Best Tent Camping near Ithaca, MI
Tent campsites near Ithaca, Michigan include both established campgrounds and more remote options within an hour's drive. Deerfield Nature Park in Mount Pleasant offers primitive tent-only sites accessible by a one-mile hike or by boat with ten designated camping spots. Tubbs Lake Island State Forest Campground in Mecosta provides another option, featuring a distinctive island setting that can be reached via a narrow dirt road over a land bridge.
Tent camping in this region varies significantly in terms of amenities and accessibility. Deerfield Nature Park features pit toilets but no drinking water at the campsites, requiring campers to pack in their supplies. Sites at Tubbs Lake offer more amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, toilet facilities, and fire rings, though no electric hookups are available. Camp Clear Sky, located about an hour southwest, provides an unusual mix of primitive camping with unexpected amenities like an outdoor kitchen with running water and flush toilets. Most sites in the area are first-come, first-served, though some locations like Camp Clear Sky accept reservations.
The terrain around Ithaca offers diverse tent camping experiences that vary from secluded island settings to more accessible sites. Tubbs Lake Island sites provide a sense of remoteness despite being relatively accessible. A visitor commented that Tubbs Island "was gorgeous" and recommended staying on the island portion rather than the mainland, noting that "it's wonderfully cut off" despite being more of a peninsula than a true island. The limited number of sites at Deerfield Nature Park (only 10) contributes to a peaceful camping experience, with one camper noting the abundance of wildlife and natural features like colorful fungi. For those willing to hike with gear, these walk-in sites offer a more secluded tent camping experience than drive-in alternatives.
