Searching for the perfect place to pitch your tent near Gladwin? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Gladwin campsites are perfect for tent campers.
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
$15 / night
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR ROUND
Sugar Springs offers visitors 35 camping sites in a rustic wooded setting. All sites are equipped with electricity and picnic tables.
The focal point of the campground is a chalet which includes a warming room, a fireplace, heated showers, and toilets. The chalet not only makes our visitors stay more enjoyable, but is also used year-round for outings by property owners. There are also Nature Trails adjacent to the Campground for all residents and visitors.
The Sugar Springs Campground Offers:
30 & 50 Amp Electrical Service at each site
Water Filling Station (one station shared by all sites)
Waste Water Dump Station
Heated Shower and Restroom Facilities
Enclosed Picnic Shelter
Fire Pits
Playground
Free WiFi
Ice Skating Pond
Sledding Hill
Nature Trails
$18 - $32 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
Explore Deerfield Nature Park while hiking the beautiful 8 miles of trails. This Isabella County Park has trails perfect for hiking and biking on over 591 acres of land. Some of the trails run along side of the Chippewa River, with crossings at four bridges which include two swinging bridges, Lewis Pontiac Bridge and the Fisher Annex Covered Bridge. While exploring Deerfield, toss a disc or two around at one of the two 18 hole, state of the art, Disc Golf Courses. Bring along your camping gear for a rustic camping experience your family and friends will enjoy.
$20 - $25 / night
This property is nestled between West Branch and East Tawas with a 90-acre private lake! There are multiple tent sites as well as renovated cabins situated on or off the lake. Several amenities are included such as firepits and BBQ grills. The main lodge has a men's and women's restroom with showers. There is also a commercial kitchen available to cook your favorite meals. There are two docks for fishing as well as kayaks, row boats and a peddle boat to enjoy the beautiful lake.
$50 - $300 / night
Owning a campground has been a dream of ours, and my family wanted to make this dream a reality. Our family has reached a new phase of our life. When we came across "Lost Haven" in 2013, we knew this was the right place for us. This campground offers a perfect beginning for us to develop the same kind of camping experience we enjoyed as a family.
This campground was established in 1975 and closed in 2012. Our hope is to reestablish this campground and grow with our present and future guests to come. We hope you enjoy your stay as much as we will enjoy having you.
ScoutThis was a great place to camp! Spot was on the lake, had plenty of spots to park an RV or tent camp, and had a playground for kids. Would recommend!
Traveler
We visited this campsite for a long weekend in October, looking for that autumn experience. Our site was right on the lake, and had a great view of the river and the trees changing. Our site was very large, especially for tent camping, and that seemed to be the trend. Others were camping with campers and tents, but there was pretty of room to spread out in the late fall.
Traveler
Decent sized and private sites. Clean restrooms, cute camp store. Nice beach and boat ramp. We’ve stayed here several times(both with our 5th wheel and just tent camping) and enjoy it. Staff could use some improvements- can be rude, unprofessional. Nice dog run for my mutts and mini golf course(has basketball, baseball, volleyball courts too). Overall, beautiful park.
Ranger
Short backpacking walk to this no-reservations rustic campsite. You need a backcountry permit and there’s usually a small fee. Lovely forested secluded tent sites. There’s only one or two fire pits, but going there is a nice way to meet your neighbors (only 2 other groups when I was there in April). Sites aren’t too sandy and are pretty shady. Follow bear rules!!
TravelerI tent camped there July 2023 and the site was $20. The campground host was a very nice and helpful lady. There are electric at the sites and there were water supply spigots throughout the park. They do have free wifi, but it is very weak by the river sites. It is strongest near where the camp host is since the antenna is behind her camper. There was an old wifi access point plugged into my site's electrical outlet, but it was inoperative. Cell signal is good there though so it wasn't a big deal to me. Since I was tent camping I cannot attest to what size RVs and electrical amperage they have. The showers and rest rooms are locked at night. Just ask the campground host and she will lend you a key for the night. In addition to the main camping loop, there are about 12 river RV sites near the fairgrounds. It was fairly quiet being a week day. Just leave your trash in a bag near the lane and she will pick it up when she makes her rounds in her golf cart. A grocery store and a convenience store are across the road. You can book a site online via the village's website at https://marionmichigan.org/campground/ According to a google search the phone number is 231-667-0100. If that number is not valid the village office's phone number is 231-743-6801
Guide
The campsites are purely for tent camping and are around 20'x40'. We went with a group and fit four tents on one site with a picnic table and fire pit for less than $10 each. There is a large bath house with showers, a pavilion/picnic area, where they sometimes have a DJ at night. And there's a really nice open area and playground for the kids. The front store /check-in desk has some supplies for while you're there, and they also offer canoe/tubing/kayak trips with transport, directly from the grounds. We had a great time and plan on going back again.
Guide
They charge per person, so I paid $75 for my boyfriend and I to tent camp on the river for the 2 night minimum required. They are money grubbers who charge per person then put multiple parties on one site. Firewood available on site is soaking wet so had a lot of issues getting a fire started. Not much to do at the campground unless you want to pay an arm and a leg to rent one of their watercraft. Staff is incredibly rude and unhelpful. Everything they offer is an extra charge. Will not be returning here ever again.
Guide
This is one of the best campgrounds for kids that I've ever visited!!!
The campground itself is beautifully laid out and maintained. It features roughly a 150 some odd sites ranging from tent sites to RV and cabins. Each site has a cement fire ring and electric hookup. There are communal water spickets generously scattered around the grounds. The bathrooms and showers are very clean. They are closed an hour a day for thourgho cleaning and restocked and wiped down in the late evening. They have one large group camp area, but it is for organizational reservations only (as most of them are). Howeve, there is a cul-de-sac of 5 or 6 (I can't remember) sites off by itself. Those sites are very large (except the one on the end, which of course we had reserved for the weekend) and have huge space between them. There is also an additional parking pad there for overflow. Though they're not a sanctioned group site these would be perfect for it. We've already planned to reserve these sites next year for our large (35+people) family camp weekend. The drive around the campground is all paved and very long, so be sure to bring your bikes!!
Now for the amusements and conveniences. . . . . There is a small playground in the campground, but you have to cut through campsites to reach it. There are trails for hiking around the wider state park area as well as a few that lead across the street to the swim area and day park. Take a 2 min walk from the camp office across to the day park and you'll find the Spray by the Bay splash pad, a huge timber playground, beautiful sandy beach along Lake Huron, sandy swim area, geocaching, pavilions, well kept bathrooms and changing rooms. We spent all day at the park with 4 kids 6yrs and under and not a single on of them complained of being bored.
They have campground hosts that facilitate free activities organized by the park. We did a kids craft and enjoyed hot cocoa or coffee Saturday morning and then returned after dinner for Back-to-School bingo and popcorn. See pic of the August schedule for a better idea of what was offered.
They sold ice and wood at the camp office and there was an ice cream place next door to the park. It's a 5 min walk from the park office.
We didn't have to leave the park once all weekend. It was so relaxing to have everything we needed on hand and not have to run out for things.
One final note: there were quite a few May Flies. According to the park office they're pretty much there all summer. They weren't bad at the campground except at night around the bathrooms. We walked over to the day park before breakfast one morning and the playground was covered with them. As the day got hotter and the playground got busier there were hardly any, but that morning visit was rough. We actually abandoned the playground till later in the day.
Traveler
Needed a tent sight for 3 pup tents motorcycle camping. Nice quiet secluded campground in the woods. Nice clean baths and showers. $25 for tent $35 RVs pull threw.
Traveler
We tented at this campground. Good location, decent bathrooms.
Scout
This place was so cute and the owners were very friendly. I tented with my 2 kids here for the weekend and will be going back for sure 😁
TravelerCampground was perfect for tenting. Right by bathrooms and they were very clean. Short walk to the beach!
Scout
Pprivate. Modern and Rustic, so tents don't need to be in a Zoo of RVs. Tons of trails, great kayaking and canoeing
ScoutNot a great place to tent. Great place to stay with a small camper or RV if passing through Bay City or going to an event. Beach is not the most sanitary.
Scout
Pure Michigan
Scout
This campground has sites for RV’s and tents. Vault toilets that are cleaned daily. Small lake with a beachfront. No motor boats allowed. We come every year!
Guide
Stayed here before the 4th of July for the weekend and was really impressed with the facilities and size of spaces at the campground. For being such a busy campground (since there is a boat launch) the sites are still quite large! We were able to fit 2 large tents, a small tent, 2 cars, 1 boat trailer and a sun shade for our gear with plenty of room to spare.
The restrooms (which I am told were recently renovated) were very clean.
The beaches were well maintained and plenty of space to moor boats overnight.
In addition to the boat launch there is also a camp store down the road with tons of snacks, camping gear/utensils, and Higgins lake souvenirs.
I will definitely return again! Be sure to catch a sunset from the campground beaches, you won’t regret it!
If you aren't familiar with this lake it is extremely clear (see video) and very large, there are 2 sandbar areas which are very popular providing 3-4 feet water to hangout in.
Traveler
Loved camping on this lake. We hauled our canoe loaded with our tent and amenities on a dolly the half mile or so back to the camp sites. Some of the best catch and release artificial lure only fishing. Loved watching the loons on the lake.
RangerWe 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
GuideOne of my favorite parks in Michigan. Beautiful beaches and always a fun week during Harvest Fest!
Traveler
Look up beauty. By definition, Michigan will come up! By location, Goose Creek SFC.
Guide
We tented this past weekend at Rollways and it was great! The sites were big. We brought our own kayaks and spent the day at on loud lake which was about a 15 min drive away. There were plenty of vault toilets which were very clean and water stations. Some sites were reservable and some were first come first serve. There were two or three sites that’s were close to the water which looked most preferable.
RangerI have camped here for years and really like it. The park is huge and there are lots of places to ride your bike. It's a typical Michigan state campground, not much different. Nice bathrooms and big lots.
GuideThis here 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. Great location to bring family and pets.
Traveler
Black Creek State Forest Campground has huge sites with shade and sun; clean vault toilets with hand sanitizer; creek views and is very quiet despite a little road noise. Definitely recommend for someone looking for a mid-Michigan get-away.
The Chippewa Nature Center is about 10 miles away and has great trails; excellent visitor center and reconstructed 19th century homestead.
Guide
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.
Guide
This is a really good family campground in the middle of Michigan. Campsites are spacious and wooded. There is a lake for swimming ability to fish and put in a kayak. Sites have electric with shared water. Campground registration is efficient and friendly. Wood can be purchased at the campground. The small town of Clare is nearby with groceries, ice cream, restaurants and gas.
Tent camping near Gladwin, Michigan offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for a peaceful retreat.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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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