site was scenic, mosquitoes were of course having a feast! There was a play area for the kids, volleyball net and horseshoe pit. The camp store had the basics with hard pack ice cream for sale. There’s also a game room off the camp store with pool, ping pong and laundry room for longer visits.

    You’re able to rent a tube, kayak or canoe to cruise down the Muskegon River. They were kind enough to shuttle us to the drop off point a couple of miles away.

    There is a restroom/shower building that’s kept quite clean. The ladies room had three separate showers and I never had to wait for a turn during my stay.

    It’s definitely a family campground so if you’re looking for a quiet camping trip, this place is perfect. It’s a bit far from the Detroit area for a weekend but I’d definitely return for a longer stay.

  • Christopher P.
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Spring Lake State Forest Campground

    Nice, very rustic, campground

    Nice park with dispersed sites. Hand pump for potable water and out houses for bathrooms. On a cute little lake ideal for kayaking or small boats. Not really set up for large TT, but people brought one in anyway. Close to US 131 and you can hear the traffic.

    Sites have fire rings and picnic tables.

  • Natalie P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2021

    Spring Lake State Forest Campground

    Okay campsite

    My husband and I stayed here for what should have been the whole weekend. We ended up cutting our trip short.

    The campground itself seemed quite nice. Large, clean vault toilets. A water pump. No electric. Some of the sites seem more isolated than others. The sites were nice and big. The campground is right by the trailhead for some longer trails. There is a nice kayak/fishing lake surrounding the campground. We first set up camp at site #1, which is at the very beginning of the campground, and very close to the highway. It is separated from all the other camp sites, but next to the parking lot leading to the trailhead. We ended up moving to site #31, which was down a hill at the back of the campground. It is in front of a swamp that opens to the lake. This is a nice flat lot, with a lot of space. Quieter than the front of the park. Overall, the campground itself is pretty nice.

    The downsides: it's right next to the highway, so you hear traffic until around 1 or 2 am. There seemed to be some long-term residents who had a LOT of late night visitors who stayed for only 10 minutes or so. The last visitor came at 3 am. Seemed super sketchy. We did not stay the additional night due to the odd activity taking place at the other site near ours. I don't think I would stay here again, but this would be an enjoyable campground if the weird activity wasn't taking place.

  • L
    Oct. 15, 2020

    Canoe Harbor State Forest Campground & Canoe Camp

    Spacious campsites, well-maintained campground.

    We spent three nights at Canoe Harbor in mid-September 2020 and thought it was wonderful. Campsites were spacious and had nice stands of trees in between to provide privacy. Fire rings had a great design. Vault toilets were kept clean and stocked. Paths from campsites connect to the Au Sable and to hiking trails. We loved this campground.

  • D G.
    Jul. 5, 2020

    Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground

    Hidden Inland Lake Gem

    Rustic first come first serve sites. Well water pump and vault toilets. No shower. We started on spot 8 but moved to 21 after one night - 8 was near the toilets and you get the occasion whiff of poop while 21 is on lake and more secluded. All the spots are very large with picnic table and fire pit. No grate for cooking so be sure to pack. The lake is small but good for kayak & paddle boarding. Areas of sand but fairly murky. We swam and floated for a few hours in tubes. My friend did catch a handful of bluegill.

  • B
    Sep. 23, 2020

    Sunrise Lake State Forest Campground

    Small park, large sites. But so noisy!

    My family and I ended up at Sunrise Lake after searching for a campground. This is a State Forest site so no reservations are available. First come, first served.

    The sites were all very big! We have a very large tent and it easily fit on the site along with our vehicle. All the sites are very well shaded. The vault toilets were clean and the water was very good with no odd smells or tastes.

    It's a little strange because Sunrise Lake is across the street, so it is a short walk down to the beach. Speaking of the beach, there isn't much of one but what was there was nice. It sloped gently out into the lake and my kids felt comfortable swimming there. We fished a little from shore. If you're just going for panfish, it's not bad. Just don't expect to catch dinner.

    A few bad things. First, the campground and half the sites back up against a road. You will hear every car or truck that drives by at night. We went in the summer with full foliage. The leaves and trees did nothing to absorb the sound. Second, being a small campground, you hear everyone who decides to party late into the night. No ranger means no enforcement of quiet hours. Third, it was hard finding firewood. The closest gas station sold pieces of lumber cut into 1"x1"x15" pieces. Because it was lumber and not logs, they burned so fast.

    Overall, it was nice for a weekend getaway, but this isn't a place I would choose to go back to. We will look for something else next time.

  • Melissa M.
    Jul. 18, 2020

    Au Sable River Primitive Camping

    Peaceful • Rustic

    We absolutely love camping here weather it’s in a tent, hammock or RV we have always loved camping here.

    Night sounds are so relaxing.

    We typically do the sites closer to Mio sites 1-6

    Plenty of trails and fishing.

    No water No electric No sewer

Guide to Gladwin

Tent camping near Gladwin, Michigan offers several wooded and lakeside campsites within the central Michigan watershed area. Located between 44.0-44.4°N latitude, the region features sandy soil conditions ideal for drainage during Michigan's peak camping months. Campsites typically rest at elevations between 750-850 feet above sea level, with moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during July and August.

What to do

Kayaking on Muskegon River: Access the river directly from Muskegon River Canoe Camp for paddle adventures. "A great place for dispersed camping. Don't forget the bug spray! Only 20 minutes from town if you did!" notes Just J., who spent two weeks enjoying the waterway.

Trout fishing in Rifle River: Cast for native trout in the protected waters near Spruce Rustic Campground. "Ideal for trout anglers. There's an access point to Gamble Creek between sites 171 and 173," explains Jason N., who easily navigated the area with his 20-foot trailer.

Evening firefly walks: Take sandy trail walks at dusk through hardwood forests at Great Circle Campground. Susan F. recommends "Firefly evening strolls on sandy trails through the woods. Dog friendly. Seasonal family gathering spot."

What campers like

Disconnected experience: The remote location of many campgrounds provides a true escape. At House Lake State Campground, "There is no cell service within 20 minutes of the campground, and the closest restaurants are 30 minutes away, but if you prepare it is an excellent location!" according to Kitty B.

Wildlife encounters: Chipmunks, deer, and various woodland creatures frequently visit campsites. House Lake State Campground is "overrun with chipmunks which was adorably magical!" as one camper observed.

Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms despite their rustic settings. Brad F. appreciated the "Clean bathrooms, easy access to lake, nice beach" at Merrill-Gorrel Park Campground, while noting practical advice: "Make sure to bring extra hose and extension cord as the water and electric can be a ways away from some sites."

What you should know

Firewood restrictions: Local regulations prohibit transporting firewood between counties to prevent the spread of invasive species. Susan F. at Great Circle Campground explains: "This Policy helps protect the woodland from invasive pest, fungi, and virus. Please don't transport wood in or out of Roscommon County."

Limited services: Most campgrounds near Gladwin require self-sufficiency. Sugar Springs Campground offers electric-only sites with limited water access. Michelle S. advises, "Water is shared between 3-4 sites, so you better bring a hundred feet of hose to fill your tank."

Reservation systems: Many campsites operate on a first-come, first-served basis during off-peak seasons. Deerfield Nature Park offers reservable tent sites but requires planning for access: "You can access by boat or it's a 1 mile hike. Very peaceful, there is only 10 sites and pit toilets," according to David F.

Tips for camping with families

Beach access for children: Choose campgrounds with swimming areas for family entertainment. Angel reports that Merrill-Gorrel Park Campground is "Great spot for the family, 2 beaches. Quiet at night. Kids biked around all day and everyone drives slow! Lots of shade, clean bathrooms, friendly staff!"

Wildlife observation opportunities: Many Gladwin area campgrounds provide nature education opportunities for children. Kitty B. found House Lake State Campground ideal for wildlife watching with abundant chipmunks visiting campsites.

Adventure activities: For families seeking more than just camping, Arrowhead Lake Camp offers multiple recreational options. Lisa R. shares: "We went kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and fishing. The wildlife is plentiful and the lake is full of fish. The staff are fantastic. If we needed anything, they were there in minutes."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at many campgrounds. At Sugar Springs Campground, Michelle S. found "The sites are spacious and clean" but noted a significant "Downside: horrifically not leveled."

Access considerations: Some rustic sites accommodate larger rigs despite their remote location. Jason N. reported taking his "20' trailer back there no problem" at Spruce Rustic Campground, where sites are "large and level campsites that are well spaced."

Seasonal camping options: Several campgrounds near Gladwin accommodate longer-term stays. Great Circle Campground serves as a "Seasonal family gathering spot" according to Susan F., who appreciated the "helpful camp hosts give a friendly wave several times daily."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Gladwin, MI is House Lake State Campground with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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