Looking for an adventure where you can explore Lake City and then fall asleep in your tent? The Dyrt helps you find campsites near Lake City with tent camping. Search nearby tent campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
This rustic campground is nestled along the banks of Hopkins Creek surrounded by a tall evergreen forest. It is a favorite spot among trout anglers. The campground shares an access road with Hopkins Creek Equestrian State Forest Campground and Trail Camp; however, horses are not allowed to camp or be in the campground area. There are 7 sites for tent and small trailer use. One of the campsites is a walk-in site. Camping is limited to a 15-day maximum stay. Amenities include vault toilets and potable water from a hand-pump well. The campground is located 5.5 miles north of Arlene via M-42 and Lucas Road. Sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No reservations.
$15 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
Nestled among mature pines, this tipi feels like it's at the end of civilization Within 40 miles of Traverse city, Cadillac or Grayling, and closer to smaller towns, you have plenty of acces to all the fun things. Situated in the center of the north country, there are lakes and trails in every direction, waiting for you to come and explore. This is a totally rustic site, so you will need to be familiar with digging a cathole, at this time there is no toilet facilities. This is camping.
Your site here at the Prairie Tipi is about half way back to the edge of the property line, making you just about center of 40 acres. You will be in the pine forest, so be sure to bring bug spray, as the mosquitoes in particular have no respect for the fact that our guests would prefer to remain un-bitten. Otherwise, the wildlife here is pretty non-threatening. There are occasionally deer that share the pathways or bed down under the pines, now and then a fox or raccoon will come to check you out, but they will stay at a distance. In all, wild things are pretty shy, and if you get a glimpse of them you can consider yourself fortunate.
$20 - $40 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79134_79210---,00.html
$15 / night
Michigan Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry into state parks and recreation areas, state boat launches, state forest campgrounds and state trail parking lots. The Michigan Recreation Passport does not cover local, county, municipal, or metropolitan parks or recreation areas. Learn more: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/buy-and-apply/rec-pp
Among private secluded 5 acres along the Clam river, we offer several tent sites for campers or travelers.
$30 - $40 / night
Guide
Great place for families and friends. RV and Rustic Sites as well as Cabins.
General store serving ice cream and pizza.
Ice and Propane exchange.
Beer,Liquor and tobacco products.
Play ground and covered picnic area.
Boat launch
Pull up docking for store use
Scout
This campground is centrally located to everything that’s going on, on the west side of the state. Whether it’s trail riding, Traverse City Cherry festival or hanging in the town of Manton. There is always something going on. Spacious, super clean bath house and on Saturday nights listen to live music right at your campsite!
Traveler
Was a quiet. Simple.. Just with nature...Site was clean, across street you can buy firewood ...Was a pleasant 2 night's....From site to the nearest store 15-20 min away..If needed...Had no issues...Be back Thanksgiving 2024..
Scout
Very nice park, walkway to the public beach, paved path behind the grounds. Modern, clean bathhouse. Not a lot of privacy between spots, big mature trees all through the grounds. Right by municipal airport with lots of flight activity.
Guide
Camp staff very friendly and park is well maintained. Nice hiking trails nearby and a 20 minute drive to a whole lot of entertainment!
Guide
Our site was great, easily fit a 17 foot trailer and a tent. Trails down to the water were appreciated by our kids. Neighbors are pretty close all around but that didn't matter until our last night. Several new campers rolled in at 10pm and proceeded to throw an absolute rager of a party until 4am - on Labor Day weekend. So overall a great campground but I wish there had been enforcement of quiet time or some kind of consequence for such horrible camping manners.
Traveler
Most sites have direct river access. All sites are walk-in, but not far from the parking area. There are two pit toilets for six sites and both were clean. They sites are large, but fairly open, not much between the sites.
Traveler
Elk is a great place to spend the night after a day of paddling or fishing. There are four sites with decent space between them. The pit toilet was decently clean and well away from the sites, so no smell. The only downside is that access is tricky. The landing is a steep bank with large rocks on the river bank.
Scout
David and Gail were so friendly and welcoming, especially for the inconvenience of a last minute stay on Labor Day weekend! I had questions during the booking process and messaged them- I had a response in minutes. We had a quiet spot and were able to get some uninterrupted sleep after a long afternoon at the beach.
There are several places nearby with beach access (the turquoise water of Lake Michigan is beautiful), and lakes under 5 minutes away for fishing. For rockhounding, check out the beaches near Old Mission Lighthouse. Should we find ourselves back on the road to the UP, we'll be sure stop back in. Thanks again for being so accommodating!
Guide
Nice state park big sites on the lake
Traveler
Full hookup sites, cabins were nice. Many recent upgrades to the campground
Traveler
Small campsites, but nice bathrooms and showers, close to Baldwin
Traveler
No running water.
No electricity.
No flush toilets.
No internet.
No phone signal.
Pure heaven.
Rustic campsites. 50-100 yards from the river. Great water from the pump. Nice clean vault toilet. Very quiet at night. Peaceful and beautiful. We've gone ever year for the last 5 years. Going again next year.
Highly recommend a satellite-based GPS unit like Garmin or TomTom in your car. I was serious when I said no phone signal so Google Maps ain't gonna' get you there.
ScoutThe campground is a small, family friendly campground that has a lot of activities for both adults and kids. It is clean, has level sites and well maintained facilities.
TravelerThe campsites are spacious and feature trails that lead directly to the Tippy Dam Backwater. There’s also convenient access for launching a boat on either the Manistee River or the backwaters side of the dam
TravelerOur time at this campground has been exceptional. The grounds are kept very clean and tidy, the camp store had what we needed, and the atmosphere is very quiet and calming. Everything on our full hookup site worked good and our site itself was level.
Our weather wasn’t very good, 66 and rainy, but we made the best of our time by going downtown Bellaire and visiting Shorts Brewing. The little town has some cute shops and is only 8 minutes from the campground.
We had a wonderful time and can’t wait to book again next year.
Scout
A great place for dispersed camping. Don't forget the bug spray! Only 20 minutes from town if you did! Great two weeks here!
ScoutQuiet, large sites, like new bath house, 7th nite free, rate$35, good location for northwestern Michigan sites Water on all outside sites. interior sites share water hookups
Scout
Not a bad campground. Easy drive to Traverse City. Camp store is small and closes early, 7pm.
ScoutGreat campground. Booked two nights and had to request a third it was so perfect. We went up because it advertised orv access right from campsite. It’s really handy to not have to trailer over to the trsilheads. Quiet, bug spaces, huge bathhouse. We will be going back!
Scout
To many people and yelling kids but breath taking for sure
Scout
Updating this information. We live 3 miles from this camp. All MI State Forest Campgrounds are nor $20/night.
There is not a RV dump or hookup of any kind in this campground. One could easily bring a 30 ft trailer but sites this size are limited.
This camp is on the Betsie River and the Grass Lake Flooding. There is a gravel/sand ramp to launch smaller fishing boats. Great area to kayak and float tube. 1000's of acres of State Forest surrounding this spot with miles of trails for atv, cars, trucks and horses. There are no horst facilities at this camp.
Guide
Most campgrounds we have been to had lots of road noise but not this one! We stayed for 2 nights/3days and this campground was quite.
The vault toilets were well stocked with toilet paper, although one had a hornets nest inside and the other was extremely smelly.
Access to the river was good and the sites were a decent size with privacy in between.
We enjoyed walking some of the nearby trails
Scout
Very nice and well maintained campground. Bath house facilities were very clean, and campsites were fairly spaced, giving decent privacy. There are some activities in the area related to the park. All in all a very nice State Park campground.
Guide
Large campground composed or 5 loops. Many have a trail leading to the water. Hiking and biking paths within the campground along with a nice boat ramp. Trash on sites and dirty outhouses along with lots of generators and after hour noise was a downside.
GuideFirst time camping here. Site 72 had a nice view if the make. Very nice park. Bathrooms s d dhowers ckean for really need to be upgraded. They have a ni. ce dog beach bit no real wslking trails as it is only 64 acres. Very nice beach! Already booked our next trip there.
Scout
We just stayed here for 6 nights. Owners were welcoming and kind upon check in. The campground was very well maintained with a good amount of trees giving good shade outside.
Sites are large well maintained.
We stayed across the street from the bath house and the pool. Pool was chemically checked several times a day and it was so nice.
Our kids loved the pool and the space to ride bikes.
Will definitely be booking here again.
Reasonable rates for the site and generous wood costs as well. They drive around almost nightly and will sell you wood right at your site if you're there. $10 for a wheel barrow full and they stack it for you!
Highly recommend this campground.
Nestled in the heart of Michigan, Lake City offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts looking for a serene escape. With beautiful landscapes and well-maintained facilities, these campgrounds provide the perfect backdrop for your next adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lake City, MI is Sand Lakes Quiet Area Backcountry Campsites with a 4.5-star rating from 8 reviews.
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