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Best Tent Camping near Gowen, MI

530 Reviews

Tent camping options surround the Gowen, Michigan area with several established campgrounds offering varied experiences for tent campers. Camp Clear Sky provides tent sites with unexpected amenities including an outdoor kitchen with running water and flush toilets. Tubbs Lake Island State Forest Campground offers more rustic tent camping experiences with waterfront sites accessible by boat or via a narrow dirt road over a land bridge.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities suited for primitive tent setups. Sites are generally set on dirt or forest floor with minimal grading. Tubbs Lake provides drinking water, firewood, and vault toilets, while maintaining a rustic atmosphere. Camp Clear Sky includes picnic tables and allows fires, with firewood available on-site. Haymarsh State Game Area offers similar amenities with sites situated near the water. Access varies significantly between campgrounds, with some requiring walk-in approaches and others allowing direct drive-in access.

The tent camping experience near Gowen offers opportunities for solitude and nature immersion not available with other camping styles. Areas around Tubbs Lake Island provide especially secluded tent camping. A camper noted, "Tubbs island was gorgeous! There is Tubbs mainland and Tubbs island and both you're welcome to but I recommend staying on the island. It's more of a peninsula then an island but it's wonderfully cut off." Many sites fill quickly during peak summer weekends, making advance planning essential. Tent campers at Haymarsh State Game Area enjoy waterfront sites where, according to a visitor, "our campsite was right on the lake where we were able to pull our boat right up to, plenty of private space, and so fun to fish." The proximity to water, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing areas makes these tent campgrounds popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts seeking authentic camping experiences.

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Best Tent Sites Near Gowen, Michigan (22)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Gowen, MI

9 Photos of 22 Gowen Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Gowen, MI

530 Reviews of 22 Gowen 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.

  • Amanda L.
    Aug. 9, 2018

    Brower Park Campground

    Large Family Fun Campground

    There is something for everyone here. Tent, camper, or RV and fun for all ages with everything from 3 playgrounds, basketball courts, volleyball courts, and tennis courts, to a boat launch, fishing pier, and fish cleaning station. There is also a fairly large swimming area. The showers are actually nice and clean! The restrooms were surprisingly clean and modern as well. Firewood is available in bundles or loose and you stack it yourself. There are numerous picnic areas throughout the campground. There are picnic tables and fire rings at every site and hook up such as electric and water vary. Kids are riding their bikes all over, fishing, playing at playgrounds, the beach, everywhere. Everyone was very friendly. You probably don’t necessarily need a sleeping pad or air mat if you’re in a tent, but they’re always nice. The mosquitos weren’t bad at all! We stayed at site #226. You do need a county park pass, $6/day until 10pm or $25/year.

  • 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. 25, 2021

    Deep Lake Rustic Campground — Yankee Springs Recreation Area - TEMPORARILY CLOSED IN 2024

    Nice rustic site

    Nice rustic campground with a beautiful lake view. Nice big fire rings. Vault toilet and water pump nearby. Some what level site but in the small side. Perfect for tent camping or a teardrop. Definitely nothing over 15'. Was able to park across from my site to maximize space.

    Gorgeous little lake town just 8 miles away has a full grocery store and restaurants.

    Campsites border the Deep Lake trail.

  • 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.

  • R. B.
    Jun. 25, 2018

    Newaygo State Park Campground

    Nice views, somewhat rustic sites

    We live in Kalamazoo and wanted a quick trip out in the tent for a long weekend. We chose the park for it's proximity to home and because of nearby kayak/canoe launches. We enjoy rustic camping and were a little let down with the lack of seclusion on each site (that's to be expected when car camping but the photos and website left us hopeful for more space than was offered). The sites are deep but many are close together. Ours had a little extra room but was next to the vault toilet. There are a few trails in the park that are pleasant and the views of the lake are nice. The staff at the time wasn't very helpful when we asked for nearby hikes. They only knew of a paved trail but on our way out of town we met a couple who told us of many river trails and other hikes nearby. Overall it's a decent place to stay. Personally, I don't find it worth it to have vault toilets and no shower if I'm still going to be in a fairly cramped campground. I'd prefer that they have hike-in sites or offer the amenities of car camping.

  • 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.

  • Jeff F.
    May. 19, 2021

    Nichols Lake South Campground

    Great peaceful spot.

    Nice campground, Paved pads, showers and flush toilets

    No hookups. Getaway. Some spots have openings good for solar

    Half are frist come frist server. Others are reservations

    Campground manger on site. , Sell ice and wood at campground

    Picnic table and lantern postcard each site

    No dump station nearest one 10 miles away

Guide to Gowen

Tent camping near Gowen, Michigan offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With well-maintained facilities and friendly atmospheres, these campgrounds are perfect for families and solo adventurers alike.

Tent campers should check out Nature's Chain of Lakes Campground

  • Experience the charm of Nature's Chain of Lakes Campground, where friendly staff ensure a well-kept environment for your stay.
  • This campground features essential amenities like drinking water, showers, and electric hookups, making it a comfortable choice for tent campers.
  • Enjoy the freedom of campfires and the option to bring your pets along for the adventure.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • At Camp Clear Sky, you can enjoy a unique outdoor kitchen and the company of friendly chickens during your stay.
  • The peaceful surroundings of Deerfield Nature Park offer a perfect backdrop for hiking and kayaking, with only a short hike to access the sites.
  • For those looking for a more rustic experience, Blanchard Millpond Park provides a serene environment, although it lacks some amenities like showers and picnic tables.

Explore local attractions near these campgrounds

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Gowen, MI is Camp Clear Sky with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Gowen, MI?

TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Gowen, MI, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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