Dispersed camping sites near Hesperia, Michigan are scattered throughout the Manistee National Forest, with most locations concentrated along the White River watershed at elevations between 700-900 feet. The camping season typically runs from early May through October, with fall bringing temperatures that can drop below freezing overnight. Forest roads provide access to both established campgrounds and primitive sites with varying levels of maintenance.
What to do
Tubing and kayaking access: The White River offers excellent water recreation opportunities, with some campgrounds providing direct river access. At Pines Point Campground, visitors can enjoy a unique river feature. A camper explains, "One of the unique features of the campground is a tuber's loop on the river which leads from the canoe launch around a large peninsula containing the picnic area to a well-marked takeout point where one can walk less than 50 yards back to the canoe launch to do it again!"
Disc golf courses: Newaygo State Park offers an extensive disc golf course that draws many visitors. "If you're not into fishing or disc golf, you might be happier elsewhere, but I love those two things, so I want to go back and visit again," notes one reviewer who enjoyed the course during a business trip.
Bird watching: The lakes and rivers around Hesperia provide excellent bird watching opportunities. A visitor to Benton Lake Campground shared, "We have had a great experience at Benton Lake. Some great birding in our kayaks on the lake. A couple miles west we hiked the NCT a couple miles O&B. Beautiful woods."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the space between sites at certain campgrounds near Hesperia. At Newaygo State Park Campground, "The sites are deep but many are close together. Ours had a little extra room but was next to the vault toilet." Another reviewer noted, "Spacious sites, friendly staff."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds with well-maintained facilities stand out in reviews. At Benton Lake Campground, a visitor mentioned, "Clean sites, great bathrooms. Mike the caretaker is a real worker and is maintaining the place beautifully. Sites are spacious and generous."
Water access: Proximity to lakes and rivers ranks high in camper preferences. At Nichols Lake South Campground, one camper highlighted "a good beach for swimming, and a small boat launch and pier for fishing." Another noted the campground has "a shallow weed free swimming area."
What you should know
Road access challenges: Some dispersed camping areas require appropriate vehicles. At Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping, a camper warns, "This spot is wonderful, but boy howdy does it live up to its name. If you do not have AWD and good ground clearance, don't even try to get there."
Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for wildlife, particularly in more remote areas. One camper at Sand Road Primitive Rustic Camping reported, "Once we got a fire lit, and the sunlight started to leave for the night we heard a pack of coyotes nearby... Not 30 mins later, the coyotes were back again, but even closer. They were less than 100 yards away from us."
Limited services: Most rustic campsites around Hesperia have minimal amenities. A visitor to White River Campsite #1 explained, "This is the White River special area of the Manistee National Forest. While there are numbered campsites, there are no facilities or amenities. This is more suitable for tents or maybe small campers."
Tips for camping with families
Look for campgrounds with activities: Several campgrounds offer features specifically appealing to children. At White River RV Park & Campground, amenities are plentiful: "Amenities include basketball court, playground, horseshoe pits, walking trails, heated pool, etc. Plus, you can 'float' in tubes, kayaks, or canoes (your own or rented) from a launch site two miles away!"
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds are quieter than others. One camper at Newaygo State Park shared, "Our kids also love this campground. They get to explore by themselves and there is plenty for them to do and keep busy. There is a playground, hiking trails, swimming area, geocaching, fishing, kayaking."
Pack for varied weather: Weather can change quickly in western Michigan, even during summer months. A visitor to Lake Michigan Campground noted, "We went in March so the weather was cold but doable. 20 degrees at night but with electricity hookups we put a space heater in our tent."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing and privacy: RVers should research site layouts before booking. At White River RV Park & Campground, a recent visitor warned, "Campsites are right on top of each other, so very little privacy. There were people outside our tent all night making noise."
Water and dump station access: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. At Nichols Lake South Campground, a visitor noted, "Nice campground, Paved pads, showers and flush toilets. No hookups. No dump station nearest one 10 miles away."
Road width considerations: Some campgrounds have narrow access roads. A camper at Lake Michigan Campground at Muskegon State Park warned, "Road is a bit narrow which made backing out travel trailer in a bit tricky, not impossible."
