Best Tent Camping near Haslett, MI
Tent campers visiting the Haslett, Michigan area can access several established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. Crooked Lake Rustic Campground in the Pinckney Recreation Area offers tent-friendly sites with lake views, while Appleton Lake Campground provides more secluded forest sites. Island Lake Recreation Area features unique canoe-in tent camping accessed only via watercraft on the Huron River.
Most tent sites in the region feature basic amenities with natural surfaces. Crooked Lake provides picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, and vault toilets but no showers. Appleton Lake Campground offers more rustic experiences with fire rings at each site and vault toilets that visitors note are sometimes poorly maintained. The region's tent campgrounds typically remain open from April through October, though some like Island Lake maintain year-round access with primitive winter camping available. Sites at Pinckney Recreation Area and Appleton Lake require reservations through Michigan's DNR portal.
The tent camping experience varies across locations near Haslett. Appleton Lake Campground provides sites "fairly secluded from each other" with ample space for vehicles and tents. The walk-in tent sites at Crooked Lake offer lake views with minimal site separation, though some visitors mention noise can be an issue on busy weekends. Island Lake's canoe camps provide a unique backcountry experience remarkably close to urban areas, with a visitor noting it "provides a backcountry, boat-in camping experience very close to town." Tent campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters, as reviewers mention active raccoons at Appleton Lake and recommend proper food storage. The wooded settings provide shade at most sites, with mature trees creating an "up north feel" despite proximity to more populated areas.