Best Campgrounds near Glennie, MI

Campgrounds near Glennie, Michigan span across the Huron-Manistee National Forests, providing options from developed facilities to primitive sites. Pine River Campground, located directly in Glennie, offers tent and RV camping with picnic tables and fire rings. The area includes several established campgrounds such as Alcona Park with cabins and full hookups, while the surrounding forest lands support dispersed camping opportunities. Jewell Lake Campground, approximately 12 miles northeast of Glennie, accommodates tent camping, RVs, and glamping experiences in a more natural setting.

Michigan's seasonal conditions significantly impact camping availability near Glennie, with most developed campgrounds operating from May through September. Pine River Campground typically remains open from mid-May until mid-September, while other facilities like Rollways Campground maintain similar seasonal schedules. Winter access becomes limited as many forest roads become impassable due to snow and wet conditions. The region experiences typical northern Michigan weather patterns with warm summers and cold winters. Permits are not generally required for established campgrounds, though recreation passes may be needed for certain areas. A visitor noted, "This is a great campground and very close to canoe rentals. They pick up trash right at your site!"

Waterfront access represents a significant draw for campers in the Glennie area, with multiple sites situated along rivers and lakes. The Au Sable River runs through the region, providing opportunities for fishing, paddling, and riverside camping. Several campgrounds feature toilet facilities, though amenities vary widely from basic vault toilets to modern shower buildings. Cell service can be spotty throughout the forest areas, particularly in more remote camping locations. Many campers appreciate the peaceful atmosphere and natural surroundings. One camper described Rollways Campground as "one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. The sites are big, most are well shaded. There is a steep but walkable trail down to the Ausable river, there is also some nice walking trails to various view points."

Best Camping Sites Near Glennie, Michigan (149)

    1. Huron-Manistee National Forest

    9 Reviews
    Brethren, MI
    6 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
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 735-3881

    $16 - $30 / night

    "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."

    "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."

    3. Harrisville State Park Campground

    29 Reviews
    Harrisville, MI
    22 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."

    4. Lumberman's Monument Visitor Center

    5 Reviews
    Sand Lake, MI
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 362-8961

    $15 - $30 / night

    "Hike to the nearby monument and attend one of their educational programs, visit the museum, take the steps down to the floating shanty, or visit the small store."

    "This is a nice campground that butts up with the Lumberman’s Memorial park with a trail leading to the AuSable sand dune. Campsites are paved with fire pits and picnic tables."

    5. Rollways Campground

    4 Reviews
    Hale, MI
    7 miles
    Website

    $15 / night

    "This is one of my favorite campgrounds in Michigan. The sites are big, most are well shaded."

    "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."

    6. Jewell Lake Campground

    4 Reviews
    Barton City, MI
    9 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."

    7. Monument Campground

    4 Reviews
    Sand Lake, MI
    10 miles
    Website

    $15 - $30 / night

    "Large sites with easy access to water and vault toilets. $15 a night. Not many people and half the sites are first come first served (easy to get a site in the middle of the week)."

    "Near a lot of recreation, including Lumbermans Monument, the paddlers memorial, and the lovely Ausable River. Minutes away from Oscoda and Lake Huron."

    8. Old Orchard Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Oscoda, MI
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 739-7814

    "The large campground is crowded in summer months and you have to buy tokens to take a shower, but the views and access to the River are spectacular."

    "Sites are reasonably priced around$25-30/night.

    The park is very dog-friendly, which we appreciated. 

    Nice large, woodsy, level lots. Many are waterfront. "

    9. Hoist/Reid Lake Areas

    3 Reviews
    Curran, MI
    9 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."

    10. Pine River Campground

    2 Reviews
    Glennie, MI
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (989) 739-0728
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Recent Reviews near Glennie, MI

410 Reviews of 149 Glennie 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, 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.

  • 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.

  • L
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Monument Campground

    Quiet spot in the pines

    18 spots available. Half are reservable and half are first come first serve. There are a few double lots. Pay at entrance in envelope. Camp host came around to check our ticket. Clean pit toilets and water spigots throughout. Close to Lumbermans monument visitor center. $15 for single site or $30 for double. Half price if you have a Golden Age/Access or Interagency Senior/Access Pass

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Alpena County Fairground

    Alpena County Fairgrounds

    It’s a decent little park, but right off a main road across from an Anheuser-Busch distributor ship. Necessarily the quietest, but it wasn’t very populated at the time we got here. Somewhat limited sites for large RVs, but quite a few places that you can get up to 35 feet in, but with a slightly difficult back in. There are larger sites on the other side of the race track.


Guide to Glennie

Dispersed camping near Glennie, Michigan offers opportunities in the Huron-Manistee National Forests where elevations range from 750 to 1,000 feet above sea level. The region receives approximately 30 inches of annual precipitation, creating a diverse ecosystem of pine forests, wetlands, and river valleys. Camping season typically runs May through October, with mid-July through August being the busiest period when temperatures average 75-85°F during the day.

What to do

Hiking trail access: Pine River Campground in Glennie connects to several hiking paths through mixed hardwood forests. "It's quiet and just peaceful!" notes a camper about the serene surroundings at Pine River Campground.

River activities: The Ausable River provides excellent paddling opportunities with several put-in points. A visitor to Lumberman's Monument Visitor Center shares, "One can hike and backpack the many trials in the surrounding area and set up camp, tents (small fires as long the fire are managed and taken care of)." The center offers educational programs about the region's logging history.

Sand dune exploration: Just 30 minutes from Glennie, visitors can climb the sand dunes. "Awesome spot, a must see if you're in the area. Just a mile or two walk to the dunes overlook where you can descend a 100+ ft sand dune down to the water and go for a swim," reports a visitor to Lumberman's Monument.

What campers like

Private wooded sites: Many campgrounds near Glennie offer secluded camping spots. A visitor to Jewell Lake Campground notes, "Sites have nice privacy between them. Utilized the grill on the fire ring alot. Privy was well kept. The lake had a beach area to swim."

Waterfront locations: Several campgrounds provide direct water access. At Alcona Park, a camper shares, "Lovely views of the lake! Busy, but clean, friendly and quiet. Hiking trails and a playground for the kids."

Beginner-friendly backpacking: The area offers accessible backcountry experiences. A hiker at Hoist/Reid Lake Areas reports, "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."

What you should know

Campsite availability: First-come, first-served sites are common in this region. At Rollways Campground, "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."

Limited services: Many forest campgrounds offer basic amenities only. "Nice paved road and paved sites. Large sites with easy access to water and vault toilets. $15 a night," explains a visitor to Monument Campground.

Wildlife awareness: Bears are present in the area. A camper at Jewell Lake Campground shares, "Encountered a bear in the night but it retreated back into the woods. Did have my dog with me."

Tips for camping with families

Educational opportunities: Many campgrounds offer learning experiences. At Harrisville State Park Campground, "The campground was packed as you would expect on the holiday. Our site was right on the shore of Lake Huron which was nice, and had a large fire pit. The bathrooms were immaculate."

Child-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds cater specifically to families. A visitor to Alcona Park notes, "We have been coming here for years, many years. We love the staff and most of the neighboring campers. The lots are huge."

Activity planning: Consider scheduling around peak times. "The campground is nice and clean with a good amount of space between sites. What's really awesome about this place is if you pay a little extra, they will provide dropoff and pickup of both your party and all your kayaks," explains a visitor about Rollways Campground.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookups: Many forest campgrounds lack full hookups. A visitor to Monument Campground notes, "18 spots available. Half are reservable and half are first come first serve. There are a few double lots. Pay at entrance in envelope."

Dump station access: Plan for limited services. "Only drawback having an RV is there is no dump/fill station so keep that in mind before you arrive, but it is a state forest campground," warns a camper at Rollways Campground.

Site sizing: Check specific site dimensions before booking. "The sites are big, most are well shaded. There is a steep but walkable trail down to the Ausable river, there is also some nice walking trails to various view points," explains a Rollways Campground visitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available near Glennie, Michigan?

Glennie, Michigan offers several camping options within a short drive. Alcona Park is a popular choice close to town, featuring trash pickup at your site and convenient access to canoe rentals. For those seeking a more rustic experience, Pine River Campground provides toilet facilities and is suitable for various access methods including drive-in and walk-in camping. The area is also near the Huron-Manistee National Forest, offering additional camping opportunities. Nearby options include Rollways Campground along the AuSable River and White Pine Canoe SF Campground for those wanting a more secluded experience. Most campgrounds in the area are open seasonally from spring through fall, with limited winter access.

What camping options exist in the Alcona Park area near Glennie?

The Alcona Park area near Glennie offers diverse camping experiences. Alcona Park itself is the centerpiece, featuring convenient amenities including trash collection at campsites and proximity to canoe rentals on the nearby river. For a more remote experience, De Cheau Lake Camping provides dispersed camping that feels secluded while still being accessible. This site offers ample space for multiple vehicles and beautiful lake views. The surrounding area includes options in the Huron-Manistee National Forest with varying levels of development. Most sites in the region include fire rings and basic facilities, with some offering vault toilets and potable water. For the best experience, purchase firewood from local vendors who drive through the campgrounds rather than from campground offices.

Where is Glennie, Michigan located and how do I get there?

Glennie is a small community in Alcona County in northeastern Lower Michigan, situated within the Huron-Manistee National Forest region. The town is approximately 60 miles north of Bay City and about 30 miles west of Lake Huron. To reach Glennie, take I-75 north from Detroit or Flint, then use M-55 or M-72 to connect to local roads. From the west, US-127 connects to east-west routes leading to Glennie. The area around Glennie offers excellent outdoor recreation, with Devoe Lake Rustic Campground and Hartwick Pines State Park Campground both within reasonable driving distance. When visiting, the local Chat and Chew restaurant in Glennie is worth a stop for a meal.